New Fort Myers eatertainment destination brings food trucks, fun under one open-air roof

Fort Myers News-Press

Mat Baum and John Mann not only want you to eat, drink and be merry, but they’ve created the perfect venue for it.

Backyard Social, a unique eatertainment destination, made its highly anticipated public debut Thursday, Oct. 19, off Ben Hill Griffin Parkway in Fort Myers.

“We wanted to open something but didn’t know what, where or when,” Baum said. “Then we went to Celebration Park (food truck destination in Naples) and other venues in Texas, Atlanta, Miami. We wanted to take what we really liked and tie it into one. Three years ago we came up with this concept.”

As their website states, that concept involves “bites, booze and be social.”

The stunning murals throughout Backyard Social were painted by artist Ruben Ubiera.

Here are five things to know before you go:

The setting

Backyard Social is a vibrant open-air venue centrally located just north of Florida Gulf Coast University and south of Southwest Florida International Airport.

“We chose the Alico corridor because of all the development around here,” Mann said. “Everything is within a 30-minute radius.”

“We felt it was an underserved market,” Baum added. “Our couple of acres was a blank slate for us.”

What they created is a comfortable family-friendly environment during the day that turns into a 21-and-up spot after 9 p.m.

Plenty of comfortable seating can be found on the lawn at Backyard Social in Fort Myers.

“We want to make it fun for everyone and transition into a different demographic at night,” Baum said.

Umbrella-covered tables, firepits and outdoor games scattered around the lawn greet arriving guests.

Stunning urban murals by artist Ruben Ubiera bring the walls to life inside and out.

The main room of Backyard Social is a vast area with a chic, industrial vibe from the concrete floor to high ceilings with large blade fans and string and pendant lights. Well-spaced tables with rattan chairs and Barbie-approved bright pink and electric blue lounge areas (which can be reserved) surround the impressive rectangular bar.

“This is done as we, as consumers, would like it,” Baum said. “It’s comfortable, casual and what we would want in a venue we went to.”

Arepa Express is one of the food trucks at Backyard Social. Pictured is the Santa Fe with grilled chicken, mixed cheese, black beans, avocado and corn.

Food trucks ready and waiting

Eight permanent food trucks dot the perimeter around the main room, allowing guests access to each without going outside. Everything from burgers and barbecue to lobster and lamb is available. Trucks include Addison’s Chicken, Arepa Express, Beau’s BBQ, Easy Cheesy, The Great Foodini’s Seafood, Gigi Gourmet, Gyros 2 Go and No Manches.

The best part?

If you don't want to stand in line at a food truck, QR codes are conveniently located at each table, allowing customers to place their orders and pay without getting up. When it’s ready, head to the truck, grab your food and return to your seat at a high or low-top table inside or out or find a spot at the bar.

And when you’re ready for dessert, Love Boat Ice Cream has several flavors ready and waiting for you.

The impressive bar at Backyard Social is cool, inviting and roomy.

Speaking of the bar …

The cool, inviting bar is roomy, seating about 50. TV screens are suspended above it on every side. About a dozen signature cocktails — from the vodka, lemon and lavender-based Backyard Blossom to the frozen Get Up & Go with vodka, espresso, chocolate and hazelnut — are available for $12 each. The Lily Pad Punch for two is served in a pail for $20.

There’s also a variety of draft and canned beer, seltzers, wine and house-infused shots. Happy hour from 4-6 p.m. Monday to Friday includes $3 Backyard lager, Social amber and house-infused shots; $4 Fireball and $5 wine and single well liquor.

There are reusable silicon cups for sale at $15 each or $25 which includes one free drink.

An elevated shuffleboard table awaits guests at Backyard Social.

“A percentage from every purchase goes to Captains for Clean Water,” Baum said, referring to the local nonprofit on a mission to protect and restore our water sources. “And every time you come back with your cup, you get $1 off every drink for an entire year.”

Fun, games and entertainment

Guests can play giant Jenga and Connect Four on the lawn, along with cornhole and a bucket game (think beer-pong minus the beer), for free.

Inside, advanced technology rules with four duckpin bowling lanes (rented for $6 per person) and three steel-tip dart stations with cameras tracking your darts (rented for 30 minutes or an hour at a time).

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Backyard Social offers four lanes of duckpin bowling.

There’s also an entertaining, elevated shuffleboard table (discs are hand-pushed) that’s $5 for 30 minutes.

But that’s not all.

“Live music and an events schedule are taking shape over the next month,” Baum said. “Eventually we’ll have live music — popular local bands — every day. We will host private events too. A section of the place or the whole thing can be rented, anywhere from 25 to 300 people.”

The when and where

Backyard Social is open 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Ages 21 and up only after 9 p.m. daily.

Backyard Social in Fort Myers has plenty of comfortable seating throughout.

It’s at 16371 Corporate Commerce Way, Fort Myers. For live music schedule, to become a VIP Socalite member or to make reservations, go to backyardsocial.com.

Robyn George is a food and dining writer for The Fort Myers News-Press. Send news to rhgeorge@gannett.com.