Taste of Britain: Bonita restaurant offers fish and chips, more from 'across the pond'
For 22 years, the British Open Pub in Bonita Springs has been a home away from home for both U.K. expats and American Anglophiles alike.
It feels like a warm hug, cozy and dim yet lively. With lots of dark wood and red leather booths, it’s teeming with tchotchkes and art from across the pond.
Found on a bustling stretch of Tamiami Trial next to Pelican Landing, owner Ann Nabbs said when she and husband Bernard first opened the pub, the area was not just sleepy, it was nearly deserted.
“We drove down and sat in a shopping center parking lot. You can tell a lot about the clientele in the area by doing this,” she explained. “In five hours, we saw maybe five cars. (She paused) But we decided to go for it anyway.”
The Nabbs had been operating a similar pub in Sarasota at the time. In fact, over the years they have opened nine different restaurants along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Named after the famous golf tournament, The British Open Pub has golf memorabilia as well as all things United Kingdom. Even menu items have golf-inspired names. For instance, “sandwedge” replaces sandwich and appetizers are under the “Tee Off” section.
The pub menu is full of British staples, with a few American inspired dishes sprinkled in such as chicken wings, flatbreads, steaks, and prime rib sandwich or sandwedge. The latter of which was a mistake, according to Ann Nabbs.
Fish and Chips a secret recipe
In one of her previous restaurants, the chef was searching for a solution for repurposing left over prime rib. He shaved it, layered it in a hoagie roll spread with mayonnaise and horseradish, and added sauteed mushrooms and onions.
“It’s killer,” Ann Nabbs said. “We sell just as many of these as the fish and chips.”
And that’s a lot. Fish and Chips is an iconic British dish and it’s the restaurant’s top seller. The fish is North Atlantic cod that is flash frozen at sea and delivered to the pub whole. The batter is imported from England and the oil used for frying is corn. Nabbs is coy about the rest of the formula.
She did reveal that the fish has its own frier. So do the chips. Wings go into yet another.
“The secret is the oil,” she said. “It has to be the right temperature, or the batter will soak it up like a sponge. But I’m not going to tell you what that temperature is,” she added coyly.
It’s not just temperature. It’s also in the technique. After dredging the filet through the batter, the chef gives it a little wave, knocking off any excess then immediately drops it into the fryer for a quick sizzle. Nabbs said the “crunch is crisp, light and fantastic.”
It’s plated with thick cut steak fries also known as chips. And in case you are not up on your English slang, there is an index on the menu to help.
Pasties a speciality at British Open Pub
Everything here is made from scratch and the soups get rave reviews. Mushroom and brie is a signature with rotating daily specials. In addition, there is a different standing entrée special for each day of the week. Indian curry is on Monday while steak and kidney pie has the spotlight on Tuesday.
You won’t find the famous shepherd’s pie on the regular menu; however, you will find cottage pie. The difference between the two is the meat. Ground lamb is used in the first, ground beef in the second. The pies are topped with peas, carrots, onions, and a generous portion of homemade mashed potatoes, then baked.
Pasties are another specialty. They come with a variety of fillings inside puffed pastry dough.
And then there are bangers and mash. The famous dish features English style pork sausages that are pierced, then baked and served with sauteed mashed potatoes and sweet peas.
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Entrees are healthy in size. Going into the summer months, Nabbs plans to offer smaller portions for some of the most popular dishes.
The British Open bar is a lively place with a cast of regulars. Many of the beers are imported from the U.K. and include selections such as Boddington’s Pub Ale, and Fullers ESB. The Guinness Stout comes in from Dublin. Drafts are not served in traditional 16 ounces glasses but the so-called Imperial Pint, a hearty 20 ounces. It’s something that Nabbs insists upon.
Watch football, or soccer, and more sports
As one might expect, football ― or soccer ― is revered in the pub. Liverpool is the Nabbs team, however, she said the rivalries here are friendly. Games are shown on the televisions in the bar and the outdoor patio. So is golf.
Adding to the pub’s sprightly personality are rumors that it is haunted by friendly ghost. Strange things are said to happen late at night. However, there is a knight standing guard at the front door.
The pub is also a haven for royal watchers. It was standing room only for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral Sept. 19, 2022.
Local pubs are part of the culture of the United Kingdom. Get a good taste of that, literally and figuratively, at The British Open.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: British Open Pub in Bonita serves up fish and chips, other U.K. food
