Six eateries in Fort Myers and Cape Coral hide in strip malls and tucked-away spots. They serve farm-to-table meals, small plates from around the world, and Thai cooking. These spots have drawn fans over time, but many diners say they had no clue the places were there.

Buckingham Farms sprawls across 85 acres in east Fort Myers. Breakfast and lunch are served Tuesday through Saturday. The land was a hog farm and orange grove before becoming a cafe in 2013. Fruits and vegetables grow on the property, while chickens lay eggs on-site.

“At least 10 times a day, someone said they never knew we were out here,” said Anna Little, general manager, according to News-Press.

Echo sits tucked in the back of Miners Plaza in south Fort Myers. Chef Ryan Kida teamed up with Krissy Giltner, who ran Poppy’s Pizza for 16 years. The offerings are split between Kida’s pasta, steak, and seafood creations and Giltner’s New York-style pies.

Liberty opened in August 2019 near Bell Tower. It seats groups of up to four. Sixteen small plates fill a single sheet printed in a grid pattern. The News-Press called it the best Lee County spot in 2023.

Nonchalance occupies Plymouth Plaza in south Fort Myers and pairs comfort food with wine. Sarah Keagins and her husband, Dan, work as sommeliers who pour over 30 wines by the glass. Burgers come from beef cut to order, while fries get made from whole potatoes.

“I tell people we are a wine bar with comfort food and childhood favorites with a twist,” said Sarah Keagins.

Savour Restaurant moved into the space where Azure stood 10 months ago. Owner Matt Geiger runs Savour Coffee and Savour Catering as well. Dishes pull from cuisines worldwide but rest on a French base, with coq au vin and paella on the list.

Siam Hut has lived in a strip mall on Del Prado Boulevard for 41 years. That makes it the oldest eatery in Cape Coral. Toon Bangthamai runs the family business that his parents started when he was 2 years old. Chicken pad Thai sells more than anything else.

“People come in and say they hadn’t heard about us before,” said Toon Bangthamai. “Our mall is hit or miss.”