Antonio’s Maitland

Antonio’s in Maitland has two options for dining. The more refined atmosphere upstairs with Tuscan painted walls and artwork complete with an outside terrace and a wonderful view of the lake nearby.

Or, the hip vibe with homestyle items surrounded by wine and a happening Italian market, downstairs. Antonio’s Downstairs feels like you have stepped into a New York Italian market. It’s loud, but that’s OK. The servers dodge in-between customers as they browse the wine cellar selections.

Upstairs, Antonio’s is known for Italian food, fresh seafood and Angus beef. Start with an antipasto platter or the roasted eggplant and tomato caprese salad – both delicious. The chef’s favorite is one of the most reasonably priced menu selections – Capellini D’Angelo a blend of angel hair pasta, EVOO, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil and European pine nuts. The beef shorts ribs served over cheddar polenta looked amazing and so did the steaks.

The servings upstairs are very large and could be shared. Dessert was offered but we were too full.

We decided to stop in downstairs and check it out. The sommelier was extremely knowledgeable and case discounts are offered.

Downstairs menu features wood fired pizza, fresh pasta’s, rotisserie chicken and lets you eat, drink and shop. The limoncello cake was sliced and ready to take home along with pasta dishes and more. There is also a butcher on staff that cuts steaks and fish so you can take dinner home and prepare it yourself.

There is two private dining rooms for up to 60 people. The restaurant upstairs is also open for private parties on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Hours upstairs: Monday thru Friday 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. for lunch; Monday thru Saturday 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Happy Hour 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Hours downstairs: Monday thru Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Sunday 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.

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Society

Miami comes to Bell Tower Shops, Fort Myers, Fla. by the way of Society Restaurant and Club. It’s a two-story restaurant. The first floor offers inside and outside patio seating and is open during days and evenings. Rooftop seating and a full bar available in the Treehouse later in the day.

Society’s chef is Todd Erickson who beat Bobby Flay on Food Network’s showdown in January. Chef Erickson’s menu is modern contemporary.

It’s a great spot to catch lunch with friends or meet up for business. On the lighter side is sushi, soups and salads. Under sandwiches you can order a grouper melt, lobster b.l.t. gyro, grain burger, grilled cheese tartine ranging from $12 to $19. There are three main large plates at lunchtime. Lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Society really comes alive at night. Dinner is served from 5-10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Dinner entrees range in price from $19 for unstructured lasagna to $76 for a bone-in ribeye for two. The menu upstairs is infused with tropical twists like pineapple guacamole, society wings which a choice of korean bbq, garlic teriyaki, hot or mild; cuban cigars which is a wrap of ham, dill pickles and a key lime aioli.

When dinner is over the seating is removed downstairs so customers can enjoy dancing till 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

This is also a hot spot for a non-profit fundraiser, a couples baby shower or just a large family gathering. Kids menu available.

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Rusty’s Raw Bar & Grill

If you are in the mood for a quick bite and a cold beer then Rusty’s Raw Bar & Grill has your name on it. What started in Naples now has four locations, including the newest in downtown Cape Coral at 4631 SE 10th Place.

The menu is surprisingly extensive with apps, wings bone in and boneless, salads, sammies, wraps, burgers all the way up to specialities including beer battered fish & chips, crab cakes, crunchy grouper, and a larger-than-life fried pork tenderloin sandwich.

The cold peel and eat shrimp were delicious. Of course there are oysters on the half shell served with all the good stuff.

Rusty’s features a list of traditional favorites — beans & rice, chicken burritos, cowabunga chimichanga, chicken fingers, and blackened Mahi tacos.

There is a full cocktail bar with limited beer. There are happy hour beer and drink specials, an outside tiki bar, pool table, corn hole, volleyball. Hours are 11 a.m. – 1:30 a.m. daily.

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Son Cubano Restaurant

Son Cubano that originated in New York and New Jersey calls one corner in Coral Gables home, 2530 Ponce De Leon Boulevard. You can’t miss it, the sheer white curtains drifing in and out of the open seating and the Cuban jazz music draw you near. This is not your ordinary cuban food. The Chef Dennis Martinez presents everything with a contemporary twist. The food goes well with whatever the mixologist creates behind the bar. This bar is stocked will top shelf liquor, tropical infusions with fresh juice all served up with a feeling of being in Havana.

