Although season quiets down after Easter, the Southwest Florida dining scene is still hopping.
We’ll get right to it, beginning with a closure in Cape Coral …
Misto Bar & Grill
After 15 years, a few owners and a couple of name changes, Misto on Del Prado has closed.
Chef and owner Jorge Lanese first opened the upscale yet casual Misto Bar & Grill in Moderna Plaza, north of Cape Coral Hospital and south of Hancock Bridge Parkway, in 2011.
The Argentine chef quickly earned a loyal following with his European and South American flavors and ever-changing specials. From French onion soup and bronzed salmon to lamb shanks and an impressive dessert display, Misto’s standards were high and service was spot on.
Lanese, who had previously owned Giorgio’s in the late 1990s off Hancock and Santa Barbara Boulevard and Vesuvio on Pine Island, sold Misto to Michael Begler in 2022.
Executive Chef Gleidson “Lee” Barreto was managing Misto’s kitchen at the time of the sale and stayed on. International cuisine and Italian favorites continued to be the focus for the next few years.
Misto Bar & Grill opened along Del Prado Boulevard in Cape Coral in 2011.
Then, in early 2025, Chef Rocco Scarpino bought the restaurant and renamed it Misto Bar & Grill By Chef Rocco. He already owned Rossini By Chef Rocco in Port Charlotte when he opened in Cape Coral.
Under Scarpino, who hails from Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Misto — which means mixed in Italian — blended Mediterranean flair with Italian classics.
Misto Bar & Grill in Moderna Plaza was a Cape Coral staple for 15 years.
Despite its website still being up, Misto Bar & Grill By Chef Rocco is closed permanently.
The acclaimed Rossini By Chef Rocco is open in the Port Charlotte Town Center, 1801 Murdock Circle, (941) 235-8652, rossinibychefrocco.net.
Golden Rind
Golden Rind opened in the Design Center off McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers in November of 2019.
April 30 will be the final day for this beloved wine & cheese shop off McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers.
The Dessak family opened their neighborhood gourmet market in the Design Center (next door to Melting Pot) in 2019. It quickly became a community favorite with its carefully curated cheese and wine selections, customized meat & cheese boards and more.
“We had the space two years before opening,” Jeff Dessak said. “We took our time curating everything. People would come up to the door nonstop and ask when we were going to open. Once we did, they flooded in.”
And they kept coming for the next six-plus years.
“I know pretty much everyone who walks in the door by name,” said Dessak, adding that it’s just time to close the business and move on.
Golden Rind in Fort Myers is set to close on April 30, 2026.
Wine is currently 15 percent off. Everything else in the store is 50 percent off or more, including retail items, furniture and commercial equipment.
Customers had already snatched up much of the cheese when we dropped by on April 16.
“They are pretty torn up (about us closing),” said Dessak. “They’ve been giving me big hugs. No one wants to see us go.”
And the feeling is mutual.
“They were the world to us,” he said. “They made the Golden Rind what it is. Without them, we would be nothing.”
Everything in Golden Rind in Fort Myers (except wine) is 50 percent or more off now until its closing on April 30.
As hard as it is closing, Dessak does have something he’s looking forward to.
“I’m going to just be dad for a while,” said the father of a 5-year-old and a 5-month-old.
The Dessaks still have a year left on their lease and plan to sublet their space.
But in the meantime, drop by 1251 McGregor Blvd., Suite 108, beginning at 11 a.m. Tuesday to Saturday until April 30. Call (239) 313-6001 or find it on Facebook.
Artisan Eatery
Artisan Eatery is a chef-driven, everything scratch-made, fast-casual eatery in south Fort Myers.
This south Fort Myers favorite is changing hands.
“We’re excited to share that we’ve found a wonderful family to take over the restaurant, and we’ll be working closely with them to ensure a smooth transition,” an April 15 Facebook post read.
Tim and Healy Yoa opened this fast-casual, farmhouse-chic delight at 8951 Daniels Parkway, just west of I-75, in December of 2017.
