We love, love, love brunch.
And while it’s in the spotlight this time of year with Easter (very rapidly) and Mother’s Day approaching, we’re up for it any time of the year.
Luckily, Southwest Florida has plenty of brunch options.
Take brunch-tastic Cape Coral, for example. Fish Tale Grill, Hooked Island Grill, Gather, Front Porch Social and Jungle Bird Tiki all have weekend brunches well worth trying.
And that’s just in South Cape.
Every weekend (and sometimes weekdays), you’ll find a magical mix of breakfast and lunch taking place throughout Southwest Florida.
Here are six of our go-to brunch-worthy stops in Cape Coral and Fort Myers to get you started …
Artisan Eatery
Artisan Eatery is a chef-driven, everything scratch-made, fast-casual eatery in south Fort Myers.
Want a pastrami Reuben at 8 a.m.? How about biscuits & sausage gravy at 3 p.m.? We certainly do when that house-made pastrami is smoked eight hours overnight, and the sausage gravy smothering the biscuits is also made in-house. You’ll find both and a bunch more chef-created and scratch-made items at this south Fort Myers gem, where brunch is always served. Soups & salads, burgers & handhelds, eggs & grits, starters & sweets — if you want it, it’s available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week. We’ll see you there. 8951 Daniels Parkway, Fort Myers; 239-0887-4844; artisaneatery.com or on Facebook
BARunch
Bloody marys and a variety of mimosas are always available at BARunch.
The name really does say it all. This 2-year-old South Cape spot meets all your brunch (or should we say barunch?) needs. Start with one of the dozen or so specialty mimosas as you look over the menu stuffed with starters (think hangover fries and French toast wrapped bacon), indulgent sweets (like the cinnamon rolls with orange cream cheese icing), breakfast favorites, eggs benedicts and omelets. Then come the salads, the burgers and other sandwiches. Heck, you may be on your second mimosa or cocktail by now. Cheers to BARunch. 1327 Cape Coral Parkway, Cape Coral; (800) 227-8624; barunchcc.com or on Facebook
Blossom & Brie
Blossom & Bries’ brunch menu is full of farm-fresh goodness.
While it’s always a good time to visit this North Fort Myers farm-to-table wonder, weekend brunch is an extraordinary time to go. Many menu items — all rich in flavor, color and textures — are from the farm, including salads, benedicts, and the best-selling huevos rancheros. The farm-fresh quiche with mixed berry salad of field greens, and the burgers made of grass-fed & finished beef patties are glorious too. We’ve never come across a brunch item we wouldn’t order again. The open-air venue overlooks the picturesque 100-acre farm and there are always farm animals (like Blossom, a donkey, and Brie, a dairy cow) waiting to greet you. We couldn’t love it more. 8250 Nalle Grade Road, North Fort Myers; (230) 385-0415; blossomandbrie.com or find on Facebook
Fancy’s
The outdoor garden area at Fancy’s Southern Cafe in downtown Fort Myers is perfectly suited for weekend brunches.
We’re obsessed with the new downtown Fort Myers location and its weekend brunch. It’s not every day you find hot boiled peanuts (with sweet onions and jalapenos), New Orleans pain perdu (French toast with strawberries and candied pecans), and meatloaf and eggs on the menu. But this Bay Street find has them and many more Southern favorites on its brunch menu every Saturday and Sunday. Helpful hint: It all tastes even better when consumed in the courtyard on a lovely spring day. Check it out. 2214 Bay St., downtown Fort Myers (also at 8890 Salrose Lane in Fort Myers); (239) 208-2564; fancyssoutherncafe.com and on Facebook
Sage on 47th
The shrimp & grits at Sage on 47th in Cape Coral features a zesty Creole BBQ sauce and creamy polenta.
We recently included this nearly 3-year-old South Cape joy in our list of restaurants we recommend over and over. Well, we’re highlighting it again because its weekend brunch specials are just that good. Recent entries include homestyle chicken & waffles with whipped honey butter and mixed berry syrup and a black & blue medallion salad with toasted corn tomatoes, blue cheese and house-made dressing. It’s a thoughtfully creative menu that’s worth mentioning over and over. 1015 SE 47th Terrace, Cape Coral; make a reservation at sageon47th.com; (239) 542-0200; follow on Facebook for more
Wisteria Tea Room
Wisteria Tea Room in downtown Fort Myers is perfect for an afternoon getaway.
One sip of tea and a bite of scone was all it took for us to fall head over heels for this downtown Fort Myers cottage transformed from battered to beautiful in 2011. And while a brunch menu is offered on Saturday mornings, this charming proper tea room fits our breakfasty/lunchy parameters just fine anytime with its three-tiered towers of quiche, finger sandwiches, sweet scones and delicate desserts — all made in-house. Throw in soups and endless tea in the afternoon, and we’re gladly swept away across the pond on every visit. 2512 Second St., Fort Myers; 239-689-4436; wisteriatearoom.com or on Facebook
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: We love these 6 brunch-time restaurants in Cape Coral, Fort Myers