By Jean Totti
The Linger Lodge Restaurant is housed in a cottage building with a screened porch that offers beautiful views of the Braden River. It’s accessible by car, bike, or boat, and they have a courtesy dock for those arriving from the river.
Inside the cottage, you will find a main dining area, a bar area, and the screened porch. The main dining area (and almost every other part of the building) is adorned with a huge collection of preserved local wildlife including elks, snakes, armadillos, and more.
This was the contribution of the lodge’s second owner, Dr. Frank Gamsky, who was a veterinarian from Milwaukee and practiced taxidermy. The bar area also has quite a unique collection of vintage beer cans displayed on the back wall.
When the weather is nice, I recommend dining out on the screened porch that overlooks the river. Not only does it offer the perfect atmosphere, but there’s also a good chance you’ll get to enjoy some live music while you’re there.
On the Menu
The menu is mostly southern grub and includes a few uncommon menu items such as Fresh Frog Legs and Alligator Bites. Don’t forget to order their colossal Seafood Bloody Mary if you’re there for brunch. They will ask you if that’s your meal or a drink — it’s that big. The one we tried came out with three skewers: one with gator, chicken, and catfish; the second with grilled shrimp; and the third with fried vegetables.
Some other popular appetizers include the Fried Green Tomatoes and Hush Puppies. I suggest getting the River Sampler Platter if you want to try a bit of everything, but if you want to do this, you must arrive hungry.
There are a few selections for salads and soups. Both the Linger Lodge Gumbo and the Alligator Chowder are served by the cup or bowl. Among the sandwiches and burgers, you will find:
Gator Burger: A 100% wild alligator patty with roasted red pepper sauce.
Linger Burger: A half-pound of their special blend of ground brisket and short rib.
Catfish Reuben: Fresh Louisiana catfish with sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing.
Entrées like Florida Gator, Louisiana Catfish, New England Crab Cakes, and N.C. Cheshire Pork Baby Back Ribs are served with two sides.
On the dessert list, you can choose from the River Bottom Pie, Florida Key Lime Pie, or Peanut Butter Pie. The River Bottom Pie is their signature dessert and consists of coffee ice cream topped with Oreo crumbles, fudge sauce, and chopped walnuts.
The restaurant is very busy with good reason! I recommend making a reservation if you can. Large groups gather there and the dining rooms fill up quickly.
Location & Hours:
Address: 7116 85th Street Court East, Bradenton, FL 34202
Hours: Open Wednesday through Sunday from 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays).
Reservations: You can reserve a table via email at restaurant@lingerlodge.com or by calling 941-755-2757.
History of the Campsite
The Linger Lodge is a newly renovated RV park with all the modern facilities for utilities and 77 years of history. The property consisted of over 100 acres when it was first recorded in 1945 by the Parvin family. At that time, the park included amenities like fishing, canoeing, and camping.
The cabin served as a lodge and served food on the ground floor. The second owners, Dr. Frank and Elaine Gamsky, purchased the property in 1968.
It was not until 2016 that the Hartl Family from Austria fell in love with the park and purchased it. Their commitment since that day has been to preserve and enhance the Old Florida character of this site. Today’s RV park offers many of the same amenities as the original campgrounds plus an indoor pool, a clubhouse, laundry facilities, and RV pads.
Check out their menu and be sure to follow The Linger Lodge Restaurant on Facebook so you can keep up with all the specials, live music schedule, and more!
DINING GUIDE
