Phil's 41 Moves into old Mamma Nunzia's

The long time Punta Gorda restaurant, in fact the first  we visited in Punta Gorda, Mamma Nunzia's, is no more. Recently the restaurant was sold to Phil Cerciello, who most Punta Gordeans will know as former owner of the Burnt Store Grill.  

Phil reopened as Phil's 41, and if evidenced by the cars in the lot and the patrons in the restaurant when we visited, Phil's 41 looks like a winner. We visited Phil's shortly after he opened his doors a few weeks back.  He was bustling through the restaurant greeting customers obviously enjoying his return to the Punta Gorda restaurant scene. 

Operating with a transition menu with many of the Italian offerings from the former osteria, Phil has also added Greek and American dishes and also lowered many price points. He plans to make more extensive changes after the summer.

The familiar music of Mamma's is gone. Phil learned after visiting the restaurant many times prior to his purchase and through talking to customers that many preferred a conversational environment during the dining hours.

We checked out and very much enjoyed some of our Italian favorites during our recent visit. I also noted that neighboring tables were praising their steak and fish entrees. Many people familiar with the quality and dependability Phil delivered at the Grill were already avid Phil 41 goers. I heard one woman note that she was already a frequent diner at Phil's during the luncheon hours and that the food was excellent.

The intimate bar that we so love was bustling with patrons, and Phil confirmed that he would still be offering early dinner specials and a happy hour.  

Good luck, Phil. We are glad you chose to stay in Punta Gorda!

(Phil Cerciello at right with Gene Murtha)

Address: 1975 Tamiami Trl., Punta Gorda. 
Phone: (941) 575-7575

www.phils41.com

Type of Restaurant: Italian/American

Rating: ♦♦♦

 

The Boat Clubs in and around Punta Gorda

We frequent Mamma Nunzia's back bar -- it's cool, somewhat dark, has high tables and flat screen TVs and is small enough to be intimate and large enough not to be suffocating.

Usually it's pretty quiet in there --- with only a few regulars. Except on nights when Boat Clubs descend for happy hours. And it is on these occasions that I have gotten a glimpse of how fun some of these clubs and their members can be. In fact, we've met boat clubbers at Mamma's, with whom subsequently we have become friends.

A large part of Punta Gorda and Charlotte Harbor is about boating. Even if you boat only irregularly or not at all, boating is pervasive, something you either did, would like to do, fantasize about doing, or talk about doing even if you have no intention of ever doing.

In fact, many boat clubs don't require that you even have a boat or intend to ever get a boat. They are social clubs with varying requirements for membership. Some are restricted demographically others geographically (i.e. you need to live in the neighborhood of the club). Regardless, there is a boat club for most of us. Here's a list of some of them in the area that I will continue to develop over time--plus I plan to do a more elaborate blurb about each of these in future posts.

Burnt Store Isles Boat Club Organizes boat trips with land components for various sizes of boats, social events, and provides frequent boating communications/advice. Limited to Burnt Store Isles residents and anyone who ever lived in BSI and belonged to the boat club.

Mariners of PGI PGICA-sponsored club. See website for specific membership requirements.

PGIslanders PGICA-sponsored club, limited to members of the PGICA. Other membership requirements "can be found on their website. Organize cruises, social events, etc.

PGI Seafarers
Punta Gora Isles Civic Association sponsored, limited to members of the PGICA. See complete list of requirements on their website along with examples of cruise and social events.

Punta Gorda Boat Club Maybe the oldest of Punta Gorda's boat clubs with its own clubhouse nestled on the Peace River.

Punta Gorda Sailing Club

Singles for Sail Group of 45+ singles who socialize and organize sailing trips.