The Standard’s Gin Cucumber Cooler Cocktail. -DAVID WISHTISCHIN / FLORIDA WEEKLY
Barunch
1327 Cape Coral Pkwy E B, Cape Coral – 800-227-8624
Located on Cape Coral’s main drag and now taking online reservations, BARunch is a creative establishment focused on breakfast and lunch dishes. With the word Bar built right into the name, BARunch bartenders pour all kinds of colorful specialties. The bar menu includes loaded bloody marys – tipsy with heaping toppings like grilled cheese wedges – and a lengthy menu of bubbly mimosas. Up for a truly unique take on a mimosa? Why not try The Tiffany, which combines lemonade, Blue Curacao and champagne! For a unique mid-day entrée, the lobster eggs Benedict sits atop the menu of poached egg dishes. This entrée is $33.80. Belgium waffles, buttermilk pancakes and sinful cinnamon rolls round out BARunch’s sweets menu. Additional hearty lunch-like items – including a grilled chicken sandwich or the BARunch burger – complete the menu. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The Standard Restaurant Downtown
1520 Broadway, Fort Myers – 239-219-6463
Bold gold letters atop a clean white structure announce The Standard, a modern restaurant offering indoor and outdoor seating downtown. The atmosphere combines an abundance of glass, light and windows. Menu items cover a broad range of midday morsels. From the traditional Bunch of Biscuits with meat gravy, to an upscale diner-style version of avocado toast, and an entire omelet menu, The Standard is both comfort food and modern cuisine combined. Cocktails here lean toward the tropics, with tropical mules, fruity mojitos and even a rum punch to accompany any entrée. The online menu boasts bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys all day, every day! Brunch is available Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tap 42 Craft Kitchen and Bar
13499 S Cleveland Ave Suite 221, Fort Myers – 239-291-9922
Those looking for a space to enjoy the season’s last few weekends of NFL need look no further. Tap 42 is a casual sports bar with dynamic food, like the truffle filet steak sandwich laden with grilled filet mignon, melty white cheddar and caramelized onions. Along with a plentiful bar of tall stools facing multiple large screens, a rooftop patio with seating in the palm trees completes Tap 42’s modern aesthetic. The entrees are huge, and the southern fried chicken and waffles are especially tempting with its spiced sweet cream dip to accompany the house-made sweet potato fried and flaky waffles. Cocktails here may be ordered by the pitcher, priced at $45 for select cocktails. Tap 42 has also honed a hangover cure shot, which weaves CBD-infused butterfly pea tea with Tito’s vodka. The full menu is available Monday through Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m. to 12 a.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.