{"id":162497,"date":"2026-02-20T12:26:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T12:26:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/162497\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T12:26:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T12:26:18","slug":"our-6-favorite-cape-coral-fort-myers-restaurants-we-highly-recommend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/162497\/","title":{"rendered":"Our 6 favorite Cape Coral, Fort Myers restaurants we highly recommend"},"content":{"rendered":"

Feb. 20, 2026, 5:08 a.m. ET<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a tough list to crack.<\/p>\n

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

In between are 30-plus others, including two in Florida \u2014 Tide Tables in Bradenton and Oceano in Lake Worth Beach, just south of Palm Beach.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Since USA Today has only been compiling its list for two years, I\u2019m confident it\u2019s only a matter of time before a Lee County restaurant breaks through.<\/p>\n

Sweet Melissa\u2019s, Echo, Mastello<\/a>, Blanc and Savour<\/a> 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<\/a>. I could go on and on.<\/p>\n

Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!<\/a><\/p>\n

But I\u2019ll finish with these six restaurants that I gladly recommend and visit whenever I can \u2026<\/p>\n

Blossom & Brie\"Moo,<\/p>\n

Honestly, we\u2019d head out to North Fort Myers just to see Blossom (the matriarch donkey), Brie (a Jersey dairy cow),\u00a0Moo\u00a0(a ginormous Holstein steer) and their farmyard friends. And owners Stacey and Rodney Poole, too.\u00a0But we would be remiss if we didn\u2019t eat at this unique farm, dining and event venue \u2013 open Wednesday to Sunday, reservations are a must.<\/p>\n

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\u2019 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\u00a0or follow onFacebook\u00a0andInstagram<\/p>\n

Harold\u2019s\"Dine<\/p>\n

There\u2019s so much we love about this upscale south Fort Myers gem. It begins with Harold Balink himself, who \u2014 if he\u2019s not crafting away in the kitchen \u2014 is warmly greeting longtime and first-time guests with equal enthusiasm. Then there\u2019s the equally personable staff who are formal and friendly to the T. \u00a0They skillfully guide you through that glorious one-page menu of creative American cuisine. It\u2019s concise \u2014 few starters, a couple of soups and salads and a handful of entrees \u2014 and so well planned with a magical blend of flavors, textures and artisty, that it\u2019s simply perfection. The innovative dishes can change weekly, giving you a reason to visit Harold and Harold\u2019s<\/a> as often as you can. \u00a015250 S. Tamiami Trail, Unit 107, Fort Myers; get reservations through\u00a0OpenTable; (239) 849-0622; haroldscuisine.com<\/a>\u00a0or follow on\u00a0Facebook.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Liberty\"Liberty<\/p>\n

This cozy and creative sliver of a space is often the first we recommend to small parties up to four. Once you find it \u2014 it\u2019s tucked away in Pinebrook Park near Bell Tower with no obvious signage with speakeasy style \u2014 you\u2019ll likely go back again and again. The fun, fascinating and fabulous menu is unlike any other \u2014 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\u2019re so good, we named Liberty the best Lee County restaurant\u00a0in 2023. And one of the ones we wished made the national Restaurants of the Year list. There\u2019s always next year\u2026 12995 S. Cleveland Ave., Suite 112, Fort Myers; (239) 689-5528;\u00a0make reservations through\u00a0RESY; eatliberty.us<\/a><\/p>\n

OISE\"The<\/p>\n

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 \u2014 who\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019re all in. You\u2019ll be too. 2262 First St, Fort Myers; (239) 933-5590; make reservations through OpenTable; oiseristorante.com<\/a> or on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

Sage on 47th\"We'll<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve been head over heels for this trendy South Cape gem since it opened nearly three years ago. We\u2019ll swing by for a $6 order of yuca fries or Ralph\u2019s (as in local culinary legend Ralph Centalonza\u2019s) 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\u2019s the thoughtfully creative brunch specials pulling us in \u2014 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. \u00a0We\u2019re hungry just thinking about it. See you there. 1015 SE 47th Terrace, Cape Coral; make a reservation at sageon47th.com<\/a>; \u00a0(239) 542-0200; follow on Facebook<\/a> for more<\/p>\n

San Matteo by Unico\"Umbrella-covered<\/p>\n

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\u2019ll 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.\u00a0Everything we\u2019ve tried there (and trust me, we’ve tried a lot) has been unforgettable. Just like Giuseppe.\u00a019810 Village Center Drive, Suite 145A; (239) 234-2536;sanmatteorestaurant.com\u00a0or follow onInstagram<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at\u00a0rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Feb. 20, 2026, 5:08 a.m. ET USA Today’s 2026 Restaurants of the Year list included two Florida locations,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":162498,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[64,209,211,210,47,1392,1393,380,1397,48,43,1394,77,938,19720,2035,793,25547,96,1398,792,35,30610,34],"class_list":{"0":"post-162497","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cape-coral","8":"tag-accessmetered","9":"tag-cape-coral","10":"tag-cape-coral-headlines","11":"tag-cape-coral-news","12":"tag-fl","13":"tag-sstslifefood","14":"tag-sstsnfood","15":"tag-tagcape-coral","16":"tag-tagdining","17":"tag-tagexclude-from-paywall-logic-testing","18":"tag-tagfacebook","19":"tag-tagfood-dining-swfl","20":"tag-tagfort-myers","21":"tag-taggeographic-reference","22":"tag-taginstagram","23":"tag-tagitalian-cuisine","24":"tag-taglocal-affiliate-food","25":"tag-tagopentable","26":"tag-tagoverall-positive","27":"tag-tagrestaurant-reviews-reservations","28":"tag-tagrestaurants","29":"tag-tagstory-highlights-ai-enabled","30":"tag-tagusat-food-roundups","31":"tag-typestory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=162497"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162497\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/162498"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=162497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=162497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=162497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}