Open season: 26 new restaurants launch in Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Sanibel, beyond
A landslide of new restaurants have opened from Fort Myers to Naples, Cape Coral, the beaches and beyond. Here's a look.
Annabelle Tometich
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated information about Kilwins at Gulf Coast Town Center in San Carlos Park. Kilwins remains open at 9903 Gulf Coast Main St. No. 160.
It's been a wildly busy few weeks in the local restaurant world.
The usual rush of openings Southwest Florida sees in fall, when restaurateurs typically like to open in order to get their teams up to speed ahead of the winter visitors' rush, seems to have stalled by a few months.
The pandemic has altered this cycle — as it's altered everything else.
The area has seen a slew of new bars and restaurants throw open their doors (and patios, and takeout windows) in recent weeks, with several more launching soon. Here's a look at 26 of them from North Fort Myers to Marco Island.
Fort Myers' new bars and restaurants
The Apothecary at Millennial Brewing: A partnership between Millennial co-owner Amber Cebull and Maddy Eagle, owner of Flying Eagle Kombucha, The Apothecary launched Dec. 31 as the area's first "zero-proof craft cocktail bar." Tucked inside Millennial, The Apothecary offers everything from classic gin & tonics made with non-alcoholic, house-crafted gin, to fizzy, booze-free "Champagne" cocktails infused with botanical syrups. (1811 Royal Palm Ave., downtown Fort Myers; facebook.com/apothecaryswfl)
INSPECTIONS: 8 Lee restaurants ace reports; caterer temporarily closed
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Bluwave Lobster House: Serving a menu filled with seafood and cocktails, Bluwave opened Dec. 1 near the Nike Factory Store at Sanibel Outlets. (20350 Summerlin Road No. 1128, south Fort Myers; 239-887-4532; bluwavelobsterhouse.com or facebook.com/bluwavelobsterhouse)
Cubans Be Like Restaurant & Cafe: The wife-and-husband team of Yolanda Fornaris and Angel Figueredo held the soft opening for this this full-service Cuban restaurant Jan. 12. Figueredo worked in bakeries in Havana and has used that experience to create a menu filled with croquetas, burgers, ropa vieja, surf & turf, and much more. Cubans Be Like also offers a full bar with mojitos and Cuba libres. The restaurant took over a long-empty space at the Cypress Trace shops in south Fort Myers. It's between Skillets and Peltz Shoes on the north end of the plaza. (13300 S. Cleveland Ave. No. 21, south Fort Myers; 239-789-1869; facebook.com/cubansbelikerestaurantcafe)
Pirate Hook Seafood & Chicken: This fast-food concept is taking over the drive-thru building near the corner of Fowler Street and Winkler Avenue that used to house Krispy Krunchy Chicken. Pirate Hook was scheduled to open Jan. 15, according to its Facebook page, but its launch has been delayed due to construction. (4065 Fowler St., Fort Myers; find it on Facebook)
The Standard: This downtown Fort Myers restaurant plans to open a second location Jan. 25 in the former Square 1 Burgers space at Page Field Commons, owner Christopher Blauvelt confirmed. He opened The Standard's first location in September 2015. More at facebook.com/thestandardftmyers.
FROM JLB:Fort Myers restaurants: Beacon Social Drinkery stuns, revives
Tres Amigos Taqueria: The restaurant held a grand opening Jan. 7 in the former Paradise Pizza space in south Fort Myers. Its menu features traditional tacos, as well as menudo specials, quesadillas and more. (8660 Gladiolus Drive No. 106, south Fort Myers; 239-791-8630; find it on Facebook)
Cape Coral's new bars and restaurants
Botanical Brewing: Another alcohol-free hangout, Botanical opened Nov. 21 in the former Big Storm Brewing space in south Cape. Botanical Brewing offers plant-infused sparkling teas on tap and in cans, as well as other spirit-free drinks. "Delicious euphoria without the hangover," its Facebook page reads. (839 Miramar St., Cape Coral; 941-202-2104; facebook.com/botanicalbrewingco or botanicalbrewingco.com)
Captain Hook's Sushi Pho & Thai: Opened in mid-December, this family-run concept offers an array of Asian dishes ranging from classic and specialty sushi and sashimi, to Vietnames pho and Thai-style curries. (2612 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral; 239-673-8138; captainhookssushi.com or find it on Facebook)
Goldy's Chicken Shack: Signs are up for this new restaurant along the former Beef 'O' Brady's space at 3015 SW Pine Island Road.
