Restaurant of the same feather flies in Estero

ESTERO — Soon, Lee County will be able to claim one more Pelican.

It’s not the feathered variety, but it does have wings. And beer. And peel-and-eat shrimp, too.

Uptown Larry’s, a sister restaurant to the popular Naples-based restaurant group Pelican Larry’s Raw Bar & Grill, will open its doors in Estero at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Pelican Larry’s has three Naples locations, including the original on Pine Ridge Road, which opened in 1998. The restaurants are not all operated by the same owners, however. Partners John Lettiere, Kyle Landry and Patty Walbert, who also operate the Pelican Larry’s off Immokalee Road, own Estero’s new Uptown Larry’s.

The 4,000-square-foot, 151-person occupancy Uptown Larry’s will offer fare similar to its southern siblings, such as oysters, sandwiches and, of course, drink specials. “We don’t overcomplicate things,” Lettiere said.

That’s part of the restaurant’s appeal, he explained. That, and quality service.

“We hire the right people,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of turnover. The employees are happy.”

The idea to open Uptown Larry’s began percolating when Lettiere, who lives near the new restaurant’s location, decided there was nothing near his home that offered quick, affordable food. Even the nearest fast-food restaurant is a few miles away, he said.

“There’s not much to do,” he said. “A lot of people that go Larry’s on Immokalee live up here.”

But, he added, it’s easier and safer for those residents to not have to drive that distance.

Uptown Larry’s is located in the Estero Ridge plaza at 20041 U.S. 41 S., Estero, near Estero Parkway. The site was formerly occupied by a restaurant called Bourbon Street, and in honor of the old eatery’s New Orleans-themed menu, Uptown Larry’s is retaining Bourbon Street’s French Quarter-style mural.

“We thought it was kind of neat,” Lettiere said. “Kind of remember the old place a little bit.”

The remainder of the restaurant is pure Larry’s, though, with lighthouse lamps, a shark mounted on the wall and other “shipyard bar” touches, Lettiere noted.

Also, sports enthusiasts will be able to watch their favorite games on Uptown Larry’s 17, 50-inch televisions, or play on one of several pool tables. Other bar games, such as darts and Golden Tee, will also be available.

“We want it to be ‘your place,’” Lettiere said. “We want you to feel good when you come in here.”

With deference to the tight economy, the business partners have found ways to conserve money as they launch their newest venture. Rather than purchase new equipment, they bought from other restaurants that were closing, often after only a few months of operation.

“I’ve got trailers full of used stuff,” Landry said.

Initially, Uptown Larry’s will be open from 11 a.m. until midnight. The partners hope to ultimately expand the evening hours until 2 a.m.

There will be live entertainment, including disc jockeys and bands.

Happy Hour will be from 2 to 7 p.m. daily. Food specials will include 40-cent wings and 40-cent peel-and-eat shrimp; there is a minimum of 10 on the shrimp. Drink specials will include $1 drafts; $2 house wines and wells; and $5 Ketel One martinis.

All-day specials include $9 domestic beer bottle buckets; $5 Captain Morgan pints; and $5 domestic pitchers of beer.

The restaurant’s telephone number is 390-0123.

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