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Easy access by both land or sea is seldom found in Southwest Florida. Bayview, on Marco Island, is one of the few waterfront restaurants that offers this convenience. Located in The Esplanade, it is just two miles from the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge.

The view of Smokehouse Bay from this spot will probably never change, but Bayview restaurant will be no more.

New owners Curt and Jacquie Koon are revamping the familiar gathering place. Among other things, they are changing the name. Some things are staying the same.

The restaurant manager and front-of-the-house greeter, Glagor Turov, will still make you feel at home in the new digs, while the Koons, a husband-and-wife team, will make obvious their keen sense for a unique dining and entertainment experience.

The place can be called “formal cuisine with casual attire” or “casual cuisine within a formal setting.” Whether you come in dressed to impress or jump off the boat just as you are, Bayview provides extensive indoor and outdoor seating on the beautiful Smokehouse Bay.

The outdoor setting has an air of a Mediterranean al fresco bistro while the inside rooms provide plush accommodations in an authentic Euro-style bar and dining area.

Executive Chef Laura Owen’s culinary talents will still enlist a great deal of prime comfort food, presented with a simple elegance.

Owen serves up an all-day menu with new items as well as the old favorites, like the open face rib-eye sandwich, beef and veal Tortellacci (a large homemade tortellini in lobster sauce), rum butter mahi-mahi, and mimosa salad. She offers a great variety of tantalizing appetizers too — soups, salads, entrees and desserts that range from healthy light fare to decadent indulgence.

Owen has a prestigious background starting with her degree from The Culinary Institute of America, at a time when the only location was in Hyde Park, New York. Then, she worked in The Ritz Carlton in Buckhead, Ga. Locally she has worked at the Naples Golf Club, Lurcat and Marek’s Collier House.

Bayview and The Bar were established in 2004 and have been beaconing patrons with unmatched food and fun. These shining gems have been favorite gathering spots for singles, couples and families, young and old.

The night’s entertainment is also sure to impress with the cool, smooth sounds of Motown.

Motown is just a jumping-off point — the range of Bayview’s performers is much more diverse. The beat of Jimmy Cliff reggae transitions to Stevie Wonder and “More, More, More.” Sing along and tap your toes from 8 until 11:30 p.m., Thursday. On the weekend you’ll find Tony G. on Friday and Juliet on Saturday.

To sweeten the experience even more, check out the drink specials: Thursday offers the Terrific Tini; Friday goodies include $5 frozen drinks; and Saturday is $6 half-pitchers of sangria. Late night happy hour is from 7 p.m. until close, Thursday through Saturday.

Bayview also stocks an outstanding selection of wines by the glass.

Day people are also kept in mind. Sunday brunch menu will still be served to order from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sunny Sundays begin with $5 mimosas and bloody Mary’s, then peak with entrées like the crab cake Benny, gourmet french toast, and the one item no one can resist if they come with a hearty appetite — steak and eggs. It’s an 8-ounce rib-eye sandwich topped with two sunny-side up eggs and crispy fried onion.

New owners have not forgotten about the tasty summer munchies that make this a nifty little stop for the sports enthusiasts. Items like blue cheese-topped potato chips, peel-and-eat shrimp, and mini-burgers that are anything but ordinary are still part of the menu. Game day comfort food is always available, and if you are in the mood, you can bump it up to prime product with great presentation at a reasonable price.

Children are made to feel welcome with a menu designed with them in mind and if your children are of the furry four-legged variety, they will be waited on with respect as well.

The luxurious marina facilities have a full lounge and entertainment center. When accessing Bayview from the Marco River, turn east at marker 12-red entering Collier Bay, keep to your port side entering Smokehouse Bay, then look straight across the bay to see the shining bar and Bayview restaurant. There is myriad of transient and public dockage for boats, 20 to 60 feet.

Dock master Larry Plank will be happy to provide information and rates for extended stays (394-6333) or if you prefer, Plank is on channel 16.

The Koons promise there is much more in store for this establishment that you will not want to miss. A new uniform for the staff and interior improvements to maintain the consistent quality, for instance.

The restaurant will be closed today, but have no fear! The outside bar will be open for al fresco dining, so stop by to peek at the changes underway.

On Monday, the festivities will resume with a grand unveiling of all the improvements and the new name will be finally revealed.