The Loft at OT: The owners of Overtime Pizzeria opened this more upscale concept, appropriately, in the restaurant's second-floor loft space. The Loft launched in early December offering tapas, a cocktail menu, as well as beers and wines. (1708 Cape Coral Parkway W., Cape Coral; 239-541-3367; facebook.com/theloftatot or theloftatot.com)
Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel's new bars and restaurants
400 Rabbits Mexican Kitchen & Tequilaria: The owners of Sanibel's Paper Fig Kitchen, Chef Jeramie Campana and his wife, Debra, teamed up with longtime friends, Chef Don and Cleta Yamauchi, to transform the original Doc Ford's space on Rabbit Road into a Mexican-inspired restaurant and craft tequila bar. 400 Rabbits has been a top-to-bottom renovation. The restaurant offers 242 seats: 32 outside and 52 in an airy space it calls "El Bungalow." The menu teams Jeramie and Don's decades of experience in restaurants. Chef Don is a former James Beard nominee, according to Debra, who served as executive chef for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. "It's a scratch kitchen. At the bar, we don't use mixers, it's all fresh juices," Debra said. "This has been a jewel of a location for decades. We are beyond thrilled to be here." (975 Rabbit Road, Sanibel; 239-558-8756; facebook.com/400rabbitssanibel or 400rabbitssanibel.com)
MORE:JLB: How to eat your way through Sanibel's restaurants — in a pandemic
Oliver’s Place: This casual restaurant and bar opened in December in the former Castaways space in Santini Marina Plaza on Fort Myers Beach. Oliver's features live entertainment and more than 30 HD TVs according to its Facebook page. (7205 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach; 239-444-6627; find it on Facebook)
South Lee, Estero and Bonita Springs' new bars and restaurants
Freddie's Pizza & Subs: Opened in November at Flamingo Island Flea Market, 11902 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. More at facebook.com/flamingoisland.
Lehne Burger: This local burger joint launched its second location in the former Johnny Rockets space at Coconut Point in Estero on Dec. 23. The new store remains in a "soft opening" phase according to owner Mike Lehne. The area's first Lehne Burger opened in 2014 on Fort Myers Beach. The concept moved to Cape Coral in March 2018. "I have been amazed at the support we are seeing from local people supporting local places," Lehne said. "When (the pandemic) started, I was really scared being such a little business like we are. But our customers have kept us growing." (More at facebook.com/lehneburgerestero; facebook.com/lehneburgertheoriginal; lehneburger.com)
MORE:9 great burgers in Cape Coral, because National Burger Day never ends
Nectar Lab: After celebrating a year in business in Naples, this kava bar is expanding. Nectar Lab is opening a new location at Gulf Coast Town Center in San Carlos Park. It's also opening a location in Miami, per its website. Nectar's owners did not respond to a message asking about its opening date. Find more at naplesnectarlab.com.
Naples and Marco Island's new bars and restaurants
Afsona: One of the area's first Uzbek restaurants, owners Gholibjon Avsamatov and Mamlakat Tadjieva launched Asfona on Dec. 24. The space, near the NCH Baker Hospital, was formerly occupied by Maria D’anna Cafe. Afsona seats 72 and serves unique dishes from Central Asia. “I’m happy because people start loving my cuisine, and I’m finally an owner of a business,” Avsamatov told the Naples Daily News. “I was waiting for 24 years since I moved to the United States.” (300 U.S. 41 N., Naples; 239-263-6892; afsona-restaurant.business.site)
MORE:Uzbek cuisine arrives in Naples with fresh inspirations
The Butcher: Veljko Pavicevic and Corinne Ryan, who also own Sails Restaurant on Fifth Avenue South, hoped to launch The Butcher in late 2020. Delays caused by the pandemic have moved that targeted opening date to "April or May" according to Pavicevic. The Butcher is taking over the building that once housed Agave at 2380 Vanderbilt Beach Road. Pavicevic has lofty ambitions for the 8,900-square-foot space and its 200-some seats. "We’re working to be the No. 1 steakhouse in Florida over the next 100 years," he said. "I believe being behind a little like this is OK when our focus is on getting everything just right." Find more at sailsrestaurants.com.
