Inside the Gulfshore’s Dining Scene
Napoli, Italy comes to Naples, Florida
MiraMare Ristorante is the newest finer dining spot in Southwest Florida. It sets the bar very high for any Italian restaurant, or any restaurant, for that matter. The food is delicious, and the location is to-die-for gorgeous, with a stunning view, day or night, of Naples Bay.
As I enjoyed my meal during this opening week, an Italian woman nearby said her tuna tartar salad tasted just as it did in Naples, Italy—how much better does it get? The cuisine is overall that of Northern Italy, with experienced Chef Giovanni Scamardella working his magic with a skilled and light touch with seafood and veal. This isn’t your Americanized pasta and meatball place. This is where you come to savor both the food and the view, and leave happy to enjoy the good life in Naples. Sal Sinzieri, former managing partner at Fifth Avenue’s Bice, with his wife Alyse, have created a beautiful gem with attentive servers.
Outdoor dining along Naples Bay at MiraMare
The menu may change often, highlighting seasonal offerings. I had the lightly seasoned Tuna tartar, with Hass avocado, capers, red onion and a celery root puree. The Chilean sea bass, on a bed of sautéed spinach, is heavenly light, one of the best-cooked sea bass dishes I’ve had. The veal scaloppini is another delight, with lemon and capers. Some raved about the seafood risotto with shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari in a light tomato sauce.
Chilean sea bass at MiraMare
Come join the line for one of the best meals and waterfront settings around for lunch or dinner. MiraMare, 4236 Gulf Shore Blvd N., Naples. (239) 430-6273.
Mad Takeout prepares wide selection of fresh dishes to go
Fort Myers Chef and entrepreneur Shannon Yates’ Mad Takeout just opened, serving Chef Ruth Cohen’s fresh creations to-go from a location in the Pinebrook Plaza, just west of French Roast Café and north of Cantina Laredo.
Chef Cohen and assistant Chef Robbie Garvin offer a large assortment of spring rolls, sushi, sandwiches, spelt and regular dough pizza and pasta dishes, healthy salads, wild salmon and even ribeye steaks.
Shannon Yates and Robbie Garvin at Mad Takeout
The Krazy Spring roll’s surimi crab, cream cheese, to-chi sauce and teriyaki glaze ($6.25) is one of my favorites! There’s even takeout béarnaise, demi glace, salsa fresca and au poivre sauces, to round out a nutritious meal at home.
Hamachi Roll at Mad Takeout
Mad Takeout even offers reasonably priced bottles of wine, in full or “split” sizes to go with your hot healthy lunch or dinner.
To place your take-out order, call (239) 693-TOGO or visit the Web site at www.madtakeout.com. Yes, they thought every detail to make your meal a welcoming delight. Mad Takeout, 12995 S. Cleveland Ave, Suite 112, Ft. Myers.
Family-friendly seafood comes to Miromar Outlets
Waterside Seafood & Grille is the newest dining spot at Miromar Outlets, next to La Bamba Mexican Restaurant in the former site of Key Western Grille. Owner Rod Rinaldi has remodeled it into a great spot for lunch or dinner during a shopping break. With blue walls, a marlin, a sailfish and other oceanic touches, the casual setting is great for kids. With the prices and locally caught fresh fish, it’s great for adults, too.
Waterside Seafood & Grille
Chef Jim Yorski, a veteran of more than 30 years, is especially fond of cooking fish. I ordered the Sampler ($12.95), which includes conch fritters, Buffalo-style shrimp, fried clam strips and my favorite, the tender oysters—a portion large enough for three to happily share. There’s snapper cordon bleu ($17) on a bed of linguini in a tomato cream sauce.
Grouper platter at Waterside Seafood & Grille
The fresh grouper platter ($18) comes with two sides, and the grouper is truly fresh and lovingly cooked—a better quality fish than at other restaurants charging $25 or more. Waterside Seafood & Grille, Suite H-317, Miromar Outlets, Corkscrew Road at Exit 123 off I-75, Estero. (239) 949-9595.
Let’s broaden our choices together. Share your great Southwest Florida restaurant experiences by posting a comment below or e-mailing me at diningscene@live.com.