Eat well in Fort Myers: Italian classics with modern twists

Citrola's has been serving top-notched pizza and Italian cuisine at various locations in the Fort Myers area for three decades. The mother ship, with the original owners manning the kitchen, has relocated to a space a bit off of the beaten path on Old McGregor Blvd. The walls and tabletops are decorated with wine crates giving the place a cozy wine bar vibe. An outdoor patio also adds to the ambiance, but patrons come for the food, including the signature eggplant fries. The homemade sauces are flavorful, the pizza crust is superb and bite-sized zeppoles are enough to feed an entire family. Affordable and delicious Italian favorites are found here.

Owned by two sisters, much of the food in this comfortable Italian restaurant is inspired by the family's 65-year old restaurant in Venezuela. You'll find Loredana in the kitchen cooking up her signature Bolognese and Claudia in the front of the house when she is not doing the baking. The lasagna is a hearty house favorite and for appetizers, the crispy calamari and fried zucchini strips are a must. Also, open for lunch, locals enjoy the selection of panini and smaller portions of some of the more popular dinner entrees. The wine list is a pleasing mix of Italian, South American and Californian.

Don't expect spaghetti and meatballs here, in fact, don't even ask for them. This classy, white linen tablecloth restaurant introduced the Estero area to the skill of Michael Fattah, a chef whose attention to detail and pursuit of excellence has not gone unrecognized by regional, even national, food critics. Pasta dishes, each of them homemade, are delicious and simple with no over-the-top artsy presentation and never "over-sauced." The house specials are treated with the same high regard, allowing dishes like linguini alla Bolognese and black grouper Provencal to be exactly what they are; naturally flavorful. Chef remembers his clientele and loves to celebrate special occasions with regulars as well as first-timers.

With linen tablecloths, an international wine list and professional service, the food in this Italian restaurant is all made to order and the kitchen accommodates all dietary types, all you have to do is ask. Even if a protein is breaded before cooked, the chefs here can make adjustments to make sure you stay on track. They also offer gluten-free pasta for most of there dishes. Nothing here is over sauced, over seasoned or over cheesy, the ingredients speak for themselves. The owners are a friendly duo who pay attention to detail and go above and beyond to make their customers happy and at home.

Years ago, getting a seat in this Italian restaurant was quite a feat. Not because of the small size but the temperamental owner. People endured the humiliation of standing and waiting for seats when the restaurant was clearly half full because the food was worth it. Thankfully that is not the case anymore, the food is still worthy of waiting for but the service and chef/owner couldn't be more accommodating. The portions are big and the meatballs are stuffed with creamy ricotta and mozzarella cheeses. Try the escargot in a gorgonzola cream or the towering Osso Bucco Milanese. Sasse's is open for lunch and has an interesting "barrel room" for special events.

Misto is one of those white linen table cloth, tucked in a strip mall kinda places that foodies long to find. Misto means diverse in Italian and while Chef and owner, Jeorge Lanese, is well known for his Italian expertise, he has branched out at this location with dishes like Seafood Napolean; diver scallops, blue crab stuffed shrimp wrapped in smoked bacon with a hoisin orange and Thai chili sauce over rice. The rich risotto cakes are layered with mozzarella and pesto, over an amazing veal Ragu. The rolls have a crisp but delicate surface with pillowy goodness underneath and all of it is made from scratch. Many regulars rebuff the menu, instructing the chef to send out something amazing, which he does. Misto serves lunch and has a small bar that fills up fast.

Born in Florence, Italy, chef/owner Antonio Durante specializes in simply prepared foods from his homeland. Simple because the ingredients are few but they are of extraordinary quality and assembled in such a way that leaves you begging for more. Durante imports the finest meats and cheeses, makes his own pasta and loves to bring in truffles when in season. The kitchen is remarkably small so the menu is manageable and changes often. The wine selection is mostly Italian and is full of gems. Located in a strip mall, the tables are limited but there is a bar if you don' t have reservations and there are seats available.

Don't expect chicken parm at this Italian restaurant; Chef Marco Corricelli doesn't serve the more common, or Americanized Italian dishes. His food is inspired by many different regions in Italy, his pasta handmade daily and cooked just right. The meatballs are stuffed with ricotta and they are divine. The specials go fast each night, so get your order in swiftly if you see something that piques your interest. The food here is all fresh, flavorful and served with flare. Try the grilled octopus, served atop marinated kale and chic peas. The Brussels sprouts are simple and delicious, grilled with speck. The wine list mostly consists of Italian selections from smaller producers. Chef keeps an eye on the restaurant from the open kitchen and almost always makes time to greet diners with a friendly "ciao."

Don't let the simple name ("food" in Italian) and the unassuming location of CIBO fool you. Serving up some of the most exquisite Italian food in Fort Myers, the restaurant's chic interior will make you quickly forget you're in a strip mall. Open since 2004 they've been able to expand while managing to keep the intimate atmosphere. CIBO (pronounced Chee-boe) is not cheap but offers some nice happy hour specials; if you can manage to snag a spot at the bar that is. The space has become a bit of a "Cheers" bar for locals, especially after work. Be sure to try mama's meatballs; a healthy mix of veal, beef and pork with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs. The chef makes delicious risotto specials each day and decadent desserts. CIBO is only open for dinner.

Angelina's screams elegance from the moment you pull up to the building. If you are dressed beach casual, you may find yourself excluded from eating in the dining room but the bar (with live piano music) and patio both have the same great menu and ambiance. Wine lovers will go cross-eyed over the 4,000 fantastic selections and the thirty-foot wine tower. Try the award-winning ravioli stuffed with butternut squash and mascarpone cheese, topped with a citrus tomato butter and truffled almonds; to die for. Angelina's serves many beloved Italian classics as well as local fish like grouper; pan-seared in white wine lemon caper sauce, then served over a baked parmesan and bacon ziti cake. Yes, please.