LilMsFoodie's Profile
Dim Sum in Miami
thanks all. We will keep our reservation. I don't care about looking at the beach as I am a year round Floridian, but since it's in a beach hotel, it does seem a mis-step. I did interior design for years so I'm interested to see it. LMF
Dim Sum in Miami
So how preposterously expensive. I've reserved for dim sum lunch next weekend. I was just looking for a good place and unlike many hounds, ambiance is important to me. I assume the place is over the top but I'm not into $100 pp lunches. At least Chinese. LMF
Fort Myers Great new restaurant on McGregor
There are some distressing reports about Cristof's, so much so I am hesitant to go here again. At first I thought it was growing pains during the onslaught of "season", but it may be more than that. Has anyone been to Cristof's in April or this month?
La Fogata - Excellent Mexican in Fort Myers
Thanks for correcting my error. I have a tendency to consider all of these deals groupons, much to the others distress, as I'm sure I am not alone. LMF
La Fogata - Excellent Mexican in Fort Myers
I've reviewed La Fogata when it was in Bonita and recommend it. It is in a rowdy location now next to Ale Mary's. I'll stay away for a while as they came forward with a Groupon this morning, which creates short term chaos. Probably a good way to introduce this Bonita staple place to Fort Misery though.
I'm a Chile Rellenos girl and think theirs are top notch, second only to Cantina Laredo.
FT MYERS BEACH: here's my laundry list....bagels, pizza, Greek, Chinese take out, thai, Italian, Farmers market
Sasse's is always mentioned by the owners nephew or somesuch. It is good but in a deplorable location in the drug dealing area of the city Fort Myers. Why they haven't moved since the hospital that was close by, providing a steady stream of doctors and lots of medical dinners, has closed is beyond me. I know they have a wood oven, but there are plenty of places they could have moved to. They were great when there was nothing else in town.
Yabo does good Italian, has a funky hard-rock atmosphere and awesome entrees that are different. For instance, asiago filled gnocchi in a gorgonzola cream sauce.
Two Meatballs in the Kitchen has a very loyal following and is good for traditional Italian. None of these and especially Angelina's is the little red sauce place the person making the query was asking for. The closest hole in the wall place that I imagine he is looking for is near Edison College: Buon Appetito. Very Long Island red sauce place with a respectable pizza although I think Grimaldi's wins the pizza thing hands down.
FT MYERS BEACH: here's my laundry list....bagels, pizza, Greek, Chinese take out, thai, Italian, Farmers market
I live in South Fort Myers. This is not a place for Chinese. Nothing worhwhile nearby for 20 miles or so. PF Changs is the pinnacle around here. I like a little place in Fort Myers that does dim sum called e l chinese.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/146/923700/restaurant/E-L-Chinese-Restaurant-Fort-Myers
I love a place in Bonita called Home Thai and they have a place on Fort Myers Beach called Zushi Zushi. Quite modern looking. I think my favorite sushi guy went to that one.
http://www.zushizushi.com/?do=menu
doesn't look like they do Thai there however.
special dinner might be at: Bayfront Bistro, which is on FMB.
http://www.bayfrontbistro.com/
FT MYERS BEACH: here's my laundry list....bagels, pizza, Greek, Chinese take out, thai, Italian, Farmers market
I can't recommend a single place that meets your request that is on Fort Myers Beach. Farmer's Markets are not available this time of year. Too hot for local produce. Our farmer's markets are open from October to late April. You can find good organic produce at the Sandy Butler before your cross the bridge to FMB. There is a greek restaurant in Times Square right in the center of FMB but it is dismal IMHO. Restaurants on FMB do not have to be good as they have a steady business of tourists. You might like the Surf Club. Looks like a bar but the owner takes care with his food.
Naples Tomato Suddenly Closes.
I've been looking for their groupon or other social media coupon for Naples Tomato. I remember one but I didn't buy it.
I found L'Etoile's, which, if not handled with great aplomb, can mark the end of a place. 280 coupons, meaning at least 560 diners at little or no profit can spell disaster for smaller places.
http://www.groupon.com/deals/letoile?dl=d47388
new restaurants in Naples
Etoile had a groupon or one of the other social coupon services. I passed. If they are not at their "A" game, doing this sort of business stimulus can be the kiss of death. I think that might have happened to Naples Tomato.
Barbatella Newish Naples restaurant: Third Street South
Actually the manager of Sea Salt was the one attacking me. I called her out and she went away.
Barbatella Newish Naples restaurant: Third Street South
When Sea Salt first opened, I wrote something about how slow it seemed and why we opted for Campiello instead, preferring not to "dine alone". I received almost vicious responses, accusing me of being a plant for Campiello or Tommy B. It was quite dreadful. I'm not a big Sea Salt fan but this is another place with just the major $$ backer that Sea Salt has, not their day to day management. LMF
Barbatella Newish Naples restaurant: Third Street South
A word on the gelato. So many places like this. This was different in that the gelato wasn't so tooth achingly sweet but very creamy and full of flavor. I tried the pistachio.