Felipe's Mexican Taqueria: A second Collier Felipe's is slated to open soon at Logan Landings in North Naples. Felipe's also has a location on Fort Myers Beach. More at facebook.com/felipesnorthnaples.
The Hangout by Two Guys: From Peter and Larry Falisi, the brothers who also run Two Guys Kitchen and Catering, The Hangout opened Dec. 7. It offers a casual yet house-made menu filled with salads, burgers, pastas, grilled items and a section of healthful fare. It also features a lengthy list of desserts. (2360 Pine Ridge Road, Naples; 239-384-9072; hangoutnaples.com; facebook.com/thehangoutnaples)
Mitch's Cookies Dessert Bar & Soda Fountain: After years on Davis Boulevard, Mitch's opened a second location Jan. 11 in the former Adelheidi's Gelato space at 520 Park St. off of Fifth Avenue South. The shop offers egg creams, sundaes, malts, shakes and the giant, scratch-baked cookies for which Mitch's is known. More at facebook.com/mitchscookies or mitchscookies.com.
FROM MAY:Naples restaurant owners to open The Butcher in former Agave space
Nawty Hogg Backyard BBQ: This Naples-born barbecue restaurant opened its second location Jan. 10 in the former Pei Wei Asian Kitchen space at the Shoppes at Vanderbilt. Nawty Hogg is known for its smoked chicken, pulled pork and sliced brisket. More at facebook.com/nawtyhogg.
Ria at Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort: Led by Chef Aldo Novoa Rodriguez, this outdoor concept, which launched Dec. 21, blends the flavors of Latin America, per its opentable.com page. "Try a twist on a classic dish or discover something new, from cochinita pibil from Mexico to Peruvian lomo saltado, with clever cocktails, tacos, and sweet surprises too," the site reads. Visit ritzcarlton.com for more.
Smith House: The restaurant took over the Petit Soleil space on Marco Island on Nov. 19. Smith House serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Morning items include house-baked pastries, pancakes and omelets. Dinner service began in late December with a menu that includes wild-boar poutine, vegetarian elotes and a re-imagined version of shrimp and grits made with a cheddar-jalapeno grit cake and pink Gulf shrimp — plus much more. (210 Royal Palm Drive, Marco Island; 239-389-8414; facebook.com/smithhousemarcoisland)
Ziggy D'Amico's Whiskey Bar & Diner: This D'Amico group concept opened Nov. 12 in the former D'Amico & Sons space in the Neapolitan Way Shopping Center. Ziggy's is open for lunch and dinner daily, with brunch on the weekends. The casual menu ranges from pizzas and small plates, to burgers, ribs and Nashville-style hot chicken. The bar offers wines, beers, cocktails and dozens of whiskeys and bourbons from around the U.S. and the world. (4691 Ninth St. N., Naples; 239-430-0955; ziggydamicos.com)
North Fort Myers and LaBelle's new bars and restaurants
Grandma Penny's Pizza: This pizzeria took over the former Amore Brick Oven Pizza space in November at 4353 Hancock Bridge Parkway, North Fort Myers. Along with pizzas, the restaurant offers a range of appetizers, salads, subs, stromboli, calzones and pasta entrees, as well as a kids menu, beer and wine. Grandma Penny's offers dine-in seating and online ordering for takeout or delivery according to its website. Call 239-217-0584 or visit grandmapennyspizza.com for more.
Pelican's SnoBalls: The frozen-sweets chain held a grand opening for its newest location in LaBelle Nov. 21 at 55 E. Yeomans Ave. Pelican's is known for its New Orleans-style shaved ice available in more than 100 flavors. This family-owned outlet also offers soft-serve ice cream and toppings. Find it on Facebook for more.
Annabelle Tometich writes about food and restaurants for The News-Press and Naples Daily News. Email her at atometich@news-press.com or connect on Instagram (@abellewrites).