The decor is sleek and modern white with exposed brick. Seating is also available at the bar, toward the back with a lounge experience. Upstairs is a cigar bar.

Portions are great for sharing. Start with a ceviche of tuna tataki a mixture of fresh tuna, asparagus, watercress and a ginger garlic sauce. There is also a nice selection of salads from caribbean seaweed to caesar, and ensalada de pollo to a steak, roasted tomato, potato, carrot drizzled with cherry vinegar.

Try Rollito Cubano (Cuban Egg Roll) with slow-roasted pork, swiss cheese and a spicy Karachi miso sauce $11; Bonita Ricachon – cuban sweet potato mash topped with short rib, truffle oil and edamame, $13. There is also seafood with faro pasta, bruschetta, pizza with mozzarella and tomato sauce on a thin flatbread or a shredded beef pizza.

For Entradas there is roasted pork, sushi grade salmon, shrimp cuban creole, braised short rib, skirt steak with Wasabi chimichurri, yellowtail, ribeye and Maine Lobster tail. Prices range from $22-$32.

For $4 you can add yucks, platanos, frijoles negros, or mixed veggies.

And, if you have room for dessert you should try the homemade miso flan with ginger rule and rum sugar can foam.

For more information or to make a reservation call 305-902-6220.

 

Blu Agave

On National Margarita Day, Jeff and I decided go to Cape Coral’s newest restaurant on the Parkway so we checked into Blu Agave. This spot is family-owned with sister restaurants in Colorado and New Mexico.

The menu is extensive and traditional Mexican. Some highlights include Guacamole, quesadillas, Tortilla Soup, Salads, Dinners for Two, Fajitas, Beef, Chicken, Pork, Seafood Dishes, Burritos, Tacos. The restaurant is also open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

We loved the pico and chips with the house margarita after a long day at work. A side of guac followed and then our dinner. I had the creamy cheese enchiladas and Jeff had enchiladas verdes. The food was served on a piping hot plate.

Located at 1404 Cape Coral Parkway E in downtown Cape Coral this spot has parking in the back; outside and inside dining options. A children’s menu is also available.

You will love the fast and excellent service and attention to detail.

 

River City Grill

Just a few miles off the I-75 Punta Gorda exit located  in the quaint downtown area sits River City Grill. We decided to follow the foot traffic to the busiest place. The owner is Doug Amaral, a Culinary Institute of America trained chef who hails from Westport, MA. We received a warm greeting from Mary, Christina and Michael.

You can start your evening with a small plate to share. We had the Boom Boom Shrimp (pictured) it had a nice crunchy outside served in a light tangy sauce and great with a glass of chardonnay.

Other shared plates include: calamari, lettuce wraps, seared tuna, fried oysters on the half shell or baked jumbo half shelf oysters.

Dinner selections may be made from several categories: land, sea,grill or vegetarian.

I went with a grouper grilled to perfection with perfectly cooked vegetables and rice. Jeff had a pork cutlet with all the fixings — mashed potatoes, red cabbage and veggies. Both servings were large and could be shared, especially if you have an appetizer.

The menu has a little bit of everything from meatloaf and pot roast to seared duck, beer battered fish and chips, garlic and herb chicken breast and grilled cauliflower steak with roasted asparagus, humus, roasted red pepper sauce.

There is a full bar and a nice wine list. Service was excellent even on a busy night.

 

 

 

 

Duffy’s Sports Grill

Duffy’s in Cape Coral offers not your typical bar bites. The vibe offers an extensive menu with everyone’s favorites that are sure to please your appetite. Come find out why the parking lot is packed night after night. If you don’t find what you’re looking for on the menu to meet your fancy, Chef Chris might be able to put a spin on your favorite dish. Words to describe the bar atmosphere are friendly and outgoing customers with an abundance of flat screen TV’s and servers who knows your favorites. Stacy at the bar is amazing.

OK, so when you stop by Duffy’s make sure you sign up for the frequent buyer program — it’s free. You can upgrade if you want and there are three categories.

Wait staff is attentive and kitchen staff works their fingers to the bone.

Now, about the food. The menu offers apps, salads, handhelds, steaks and everything in between. The burgers are USDA prime, the sauces are made from scratch and the fries are cooked to order. The only thing in the freezer is ice cream.

The portions are large enough to share or get your own and ask for a to-go box. Drinks are made to order and are 2 for 1 everyday all day long.

