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.