Barbatella Newish Naples restaurant: Third Street South
Barbatella is open on Third St. South, just beyond Tommy Bahamas in a space that used to be Chinese antiques and another that was a very upscale florist/tchotchke shop.
Barbatella is a neopolitan style Italian restaurant....very La Dolce Vita. It has been opened by the people that run Sea Salt and it is exceptionally good. They do pizzas and the have a gelato shop. Very chic bar with amazing Italian wines by the glass.
My lunch yesterday was absolutely delicious. I ordered orchiette with sausage and rapini. Very good bread and excellent oil without all the flavoring nonsense. The orchiette was al dente and the sausage was mildly hot, very little sauce, tender fresh rapini. Good cheese on it. Glass of prosecco and lunch was about $30 with tip. Not cheap but the food wasn't either. We have had drinks here a few times with wonderful appetizers. Pizzas look excellent. Will definitely give Campiello a run for its money. It appeared to maybe a younger crowd than "cougarville" Campiello. Of course, I'm older than dirt, so everyone looks young to me. LMF
http://www.barbatellanaples.com
Good eats in Naples/Estero/Bonita Springs?
a second for Skillets. Really very good. I usually go to the one on Bonita Beach RD.
hoping to have a memorable trip...naples....
LaPlaya spa: more tropical, pricing I'm not sure of anymore, it's been a while.
Ritz spa: luxury all the way. Very elegant but not very tropical.
I've never found a day spa in the area that is up to these too. I generally spend my spa time at medical spas attached to dermatologist' or plastic surgeons....but I'm an old goat.
Fort Lauderdale Next Week
this board doesn't cover Fort Lauderdale. Check the Miami/Fort Lauderdale board.
http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/79
hoping to have a memorable trip...naples....
Have a great time and happy birthday. LMF
hoping to have a memorable trip...naples....
I've been to the Bice near the 50's and Fifth in NYC and it is very different from this one. You may like it, they are trying to run it like a private club (which was my impression of Bice in NY), our waiter was much more interested in the celebrities that eat there daily than me. Our bottle of champagne sat out on a side table with no bucket. I tipped him accordingly. This one has the same fawning service, if you are the right person.
Mira Mare is lovely for lunch. Haven't had dinner there.
Are you at the beach Ritz or the Golf Ritz. The beach Ritz has a great spa. You can walk to the Turtle Club on the beach from the beach Ritz. Makes it more fun. I'd also walk up to La Playa, very close also, and have drinks at Baleen. It is a lovely place.
High season in Naples ends with the tax cut off or Easter, which ever is later. Things should be thinning out. The busiest weekend in Naples is President's weekend in February. I don't go anywhere that weekend. Think of venturing into Manhattan during the Marathon or New Years Eve in TS. Quel horror!
Hope you find time to do drinks at Barbatella. In fact, you could do a pub crawl on Third St So and have a great time: Tommy B, Campiello (watch cougars in their natural habitat), Sea Salt, Handsome Harry's and now, Barbatella. What fun.
hoping to have a memorable trip...naples....
I think you would enjoy Mercato more than Waterside, unless you don't have a Nordstroms and Saks, Williams Sonoma where you live. Every high end purse manufacturer is there though: Vuitton, Hermes, Kors, Gucci, etc etc etc. Looking to drop $5000 or so on a purse, this is your nirvana. The restaurants there are not as good as they should be. Two so so chains, Silver Spoon and Cal. Pizza Kitchen. Also Brio, my pick for there, but nothing that great other than the outdoor bar's atmosphere. BrickTop might have better food, but again, many other better choices in town.
Mercato is an entertainment mall with fun bars (Blue Martini, a British style pub, Asian, etc.) and lots of window shopping. The two top spas in Naples only cater to their hotel guests: The Ritz Carlton Beach and La Playa, but they might have offerings off season. Couldn't hurt to inquire.
I'll also recommend The Turtle Club. Right on the beach you can have a nice dinner or cocktails with sand in toes.
Third Street South is also a fun location but more likely to be much older crowd. It is magical and Campiello and Tommy Bahama have fun vibes. I'm very high on Barbatella, a new place on Third Street South.
http://barbatellanaples.com/
http://www.laplayaresort.com/naples-florida-spa-salon.aspx
http://www.windwardhospitality.com/naples/index.html (this is Turtle Club)
http://www.mercatoshops.com/play_dining.asp
Ruth's Chris, Fort Myers/Estero? [moved from Florida]
so how was Ruth's Chris? I have never liked the Coconut Point location but it seems to hang on. Capital Grille (brought to you by the people who do Olive Garden) is better.
