Following because we will be in Cape Coral next month and need recommendations!
We were surprised to find that there was going to be a huge parade celebrating Thomas Edison, who wintered in Ft Myers next door to Henry Ford. That meant that a lot of roads were closed, so we couldn’t travel much. On Friday evening we went to Traditions in Sanibel, a high end place with very good food and beverages, and a lovely singer (there Friday nights). The next morning I had a good breakfast at the First Street Bar and Grill, and a surprisingly good lunch at 1025 (surprising because it looked more like a bar). A trip to First Street Scoops for ice cream (cookie dough. The hell with the CDC and its warnings) that was great. Everything was slammed for dinner, so we foraged among our leftover fruit from the trip and a good charcuterie board from the hotel bar. We stayed in the Luminary hotel, which was excellent – and we got a corner room with a great view of the parade and the fireworks. The nest day we had lunch at Cubans Be Like in outer Ft Myers, and it the Cuban was pretty good – others were ordering seafood, which seems to have been the thing to do.
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SWFL people, if you were doing an 80th birthday for Mom which special places would be on your short list. There will be 11 of us, extra points if any of the places have a large round table that can accomodate that group.
Staying in Ft. Myers. We are/were from Broward county so my knowledge of nicer places in Ft. Myers area is zero.
Thanks for any suggestions…
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A great choice would be Traditions on the Beach at the Island Inn in Sanibel. It’s an historic property on the beach, and the food and service are great. I’m not sure about the round table for 11, but they may well be able to do it. I think they have some private rooms, but not sure. See my write up at https://johntannersbbqblog.wordpress.com/2022/03/28/traditions-on-the-beach-sanibel-island-florida/
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Thank you, will certainly check it out.
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The Luminary is a very nice hotel downtown, with great river/marina views and a lot within walking distance if you’re not staying on the beach. Also, a friend had recommended La Trattoria Napoli very highly, but we couldn’t get there due to the parade noted in my hotel review. We had a good lunch at 1025, just FYI – not suitable for a dinner.
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Thank you John, we had a lovely meal at Traditions. Everything was very good to excellent. Lamb tagine, lamb chops were standouts. Crabcake was excellent as well. Not a lot of food pics, so here’s some family
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glad you liked it – but not surprised! Thanks for the report!
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Off topic, but hope you guys are ok down there.
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Amen.
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We’re planning an April 2023 trip to see friends in Fort Myers with side-trips in the area S. to Bonita Springs, Naples and Everglades City and N. to Siesta Key. Thanks for the ideas posted here last year, and I’m interested in other recommendations for tasty casual dining in the area.
You asked for casual:
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WOW - thanks for this - from the photos it’s surprisingly similar to National Park lodges in Glacier NP. I will look more for a menu and also call to be sure they’re not closed due to hurricane damage – their website seems pretty bare-bones.
The Rod and gun Club is worth a visit and a drink, at least. There are better places to eat, not least https://johntannersbbqblog.wordpress.com/2021/01/16/havana-cafe-of-the-everglades-chokoloskee-florida-2/ which sots on a shell island created by indigenous people.
And here are extensive recommendations, all types, for Marco Island Goodland, the neighboring fishing village. https://johntannersbbqblog.wordpress.com/?s=marco You really need to stop by Stan’s Idle Hour and Little Bar. The seafood in that area is as good as you can get anywhere
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Thanks for these! We’re up for seafood of all sorts, and interesting sights. But are super-light (e.g. half-a-glass-of-wine) drinkers so we’d not normally go to a “Bar” spot.
@johntannerbbq Sad to read the current TripAdvisor reports of that Rod & Gun Club – terrible rooms (none in the historic building) and bad food. Sounds like the historic building’s interior is damaged / unkempt, too. As you say, maybe the drinks are worth a stop, but we’ll eat and stay elsewhere.
It’s a few years since we stayed in Naples so places may well have changed. But, assuming they are as good now as they were then, I’d suggest Osteria Tuila (Italian), BhaBha (Iranian), USS Nemo ( awful name, good seafood) and The Local (farm to fork).
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@Harters - thanks for these additions to my list. All say “top restaurant” of some sort on their websites, and continue to have recent happy ratings and comments. At the menu prices listed for most fine-dining, it looks like we’ll be doing lunches at such spots, and probably try some Food Trucks for evening meals. The plate charges (for folks like us who split entrees so we have room for dessert) are disclosed and seem to hover around $6 now - sticker shock.
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SW Florida Restaurants report, from our April 2023 trip to Fort Myers and Naples, with day-trip to Everglades National Park, Gulf Coast area and Chokoloskee Island, south of Everglades City
The entire area is still in rough shape, 6 months after October 2022 hurricane Ian severely damaged buildings and vegetation. Many restaurants and businesses remain closed. For picnics we drove 30 minutes to inland parks. In particular, although the causeway to Sanibel Island recently reopened for nonresidents, most of the beaches are still closed and there’s not much in the way of welcome for visitors.
