HM Restaurant Group has been named a 2026 “Best Place to Work” in Southwest Florida by Gulfshore Business for a second consecutive year. The company manages Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, Dixie Fish Company and Bonita Fish Company and has nearly 350 employees.
“We’ve built HM Restaurant Group around the idea that hospitality starts with how you treat your own people,” said Joe Harrity, a partner with HM Restaurant Group. “When employees feel supported, respected and connected to the mission, it naturally carries through to the guest experience and the culture of the company as a whole.”
Businesses that qualify for the magazine’s annual Best Places to Work list are evaluated independently by a third-party research firm, which considers company policies, practices, benefits and demographics and conducts employee surveys with open-ended questions. The cumulative data determines how each company motivates, manages and retains its team members.
“At the heart of our company is a commitment to creating experiences that feel authentic for everyone who walks through our doors,” said Harrity. “That sense of connection between people, hospitality and the Southwest Florida lifestyle is what continues to drive us every day.”
The company provides employee insurance through a group plan, funds $200 toward toll reimbursement for Sanibel team members and offers lucrative referral bonuses. It rewards staff with regular employee appreciation events, performance-based incentives and awards programs highlighting outstanding contributions. Employees also enjoy generous food and merchandise discounts at the restaurants.
Our house is just down the street from Fisherman’s Wharf. We eat dinner at one or the other 2-3 nights a week. My husband is down there now. The first night he ate at Doc Fords, second night at Dixie, third night at Bonita Fish, fourth night Doc Fords, fifth night at Dixie. My guess is tonight his last night….. Bonita Fish Co.