Best Bets for Dining

ETHNIC VARIETY

Thai One On

Budget travelers will enjoy the lunch prices (under $7) at Siam Hut Thai in Cape Coral. Thai Gardens in Fort Myers features more than 90 Thai specialties, including a splendid duck.

Asian Fusion

Fort Myers delivers when it comes to Asian cuisine. An under-$13 bento box special forecasts the unassuming style of Ichiban in downtown Fort Myers. Excellent haute sushi mixes with haute couture at see-and-be-seen BluSushi in Fort Myers.

Mama Mia!

Italian restaurants are ubiquitous in Southwest Florida, but two Fort Myers establishments to try are Delicious Things, which offers gourmet foods in addition to artfully arranged plates, and Bella Rosa, owned by a longtime area restaurateur.

Mexican Fiesta

Great value for your money and a fiesta of a time can be had at Jalapeños Restaurant in Fort Myers. Maria’s Restaurant in Bonita Springs offers up some of the most sublime accompaniments to chips (fresh-made salsa and guacamole), and La Casita in Fort Myers puts a new spin on the phrase “mi casa es su casa."

BREAKFAST & BEYOND

The Breakfast Club

The hearty breakfast fare at the Split Rail Family Restaurant, near Fort Myers Beach, won’t break the bank. At Amy’s Over Easy Café on Sanibel, break your fast with the Reuben Benedict. On the go? Pick up a fresh-baked croissant from The French Connection in downtown Fort Myers.

The Lunch Bunch

Drinks served in Grandma’s canning jars and a relaxed atmosphere make the McGregor Café on the boulevard of the same name in Fort Myers a locals’ favorite. Gramma Dot’s on Sanibel offers up a great grouper sandwich, garnished with a sassy orchid, no less, as well as snappy commentary by the wait staff.

Just Desserts

Indulge your sweet tooth at the jewel box Norman Love Chocolate Salon, near the international airport in Fort Myers, or at the Loose Caboose (famous for ice cream) in Boca Grande. Find locally made Queenie’s Ice Cream in scoop shops and restaurants.

MORE GOOD BETS FOR GREAT FOOD

Local Flavor

Bert’s Bar & Grill in Matlacha serves up a mean grouper sandwich along with to-die-for homemade potato chips. The Farmer’s Market Restaurant in Fort Myers dishes up smoked pork all day Thursday and serves the delicious, tender morsels until they’re gone. And Captiva’s Key Lime Bistro keeps the locals coming back for more with live nightly entertainment.

Creative Concepts

Chefs pull out all the stops at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar on Sanibel, Sweet Melissa's Cafe (formerly RedFish BluFish) on Sanibel, Traders on Sanibel and South Beach Grille on Fort Myers Beach. Be assured of memorable, eclectic and inspired dining.

Steak Your Claim

If it’s the bounty of the land you seek, try the Kobe beef at the Sanibel Steakhouse or any of the Certified Angus Beef specialties at Courtside Steakhouse at Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa.

Some Romantic Evening

Southern regional cuisine reigns at The Veranda in downtown Fort Myers. For total seclusion, try the Collier Inn on Useppa Island.