Pictured: Enjoy a poke bowl from Island Fin Poke Co. in Nokomis. Photo courtesy of Island Fin Poke Co.

For a taste of Hawaii along the Gulf Coast, stop by the new Island Fin Poke Co. location in Nokomis. “I lived for 11 years in Las Vegas, and I had five restaurants there and five in Southern California. Then, poke was on every corner in California,” says CEO and Founder Mark Setterington. “Our food is California-style, but the culture in the restaurant comes from my love for my time in Hawaii.” In Hawaii, Setterington worked for Margaritaville and helped open Jimmy Buffet’s at the Beachcomber. “What I loved was the Aloha Spirit and the culture of Ohana, where you’re not greeted with a handshake; you’re greeted with a hug. It’s all about family,” he adds.

From the moment guests step into the restaurant space, the Island Poke Co. brand epitomizes both the Aloha Spirit and Ohana. “In our restaurants, we don’t have trash cans in the dining room, you’re greeted with a warm welcome, when you leave you get a fond farewell, we run your food to the table, if you don’t order a drink we bring you a cup of water and everyone gets a Dole soft serve sample. It’s a very unique fast food experience,” Setterington says. While he opened the first restaurant in 2017 without plans to franchise, the company has grown and expanded across the nation.

The Nokomis location features a pick-up window for app or third-party delivery orders, giving guests another way to experience the brand. “The best thing to do is to build your own bowl,” adds Setterington. Nearly everything on the menu is gluten-free, except for three crispy topping options. Diners can choose from 10 housemade sauces, ranging from spicy to sweet, which are made with Aloha Shoyu premium gluten-free soy sauce. They can also customize their bowl with over 30 toppings, including fresh fruit, vegetables and in-house pickled daikon and cucumber. Guests can also opt for one of the five preset bowls, such as the Korean BBQ Chicken Bowl or the Salmon Bowl. After savoring your meal, enjoy the Dole soft serve, which is dairy-free, gluten-free, fat-free and vegan-friendly. “It’s quite an experience,” he says. “You want to come in and see, feel and taste it, and experience the brand as a whole.”

Island Fin Poke Co., 997 N. Tamiami Trail, Nokomis, 941-233-7653, islandfinpoke.com.

Pictured: Enjoy a poke bowl from Island Fin Poke Co. in Nokomis. Photo courtesy of Island Fin Poke Co.

Island Fin Poke Co.