Feb. 20, 2026, 5:08 a.m. ET

USA Today’s 2026 Restaurants of the Year list included two Florida locations, but none from Lee County.Six local restaurants are recommended by the author for their unique qualities and culinary excellence.These recommended spots range from a farm-to-table venue to an upscale gem with a rotating menu.

It’s a tough list to crack.

USA Today recently released its mouth-watering 2026 Restaurants of the Year list, from taqueria in Phoenix to an exciting venue in Wisconsin that champions local agriculture.

In between are 30-plus others, including two in Florida — Tide Tables in Bradenton and Oceano in Lake Worth Beach, just south of Palm Beach.

Since USA Today has only been compiling its list for two years, I’m confident it’s only a matter of time before a Lee County restaurant breaks through.

Sweet Melissa’s, Echo, Mastello, Blanc and Savour in Fort Myers are all worthy. So are Dixie Fish on Fort Myers Beach, Tarpon Lodge on Pine Island, Blue Dog in Matlacha and Stones Throw and Next Door in Cape Coral. I could go on and on.

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But I’ll finish with these six restaurants that I gladly recommend and visit whenever I can …

Blossom & BrieMoo, Blossom & Brie's celebrity steer, is 6-foot-3 and weighs more than 1,600 pounds.

Honestly, we’d head out to North Fort Myers just to see Blossom (the matriarch donkey), Brie (a Jersey dairy cow), Moo (a ginormous Holstein steer) and their farmyard friends. And owners Stacey and Rodney Poole, too. But we would be remiss if we didn’t eat at this unique farm, dining and event venue – open Wednesday to Sunday, reservations are a must.

The open-air farm-side dining room is the perfect setting for a memorable lunch (think soups, salads & bowls, sandwiches, burgers, wraps and farm-fresh sides), weekend brunch (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday) or dinner (pasta, beef, chicken, seafood and more). Whenever you go, be sure to keep an eye out for chef Wesley Robbins’ fantastic specials. And check in on Blossom, Brie, Moo and friends too. 8250 Nalle Grade Road, North Fort Myers; call (239) 385-0415;blossomandbrie.com or follow onFacebook andInstagram

Harold’sDine at Harold's in Fort Myers and there's a good chance owner Harold Balink will personally check on you.

There’s so much we love about this upscale south Fort Myers gem. It begins with Harold Balink himself, who — if he’s not crafting away in the kitchen — is warmly greeting longtime and first-time guests with equal enthusiasm. Then there’s the equally personable staff who are formal and friendly to the T.  They skillfully guide you through that glorious one-page menu of creative American cuisine. It’s concise — few starters, a couple of soups and salads and a handful of entrees — and so well planned with a magical blend of flavors, textures and artisty, that it’s simply perfection. The innovative dishes can change weekly, giving you a reason to visit Harold and Harold’s as often as you can.  15250 S. Tamiami Trail, Unit 107, Fort Myers; get reservations through OpenTable; (239) 849-0622; haroldscuisine.com or follow on Facebook. 

LibertyLiberty in Fort Myers is one of our favorite places to be.

This cozy and creative sliver of a space is often the first we recommend to small parties up to four. Once you find it — it’s tucked away in Pinebrook Park near Bell Tower with no obvious signage with speakeasy style — you’ll likely go back again and again. The fun, fascinating and fabulous menu is unlike any other — designed in a one-page bingo-esque format with about a dozen boxes. Each one contains a small, shareable plate of a colorful, artfully arranged, unexpected culinary combination (like two-bite tacos, chicken tsukune, honey-aged duck breast and goat cheese agnolotti). Equally as fun is grabbing a spot at the chef’s table, where we can watch Richee Boye (whose cousin Bob Boye, also a chef, opened Liberty in August 2019) and team work their magic. They’re so good, we named Liberty the best Lee County restaurant in 2023. And one of the ones we wished made the national Restaurants of the Year list. There’s always next year… 12995 S. Cleveland Ave., Suite 112, Fort Myers; (239) 689-5528; make reservations through RESY; eatliberty.us

OISEThe intricate original flooring at IOSE Ristorante in downtown Fort Myers dates back to the 1920s.

This downtown Fort Myers restaurant is the newest addition to our list of favorites. For so many reasons. The first and foremost is Chef Brad Kilgore — who’s been nominated for James Beard Foundation awards in Rising Star Chef of the Year and Best Chef South categories. His artful blending of Japanese and Italian cuisines has had customers clamoring since OISE opened in August. Think Hamachi sashimi, gyoza dumplings and Kilgore’s favorite spicy salmon or tuna crispy rice for starters. Then comes tuna nigiri, dynamite crab, Peruvian ceviche rolls, followed by Okinawan chicken parm, the 5-years-in-the-making caramelized meatball and Yakitori grill meats. Serve it in a modern setting (sleek concrete tables, clean lines, plush leather booths and lush greenery), all set on a stunning 1920s mosaic tiled floor, and we’re all in. You’ll be too. 2262 First St, Fort Myers; (239) 933-5590; make reservations through OpenTable; oiseristorante.com or on Facebook

Sage on 47thWe'll be back to Sage on 47th in Cape Coral very soon.

We’ve been head over heels for this trendy South Cape gem since it opened nearly three years ago. We’ll swing by for a $6 order of yuca fries or Ralph’s (as in local culinary legend Ralph Centalonza’s) killer shrimp for $8 during locals hour (3-6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday) and grab a signature cocktail or two. Or you may find us wholeheartedly diving into an order of seafood risotto or pork cheeks later in the day. Lately, though, it’s the thoughtfully creative brunch specials pulling us in — homestyle chicken & waffles with whipped honey butter and mixed berry syrup or black & blue medallion salad with toasted corn tomatoes, blue cheese and house-made dressing.  We’re hungry just thinking about it. See you there. 1015 SE 47th Terrace, Cape Coral; make a reservation at sageon47th.com;  (239) 542-0200; follow on Facebook for more

San Matteo by UnicoUmbrella-covered tables fill the patio at San Matteo by Unico on south Fort Myers.

We were going to list five restaurants (fab five sounds better than super six), but then we remembered Giuseppe Manco. The award-winning chef is the owner, face and force behind this south Fort Myers wonder. You’ll probably hear him chatting with guests as soon as you walk in. His joy and passion can be found everywhere, especially in the food. You can taste it in the Neapolitan pizza, dry-aged steaks and homemade classic-with-a-twist Italian and fresh seafood dishes. Everything we’ve tried there (and trust me, we’ve tried a lot) has been unforgettable. Just like Giuseppe. 19810 Village Center Drive, Suite 145A; (239) 234-2536;sanmatteorestaurant.com or follow onInstagram

Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com