Fort Myers Beach, located on a seven-mile-long barrier island that serves as a gateway to Southwest Florida, is one of the Gulf Coast’s most strikingly beautiful places. Fort Myers is a beautiful sliver of island paradise known for its bright sunsets, pearly-white beaches, and a true-blue Old Florida small town charm.
Despite its attractiveness, nostalgic vibe, and untamed natural surrounds, the island completes the ideal holiday puzzle experience. Excellent cuisine.
As food and travel enthusiasts, provide us with a terrific location and atmosphere to match fresh and delicious cuisine in a perfect outdoor or other genuine setting, and we will be very, very pleased. Fort Myers Beach does this and, as a consequence, creates an indelible impact.
We understand that serious foodies all have preferences. We like to choose them based on the quality and taste of the entrée, as well as a dedication to utilizing local products from the land and sea, as well as location, ambiance, and customer service.
So those are our best picks for eating in Fort Myers Beach.
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The 6 Greatest Restaurants in Ft. Myers Beach, Florida
Dixie Fish Corporation
239-233-8837714 Fisherman’s Wharf
This iconic open-air fishhouse was erected in 1937 mainly as a fish market to purchase and sell daily catches directly from the fishing boats. Pink gold was the moniker given to shrimp at the time, and it’s not hard to see why when you taste this nautical gem fresh from the warm gulf seas. These shrimp boats can still be seen lined up in the port after a night of trawling and netting.
After several storms, the original Dixie building still exists, housing one of the area’s most popular lunch and supper establishments.
It is difficult to choose from the broad menu selections. That’s where your local servers come in handy. Grouper bites are a must-order appetizer. They are wonderfully flavorful and tender when lightly cooked and served with a variety of dipping sauces. Those who prefer non-fried options may appreciate the Ceviche Cocktail, a delectable mixture loaded with massive pieces of that prized gulf shrimp. It was a big hit at our table, especially with the house-made chips.
The Seafood Entre Part of the menu was beautifully laid up. 1) Guests choose their seafood from the catch of the day, which might be grouper, shrimp, or mahi-mahi. 2) Choose your preferred preparation method: Dixie Way with garlic butter, seared, blackened, coconut-crusted, or cornmeal-fried. 3) Choose from red beans and rice, collard greens, roasted parsley potatoes, zucchini and grape tomatoes, French fries, handmade chips, or slaw as your sides. I went with the coconut-crusted shrimp with parsley potatoes and slaw. That was fantastic.
You must, at all costs, leave space for dessert. There is just one option on the menu, and after you taste it, you will understand why. The handmade key lime pie with a nutty graham-cracker crust is delicious. Is it possible to share it? Yes. Do you really want to? Not at all.
Dixie Fish House is an excellent option among Ft. Myers Beach restaurants if you want extremely superb fresh fish in a genuine pier-side setting with old-Florida flair, exceptional customer service, and live music.
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Restaurant
239-765-9660708 Fisherman’s Wharf
Doc’s first facility on Captiva Island launched in 2013. Three more Gulf Coast sites were established on adjacent Sanibel Island, Fort Myers Beach, and St. Pete Pier due to its extraordinary popularity and top-notch culinary offerings. Yeah, it’s a tiny franchise with a similar menu, but each site has a different waterfront setting and personality.
Doc Fords in Fort Myers Beach is open for lunch and supper and is nestled on the backdrop of gorgeous Estero Bay on San Carlos Island, affording customers amazing bay views.
The meal offers a distinct blend of exquisite Caribbean Rim delicacies. We’re going to go out on a limb and say their Yucatan Shrimp is one of the greatest shrimp meals we’ve eaten in Florida. Steamed peel-and-eat shrimp are submerged in a delicious sauce of butter, garlic, mild Columbian chilies, fresh cilantro, and Key Lime juice in This Quintana Roo’s trademark dish. You’ve never had anything like it before. They provide bread, but you will want more to mop up the fluids.
If you like shrimp tacos, this shrimp mixture with shredded lettuce and tomatoes is served in a warm flour tortilla. Flatbreads, sandwiches, salads, chicken, ribs, and steak are among the non-seafood options.
Doc Fords is the place to go if you want to eat seafood or other devilishly wonderful treats in a stunning setting with live music and an island-y ambiance. We promise you’ll like it and understand why it’s considered one of the greatest Ft. Myers Beach restaurants.
In the Bay, there are flippers.
Estero Blvd., (239) 765-10258767
This open-air restaurant, located inside the gorgeous Lovers Key Resort, has been chosen the finest waterfront restaurant on the island multiple times. The informal, laid-back seaside restaurant is called after the frequent sightings of dolphins. Flippers serves lunch and supper and is accessible by land or boat. Breakfast was formerly available, however that service has been discontinued until further notice.
The menu at Flippers includes an excellent selection of appetizers, pastas, soups, salads, sandwiches, and major meals, as well as a vibrant and energetic range of drinks and other libations. If everyone in your party is on board, shared appetizers are typically a popular option here.