Artisan Eatery’s New Yorker features house-made pastrami, lovingly layered with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese, with beer mustard aioli on marble rye.
And we’ve been singing its praises for Chef Tim’s scratch-made everything ever since (we’re particularly fond of his smoked-for-eight-hours-overnight pastrami).
“We will be closing this week to begin the training and transition,” the post read. “This isn’t goodbye, just a new chapter. We’ll still be doing catering and have a few exciting things up our sleeves… so stay tuned!”
Oh, we will. (239) 887-4844, artisaneatery.com or on Facebook.
Cheesesteaks.Com
Cheesesteaks.Com is set to open off Gladiolus Drive in south Fort Myers on April 20, 2026.
A soft-opening date for this cheesesteak shop’s third location is set for 11 a.m. Monday, April 20, in Tri-City Eatery’s former space at 8646 Gladiolus Drive in Fort Myers, just east of Winkler Road. It will be closed on Tuesday, April 21, before reopening on Wednesday, April 22. For the first few weeks, hours will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (or until they sell out).
Kevin and Nicole O’Brien opened the first location in Naples in 2024 (originally a food truck) to bring the taste of Philly to the Gulf Coast without any shortcuts. Quality ingredients are brought in from Philly, including the seeded or plain rolls filled with shaved ribeye, Cooper American or Cheez Wiz, and with or without onions. A second location opened in Bonita Springs late last year. Go to cheesesteaks.com or find on Facebook for the latest
Capriotti’s
Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop is close to making its Southwest Florida debut in Cape Coral.
This popular sandwich shop’s grand opening will take place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28, at 327 SW 10th Place in the Shops at Del Mar off Pine Island Road in Cape Coral.
Founded in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1976, Capriotti’s is known for signature subs, including slow-roasted-in-house turkey and cheesesteaks. Its Bobbie is billed as the original Thanksgiving sandwich (available year-round) and consists of slow-roasted turkey, house-made stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayo.
As of April 28, the Cape Coral shop, the first in Southwest Florida, will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Go to capriottis.com or follow on Facebook for more.
Chicken Salad Chick
Chicken Salad Chick is gearing up to make its Cape Coral debut on April 29, 2026.
The opening date for this fast casual chicken salad restaurant’s Cape Coral location has changed. Its grand opening at 1206 Solaris Drive (among all those new builds off Pine Island Road, just west of Mel’s Diner) will now take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 29.
On that day, the first 100 guests in line will win free chicken salad for a year (see Chicken Salad Chick’s Facebook page for complete details, rules and restrictions). Daily giveaways will continue through May 2.
Chicken Salad Chick is known for its scratch-made chicken salad in more than a dozen varieties, fresh sides, gourmet soups, sandwiches and desserts.
The Cape Coral location, the fourth in Southwest Florida, will have inside dining, a drive-thru, take-out and delivery options. Go to chickensaladchick.com or follow on Facebook for more.
Double Dee’s
Double Dee’s Munchies owner Gabby Ferraro serves up one of her popular cheesesteaks.
Gabby Ferraro, the familiar and friendly face of this fantastic cheese steak food truck, has announced that May 1 will be her last shift.
“I’m moving back up north to start the next chapter in life and continue my education at my master’s program,” an April 14 post on Double Dee’s Munchies’ Facebook page read. “Before anyone panics, Double Dee’s is NOT going anywhere.”
And it’s not. Gabe Ferraro, Gabby’s uncle, “will still be running the truck and keeping it exactly how you know and love it.”
The duo opened their truck, often parked at Family Hardware at 622 SE 47th Terrace, Cape Coral, during the pandemic. Every time we’ve stopped by since, there’s been a line.
They ship in most everything — rolls (better than Amoroso’s, according to Gabby), meats, hot cherry peppers included — from Philly. We order ours with Gabby-recommended creamy, melty Cooper-sharp.
It’s one of our favorite sandwiches around, and we’re confident it’ll remain that way.
Best of luck, Gabby!
Follow Double Dee’s Munchies on Facebook and Instagram for locations and times.
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: Misto Bar & Grill’s closure in Cape Coral leads latest dining news