It’s not easy being all things to all  people at all hours, which may explain  the dearth of locally owned  restaurants serving breakfast, lunch  and dinner. But at Gather in Cape Coral,  the owners and staff have been meeting  the challenge with ease, starting at 7  a.m., six days... Read more

For years, visitors to the Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers have watched Society take shape at the property’s north end, wondering what it was and whether construction would ever be completed. At long last, it appears the innovative restaurant is ready for its close-up. Although final permits and... Read more

Past performance doesn’t guarantee future success for most businesses. But when the business involves a dining concept from veteran local restaurateur Chris Whitaker, success is a reasonable assumption. Add partner and chef Jean- Claude Roge to the mix and it’s hard to imagine how LYNQ could be anything but... Read more

When Bistro 41 made its 1997 debut, retailers Saks Fifth Avenue and Jacobson’s anchored the Bell Tower Shops, and there were far fewer restaurants to serve Lee County’s population of approximately 400,000. Back then, Bistro 41 was one of the area’s first fine-dining restaurants with a contemporary, “urban chic”... Read more

The Kearns Restaurant Group and its partners continue transforming the restaurant scene in downtown Fort Myers with their latest dining option: Izzy’s Fish and Oyster at the corner of First and Jackson streets. Scheduled to open by the end of May, the New England-style seafood restaurant and raw bar... Read more

Excellence is not an option for dining establishments along downtown Naples’ world-class restaurant row; it’s expected. That’s why it takes an extraordinary establishment to generate the buzz that Ocean Prime has enjoyed since opening in December. Located at 699 5th Avenue South, the restaurant is the latest among Ohio-based... Read more

When you consider that Lee County alone boasts an estimated 300+ pizza restaurants, there’s no question that Southwest Florida is a pizza lover’s paradise. However, many questioned whether the area could support yet another pizzeria when Blue Moon Pizza made its Florida debut in Fort Myers in 2013. Apparently... Read more

If you haven’t dined at Twisted Vine Bistro in downtown Fort Myers lately, you’re in for some pleasant surprises. In addition to a new chef and revamped menu, the Bay Street establishment recently expanded next door to open The Barrel Room, a bourbon and blues bar. Together, they provide... Read more

While fast-casual restaurant chains continue to proliferate in Southwest Florida, fine dining establishments are becoming all but extinct. Of the few local survivors, none is as elegant or as celebrated as the Veranda in downtown Fort Myers. Now, just two years shy of its 40th birthday, it remains as... Read more

Have you ever been to a restaurant that was so outstanding you wanted to keep it all to yourself? Welcome to BLANC, a whitehot fine-dining star on the rise in south Fort Myers. Owned by restaurateur Chris Whitaker and chef Jean Claude Roge, BLANC is arguably the area’s hippest... Read more