Our friends in Fort Myers (inland, minimal hurricane damage in their neighborhood), cooked for us 2 evenings and fed us a sandwich lunch at their house for a final round of fun conversation before our airline flight home.
By eating breakfasts, included in room price, at hotels, splitting meals and getting salads as mains we averaged around $85/ day for food and felt well-fed. I’d looked at online menus but actual prices at many places were up by 50 percent or more from the posted menu pricing.
Arrival night – Cracker Barrel close to our first Fort Myers hotel near airport – friendly waitress, Chicken & waffles breakfast for dinner was just what we needed after a day of travel.
Monday – before an afternoon on the beach, lunch on Siesta Key with our friends at the Hub Baja Grill – Baja Fish tacos (grilled grouper) were good, sweet potato fries – outstanding – waffle-cut, crispy, sprinkled with barely sweet cinnamon sugar for perfect “something a bit different”.
Dinner – friends cooked for us – tossed salad, grilled pork chops, foil-packet potatoes, asparagus, wine.
Tuesday – in Naples - lunch before check-in at our Naples hotel– The Local as suggested by @Harters , Pizza, salad, coffee, tip - $50.
Dinner – ice cream at two places on Fifth Street South Naples, with added cupcake at one. Streetside outdoor seating $25
Kilwins and Grace & Shelly’s Cupcakes
Wednesday – lunch after Everglades NP 10,000 Islands pontoon boat tour, at Havana Cafe of the Everglades in Chokoloskee as recommended by @BoneAppetite. Shrimp Crillo over rice. https://www.yelp.com/biz/havana-cafe-of-the-everglades-chokoloskee-2. Comments on Yelp review indicate there are new owners as of a year ago. Good food, beautiful garden seating, inexperienced serving staff. We had a brief stop for ice cream later at a place in Everglades City (maybe Island Cafe?) before driving back to Naples
Dinner - restaurant next to hotel, Bellini – Split a Caesar salad with added grilled salmon, one glass of wine, tip- $60. Mirrored dining room, white tablecloth setting, attentive service at first, barely civil when waiter realized we didn’t plan to spend more.
Thursday – lunch – Harvest Salad with added grilled shrimp, cookies. Green Apron Cafe Serves breakfast, lunch. Closes around 3 PM now, 5 PM in winter tourist season. Mostly carry-out but 5 small tables in and 3 tables outdoors. Seating has great view of Naples airport take-offs – small planes and personal jets. HIGHLY recommend for food quality and innovative salads/sandwiches.
Dinner – Naples Grouper & Chips – seafood chowder, blackened grouper sandwich with fries. Key lime pie. All was just what we craved. Tiny seating area 8 small tables inside, 3 small tables out. Very popular for carry-out, too. RECOMMEND - be sure to get a slice of the pie to-go, too.
Friday –Back in Fort Myers. lunch salad - fried chicken over greens with craisins, candied pecans and blue cheese - from Publix grocery store next to our final Fort Myers hotel.
Dinner – Lighthouse Waterfront Restaurant at the Marina, just before the causeway to Sanibel Island. Fried seafood variety platter with sweet potato, wine, Love Boat ice cream – Cinnamon Pecan flavor . HIGHLY RECOMMEND for fresh seafood, friendly service. Live music nightly was good, but loud if you’re too close. Musicians are in the large bar area and audible / enjoyable in most other areas of the restaurant. Outdoor patio seating is ample but has only 1 table that is fully-shaded during dinner hours.
Saturday – lunch – Publix grocery carryout Greek salad and chicken salad with crackers for picnic at a park.
Dinner – out with our friends – the patio deck of Bahama Breeze restaurant - Glazed salmon. Conch Fritters. RECOMMEND
Sunday – lunch – historic area Downtown Fort Myers Capone’s– pizza & salad. Seated outdoors, in a shaded spot at our request. Nice view since buildings across the paved alley-way had flowering container gardens.
Dinner – Citrola’s Only open for evening meal, Italian – chicken parm over angel-hair pasta, salad, wine, RECOMMEND – this is one of the places the locals eat, with casual booth seating, great food and good service. Their exterior business signs had not yet been replaced/repaired – large street flag “ITALIAN” and the map address with phone navigation got us to the right place.
Monday – lunch - reheated in our hotel microwave - chicken parm leftovers
Dinner – Friends cooked for us, shrimp & veggies stir-fry with pasta, fruit salad, Key Lime pie.
Tuesday – lunch – Publix grocery carryout salad - Salmon over greens with capers & tomatoes for picnic at a park.
Dinner – Lighthouse Waterfront Restaurant at the Marina, a 2nd visit. Beefsteak tomato Caprese salad with Vidalia onion, fresh mozzarella. Fried shrimp, sweet potato, Love Boat ice cream -Whoppers flavor. Truly good food and great setting.
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Good on you for Grouper and Chips, because one of those along for the Spring Training game singled it out among favorites, and it’s not as if any place is out of reach for that host.
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