Most Southwest Floridians head west to enjoy a day at the beach. But by early next year, they’ll have another option. That’s when a group of local investors and restaurateurs expects to open the area’s newest waterfront dining destination, tentatively named Boathouse31. The restaurant site is situated on an... Read more

The “wow” factor seems to be a common ingredient among outstanding restaurants. This je ne sais quoi is usually based on decor, location, food or service, but rarely all of the above. Bayfront Bistro on Fort Myers Beach is an exception. Located mid-island, behind the Publix shopping center on... Read more

It’s not unheard of for some of the area’s larger restaurants to serve upwards of 500 customers in the course of a day. But to provide as much in a two-hour period, followed by a live theatrical performance twice a day is, literally, a major production. Remarkably, Broadway Palm... Read more

Few local restaurants ever master the art of remaining relevant while staying consistent, particularly in markets like Southwest Florida, where the only constant seems to be change. However, after nearly two decades in business, Bistro 41 has managed to outlive most of its culinary copycats while steadily expanding its... Read more

It’s not surprising that many Southwest Florida diners associate tapas with appetizers or bar food. That’s because many local restaurants treat tapas almost as an afterthought, a culinary sidebar to an actual meal. But at Cork & Barrel in Fort Myers, tapas are the main event. The restaurant opened... Read more

Bodo Knoche and his son, Norman, admit they don’t know their way around a kitchen However, they do know their way around the world and the restaurant business As owners of The Twisted Lobster Seafood Grille in Cape Coral, the father-and-son team has put their unique qualifications to good... Read more

There’s something special about a small restaurant with a huge clientele, especially one that is independently owned and operated. Fla. Café in south Fort Myers is one such establishment. Despite intense competition for daytime dining dollars, the small storefront eatery has a firm foothold with the local breakfast/lunch crowd.... Read more

Although the term suggests a setback of sorts, finding yourself back at Square 1 means something far different to burger lovers, namely an outstanding meal. Located in Page Field Commons in Fort Myers, Square 1 Burgers & Bar is unlike any other casual-dining restaurant on Florida’s west coast and... Read more

From the day it opened last fall, Cape Cod Fish Company (CCFC) has attracted two types of customers: (1) New Englanders who miss the clam shacks back home and (2) seafood lovers who had no idea what they’d been missing until their first visit. Either way, chef Joseph Faria’s... Read more