GOING TO FORT MYERS NEXT WEEK
In a word, No. But you might like Yabo which is not in a gentrifying neighborhood but is excellent, none the less. There is also Cristof's, which I have written about here. It is in an old cracker style house in a residential area near the river. The River District is nice downtown but there are no first rate innovative restaurants there. Some like Yano and they do try. That might be fun for you.
http://yaborestaurant.com/
http://www.opentable.com/yanos
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g34230-d2363559-Reviews-Cristof_s_on_McGregor-Fort_Myers_Florida.html
Fort Myers & Captiva/Sanibel: BEST ice cream, soup, Indian, Middle Eastern, and any other "no chew" food
Ethnic restaurants and Captiva are never mentioned in the same sentence.
do you do fresh oysters? Lazy Flamingo has excellent Apalachicola ones. No chewing involved, just slide them down. Wine there is really dismal. Mainly a beer place.
There are a couple of excellent chef operated restaurants that might cook something special for you.
I'd try Sunset Grill. They could probably do a puree for you. Good restaurants will try to accommodate special needs. Another one to try is Sunshine Seafood which is quite close to South Seas. Most of the places on Andy Rosse Ln are pure dreck anymore.
Places mentioned in prior posts are about 90 min. from Captiva given season traffic. Not too bad this week but going into Easter....at least that amount of time.
Before going on island, you might stop at the Norman Love new gelato place on Daniels near the Jet Blue baseball park. If I were in your shoes, I'd get several pints and have at it. LMF
Mexican Naples
La Fogata in Bonita Springs is my pic for best Mexican. It is possible that when you go you will be the only Gringo there.
No website but here is a link to Yelp:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-fogata-bonita-springs#hrid:BN35XiAHGJE0iMPpfGOPvg
There is also a few authentic Mexican places over on Old 41 in historic Bonita Springs. I like La Fogata much better.
Fort Myers 2012 a few places I've liked this winter season
It's in Bell Tower area. Across from Cantina Laredo in the plaza with Outback. Been there for years.
Fort Myers 2012 a few places I've liked this winter season
1. Ford's Garage. The New kid in town: Absolutely a home run for the River District. They have taken over the old Morgan House space and created a first rate burger bar. The burgers are made with top ingredients and delicious. Excellent fries. Huge beer assortment on tap and bottle. Young staff needs some polish, but I think they will be very good. Old Ford Jalopy hanging over the bar, AhOooohGah, the horn sounds every so often. Also backfires...We had an excellent time, timing needs improvement but it's only been a week or so . Owned by group that owns the Edison down the street.
2. Cristof's. I wrote about this earlier and it is getting better. Excellent burger in their bar area and the food and service is quite good.
3. Cibo: This is one of our go-to favorites as it is close by. The food is great. The little bar area is trying for a elderly singles pick up place. Fun to watch!....or maybe not. Dining room is still too dark. I was an interior designer for years and did several restaurants but never understood owners equating dark with romantic. If you need a flashlight for the menu (nice app on my google phone) it is too dark.
4. Paris/Saigon Cafe: I haven't been here for years but recently had an excellent meal. I think their Vietnamese food is much superior to the french. Excellent fresh crunch spring rolls, Pho!! the real thing and delicious. I had the Vietnamese crepes which are as good as ever. Only complaint is the glacial pace of service. Owner and wife do the cooking, all to order, so this is no place for a quick lunch. Interior is ghastly but the pho is worth overlooking the ambiance.
5. Grimaldi's: only place we go for pizza anymore. I could care less if its New York or wherever...in fact when someone goes on about New York pizza I always remember some of the dreck I've had in NYC, passing as great pizza. Grimaldi's crust is thin, crisp and there is not too much sauce or cheese. Very fresh ingredients and the salads are superb as well. Well chosen wines and Pieroni beer are on the list.
Fort Myers Beach
nicer place is Bayfront Bistro. Nice wines and although you don't watch sunset per se, you see the colors setting on the San Carlos bay and the migrating birds and colors on the water. Sushi is good and it is the only restaurant of its quality on the Fort Myers Beach island. We think Flippers is fun, a waterfront place on the next barrier island along with Lovers Key State Park. A surprise is the Surf Club, which inhabits an old Waffle House. Food is quite good. I like Parrot Key. Fun place, we always feel like we are on vacation here.
http://www.fortmyersattractionsandtours.com/parrot.aspx
http://www.bayfrontbistro.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g34231-d1733803-Reviews-Surf_Club-Fort_Myers_Beach_Florida.html
Many places to avoid on the beach:
Avoid Lani Kai. Vile.
Ditto anything in Times Square.
Drinks only at The Cottage...watch the spring break madness at the above Lani Kai from afar.
Sun City Center area restaurants
fine dining and sun city center are not typically mentioned in the same sentence. Several acceptable Mom and Pop Italian places. You need to drive over to Lythia or maybe west to Bradenton to find something good. Topping for you. You might try Yelp. I don't consider Yelp to have the quality of recs that the Hound does, but they do get many more hits. LMF
