He's shaping the future generation of culture-savvy chefs keen on keying into regional influences, like Ella Mae chef Angel . In fact, there are two locations so you cant miss it. The highlights for me were the Jalapeno Poppers, which were gigantic and lightly fried and the super spicy hot sauce. The wines are made in Woodridge, Illinois, but the grapes are sourced from across the country and sometimes internationally. Listed on 2023-03-02. A whopping 10 new restaurants (and a wine bar) have opened in recent weeks or are coming soon. Theyve submitted for a building permit as well. You can usually find them at breweries like we did at Millennial Brewing Company, but check their Facebook page to find the exact location daily. For a more casual Fort Myers taco restaurant than Felipes, TaKote, is another FMB option. Executive chef and managing partner Jay Schrednitz, an industry pal from the Larkins time at The Turtle Club, has recently replaced former chef Adam Nardis and the restaurants ethosfresh, high-quality ingredients treated with playful creativityremains unchanged. Near the beach, early bird specials can frequently be found as well. We ended up at Felipes unexpectedly one night, after the other restaurant we wanted to try was too busy. Empire Bagel Factory opened its first Lee County location Sept. 6 at9961 Interstate Commerce Drive near the Twin Peaks restaurant in south Fort Myers. We went to Mucky Duck for lunch during our Captiva daytrip, after being unable to find any beach parking. Entrees are in the $20 to $40 range and burgers and sandwiches are between $15.99 and $19.99. The Fort Myers area is very casual as far as dress code goes. Brandon & Caitlin Shwewe are the pioneers behind Bonita Springs two new trendiest spots; Downtown Coffee and Wine Company and Chartreuse Craft Cocktail Lounge. The small plates, developed by chef Nicholas Hartmann, draw influences from Pacific Rim countries, steering clear of the overly sweet flavors that often characterize Tiki cuisine. A sure thing this year at Bell Tower will be the launch of McGregors Public House, a new local venue that plans a fresh twist on a traditional Irish pub experience. We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from the Florida and World. The ginger dressing was unlike any other I have had and was freshly made! I was really hoping to get to this one, because the sandwiches look amazing! Another stand out of the trip was Big Hickory Waterfront Grille. 8 Places. To celebrate their launch, they've arranged giveaways and specials: Sept. 20:Free chicken salad for a year to the first 100 guests. Arekie Fusion Cuisine food truck debuted last week in Fort Myers. To make the fiery spirit more approachable, bartenders also shake it into balanced cocktails like the Ros All Day with sweet strawberry, St-Germain elderflower liqueur and lime. If you are staying at a condo, you can indulge in oven ready meals like Veggie Moussaka or Chicken Tagliata. Burrata toast follows, the milky cheese cradling fresh cherry tomatoes drizzled with syrupy balsamic vinegar, as does the charred octopus on a pool of earthy, complex mole with a pretty mlange of red, white and purple potatoes. After settling into a cushy armchair with a local whiskey cocktail in hand, the evenings amuse lands on the tablejust two or three forkfuls of ponzu-marinated salmon with microgreens, herbs and togarashi. More: In the Know: Pan Olio, J & P Fusion restaurants opening in Cape strip mall. Palace Pub & Wine Bar opened Friday at 1317 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral. Its in pursuit of those Polynesian small plates and house rum cocktails that I find myself at Jungle Bird Authentic Tiki, the first stop of this culinary journey. This kitschy spot is known for its crazy dcor, including Christmas decorations and fun atmosphere. Mofongo Spot opened in August, serving Caribbean-inspired classics crafted with chef-driven twists. This is more for takeout or a quick meal as opposed to a margaritas and appetizers experience, but the taco quality is also excellent. Starting at around $10, you can get one of the truck's signature mofongostopped with proteins such as skirt steak, pork belly, salmon or even duck confit. I highly recommend the scallops and any fettuccini specials offered. By far our favorite area to eat on this trip was the downtown Fort Myers area. This next vegan Fort Myers restaurant may take some work to find thanks to it being on wheels. For about the last decade, Dr. Moses Shieh, founder of the practice . try has 72 taps with an emphasis on local craft brews. Anticipate many more restaurants, food trucks and culinary surprises still coming throughout Lee County in 2023. Truly it depends on the day. In Naples, Uncle Julios is under construction andtargeted to open this summerina freestanding building along U.S. 41near the newCMXCinebistroon the northwest corner of Coastland Center malls property. The menu is always changing here, with a focus on unique, foodie takeout meals. This is the fourth outpost for the local chain, with three more in Naples, East Naples and Marco Island, where Empire launched in 1994. Lukas has a preliminary drawing of the new building inside his current restaurant for all to see on a back table. Coopers Hawk Winery & Restaurant is targeted to open this spring along Six Mile Cypress Parkway, while The Capital Grille is targeted to launch around the end of the year at Bell Tower Shops. Tacos & Tequila Cantina also intends to open its fourth area location before the end of this month at The Pointe at Founders Square on the southeast corner of Collier Boulevard and Immokalee Road. If you are looking for a Sanibel restaurant that isnt the traditional tourist food, Paper Fig Kitchen is the one to visit. Like the name implies, this spot offers comfort food loaded up with all the toppings and sauces not usually associated with dieting. aunched as a local food truck in 2017,plans to bring its Mexican street food to The Causeway,opening soon on Old 41 Road in Bonita Springs. A spate of new restaurants in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel and throughout Southwest Florida have recently opened or are coming soon. The chefs do a phenomenal job crafting the meals.. Anticipate many more restaurants, food trucks and culinary surprises still coming throughout Lee County in 2023. After years of controversy, the sports bar franchise is finally making its way to Naples! Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant popular for its wine and food pairings is coming to Fort Myers. Empire offers more than a dozen flavors of bagels, ranging from cinnamon-sugar, to asiago, to everything bagels. 9 in Suite 440 at University Village in Fort Myers. The Alta Marea bruschetta, a thick slice of toasted bread piled high with chilled crab, lobster and shrimp, is a decadent start to the meal. I would say this restaurant leans more towards traditional seafood dining, then trendy options, but it looks like the recipes are tried and true. I hear they have the best coffee in town, with everything from Lattes to Nitro Cold Brews to Cortados. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with all sorts of tasty, plant-based smoothies, bowls and sandwiches! We're guided by our values: The letters AES stand for more than just our name. According to Lee County records, the historic Buckingham property sold Aug. 30 for $1.9 million to Shows Team Enterprises LLC. This adorable Thomas Galt Home is situated on a quiet Cul de sac. The Riverside district is one exception, where there are a few paid lots if you cant find street parking. The cuisine rises to a similar level of technique and creativity. Skybar 26, named for the 26th latitude,which Cape Coral Parkway follows almost exactly, will be on the fourth floor offering views of the Caloosahatchee. The restaurant also serves great cocktailslocals love the bartender's espresso martini. The investors have no plans yet for the second and third stories, which will be designed as office space. Palace Pub & Wine Bar opened Friday at1317 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral. This effort is meant to try to reduce the bee population's drastic decline in recent years. It expanded to Sanibel in 2015. American, Seafood Our menu is going to be different than the typical Mexican restaurant you see here. The Aussie Grill is a new fast-casual experience by Outback. Sea Street Food & Bar is coming soon to4300 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers, across the street from Iguana Mia and the Edison Mall. There are also more traditional options like Beyond Beef Burgers and Tacos, so anyone can get in the foodie mood here. You can also order burritos, bowls or platters complete with grilled meat, rice, beans and more. The new location was targeted to open for Cinco de Mayo festivities this week, butits buildout couldnt be completed in time. Regardless, we were able to have lunch with our toes in the sand staring out at the gorgeous water and that was good enough for me. It is customary to tip 20% in Fort Myers and most restaurants do not include this in the final bill, unless you have a large party. At the recommendation of our waitress, I got the fettuccini which had a fresh sauce and plenty of creamy ricotta. 15880 Summerlin Road, Unit 308. The ordering system was a bit chaotic, with drinks being ordered at a bar and waiters taking your food order, but everything was delectable, especially the Captiva sandwich I got. However, the food was also excellent, especially the fried grouper sandwich. The menu includes pizza, burgers, tacos, salads and more. However, the drinks and the red velvet cake are the real crowd pleasers! More: In the Know: Four-story steakhouse, skybar set for Cape Coral. This romantic Estero restaurant is right on the bay and not far from Fort Myers Beach. Unfortunately, there are not many vegetarian options and I hear the rest of the menu leaves a lot to be desired, so stick with the classics and you will be in for a simple, but satisfying meal. Like many restaurants on this island, it is a bit overpriced, with entrees varying from $15 to $30 per person. We try a tangy, grapefruit-colored guava wit; a seasonal Oktoberfest Mrzen from Fort Myers Brewing Co.; a Sour Patch Kids-esque blueberry crumble sour; a hazy New England IPA; and a silky porter with a rich, chocolate finish. After overordering in the name of research, our platter arrives laden with meats and housemade sides. Area restaurateurs seem never to have heard of such a thing. A smaller-than-it-should-be takeout container and the trays juice-soaked paper liner are all that remain a leisurely hour later. In the Know: Keke's, Love Boatbring competition to Colonial, In the Know: Four-story steakhouse, skybar set for Cape Coral, In the Know: Pan Olio, J & P Fusion restaurants opening in Cape strip mall, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Explore curated lists of top restaurants, cafes, pubs, and bars in Fort Myers, based on trends. A couple of upscale restaurant chains coming off Daniels Parkway in south Fort Myers have attracted a lot of early attention. Hospitality/Catering. Mofongo Spot's bright green trailer can be found at breweries, apartment complexes and in theOak River Church parking lotnext to the Bonita Springs Dog Park on E.Terry Street. Keke's Breakfast Cafe, Love Boat Ice Cream, Smoothie King and Wendy's are coming to The Shops at Village Walk, twomini-strip plazas being built in front of thePublixfronting Six Mile