An Update on Izzy’s

The seafood restaurant and raw bar we’ve been waiting for is on-track to open this spring in downtown Fort Myers.

Locals were beside themselves when the River District’s “where everyone knows your name” café the French Connection closed last year. But the frowns didn’t linger once it was announced what was taking its place: Izzy’s Fish & Oyster, an upscale raw bar and seafood spot. The restaurant had already made waves in Miami for its pick-and-choose platters of the pearly shellfish and New England-style undersea surprises from chef-owner Jamie DeRosa. He was hooked on Fort Myers for expansion, announcing it last fall.

But while months of permitting challenges (what else?) and construction held the project at bay, the Izzy’s team—which includes the far-reaching Kearns Restaurant Group (they and their business partners are behind such hits as Ford’s Garage and The Boathouse)—is projecting renovations to be done this spring. The wicked-good lobster rolls and mean chowda’ will be served up soon after, and we are happy to wait for them.

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