Tucked away in the northern most point of Old Marco is Cafe de Marco, with a diverse selection of fresh seafood available. What has become an islanders tradition for over 27 years, has now proudly served a generation of visitors from all over the world. Established in 1983 by owner / operator Sandy Scheeler-Franchino, this award winning bistro is well noted for its vast array of fresh seafood, prepared daily with her chef's original recipes and sauces. It is the seven time winner of the Platinum Plate Awards for Best Seafood and Appetizer on Marco Island. The emphasis has always been on "consistency", keeping with the Cafe's high standards for using only the freshest and most superior quality of ingredients. There is a non seafood selection available for "land lovers" as well as individual requests for those needing certain diet restrictions fulfilled.The house trademark since the Cafe de Marco's inception is the Jumbo Prawns platter. These huge shrimp are butterflied, seasoned with fresh herbs and spices, broiled in garlic sauce and served over saffron rice. Another shrimp staple to the menu is the Shrimp Lenny (named after Sandy's father). This creation has been copied by many, but never quite as successfully. It combines large shrimp with crabmeat and bacon, broiled to perfection and draped with hollandaise sauce. Among other popular seafood recipes are the Chilean sea bass, local Black Grouper De Marco, Assorted Captain's Platter, Snapper Almondine and Jumbo Lump Blue Point Crab Cakes. Land lovers may select from a variety as well including; a l2oz. New York strip steak, filet mignon, rack of lamb or chicken entrees. All entrees are complete with vegetable, pasta or potato, garden salad, rolls and butter. The award winning appetizer of Oysters Rockefeller is not to be missed, along with the seafood sampler. This dish comes complete with shrimp cocktail, stuffed mushrooms, clams casino and oysters Oscar and Rockefeller. Desserts are also given special attention at the Cafe. Sandy's favorite course of the meal is dessert so she created The Cafe Puff which has mouths drooling from first to last bite (if you can finish one!). Other homemade desserts include Italian Ricotta Cheese Cake, Peanut Butter Pie, Chocolate Molten Lava Cake, Cannoli and Key Lime Pie, a Floridian specialty. With an original menu of this caliber, it's no surprise that folks have been returning to the Cafe de Marco year after year for 27 years!100