7 restaurant openings and reopenings, plus two closings, from Cape Coral to Sanibel
The local food scene has been heating up like Southwest Florida's temperatures these last few weeks, including seven highly anticipated openings and reopenings, a couple of closings, plus the tipoff of our Best Burger in Fort Myers and Naples brackets.
So sit back, relax, and let’s get caught up.
The Waterfront Restaurant
This St. James City favorite reopened Saturday, March 9, after being heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian 17 months earlier. Owners Declan Kiely and his wife Nicki Fleming have completely redone this waterfront wonder, making it fresher and brighter with a more roomy feel. Colorful tables and chairs adorn the back deck for waterfront dining. The same beloved menu is back with apps, soups & salads, a handful of sandwiches, tacos, baskets, burgers, seafood entrees and, of course, its famous coleslaw. Open 11 a.m. to 9 a.m. daily at 2131 Oleander St., St James City. Go to waterfrontrestaurantmarina.com or follow on Facebook.
Over Easy Café
Sanibel’s all-day breakfast café also just reopened after being closed for 530-plus days after Hurricane Ian. A grand reopening will be held Sunday, March 17. In the meantime, the soft opening continues with breakfast from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 630 Tarpon Bay Road on Sanibel. Follow on Facebook or go to overeasycafesanibel.com
Hooked Island Grill
When Hurricane Ian destroyed their Matlacha restaurant, Erik Lebsack and Kyle Sherman opened a Hooked Island Grill four months later in the Gulf Coast Town Center. And now they’ve opened another one closer to home. Hooked made its South Cape debut on Tuesday, March 12, opening at the intersection of SE 10th Place and SE 47th Terrace in South Cape near Club Square. It’s the former home of Big Storm Brewing, Big Blue Brewing, and a bingo hall before that.
“To get this one open and see how excited everyone is makes you feel like you’re doing something right,” said Lebsack, who co-owns this one with Sherman and Franco Russo.
Everything inside has been redone and the seafood-heavy menu just debuted in Fort Myers and Cape, too.
Read more at news-press.com/taste.
Taco Works
The highly anticipated opening of the downtown Fort Myers location took place on Friday, March 15. Taco Works took over the Hendry Street spot in the Richards Building previously occupied by Peter’s German Ice Cream & Coffee Shop (which moved to 1412 Dean St.).
Taco Works — with locations in downtown Cape Coral and on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers — is known for its tacos (especially the Korean beef), huge burritos and nachos. Check them out at 1617 Hendry St., Suite 102, downtown Fort Myers, tacoworksfl.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram.
Let’s Waffle
This sweet little shop opened Saturday, March 9, in the Santa Barbara Plaza, around the corner from 10 Twenty Five in Cape Coral. Signature sweet and savory waffles are offered, along with a freestyle option where customers can craft their own using a variety of toppings, including sauces, fruits, candy, cheese, meats, greens and more. It’s open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday at 1031 Santa Barbara Blvd. Go to letswaffleflorida.com or follow on Facebook for more.
The Hungry Captain
The family behind Holy Moly Ice Cream and Raabery Ink Society in Cape Coral has ventured into the Maine lobster roll business. Sonja and Stefan Raab are part of this northeast Cape Coral restaurant in Pine Island Park plaza.
It opened Monday, Feb. 26, behind the new Total Package Car Wash off Pine Island Road, just west of Del Prado Boulevard.
“It does very well,” Stefan said. “Customers love it. We sell only the knuckle and claw of the lobster.”
There are several lobster rolls, ranging from classic New England and Connecticut styles to Buffalo spicy, garlic and truffle. Soup, salad, crab cakes, and fried chicken, fish, and lobster grilled cheese sandwiches are also available. It opens at 1260 NE 8th St., Cape Coral, beginning at 11 a.m. Monday to Friday. Weekend hours are coming soon.
Go to thehungrycaptain.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram
Lombardough’s
This pizza and beer joint held its grand opening Saturday, March 9, at 17081 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite P, in Fort Myers. Its custom brick oven produces a variety of wood-fired pizzas, including veggie and seafood pies — like the frutti di mare comes with shrimp, scallops, clams, mozzarella, roasted garlic and ricotta cream or red sauce — and meat specialties (think ultimate BLT, spicy Hawaiian, meatball, Buffalo Bill and more). The outdoor restaurant features a large meticulously landscaped patio and cool vibe thanks in part to a mural by Ruben Ubiera (who also did Backyard Social’s murals). It opens at 11 a.m. Monday to Saturday. Online and kiosk ordering are encouraged. Learn more at lombardoughs.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram
Closed
I Heart Mac & Cheese: A tattered notice from the County Court in and for Lee County hangs on the front door of 2209 Santa Barbara Blvd., Unit 107, in Cape Coral, with the words “eviction summons” halfway down. The counter, equipment, tables and chairs are gone from inside. This fast-casual restaurant originally opened in The Shops at Santa Barbara in February 2023 before closing eight months later. It reopened with new owners in December and held a grand reopening Jan. 5.
Lions Den: A March 5 post on the restaurant’s Facebook page reads, “We regret to inform you that the Lions Den has temporarily closed. We are exploring options for the space and will keep you updated.” It continues with “workers Tim (Luke) and Jess (previously with I Ragazzi) are seeking new opportunities.” Subsequent posts are of various items for sale, including pizza paddles, oven and stones. Lions Den opened at 1127 Del Prado Blvd., Suites A & B, Cape Coral, in the space briefly occupied by Joe Schmoe’s.
Best Burger bracket challenge
Our Best Burger in Fort Myers and Naples brackets tipped off earlier this week with the Sweet 16.
Voting is closed not for that round but will reopen Monday with our Elite 8.
In the news: Fort Myers seafood restaurant named one of best in U.S. according to Yelp
The competition will continue weekly until a champion in each county is announced April 8.
Voting runs Monday morning to noon Friday each week.
Go to news-press.com and naplesnews.com to participate.
Bargain burger
Did you know that KJ’s Steakhouse, 10950 S. Cleveland Ave. in Fort Myers, has a dine-in only burger special from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily? For $8 (or $8.52 after tax), customers get a burger, fries, and a soda or pint of KJ’s Zombie draft (a lite beer made just for them). And that burger is no slouch.
“It’s a 7-ounce, Florida-sized patty,” manager Dino Komosinsky said. “Angus meat. Fresh, never frozen beef. The fresh-baked, toasted brioche bun makes a big difference too.”
It comes cooked to order with onion, lettuce, tomato and pickles.
You’re welcome.
Robyn George is a food and dining writer for The Fort Myers News-Press. Send news to rhgeorge@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Over Easy Cafe to Waterfront: Recent restaurant openings, closings
