Fort Myers

Once a 50-seat 1920 gas station–turned-restaurant, the Bijou is now a 140-seat restaurant with the type of enchanting decor you might expect in a quaint, modern European café. — Fodor's

"Predictably excellent" describes this "high-class" Sarasota "institution", "known for its great steaks" and other "outstanding" New American cuisine. — Zagat

The restaurant's most popular entrée is its curry-painted sea bass (a fresh filet painted with curry and honey, pan-seared, lightly glazed, then finished in the broiler). — Gayot

Campiello hits you with the perfect one-two combo: an attractive, umbrella-shaded patio for stylish alfresco dining along the 3rd St shopping corridor, and Italian cuisine priced for all budgets. — Lonely Planet

At Chops, you can get an awesome New York strip or T-bone steak that's been dry-aged in the restaurant's aging room and other house specialties, such as hand-rolled sushi and seafood. — Concierge

Features Italian fare, including pretty good pizza as well as tapas, burgers, and salads, but the main draw here isn't the food, per se, it's the live jazz and blues bands that play nightly. — Frommer's

The dull decor doesn't wow but the excellent food certainly does at one of downtown Sarasota's most popular dinner options. — Lonely Planet

Under the watchful eye of mounted sailfish and period fishing gear, diners tuck into jars of pickled shrimp, fried green tomato salad, Bloody Mary oyster shooters and cornmeal-crusted catfish. — Gayot

A cornerstone of downtown Fort Myers, the Veranda combines two historic homes with delicious French-inspired cuisine – love awaits. — Lonely Planet

Chef Aielli's constantly evolving menu emphasizes seafood with an Italian accent and, as is the trend lately, features wild-caught local fish and organic produce. — Frommer's

Don't be fooled by the tacky glowing sign from the highway: most Neapolitans swear this is the place for seafood in town, which is why you should still make a reservation even in the heat of summer. — Fodor's

A popular newcomer on the Southside dining scene, Libby's features Chef Fran Casciato's fabulous Florida-inspired cuisine that emphasizes locally grown produce and ingredients. — Frommer's

You'll find an epicurean take on healthy eating at this farm-and-sea-to-table bistro that, as the name declares, looks almost exclusively to local suppliers to stock its kitchen. — Fodor's

The restaurant dates from 1976 but the crowd-pleasing menu is very current, with items such as black peppercorn–seared yellow-fin tuna niçoise salad. — Concierge

Fresh local seafood is the star both upstairs and down -- grilled grouper is your best bet. The downstairs piano lounge and raw bar also serves sandwiches and burgers. — Frommer's

Leave room for Mrs. Yoder's shoofly and other homemade pies, one of the restaurant's biggest draws. Note: Alcohol is neither served nor allowed here. — Frommer's

This South Beachy bistro is an excellent choice for Mediterranean-influenced fusion cuisine. — Frommer's

This lively, kitschy visitors' favorite is fun for families and nostalgic types with fat wallets. — Fodor's