From orange crunch cake to pepperoni rolls,our 10 favorite SWFL restaurant eats of 2023 — JLB
Between reviews, openings, reopenings and "you just gotta try this place," we eat A LOT as food writers.
When I’m working, I put my personal preferences aside and opt for signature dishes, chef specials or whatever looks best in photos.
Off the clock, burgers, tacos, pizza and food-truck fare are my go-to orders. The most memorable dishes I keep going back to fall into the hold-in-your-hand, no-utensils-needed category.
Therefore, my apologies in advance for the lack of soups, salads and pretty much anything you need a knife with on this list.
Here are my 10 favorite eats of 2023 so far.
Boops by The Bubble Room, orange crunch cake
I was doubly thrilled when the Bubble Room began selling its beloved cakes at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in January and then reopened Boops on Captiva in March. It gives me two ways to get my hands on the luscious orange crush cakes. All Boops' offerings are delightful, but there’s something about the thick, moist yellow cake, almond brown sugar crunch and orange cream cheese icing combination that has me bopping around the county to get it. Boops by The Bubble Room, 15001 Captiva Drive, Captiva; 239-312-8649; bubbleroomrestaurant.com. Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers for Bubble Room cakes and bread Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Follow The Bubble Room on Facebook for more.
Double Dee's Munchies, cheesesteak
There’s a reason customers have been lining up around Gabby Ferraro’s food truck since it opened late in 2020. Her cheesesteaks really do live up to the hype. Born and raised near Philly, Ferraro ships in most everything from there — the rolls (“Not Amoroso’s, they’re better,” she said), the meats, even the hot cherry peppers. Order it wiz wit if you wish, but my new favorite is with Gabby-recommended, creamy, melty, wonderful Cooper-sharp. You’ll have to get in line first though. Find the food truck at Family Hardware, 662 SE 47th Terrace, Cape Coral from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays; follow on Facebook and Instagram for other locations and times
Farmers Market Restaurant, stuffed bell pepper
I was on a mission to find the best fried chicken in the county when I went to Fort Myers’ oldest restaurant one random Monday. But this daily special caught my eye. I couldn’t unsee the words “Ms. Libby’s famous recipe … rice perfectly spiced … farm fresh bell pepper.” So I tried it. The words were prophetic. That rice, the mouth-watering pepper all melding into forkful after forkful of joy. I thought I made a decent stuffed pepper, but I’ve got nothing on Ms. Libby. Farmers Market Restaurant, 2736 Edison Ave., Fort Myers; 239-334-1687; farmersmarketrestaurant.com
J&J Paradise Bakery, roast pork
Who goes to a bakery for roast pork? Apparently, I and a legion of loyal customers go to this one. Despite its name, this Cuban bakery in Cape Coral goes way beyond daily baked breads and sweet treats. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with outstanding weekly specials, from Monday’s chicken fricassee to Friday’s pork loin. My favorite (and the most popular of the week) is Saturday’s roast pork, served in tender, no-knife-needed chunks and accompanied by “mom’s special black beans” and rice. Don't go too late in the day because they inevitably sell out. Oh, and grab a bakery item (guava and cheese!!!) since you’re there anyway. J&J Paradise Bakery, 111 Del Prado Blvd. N, Unit 9, Cape Coral; 239-341-0007; find it on Facebook
Next Door, affogato
If I had to choose between my husband and this dessert, I’d be single forever (sorry, not sorry). Chef Jessica Shoemaker wowed me a few months ago at this Tarpon Point Marina restaurant with her version of an Italian classic — a tiramisu with pistachio-infused mascarpone and a chocolate-crunch base. But her newest creation — this smooth textured and lushly layered hazelnut praline gelato, biscotti and espresso delight — has won me over for good. You’ll fall in love with it too. Next Door, 5971 Silver King Blvd., Unit 114, Cape Coral; (239-425-2626; nextdoorcape.com
Nice Guys, My Cousin Vinny pizza
It's not easy singling out just one pizza in a county of outstanding pies — High Tide Social, Fine Folk, DHOP and Joe Daddy's to name a few. But our National Pizza Day roundup led me back to this quirky Cape Coral pizza joint. Our server suggested this salami, calabrese, prosciutto, pepperoni, tomato, garlic, mozzarella, iceberg, fresh onion, white balsamic dressing, oregano and banana pepper-covered masterpiece, piled atop one of the best crusts in the business. With iceberg and balsamic, this could be considered a salad entry no? I'm serious about that. Nice Guys, Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral; 239-549-7542; niceguyspizza.com
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Sage on 47th, lamb burger
I swear I’m going to stop writing about Ralph Centalonza’s new Cape Coral place one of these days. But not today. It’s difficult for any one item to stand out on a menu loaded with flavor and creativity, but I’m giving the nod to the lamb burger. The perfectly cooked-to-order medium rare Colorado lamb, topped with pancetta, arugula and smoked gouda all but melts in your mouth from the very first bite. My memory isn’t what it used to be, but I remember every last bite of this gem. Sage on 47th,1015 SE 47th Terrace, Cape Coral; 239-542-0200; find on Facebook and Instagram
Sanibel Grill, crunchy grouper sandwich
My first trip out to Sanibel after Hurricane Ian was to visit Matt Asen soon after he reopened his Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market. We ended up chatting in his Sanibel Grill, the first of his properties to reopen despite it being the most heavily damaged. He told me this sandwich was the specialty of the house, and, along with the crunchy grouper Reuben, was one of the most popular items on the menu. So I tried it. I think about that grouper, that bread, that batter and that perfect crunch every time I go to Sanibel. This reminds me, I’m long overdue for a return trip to the island and The Sanibel Grill. The Sanibel Grill, 703 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel; 239-472-4453; thesanibelgrill.com or find it on Facebook.
Tacos San Miguel II, carnitas tacos
I rediscovered this no-fills Cape Coral gem while looking for the best Mexican food around. There are a lot of good Mexican restaurants but this one stands out in all the right ways. I come here for carnitas in all its glorious forms ― quesadillas, burritos, tostadas, sopes and tortas. While any would be worthy of a shout-out, the tacos are my favorite. They're authentic, fresh, flavorful and easy on the budget. Tucked in the far, far corner of Del Prado Mall (I had no idea either) past a laundromat and tattoo parlor, these tacos are hard to find, but so easy to love. Tacos San Miguel II, 1404 Del Prado Blvd., Unit 185, Cape Coral; 239-645-7854; tacossanmiguel.com)
Uncle Rico’s, pepperoni rolls
I was late getting on this Fort Myers pizzeria’s bandwagon. When I was about to try it in late January, a car accident put Enrico Aguila, his family and his business out of commission for two months. In March, I finally tasted what the fuss was all about. His dough landed him at No. 57 on Yelp’s list of top 100 Florida restaurants in 2023. His pepperoni rolls — parmesan, pepperoni and mozzarella rolled lovingly in that award-winning dough — flash me back to my Federal Hill days in Providence and put Uncle Rico's squarely on this list. It should be on yours too. Uncle Rico’s Pizza, 2960 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers; 239-362-0083; unclericospizza239.com or find it on Facebook and Instagram
Jean Le Boeuf is the brand under which our restaurant critics have written for more than 40 years. This article came from staff writer Robyn George. Connect: rhgeorge@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel best 10 restaurant dishes of 2023: JLB
