Restaurants/Bars Fort Myers to Naples

[Dirty Ernie]

Looking for recs on fun places with good food and drinks.

My wife and I are new home owners in South Fort Myers, near Daniels and Interstate 75. We are visiting for 10 days this month. Have been know to sit at tables, but... much prefer the social interactions we find while roosted at the restaurant bar. Food interests span all ethnic culinary delights!

[TuteTibiImperes]

Neither is high end or groundbreaking cuisine, but if you want to grab some traditional bar grub Stevie Tomato's (a local chain, but I recommend the location on 41) and the Half Shell Lounge (on Park Meadow between 41 and Summerlin) both have friendly crowds and simple food done well.

The mahi mahi sandwich and burgers are top notch at Stevie's, and the fried pickles are great at the Half Shell.

[Dirty Ernie]

Thanks to all above for your recs. We got back from FL yesterday and had a great trip. Did not get to do all we wanted, but... did get to Grimaldi"s in Bell Tower. Happy to report that the Pizza was fantastic !! Rec's for all who may be waiting to try a new pizza place. Great outdoor/indoor seating well trained staff. Like the family style bowls of salad, easy to share with a pizza. Pep w/ Onion was great, will go back and try the white and then the chicken w/ pesto. Bone Fish will be tried on my next trip. Am aware of Steve Tomatos and agree it is good. Tues is half price pizza there, with fun live trivia. Big Al's shares the parking lot and is also very good. Understand there is a family connection there, some-how?. Good compitition between the two results.
Later.. and thanks to all !!

[duckfat73]

In Fort Myers, there's Cibo. It's an Italian restaurant and the food is outstanding. In the downtown area, there's a cute bar/restaurant on Bay Street. It used to be called H2 but they changed the name and I can't remember what it's called now. Anyways, they have a nice outdoor seating area and the food is decent.

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Bay Street Cafe
233 E Bay St Ste B, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Cibo
12901 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33919

[LilMsFoodie]

That would be Twisted Vine, the partner of Harold Balnick (sp?) threw him out when he went to Cru and stayed in the same place, same venue as H2. Food is pretty good, not as spectacular as reported here but hey, it's Fort Misery, and it is about as good as it will get for a while.

Re" Cibo: the bar there is pretty lively with a lot of locals dining at the bar. Just what the original partner asked for. Good call Duckfat 73. LMF

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Cibo
12901 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33919

[duckfat73]

LMF, ahhh yes, Twisted Vine, that is the name! I've only been there once. I had some fish en Papillote style, but sadly, my brain is not functioning and I can't remember the type of fish. I want to say it was sea bass but I'm not 100% sure. It was actually quite tasty. My fiancee's fish entree was a bit over cooked but had nice flavor from what I remember. She also had a really nice glass of chenin blanc.

[Zeits]

in Naples: Bricktop's and Brio at Waterside for a nice bar (Brick's has better food). very good bar action at Mercato with Irish Pub, AZN and of course Blue Martini and Pure--the last 2 being popular bars and BM has live music.

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Blue Martini
550 S Rosemary Ave Ste 244, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Bricktop's Restaurant
5555 Tamiami Trl N Ste 18, Naples, FL 34108

[LilMsFoodie]

DaRuMa has a great bar area, watch them make sushi and chat up the patrons. It is next to Saks at Bell Tower. People also sit at the outdoor bar at Grimaldi's, same place, for the best pizza you will ever have.

[Dirty Ernie]

I've heard about a pizza joint at Bell put did not know the name, so thanks. DaRuMa sounds different anyway so will give it a look see.

Many thanks.

[LilMsFoodie]

not ethnic, but a great place to sit at the bar or bar tables is Bonefish Grill. They are a chain but they do fish very well a number of ways and the bar area is always packed with people eating dinner. South of Daniels on 41 about 1/2 mile.

We have had meals at the bar at Bistro 41 as well. I do stray from Bell Tower, but it is close to my house and is our place to hang. Lots of regulars there and it is a fun crowd but mainly over 40ish.

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Bistro 41
13499 S Cleveland Ave Ste 143, Fort Myers, FL 33907

[Dirty Ernie]

Thanks... will be sure to drop in there. As I remember they have a very good "sginature" chicken app.

[nosh]

LMF beat me to them -- Bonefish Grille is always busy and is a great value for fresh, properly cooked fish. Their bang-bang shrimp makes a great snack. Bistro 41 has had its mostly ups but some downs over the years -- I always loved their meatloaf.

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Bistro 41
13499 S Cleveland Ave Ste 143, Fort Myers, FL 33907

[LilMsFoodie]

we ate dinner at the bar this week and had great fish and excellent cocktails. They had a guitarist who was quite good in the outside seating . We ended up there when we couldn't get into Bonefish (2 hr wait at 6:30!!!) No tables at Bistro 41 but we never mind sitting at the bar.

[RevrendAndy]

Angelina's has great Italian and a fun bar area with good drinks and friendly people.

[Dirty Ernie]

Thanks.Looks a little formal, but... I'll check it out.