Dive into Izzy’s

The upscale raw bar and seafood spot we’d been waiting for has finally opened in the River District.

It seems like ages ago we heard Miami-based chef Jamie DeRosa was on the hook to transform the old French Connection space into a chic New England-inspired restaurant.

Now it is a reality, with the first guests strolling into Izzy’s Fish & Oyster on June 7.

A special pick-and-choose menu of oysters that represent an edible lesson in Massachusetts geography—with pearls like Chatham, Malabar, Ichabod and Pleasant Bay available by the piece—is just the beginning of the treasures found here at the second location of DeRosa’s popular eatery named after his daughter Isabela Grace. It’s the first outside of his home base, Miami Beach. And with its weathered wood and mosaic tiles plus a menu peppered with clam chowder, a lobster roll honored by Zagat as one of the best in the country and even whoopie pies, it’s the first where you could be forgiven for thinking you are at a chic dockside eatery in Boston rather than on First and Jackson a few blocks from the Caloosahatchee.

And just when you thought that was enough excitement, De Rosa and his local business partners, Kearns Restaurant Group and Richter Hospitality Concepts, announced they’re opening Downtown Social House (“SoHo” for short) on June 14 only a few blocks away. The big draw there? The River District’s first outdoor garden with space for 100 revelers nightly.

To plan a visit:

Izzy’s Fish & Oyster

2282 First St., Fort Myers

(239) 337-4999

izzysftmyers.com

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