Eating out in Cape Coral

There are approximately 170 restaurants in Cape Coral and Fort Myers. We have listed here only a couple of them, which were recommended by our guests or which we like by ourselves. However, please consider that the question about taste can be interpreted quite differently.

With regards to eating the Americans show a different behavior as for example the Germans. At noon (for lunch) for example they eat only little or just some fast-food. The real meal is dinner which is taken without ruffle in a restaurant. Therefore most of the restaurants are totally full in the evening. Make use of the so called early-bird-offers, which means, that you take your dinner rather early (between 5 and 7 p.m.) and get a good rebate on that. By this the American gastronomy take scare for a better utilization of their restaurants since the main time for dinner is between 7 and 9 p.m.

In an American restaurant it is unusual that you just sit down on any table. Please wait at the entrance until you are assigned to a table. This will happen in a very friendly manner since in the US the guests are still kings.

After the table allocation your waiter will introduce him-/herself and take your orders. Special requests are no problem at all. After the dinner you will be asked if eventually you would like to take home the dishes that you could not eat up in a “doggy-bag”. This is absolutely accepted and practiced by many Americans. By this you safe lunch on the next day. In so called family – restaurants no alcohol is served even any beer. Some of the restaurants are non-smoking; all of them have zones for smokers and non-smokers.
In an exalted restaurant it is mandatory to make a reservation by phone. Otherwise it might happen that you do not get a seat at all or that you have to wait for quite some time at the bar for the next free table!

Tip, prices & credit cards

In most of the restaurants in the US you pay a service charge of approximately 15 % on top of your bill, which is usually not included. Waiters get paid very badly in the US and basically are totally depending on the tip. Also you have to consider that about 6 % local tax will be added to the prices that you see in the menu.

Payment in the restaurant

Cash payment:
You pay the bill and leave approximately 15 % of the invoice amount as tip on the table.

Credit card:
Visa and Euro-MasterCard are accepted nearly everywhere, American Express not always. Either you calculate 15 % of the invoice and add it in the column "Tip" as separate service charge or you pay the tip separately in cash.

To find out if the Tip is included in the prices of the menu do not hesitate to principally ask "Is the Tip included?" – In case you would pay just the bill and the tip was not included you would mulct the waiter of his payment! In case you give less the 15 % you express that you were not pleased with the service, more than 15 % show your satisfaction.

Applebee’s
Neighborhood grill and bar. American sports bar, perfect for families
Address: 2228 Del Prado Blvd. South, Cape Coral
Telephone: 458-5155

Ariani
Wonderful north Italian cuisine
Address: Del Prado Mall, Cape Coral (Corner of Del Prado and Kismet Parkway)
Telephone: 772-8000

Bubbas Roadhouse & Salon
Original steakhouse and awesome steaks in an American tavern.
Address: 2121 Pine Island Road
Telephone: 282-5520

Del Prado Steak House
Very good steakhouse with an exalted ambience
Address: 3724 Del Prado Boulevard, Cape Coral
Telephone: 549-1300

Hooters of Cape Coral
More than a mouthful…! Chicken, Seafood, Hamburgers and salads
Address: 3120 Del Prado Boulevard South, Cape Coral
Telephone: 945-4700 Web: www.hooters.com

La Villa Gardens
Italian and European specialties
Address: 4603 SW 16th Place # 11, Cape Coral
Telephone: 540-8591

New England Moorings
Seafood at its best. Not so easy to find, but definitely worthwhile!
Address: 1326 SE, 16th Place, near Wal-Mart, Cape Coral
Telephone: 772-9900

Rib City
The best spare ribs in Southwest Florida
Address: 4836 Leonard Street, Cape Coral
Telephone: 549-7427

Rumrunner’s at Cape Harbor
Seafood with a view to the harbor and the boat-lock.
Address: 5848 Cape Harbor Drive, Cape Coral
Telephone: 542-0200 Web: http://199.236.99.30/restaurant.htm

Sakura - Japanese Steak House
Tepaniaki! The food is prepared at the table for your eyes to see.
Address: 3034 Del Prado Boulevard South, Cape Coral
Telephone: 945-2999

Siam Hut - Thai Restaurant
Very good Thai cuisine
Address: 4521 Del Prado Boulevard South, Cape Coral
Telephone: 945-4247

Super Buffet King
Chinese to yours fill: simple but good and worth it!
Address: 2301 Del Prado Boulevard (Coralwood Mall), Cape Coral
Telephone: 573-8777

Bubble Room
Funny saloon with old sheet-metal-toys located on Captiva Island, slightly more expensive but well worth seeing.
Address: 15001 Captiva Drive, Captiva Island
Telephone: 472-5558 Web: www.Bubbleroomrestaurant.com

Bistro 41
Great steaks and much more.....
Address: 13499 at US 41 in Bell Tower towards airport Fort Myers Telephone: 466-4141

Gramma Dot’s
Quayside bar with just 8 tables, excellent fish dishes and a wonderful scenery.
Address: 634 North Yachtsman Drive, Sanibel Island
Telephone: 472-8138

Lighthouse
Romantic tavern in the style of Key West with a big roof deck and magnificent views.
Address: 14301 Port Comfort Road (Port Sanibel Marina), Fort Myers
Telephone: 489-0770

Moretti's
American Seafood in the ambience of the Caribbean.
Address: 4200 Pine Island Road NW, Matlache
Telephone: 239-283-5825

Sandy Hook
Seafood and ribs in the original ambience of the Caribbean
Address: 4875 Pine Island Road NW, Matlacha
Telephone: 239-283-0113

Shuckers
Waterfront-Restaurant with live music, just four times a week (Sa. Su. We. Fr.)
Address: 1687 Inlet Drive, North Fort Myers
Telephone: 955-7001

The Veranda
Exclusive restaurant (awarded)
Address: 2122 Second Street, Fort Myers
Telephone: 332-2065 Web: www.verandarestaurant.com

Of course fast-food is the acme of lunch in the USA. It does not always have to be bad at all, quite the contrary. Here, hamburgers are really tasty. If you would like to go for burgers you definitely should try "Juicy Lucy". Here you can freshly compose the burger by yourself. Whether with double meat or freshly roasted onions, everything is possible. The "Bacon Cheese Burger de Luxe" for example tastes outstandingly. Besides McDonalds (6x) and Burgerking (3x) you will find the following fast food restaurants in Cape Coral – some of them repeatedly, too:

Arby’s Roast Beef
The name is program

Kentucky Fried Chicken
Very fine chicken fast-food

Long John Silver
Fish fast-food chain

Perkin's
American & Italian cuisine, not exactly "fast-food", but just perfect for families with children

Subway
Long Baguettes – hot or cold – for "self-assembling".

Sweet Tomato
Huge salad bar & Italian cuisine

Taco Bell
Mexican Fast-Food chain

Wendy’s old fashioned Burgers
"Noble-McDonalds"!


Pizza - Home service
In case you are hungry for pizza you can order this by phone, amongst others for example at
DOMINOS PIZZA
Telephone 945 - 0040
This is a pizza service with a free house delivery. Just name the size of the pizza; usually a large one is sufficient for 2 - 3 persons. You can select in-between 3 different thickness of pastry, then tell them your desired toppings and in short time the pizza will be delivered.

© 2004-2011 Markus und Sonja Müller

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