| The big news on the local restaurant scene this year: malls.
We're not talking food courts here. Coconut Point in Estero and Gulf Coast Town Center in San Carlos Park have sparked a boom in restaurant openings — and choices for diners.
From casual eateries such as Ted's Montana Grill and Islamorada Fish Co. to finer-dining establishments along the lines of Ruth's Chris Steak House and Blue Water Bistro, the malls staked their claims on dining dollars.
But our best repasts of the past year ranged from casual tapas bars to spendy steakhouses. These are our top 10 of 2007:
The Joint — $-$$
Cape Harbour, 5785 Cape Harbour Drive, Cape Coral; 542-0123
The Joint joined Rumrunners last year at the growing Cape Harbour community. It's a more casual dining spot offering tapas for sharing, gourmet pizzas and a handful of sandwiches. I highly recommend the Kobe beef sliders.
Food: 3 and 1/2 stars
Atmosphere: 3 and 1/2 stars
Service: 3 stars (Reviewed 8/07)
Ruth's Chris Steak House — $$$$$
Coconut Point, 23151 Village Shops Way, Estero; 948-8888.
The steaks are broiled at 1,800 degrees and arrive topped with butter on 500-degree platters. The Midwestern beef is prime grade, the best you can buy, and aged two to three weeks. Add in posh New Orleans decor and polished service, and you've got a recipe for great dining.
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars (Reviewed 2/07)
Truluck's of Naples — $$$$$
698 Fourth Ave. South, Naples; 530-3131
Fresh, seasonal seafood, succulent steaks and stellar service define this downtown Naples newcomer. From stone crab claws caught that same morning, to a melt-in-your-mouth filet of beef, to spectacular desserts Truluck's is worth a trip.
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars (Reviewed 2/07)
Char Grillhouse — $-$$
2431 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers; 337-2427
The chefs at Char take grilling to a new level. Unique meats such as venison sausage and kangaroo are cooked to moist, flavorful perfection and served with a bountiful selection of sauces for dipping. If red meat isn't your thing, Char offers a variety of seafood along with a full section of wraps and sandwiches that include vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Food: 3 and 1/2 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Service: 3 and 1/2 stars (Reviewed 7/07)
Chops City Grill — $$$$$
837 Fifth Ave. S., Naples; 262-4677
Chops City Grill in Naples is nearing its 10th anniversary and, like its mouthwatering steaks, age agrees with it. Appetizers of crispy shrimp and beef spring rolls and tuna tataki exemplified the kitchen's knack with Asian flavors. A watermelon salad with fresh chevre, dried raspberries and candied walnuts wowed the senses.
Food: 3 and 1/2 stars
Atmosphere: 3 and 1/2 stars
Service: 4 stars (Reviewed 12/07)
Strip House -- $$$$$
475 Seagate Drive, Naples; 598-9600
From wallpaper flocked with red-velvet silhouettes of busty women, to sepia-toned pictures of burlesque performers, to perfectly seared and seriously juicy cuts of corn-fed, dry-aged steaks, Strip House at the Naples Grand Resort lives up to every meaning of its double-entendre name.
Food: 3 and 1/2 stars
Atmosphere: 3 and 1/2 stars
Service: 3 and 1/2 stars (Reviewed 12/07)
Toro — $$$$$
Bell Tower Shops, 13499 U.S. 41, Fort Myers; 437-8676
Happy diners are a keen indicator of a kitchen's skill, and from my corner booth at Toro I saw nothing but cheer. Wispily thin slices of Serrano ham draped over crunchy pieces of garlic-rubbed bread got my eyes twinkling. Whole, fresh anchovy fillets drizzled in herb-infused oil brought on a grin, and a fillet of Dover sole carved tableside got a toothy beam of approval.
Food: 3 and 1/2 stars
Atmosphere: 3 and 1/2 stars
Service: 3 and 1/2 stars (Reviewed 8/07)
Brio Tuscan Grille — $$$-$$$$
Waterside Shops, 5505 Tamiami Trail N., Naples; 593-5319
Italian food on a grand scale. The sprawling villa setting sweeps you off your feet, and the menu soars beyond run-of-the-mill Italian fare with such dishes as gorgonzola-crusted lamb chops, four kinds of bruschetta and risotto with sauteed shrimp and lobster butter.
Food: 3 and 1/2 stars
Atmosphere: 3 and 1/2 stars
Service: 3 and 1/2 stars (Reviewed 10/07)
Jayne's Victorian Garden — $$$-$$$$
12901 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers; 482-2466
Long a popular spot for healthy lunching, Jayne's new dinner menu appeals to the vegetarian and the beef-eater, alike. And they do it all deliciously. Veggie paprikash, the daily special tilapia and a butter-knife tender filet of beef were equally dazzling.
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service: 3 and 1/2 stars (Reviewed 11/07)
Dwyers Prime Steakhouse — $$$$$
13851 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers; 425-0782
The former Irish pub has taken it up a notch — several notches, really— with aged prime steaks, sophisticated spa-influenced cuisine and better service. Prices have soared accordingly, making this a special-occasion kind of place.
Food: 3 and 1/2 stars
Atmosphere: 3 and 1/2 stars
Service: 3 stars (Reviewed 11/07)
— Jean Le Boeuf is the nom de plume of a local food lover who dines at The News-Press' expense.
Old Favorites
Rumrunners — $$-$$$
5848 Cape Harbour Drive, Cape Coral; 542-0200
Rumrunners has one of the best local waterfront locations but can't seem to get everything else exactly right. Service has improved since its initial review three years ago, but a recent dinner was marred by inattention to details like food temperature and side sauces. Still, Rumrunners does enough things right to warrant a drive out to western Cape Coral every not and then.
|
