You could eat at a different restaurant every night for a year on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel and still not try them all. Here, we’ve pegged a few stand-outs that will satisfy some of your strongest cravings.
Seafood
The number one craving when visitors drop in? Fresh, flavorful seafood. Don’t miss Blue Water Bistro at Coconut Point in Estero, where you can have your fresh catch simply grilled or creatively designed into specialties such as crab-lobster cakes. Dine indoors or al fresco. Other top seafood houses: Red’s Fresh Seafood House & Tavern (Pine Island), Sunshine Café (Captiva Island and Fort Myers) and The Oyster Shell (Fort Myers). For supreme sushi, try Ichiban (Fort Myers and North Fort Myers) and Blu Sushi, with two locations in Fort Myers, both with patio seating.
Florida Fusion
Floribbean has gone Caribbean-Atlantic Rim. It’s all about melding fresh fish, tropical fruits, local vegetables, interesting spices and big flavor. Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, named for local mystery writer Randy Wayne White’s famous sleuth, takes a “novel” approach to the genre with tropical American dishes such as banana leaf snapper at its Sanibel Island restaurant and Fort Myers Beach waterfront branch.
Comfort Food
There’s even a restaurant called Crave in Fort Myers, serving up home-cooked specialties prepared with extra oomph, such as meatloaf with mushroom gravy and red wine-braised short ribs. For Southern Regional cuisine in the heart of downtown Fort Myers, relish dishes such as filet medallions in smoky sour-mash whiskey sauce at cozy, intimate The Veranda. Philly fans and their families feel right at home at Old 41 Restaurant (Bonita Springs) and Philly Junction (Fort Myers).
Italian
Enjoy America’s favorite international cuisine at a litany of hearty Italian restaurants. Cibo in Fort Myers is a long-time favorite. The meatballs are bigger than tennis balls, and the seafood dishes highly inventive. The chef at romantic newcomer Il Tesoro on Sanibel Island serves up “new classic” Italian cuisine such as gnocchi with sausage, shrimp and truffle cream sauce made right before your eyes. Another sure bet: Il Pomodoro in Fort Myers.
Thai
Cape Coral’s Siam Hut was the first and remains among the best. Have a seat at a traditional floor table if you wish. Thai Gardens in Fort Myers also scores high with Thai connoisseurs.
Peruvian
One of the hottest new culinary trends, Peruvian cuisine at El Patio in Fort Myers gets served up hardy, traditional-style. Try the multidimensional, folksy tacu tacu.
Beach Eats
Family favorite Doc’s Beach House on Bonita Beach serves traditional at-the-beach fare – “Sand Dollar burgers,” pizza, tacos, seafood – just steps from the sand. On Captiva Island, the Mucky Duck adds a British pub twist.
Bistro-Style
Modern café style prevails at Bistro 41 in Fort Myers, where rotisserie chicken is signature and the setting romantic. Bistro-hop to these other favorites: waterfront Rumrunners (Cape Coral) and Bayfront Bistro (Fort Myers Beach), and romantic, hip H2 Downtown Bistro (Fort Myers).
Ultra-Elegance
Once exclusively for hotel guests, the Dining Room at Gasparilla Inn & Club in Boca Grande now shares its new brand of creativity and historic romance with the public. Savor another helping of history and intimate ambiance at Old Captiva Inn at ‘Tween Waters Inn on Captiva Island.
Don’t Forget Dessert
Award-winning Norman Love Chocolate Salon in Fort Myers satisfies the most discriminating sweet tooth with its handmade, uniquely flavored truffles. Indulge in decadent cakes at Captiva Island’s Bubble Room and homemade ice cream at Boca Grande’s Loose Caboose.
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