If you’re wondering where to eat in Bonita Springs, you owe it to yourself to stop for a bite at Dolly’s Produce Patch & Eatery. While the produce patch was gone, a cute little restaurant with some tasty deserts was sitting along Bonita Beach Road just waiting for discovery.
   Sandra and I were out seeing the sights, and took our own advice. We asked the locals about the best place for a quick lunch. They suggested Dolly’s.
   Dolly’s has been family owned and operated for nearly three decades. You might drive by it at first. It’s an unremarkable one story structure ,that had some tables with umbrellas on front porch. There’s just one 4×8 wood sign at the east end of the property.
   Apparently for years, they hosted a produce patch along the front of the building. That was discontinued during the COVID lock down.
You might miss Dolly’s Produce Patch and Eatery when you first drive by on Bonita Beach Road. There are no large signs.
The Dolly’s Experience
    Once inside, we were greeted with a wonderfully decorated restaurant. They feature a full menu of traditional burgers, sandwiches, salads and deserts. You can see the menu here.
   When it came to ordering, I had a conundrum. I was torn between a Bonita Burger and Dolly’s Specialty Sandwich. But how could you go to Dolly’s and not try her specialty sandwich? After all, it features “the works.” That means generous portions of roast beef, turkey, ham, cheddar & provolone cheese. It was then covered in lettuce, tomato and mayo. To top it off, there’s Vidalia Onion vinagrette with brown mustard as well.
Here’s Dolly’s Specialty Sandwich. I could have gotten a side, but there was plenty on the plate already!
   It’s taken years of practice to get all of that between two slices of bread,
   Sandra was more responsible in her choice. She selected Dolly’s Fresh Fruit Plate. The plate was covered with in-season fruit, with a large dollop of chicken salad. A bowl of their special honey cherry poppy seed dressing  was set on the side.

There was a lot on Dolly’s Fresh Fruit Plate. In addition to the chicken salad, they served a bowl of assorted crackers.

Dolly’s Desserts
    One of the things Dolly’s is famous for are their pies. On the way in, there was a blackboard outlining the day’s specials. There also was a table full of individually packaged slices for those who wanted to take a piece home.
    If that’s not enough, there was another table that had a number of tasty baked goods also ready to be taken home. Typically they have some whole pies and a selection of the different pie slices.   There also generally are a featured cake or two and even everyday favorites like scones, cinnamon buns, muffins, and Dolly’s assorted cookie varieties.
We were there a bit late in the day. Although a lot of pie had gone out the door, there still was a good selection.

In addition – they also serve breakfast. It’s no wonder Dolly’s is the answer when folks are asked where to eat in Bonita Springs.

Watch out for the Waitresses

There’s also Dolly’s Produce Patch and Eatery  branded honey and Barbecue sauce. But don’t try and get cute, the waitress station is well guarded.

We asked if the waitresses had attacked any of the customers. They told us “not lately.”
Dolly’s Swamp Buggy Connection
    Over the course of their tenure, Dolly’s also has managed to get involved in a swamp buggy racing effort. Known as Team Mullet, they have a number of different vehicles including Racing Mullet, Toxic Mullet, Native Mullet, and Smokin’ Mullet.
Here’s some of the team sponsored by Dolly’s Produce Patch and Eatery including; Racing Mullet, Toxic Mullet and Smokin’ Mullet.

In fact one of the buggies was parked behind the restaurant the day we were there.

We Missed Dolly

    Sadly, we did not have a chance to meet Dolly herself. The matriarch of the operation had passed away just weeks before our visit.
    Darlene “Dolly” Scott graduated from Edison College and had a career as a registered nurse. Later, Dolly became a known restaurateur in Bonita Springs with her iconic Dolly’s Produce Patch and Eatery. She opened the place in 1996 with her son Randy.
   At the age of 70 she developed a love for ballroom dancing. Dolly was quite accomplished and competed nationally. She won three championships in her respected age bracket.
   Dolly carried the torch for the Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2001.
   There was a table set in her memory still at the restaurant.
A memorial table has been set up at the restaurant.

Dolly was was a founding member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Naples. Customers who wanted, could pick up a cross at the restaurant checkout counter.

There was a selection of handmade wooden crosses at the checkout counter. They were free to those who needed one.

The bottom line is this. When you wonder where to eat in Bonita Springs. Dolly’s Produce Patch and Eatery is an obvious answer.

 

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