Seafood, European and Southern: Fort Myers Best Restaurants

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Photo courtesy of Sweet Melissa's
Photo courtesy of Sweet Melissa's
Photo courtesy of Michael McMillan

Sweet Melissa's Cafe

Cuisine: American, Local Specialty, Seafood

Price Range: $$

10Best Says

This unique Sanibel restaurant is where foodies go while on the island. Award winning Chef Melissa Talmadge sources local ingredients year-round, for a seasonal menu that leans toward small plates. Her creations are innovative and consistently pleasing. Sweet Melissa's staffers are consummate professionals, and can easily recommend the best wine pairings for your meal. Many nights a week, you can find a local guitarist playing relaxing dinner music. There's a small patio that's lovely for al fresco dining when the weather allows and a cozy, full-service bar. You'll definitely want to secure a reservation for dining in the Winter and Spring tourist seasons.

Address:

1625 Periwinkle Way
Sanibel, FL 33957
239-472-1956

Hours:

Lunch: Tue-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm
Dinner: Tue-Sat 5pm-Close

EXPERT TIPS BY: Gina Birch
Fort Myers Local Expert

Best Restaurants, Fine Dining: "Most of the parking is in the rear of the restaurant."
Seafood Restaurants on Sanibel: "Enjoy a full bar if you have to wait for seating."

Recommended as Best Restaurants Because: Some of the best, most innovative, and consistently prepared food you'll find on Sanibel Island including local produce, seafood, beef and everything in-between.
Best for Fine Dining Because: This Sanibel Island gem with a small bar offers a seasonal menu full of beautifully plated food and service to match.
Best for Seafood Restaurants on Sanibel Because: Sweet Melissa's serves seafood and lots more, with creativity unlike most on the Island.

Lunch
- Main
  Signature Soup
  Cup: $5.00
  
  Bowl: $8.00
  Grilled Romaine Salad*
  
  Caesar Dressing, Parmesan Cheese and Truffle Oil Drizzle ($12.00)
  
  Artisan Greens*
  
  Mixed Greens, Tomato, Cucumber, Avocado Croutons and Green Goddess Dressing ($13.00)
  
  Baby Kale Salad
  
  Warm Bacon, Golden Raisins, Buttermilk – Parmesan Dressing, Fried Focaccia Bread ($14.00)
  
  Steamed Mussels with Frites
  
  Spinach, White Wine, and Creole Mustard Cream ($14.00)
  
  Fish Stew
  
  Shrimp, Scallops, Clams, Mussels, Fish, and Chorizo Sausage in a Tomato Saffron Broth with Pernod Aioli ($18.00)
  
  New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp and Grits
  
  Sautéed Shrimp, Worcestershire Sauce, Anson Mills Grits ($16.00)
  
  Quiche of the Day*
  
  Served with A Mixed Green Salad ($13.00)
- Sandwiches
  
  Six Ounce Wagyu Burger
  
  Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Bacon Jam ($16.00)
  
  Curried Chicken Salad
  
  Golden Raisins, Celery, Served on a Croissant ($11.00)
  
  Salmon Burger
  
  Red Onion, Capers, Lemon Dill Aioli, Braised Red Cabbage, Creole Mustard Fingerling Potato Salad On a Grilled Brioche Bun ($15.00)
  
  Blackened Chicken Breast Sandwich
  
  Bacon and Provolone Cheese With an Avocado Aioli on a Brioche Bun ($12.00)
  
  Pork Belly Sliders (2)
  
  With Cipollini Onions, Mushrooms, and a Natural Jus ($15.00)
  
  BLT
  
  Thick Cut Bacon, Local Lettuce, Green Tomato, and House Made Mayo, Served on Ciabatta Bread ($12.00)
  
  Grilled or Blackened Fish Sandwich
  
  With House Made Tartar Sauce, Lettuce, and Tomato on a Brioche Bun ($16.00)
Dinner
- Small Plates
  Grilled Romaine Salad*
  
  House Made Caesar Dressing, Parmesan and Truffle Oil Drizzle ($12.00)
  
  Artisan Greens*
  
  Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumber, Green Goddess Dressing, Avocado Croutons ($13.00)
  
  Baby Kale Salad
  
  Warm Bacon, Golden Raisins, Buttermilk – Parmesan Dressing, Fried Focaccia Bread ($14.00)
  
  Oven Roasted Cauliflower
  
  Topped with a Jalapeño Cheddar Cheese Fondue, Charred Pineapple, Pickled Sweet Peppers, Arugula, and Mint ($12.00)
  
  Espresso - Chili Crusted Tuna
  
  Orange Caramel, Crispy Rice, Wasabi Greens ($16.00)
  
  Grilled Octopus
  
  Arugula Salad with Chorizo, Chick Peas, with Romesco Sauce, Atop a Squid Ink Tostada ($15.00)
  
  Linguine Carbonara
  
  Pancetta, Poached Egg ($15.00)
  
  Escargot
  
  Bacon, Mushrooms, Red Wine Demi Glace ($14.00)
  
  Lamb Meatballs
  
  Merguez Sausage, Ground Lamb, Tzatziki Sauce ($14.00)
  
