In Cape Coral, two sisters and their stepmom give sports bar a family touch

Girl power is alive and well at First Round Draft in Cape Coral.

Owned and operated by sisters Michelle and Kelley Ramage and their stepmother, Judy Ramage, First Round is anything but your average sports bar.

“We wanted it to be casual but still feel classy,” Judy said.

Wings aren’t served in baskets, they're plated. Dining room tables have comfy captain’s chairs, colorful glass pendant lights hang from the ceiling and sports memorabilia from the walls.

“We intentionally created a place that has the comfort of a sports bar but is known more for being a restaurant," Michelle said, "with more upscale food and specials.”

The Ramage sisters grew up with an entrepreneurial father, David, who owned several hospitality businesses in Florida and Arizona. Michelle was working at a sports bar in Arizona. When her dad visited her, he was inspired to create something similar in Cape Coral.

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In 2008, David bought the restaurant at the corner of Del Prado Boulevard and SE 12th Terrace, and Michelle left Arizona to assist him. Kelley also moved to the Cape, and although the three women now make the business decisions together, Kelley oversees day-to-day operations.

Working together with their chef, the trio created a menu with classic comfort fare and daily specials that always feature a fish dish. One of Kelley’s favorites is the black-and-bronzed salmon. It’s pan seared with blackened seasoning and finished with honey glaze for what she calls “a sweet and spicy” ending.

The boom boom shrimp offer a similar mouthfeel: shrimp are lightly breaded and tossed in sauce that she says is “sweet, spicy and creamy.”

First Round Draft's wings are naked not breaded. When they come out of the fryer, they can be charbroiled on the grill by request. Michelle says this second step sears in the sauce.

The ladies estimate 80% of their tables on any given night start with an order of homemade spiral-cut potato chips. They come dusted in house seasoning and served with Cajun ranch dipping sauce.

Meats are roasted daily, and the sauces and soups are also made in house.

“Our soup maker is from Massachusetts and makes a great clam chowder on Fridays,” Kelley said. The Lumberjack soup is an all-time weekend favorite, comparable to a goulash with a tomato base.

The Ramage women gush about their Reuben, claiming it’s “messy,” “tasty,” and “the best you’ll find in the Cape.” Sauerkraut is piled on a ½ pound of corned beef, drizzled with thousand island dressing and topped with Swiss cheese. Turkey can be substituted for the beef, and the restaurant occasionally runs Reuben specials with grouper as the protein.

The entrees cover a lot of culinary ground, including flat iron steak, pressure-fried chicken, chicken Parmigiana, burritos, and liver and onions.

“You either like it or you don’t,” Michelle said of the latter. “You don’t find it on many restaurant menus and people come here just for it.”

Dessert options include seasonal cheesecakes and a 6-inch high, three-layer chocolate cake that “people ooh and aah over” according to Judy.

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Unique to First Round Draft is the large, covered back deck on the banks of the Cape's Honolulu Canal.

“We are one of the only restaurants in the middle Cape with boat access,” Michelle said. The journey to First Round’s dock is bridge free from the Caloosahatchee at mile marker 58.

The deck is pet friendly and good for viewing large iguanas as they crawl from the shade of the mangroves to sun themselves, occasionally testing their courage by venturing onto the deck.

“They are like dogs sometimes,” Kelley said, laughing. “We have to tell people not to feed them.”

First Round Draft has 32 high-definition televisions, each one tuned in to different sporting events.

Family is important to these women, and it extends beyond the Ramage name. They consider patrons family, too, and it appears many of their regulars feel the same.

In 2011, the restaurant caught fire and had to be gutted. Customers showed up and rolled up their sleeves to help with clean up and repairs so First Round could reopen. In 2017, they also helped board up the windows in advance of Hurricane Irma.

“Our patrons are the best,” Kelley said. “They are loyal, and they are the reason we exist.”

“What we have is a ‘Cheer’s Bar’ where everyone knows each other,” Judy said. “And we offer some of the best value in the Cape.”

“It’s a great neighborhood place, known for our food and the best service," Kelley said. "You just can’t beat our service. That’s why we’ve been here this long.”

First Round Draft

Address: 1217 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral

By sea: Marker 58 west from Caloosahatchee to Honolulu Canal

Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 .m. Friday and Saturday

Call: 239-673-9010

Web: frdcape.com

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral restaurants: First Round Draft has a family touch