Eating Guide to Southwest Florida: Estero/Bonita Springs Edition
Living in Southwest Florida has a lot of perks! There are beaches, bars, shopping, and lots and lots of food! I like to think of Southwest Florida in three sections. The northern most part being Fort Myers, the middle being Estero/Bonita Springs, and the southern most part being Naples/Marco Island. Kyle and I gathered a list of our favorite places to eat in each area whether you live here in town or not! This list covers our favorite places in the Estero/Bonita Springs area!
First Up Breakfast/Brunch Spots!
Bonita Brunch: Located off of Tamiami Trail South. We have recently discovered this restaurant and LOVE it! They have a huge selection for breakfast and lunch! We have tried something different every time and love it all! Four of our friends have also loved their choices as well so I would say the menu is perfect with great drink deals! Bring your appetite!
Dress code: casual
Poached: Located off of Tamiami Trail South. Another great hidden gem in Bonita Springs with a great menu for both breakfast and lunch! They also have a great little outdoor patio to sit at like many other restaurants making it dog friendly!
Dress code: casual
Naple’s Flatbread: Located at Miromar Outlets. This is one of the more unique brunch menus you have found and love it! They have a breakfast calzone that is superb that pairs nicely with their Frozen Rose!
Dress code: casual
Doc’s Beach House: Located on Bonita Beach. Also mentioned in the lunch/dinner section, I also recommend this place for a causal beach-side breakfast! They dish up a great egg breakfast! They are cash only so be sure to stop at the ATM.
Dress code: casual
Don’t Forget Lunch/Dinner!
Tacos & Tequila Cantina: Located at University Village. This is my favorite Mexican restaurant! I love their list of speciality tacos and also love that they have a full traditional menu as well. Their margarita selection is out of this world! I highly recommend the pancake taco- DO NOT KNOCK IT TILL YOU TRY IT! Kyle’s favorite is the South American taco.
Dress code: casual
Slicers Hoagies: Located at University Village. There is no better place to get a sub sandwich! They have a large list of speciality subs that rumor has it have been created by workers as well as guests! I have recently created my own sub that will hopefully make the speciality list one day!
Dress code: casual
Mellow Mushroom: Located at University Village. We love this location for all things pizza and breadsticks! THeir crust has molasses in it giving it a little bit of a sweet taste and making it truly unique to go along with some of their speciality pizzas! They also have a really cool outdoor covered patio to enjoy!
Dress code: casual
Ted’s Montana Grill: Located at Coconut Point mall. This is a great steak restaurant! We love going here for a nice meal out with family in town or to celebrate birthdays! They have amazing milkshakes that are also Kyle endorsed! I would recommend a reservation because it is not a large restaurant and is quite popular.
Dress code: dressed-up date night
Naples Flatbread: Located at Miromar Outlets. We love the menu here! You can get great flatbreads, calzones, sandwiches, and AMAZING macaroni and cheese and barbecue tacos (chicken or pork)! They also have phenomenal sweet potato-tots that couple well with the bar selection!
Dress code: casual
Ford’s Garage: Located at Miromar Outlets. They have a great variety of food with great drinks! The burgers are to die for as well as their mac and cheese! We have been on countless occasions and the food is always good!
Dress code: casual
Smokin R’s BBQ: Located off of Old 41. This hole in the wall barbecue joint will make all your dreams come true! We are so happy we found it! They have won countless awards for their barbecue! We loved the sandwich platters with all the sides!
Dress code: casual
Wasabi: Located at Miromar Outlets. We love this Hibachi spot! The teriyaki chicken and fried rice is my favorite! Kyle also enjoys their sushi selection! You can often find coupons on Groupon as well! I would recommend reservations if you want to go at popular dinner times.
Dress Code: dressed-up date night
Jimmy P’s: Located off of Tamiami South. One of the best spots in town as they often source the meat out to other restaurants in town. Kyle recommends the burger! They previously had unbelievable barbecue brisket sandwiches but is no longer consistently on the menu.
Dress Code: casual
Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar: Located at Coconut Point mall. We love this little outdoor bar! It is perfect for lunch, a light dinner, or appetizers before heading out to another restaurant! The drinks are very refreshing as well!
Dress code: casual
DeRomo’s Restaurant: Located at the Promenade at Bonita Bay. THis restaurant has plenty of outdoor seating for everyone! This is a family style Italian restaurant with great entrees! There isn’t a thing I wouldn’t recommend.
Dress code: casual to semi-casual
3 Pepper Burrito Company: Located in Shoppes of Grande Oak plaza across from Miromar Outlets. Kyle loves their habanero mango salsa as well as the fact that you get chips automatically with your meal! He gets lunch from here at least once a month!
Dress code: casual
Duffy’s Sports Grill: Located at the Corner of Corkscrew Road and Ben Hill Griffin. Another great sports bar in town that does 2 for 1 drinks EVERYDAY! They also have really great wings and desserts to pair well with your beers! Of course, we have eaten other items on their menu but if I want wings, this is where I go!
Dress code: casual
Divieto Ristorante: Located at Coconut Point mall. The atmosphere of this restaurant is modernly old school with black and white checked floors with big red booths! The food is delicious but I have also never met a lasagna or Italian dish I didn’t like!
Dress code: causal to dressed-up date night
South Fork Grille: Located at Coconut Pointe Mall. South Fork is a perfect the perfect restaurant when you want a great meal but aren’t exactly sure what “type” of food you want. The brie app is a MUST have and all of us loved our entrees. They also have a great desert menu so be sure to go with an empty stomach!
Dress code: semi-formal
Doc’s Beach House: Located on Bonita Beach. This place in known for their Chicago-style pizza and beach side seating! If you want pizza, you need to go early! They start serving at 4:30PM and my parents get there at 4:00PM to ensure a seat without a wait. They are cash only so stop at the ATM!
Dress Code: casual
Bokampers: Located at Coconut Point mall. This is our favorite sports bar as they have enough TVs for all the games and a great food menu. Their outdoor patio/bar also is covered and overlooks a little pond giving you a great atmosphere if you don’t care for sports!
Dress code: casual
Special Mentions:
DeRomo’s Market: YOU HAVE TO CHECK THIS HIDDEN GEM OUT! They have pizza that is the talk of the town as well as a true Italian bakery, coffee shop, and so much more! We can get traditional ingredients for Italian cooking as well as premodern items in the deli department! There is SO MUCH to look at and try!
Duck Donuts: Located at Coconut Point mall. Although a chain, we LOVE Duck Donuts! We have tried countless of donuts from the speciality list as well as their permanent list, I personally like creating my own! THe speciality donuts make my teeth hurt by the end of the first one so I try to stick with just two toppings and they are still delicious!
While this list may seem complete, we are far from the end! There are countless places we have not been to and cannot wait to try! We will be sure to continue to update this list as well as our others as we continue to explore our home!
Looking for more options on where to eat in Southwest Florida? Don’t forget to check out our other eating guides for Fort Myers and Naples, Florida!
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