  Artisanal Cheese Plate
  Cranberry Walnut Bread and Truffle Honey
  
  3 Cheeses: $15.00
  
  5 Cheeses: $25.00
  New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp and Grits
  
  Sautéed Shrimp, Worcestershire Sauce, Anson Mills Grits ($16.00)
  
  Steamed Mussels
  
  Spinach, White Wine and Creole Mustard Cream ($15.00)
- Entrees
  Seared Scallops
  Pork Belly, Sweet Potato, Fig and Bourbon Jus
  
  $18.00
  
  $33.00
  Fish Stew*
  Shrimp, Scallops, Clams, Mussels, Fish and Chorizo Sausage in a Tomato Saffron Broth with Pernod Aioli
  
  $18.00
  
  $33.00
  Blackened Redfish
  Creamed Rice, Collard Green "Kraut", Bacon Jam
  
  $17.00
  
  $31.00
  Dirty Rice Stuffed Quail
  Ancho Honey Glaze, Over Grits
  
  $16.00
  
  $30.00
  Smoked Tenderloin
  Truffle Mashed Potatoes, Spinach, Bordelaise Sauce
  
  $23.00
  
  $39.00
Specialty Cocktails
- Non Alcoholic
  
  Hibiscus Pop
  
  Hibiscus Syrup and Soda ($5.00)
  
  Ginger Lime Fizz
  
  Barritts Ginger Beer, Lime Juice, and Soda ($5.00)
  
  Shirley Temple or Roy Rogers
  
  ($2.50)
- Additional Selections
  
  Michelob Ultra
  
  ($6.00)
  
  O'Doul's Amber N/A
  
  ($4.00)
Dessert Cocktails
- Desserts
  
  Flourless Chocolate Torte
  
  Served with Coconut Sorbet, Chocolate Sorbet, Chocolate Ganache, and Toasted Coconut ($9.00)
  
  Key Lime White Chocolate Bread Pudding
  
  With a Key Lime Rum Sauce ($9.00)
  
  Banana Pecan Strudel
  
  Bananas and Pecans Wrapped in Filo Dough, Served with Caramel Gelato and Caramel Sauce ($9.00)
  
  Beignets
  
  With Berry Coulis, Confection Sugar, And Warm Chocolate Sauce for Dipping ($9.00)
  
  Goat Cheese Cheesecake
  
  Local Orange Blossom Honey and Pistachios ($9.00)
  
  House Made Ice Cream and Sorbet
  
  ($5.50)
  
  Ice Cream / Sorbet Sampler Trio Available
  
  ($6.00)
- Dessert Cocktails
  
  Irish Coffee
  
  Jamesons Irish Whiskey and Crème de Menthe ($10.00)
  
  Spanish Coffee
  
  Tia Maria and Myers Dark Rum ($10.00)
  
  Floridian Coffee
  
  Kahlua, Frangelico, Baileys, Gran Marnier ($12.00)
  
  Keoki Coffee
  
  Kahlua and Brandy ($10.00)
  
  Cappuccino Martini
  
  Stoli Vanil, Espresso and Baileys ($13.00)
  
  White Chocolate Raspberry Martini
  
  Stoli Razberi, Chambord, Godiva ($13.00)
  
  Bloody Nutty Irishman
  
  Baileys, Frangelico, and Chambord Over Ice ($10.00)
- Dessert Wine
  
  Standing Stone Vineyards Reisling Ice
  
  ($12.00)
  
  Chateau Guiraud Sauternes 2012
  
  ($13.00)
  
  Meeker 'Fro-Zin' Zinfandel
  
  ($14.00)
  
  Alvear Pedro Ximenez Solera 1927
  
  ($15.00)
- Port
  
  Quinta De La Rosa 10 Year Tawny
  
  ($14.00)
  
  Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Tawny
  
  ($14.00)
  
  Taylor Fladgate 20 Year Tawny
  
  ($26.00)
  
  Taylor Fladgate Ruby Porto
  
  ($12.00)
  
  Quinta do Crasto '2010' LBV Porto
  
  ($14.00)
  
  Ferreira 10 Year Tawny Porto
  
  ($14.00)
- Cognac and Armagnac
  
  Hennessy VS
  
  ($10.00)
  
  Courvoisier VS
  
  ($10.00)
  
  Remy Martin VSOP
  
  ($12.00)
  
  Remy Martin XO
  
  ($28.00)
  
  Larressingle VSOP Armagnac
  
  ($13.00)
  
  Grappa di Barolo
  
  ($10.00)
- Cordials
  
  Sambuca Romana
  
  ($9.00)
  
  Sambuca Romana Black
  
  ($9.00)
  
  Frangelico
  
  ($9.00)
  
  Limoncello
  
  ($9.00)
  
  Gran Marnier
  
  ($12.00)
  
  Baileys
  
  ($9.00)
  
  B&B
  
  ($9.00)
  
  Kahlua
  
  ($9.00)
  
  Amaretto di Saronno
  
  ($9.00)
  
  Tia Maria
  
  ($9.00)

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