Duffy’s Sports Grill

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gamlin Whiskey House

Gamlin Whiskey House

So we were walking around the neighborhood near the Chase Park Plaza in the Central West End of St. Louis, and came across this “hot” brunch spot on a Sunday morning. Gamlin Whiskey House offered a nice respite outside to enjoy a little breakfast. Menu highlights include: fried chicken on top of Belgium waffles, omelets, eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy, fresh squeezed OJ, Mimosa, Bloody Mary’s and more. Brunch starts at 11 a.m.

For lunch, start with a St. Louis favorite of toasted ravioli. Other items of note are short rib sliders, Three Little Pigs, a cheese board and bread board served with  a choice of three butters — honey-bourbon peppercorn, garlic parmesan, strawberry basil, blue, beer-braised onion and spicy herb.

There is always lobster bisque and soup du jour. Salads are served half or full and there are 6 to choose from.

Under sandwiches we saw the BLT, Blackened Beef Medallions, Smoked Salmon on Rye, Fried and Blackened Chicken Breast, Turkey, Prime Rib, The Hangover and a few more.

For a business or main meal lunch the menu offers everything from Ribeye to Saffron Fettuccine and Roasted Vegetable Couscous. Menu prices start at $5.50 and go to $18. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dinner starts with the same apps and salads. Entrees range from $19 to $52. This steakhouse serves up Seabass, Pork Steak, Trout, Fried Chicken, Seafood Pastas, Moon Dance Farm Pot Pie, and Premium Hereford Hand-Cut Steaks that go all the way up to a 16-oz. Ribeye. All beef is Midwest raised. Dinners are served with house or Caesar salad, choice of side and butter.

Sides are delicious and complete the meal. They include White Cheddar Potato Gratin, Lobster & Corn Cake, Mashed Potatoes, Potato Wedges, Five Mushroom Sauté, Grilled Asparagus and Green Beans with Whiskey, Brown Sugar and Almonds.

Dinner menu served until the kitchen closes at 12:45 a.m.

Desserts are fab and all homemade. There is daily bread pudding, brownie cheesecake, bourbon vanilla creme brulee, fried cookies with chocolate sauce and ice cream, flourless chocolate cake and homemade ice cream and sorbet.

There is a really nice vibe to this spot and it’s a hip spot to get a drink with friends.

Gamlin is located at 236 N. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO.

 

Joey’s Pizza & Pasta House

Garlic knots

joey’s pizzaLet’s start with the garlic knots with marinara. Wow. Add a glass of wine and an antipasto salad – a house salad topped with salami, capicola, ham prosciutto, provolone, cheese, hot cherry peppers and topped with balsamic vinaigrette, to share. If you are really hungry try one of Joey’s homemade Italian cuisine. In a group, check out the speciality pizzas. This is the real deal Italian cuisine – pasta dinners include penne, linguini or angel hair pasta with marinara, meatballs, Italian sausage or meat sauce. Cheese ravioli or rotellini, penna all vodka, ziti, lasagna, stuffed shells, linguini with red or white clam sauce and much more. They also make homemade soup or stuffed meatball grinder, philly cheese steak and hamburgers.

They are kid friendly, have indoor and outdoor seating options and open 7 days a week. Full bar. Drive up for take out. You might have to drive around a few times to snag a parking spot.

Monkey Bar

When you are in the mood for serious food go to a place with a funny name – Monkey Bar on Lafayette St. in Cape Coral.  This was the chef special: Mediterranean Grouper with tomatoes, olives and mushrooms with rice and veggie saute.

Prime Rib Night is Saturday, pictured above, and comes with all the fixings. Also on the dinner side is a variety of seafood, pastas, steaks and chops. There are also daily specials like rack of lamb and different takes on seafood dishes.

The menu is extensive and starts with some great shared appetizers including jalapeno poppers, nachos and more. Soup and salads are next. The salads are really good and could be shared.

For a light dinner, check out the grouper – you can have it grilled, blackened or fried and its a great price for the area. The portions are large.

For a splurge, try bananas foster tableside prepared by Chef Nico Bogert, formerly of Bogert’s Chop House. His partner is Claudia Garcia, she was a director at the Pink Shell. They greet their guests personally.

Open days a week. Live entertainment. Outside bar. Inside bar. Dining with tablecloths and full service, inside.
Gluten items available.