Linger Lodge RV Resort & Restaurant, Bradenton

A group of 20+ of us stopped for lunch while paddling the Braden River. Everyone enjoyed the experience. Yes the service is "relaxed", but the staff was friendly and responsive. And they got everything right for our large group. ( And we'd not made advanced reservations. ) With that many people ordering a lot of different dishes came to the tables including the gumbo, 'gator chowder, and several other sandwiches and appetizers. Everyone enjoyed their selections. The menu was interesting. "Gator chowder"?? The prices are reasonable. The view of the river is relaxing. It rained during lunch, but no one was in a hurry to leave anyway. We sat on the screened porch. Inside there is seating in an area with AC. It is all casual. If you are looking for white table clothes this is not the place for you. But if you'd like a relaxed meal with a nice view in an "old Florida setting", this place fits the bill. We left before the live music started, but when on the river I'll stop here again.

My husband and I brought our camper to stay for a few days. I wish we would have stayed home. They put us on a river spot right next to a very old run down camper. There was trash all around it, and a old lawn mower collection of some sorts. Our slide out was right up against an old delapitated boat that the people would not move for us. The guy then came over asking us for a beer, and wouldnt leave. We did not feel safe here at all. After a visit to the parks restaurant, our minds were made up. The food and drink prices were outrageous, and the service was unbelievably slow for a restaurant with no guests. We travel all over the country and stay at many RV resorts, but this one was by far the worst unkempt park we have ever been too. Too bad the owners must not care, it s a great location. Cutting the grass and a little weed whacking would be a start.

It took a little longer to get there than we had planned, but it was well worth the wait. It really has a lot of atmosphere and it isn't someplace you just find anywhere. The service was excellent and so was the food. Next time we are in the area, we will be going back for great food, atmosphere, service, and good drinks. It was an experience to remember.

We were there on Sunday evening to have dinner Everything went fine. we are elderly 70, 66, 86 years old We were eating and enjoying our dinner when 3 couples came in A lady came right up to our table and said If you came here for a quite dinner you better move because we are loud and loud they were The waitress sat them right beside us the childen were fine it was the there parents we had to leave we couldn't enjoy our meal anymore the waitress didn't care at all we were unhappy oct 11th 2009 thank you edith Cummings

Linger Lodge is a restaurant I have been to many times and I will go back again and again! The restaurant if located directly on the Bradenton River and has wonderful view. The covered outdoor decks are perfect for the summer days free of bugs. Inside the restaurant is done in taxidermy. Someone I was with got the hush puppies which were the best ever! I got a grouper sandwich which was wonderful. The service was great. Couldn't have asked for a better place. Would recommend and will go again. Only negative things I think of are the parking lot which is dirt and the bathrooms really need remodeling.

What a unique place! It's old Florida. The food was wonderful and very well priced. The service was great. It's alittle hard to find. The GPS has to have 85th st ct east added to the address. Once you get there you will enjoy everything about Linger Lodge.

This place will send you back about 50 years to Old Florida. Much like the old Fish Camps, this place reeks of the 1950's. Try it just for fun -- not for your wedding anniversary -- and you won't be disappointed.

The view is gorgeous, the river so peaceful. But the food and service is terrible. Ordered appetizer that never showed up; good placed on table cold. menu has been reduced significantly, many previous dinners, seafood, fish no longer on menu. Service was slow and inept. Had to ask for iced tea refill twice. What has happened to this treasure of the past? Will not take visitors there, ever again. Very sad.

Having been born and raised in Sarasota I remember Linger Lodge when it used to be just a pavilion and a bar-b-que pit. When we moved into Bradenwoods Subdivision in 1983 we became regulars at Linger Lodge. We would eat there 2 to 3 times a month. The River Platter and Riverbottom Pie along with Franks stories and character keep the place a favorite of a lot of people. When Sen. Mike Bennett purchased Linger Lodge in 2005 things started to change. He did renovate by adding a covered deck, but unfortunately his ideas of what the spirit of Linger Lodge had become were way off. The first blunder was to start serving instant Tea instead of fresh brewed (that idea didn’t last long). Then he started playing with the menu (not good). We tried to stay loyal, but the food and service declined dramatically. We have not been back in several months. I understand that Linger Lodge is for sale and I hope some one buys it with the idea of restoring it to a place of uniqueness and old Florida that we had grown to love.

We just returned from a very nice dinner at Linger Lodge. After reading the previous reviews, we were expecting the worst! There were 6 of us. The service was great...someone came immediately and checked back with us frequently through the time we were there. Everyone's food was very good. The prices were excellent....drinks were half price...$1.50 for a glass of wine or a draft beer. It is not a gourmet restaurant...fried seafood and burgers mostly...but was very good and the atmosphere right on the river with wonderful moss draped trees all around and the funky decor inside was wonderful. We all agreed that each of us would go again.