Cypress Parkway, just south of Colonial and off Dani Drive in Fort Myers. Start with some locally roasted coffee, add a few sweets to go with (baked in-house of course), a carefully selected wine list, and some stand-up comedy and youve got Vichinos Cafe + Wine Bar! Itopened in September 2008 and has room for 250 diners in about 8,000 square feet of space. Its tagline: "It's like your hometown diner grew up and went to the city.". In addition to all kinds of coffees and energy drinks, Urban Buzz offers teas, smoothies, milkshakes and pastries. Theres a coarsely ground hotlink with a snappy casing and building heat and tender bits of pork shoulder, glossy with their fatty juices. Outdoor seating. Most restaurants in the area have free parking, but if you plan to enjoy drinks with your meal, taking an Uber/Lyft is safe and convenient. Housed steps from the main hotel in a . And well have a beer garden in the back between the buildings, said Navy veteran Chris Gutierrez, the head brewer and owner of Swamp Cat, which refers to the Florida Panther, of course. The restaurant, which opened in late 2020, amassed tremendous buzz for its coequal collaboration between kitchen and bar, the latter overseen by Barry Larkin, who co-owns the restaurant with his wife, Carolyn. The Fort Myers restaurant on the water that everyone raves about is Doc Fords. The burgers are made with Prime Black Angus Beef, come with all sorts of toppings and are less than $15. 7925 Dani Drive, Fort Myers, United States. Tim Aten Knows: New restaurants coming to Fort Myers in 2023. winknews.com - TIM ATEN, GULFSHORE BUSINESS 3h. The influx of new residents from other markets that already have Capital Grilles would be natural customers. Its going to be unique to Naples.. We have a wine club. The new Harold's offers a full bar and more extensive menu, as well as an opportunity for Balink to once again mingle with guests. Sept. 23:The first 50 guests to purchase two large Quick Chicks will receive a free Chick cooler. Each Coopers Hawk is like a retail center, Kiesel said. Check out some of SWFLs new restaurants from Naples to Fort Myers: Chances are you have seen, and definitely smelled, the Jonesez food truck around town before. This gives an option to not have to travel to Naples or Estero to experience something like this.. Expect the second location of La Ola to have what owner Tom Houghton describes as a relaxed, fun, beach place with frozen drinks and live music. Between the touristy beach areas and the trendy Riverside District, there is something for everyone dining in Fort Myers. Most people reading this guide are probably going on vacation to Fort Myers, which is perfect for visiting FK Your Diet. Expected to open mid-March, the new location is a baseball-throw from CenturyLink Sports . Its a fully functioning winery as well as a full-service restaurant, said Kylee Kiesel, a supervisor at the Sarasota location. Here are the ten best Fort Myers restaurants in the River District! Most places have a very casual setting and the food is ideal for eating by the water. A Coopers Hawk Restaurant & Winery is in the works after Stock Development paid $1.5 million for a parcel on the east side of the Publix-anchored shopping center at the southwest corner of Daniels and Six Mile Cypress Parkway. Instead, personality and heart have replaced formality with passion projects that include a restaurant built around a 100-label grappa list (a nod to the chef-owners Venetian heritage) and an ode to luscious, slow-smoked meats and Florida craft brews. I expect they will do very well here in this location, Gelder said. Most of the entrees fall in the $20-$30 range. They stand for what we truly believe - our "Attitude Equals Success". 1,138 reviews Closed Now. A coming-soon barbecue joint, which is not open yet and is expected to have . The truck's chef-owner Josh Almanzar was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and grew up in Miami. Itwill offer an Asian-themed menu, fusing foods from multiple Asian countries. The acai bowls are also popular for a fruity treat anytime of day. 1 Fairview Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 is a lot/land. There is already a location in North Naples. For Fort Myers restaurants on the water, we found the Bonito Beach and Estero area to have the best options. An early menu shows several pho, bun and banh mi dishes. When you come in, youre coming into what looks like a wine shop. Sept. 24 : The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Special will receive a free Chick Special for their next visit. The new Shea's Lansdowne Street plans to open within the next month in the former space of Newk's Eatery at 6340 . Recovered from our carnivorous exertion, we swing by chef and culinary director Everett Fromms Hogfish Harrys for dinner. This caf is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a menu that rivals the size of The Cheesecake Factory. Do you see an error or mistake? According to therelease, this isthe first of six locations Potesta and Pace have planned for the area. MORE NEW RESTAURANTS: The Doughnut Station, Pure Green open, JLB: Zen Deli offers balance, banh mi and American classics with Vietnamese twists, Its been a long road of building the trailer, mechanical issues, finding productand making sure the trailer was up to standards for inspection,"Boshnjaku said,"but seeing how happy our customers are after trying our food makes it all worth it.". Bernert, a native of Germany, notes that he has an American grandfather, hence his status as a quarter pounder American. Flippers. This is a healthy spot open for breakfast and lunch. The new store will occupy a 2,800-square-foot space in Village Walk. 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