Tuna Ceviche is served with pickled ginger, cucumber, avocado relish, sesame seeds, and wonton chips in a Mae Ploy sweet chili sauce. We gushed about it days afterwards because it is so fresh. Another highlight was the Cruz Crab Cake with saffron lime aioli and apple pomegranate salad, as well as the Stuffed Artichoke Bottom with goat cheese, fire roasted red bell pepper sauce, and balsamic glaze, served with crisp toasted crostini.
Flippers is the spot to be with friends on a nice sunny Gulf Coast day, enjoying some delicious shared appetizers, effervescent beverages, and spectacular views. Probably one of the greatest restaurants on Ft. Myers Beach.
Bar and Grill Bongos
275 Estero Boulevard (239) 463-8613
The journey itself is half the joy. On our journey to Pink Shell Resort & Marina, we leased a boat from the Fort Myers harbor and had a pleasant sail through local animals, sceneries, and natural mangroves.
Our small party of friends disembarked the boat at their wharf and were given a tour of the lovely coastal resort before relaxing up by the pool for drinks and lunch at Bongos. The backdrop is Instagram-worthy in and of itself; situated in a bustling poolside setting with beach and ocean views only feet from the water.
On a postcard-perfect summer day, the restaurant is all about eating with tropical libations and casual food while soaking up the sun. The gentle winds sweeping off the Gulf were just a nice relief from the Floridian heat.
We ordered our favorite beverages and made our choices after our wonderful waitress revealed the daily specials. Beach nibbles, salads and bowls, sandwiches, burgers, and personal pizzas are all on the menu at Bongos. If you prefer Lobster Mac-n-Cheese, don’t miss out on this wonderful treasure stuffed with bits of lobster. My guests enjoyed their dinners, a Blackened Grouper Sandwich and the Ginger Teriyaki Chicken Bowl for the non-seafood fan.
While we were too full for a milkshake, we saw that the chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry sweets being served at outside dining tables and pool-side were quite popular. Nothing like a colorful and creative milkshake on a hot day.
Bongos fits the bill for a leisurely tropical environment with some outstanding libations and gastronomic options and ranks among the finest Ft. Myers Beach restaurants. Many of the families surrounding us seemed to have had a great day, as did we.
Delicious Biscuit
(239) 463-7600110 Mango St.
This breakfast-only location with a few lunch-y alternatives is usually full. It’s housed in a beachy small Caribbean-colored home. It is a local favorite because to its wonderful cuisine, comfortable lovely setting, and exceptional service. Going early is therefore a really excellent strategy. It is also a cash-only restaurant, albeit there is an ATM on the premises for those that arrive unprepared. They are also closed on Mondays.
Heavenly Biscuit is such a famous restaurant that they have their own location on the local Fort Myers Monopoly game! And it made my list of the finest restaurants in Fort Myers Beach!
The menu is simple and straightforward; the sinful ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls and fluffy biscuits are must-orders, but diners can also choose from other breakfast options. One couple proudly said that they visit Fort Myers Beach every year and never fail to stop at Heavenly Biscuit. You’ll understand why after only one visit.
Heavenly Biscuit is a local treasure among the Ft. Myers Beach eateries you shouldn’t miss for a calm, delightful breakfast nook on the island.
The Bay of Matanzas
Crescent Street (239) 463-3838416 Crescent Street
This quaint old-world Florida restaurant, located at the Matanzas Hotel in downtown Fort Myers Beach, with a calm tropical and colorful marina setting in a prime riverfront position. This business may also be reached by road or water. Matanzas has also received multiple nominations as the island’s greatest beachfront restaurant, and with good cause.
The restaurant, which has been a neighborhood favorite since 1984, is open for lunch and supper and is situated on the main dining floor. Peteys Upper Deck, their second-floor pub, is noted for having the greatest pizza on the island, as well as a busy nightlife scene. The bar is named after a huge white egret that lived in Matanzas for many years. Petey bravely continues to eat here, much to the surprise of the employees (and customers) who love him.
Matanzas, like many other coastal Florida places, provides a variety of fresh seafood selections in addition to a variety of other menu options. It’s no surprise that it made my list of the finest restaurants in Fort Myers Beach.
An full appetizer menu is available, as well as sandwiches, wraps, chowder, salads, house specialities, and, of course, plenty of fresh seafood. It’s a popular spot for everyday happy hour, with a delicious assortment of appetizers and extremely inexpensive house wines, beer, and other unique cocktails.
Despite their house star, Bay Bread, is not on the happy hour menu, it is an outstanding restaurant speciality that you must try! It’s a palate-pleasing way to establish the dining atmosphere with lump crab, artichoke, onion, tomato, bleu, mozzarella, and cheddar cheeses matched with a delicious cocktail, wine, or beer. Oysters on the menu come from the Gulf, and as Matanzas chef states if we cant get em from the Gulf, we dont have em.
Coconut Shrimp, Beef Satay Skewers, and the wonderful Mahi Smoked Fish Dip prepared with 100% mahi, capers, bell peppers, horseradish, red onion, and served with tortilla chips are all favorites here.
You can’t match this venue for fantastic bayside views, entertainment, and delicious food and beverages. It’s a must-try among Ft. Myers Beach eateries.
Final Thoughts on Ft. Myers Beach Restaurants
Those who like eating are usually the greatest people, according to Julia Child. That is why where we eat, who we dine with, and the context in which we dine are all so important.
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