Best Restaurants for Fall in Fort Myers

Bennett's Fresh Roast has a bit of a cult following, off the beaten path in downtown Fort Myers. Once owned by a longtime, local radio personality C. David Bennett, his donuts gained international attention on the Cooking Channel's Donut Showdown. A popular destination year-round, regulars can't wait until fall when the cases contain his famous Pumpkin Spice Donuts; they ooze with a delicious pumpkin cream filling. The maple donuts are also perfect for the season, especially the ones topped with Nuewske's Applewood smoked bacon--to die for. Other seasonal favorites include apple pies and bread pudding. You just can't go wrong when it comes to finding treats befitting the fall season.

You don't have to go hunting this fall, or travel to a house in the mountains to see the leaves change, just drive to Fancy's Southern Café and sit in the wine bar to get a feel for the season. The occasional taxidermy mingles with rustic chandeliers and repurposed doors and windows. The live music from the rafters and the comfortable couches below have a kind of fall ambiance. And then there is the food...Southern comfort dishes such as deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes, pot roast, shrimp and grits, and the signature Chicken-n-Waffles. The large portions ensure you'll leave with a full belly, while the warm feeling of a home-cooked meal in an inviting atmosphere almost guarantees your return.

While this is not a traditional restaurant by any means, Fort Myers Brewery offers good eats in the form of popular, gourmet food trucks. At least one mobile kitchen is on-site every day the brewery is open with a food truck rally every Thursday, and once a month on Saturdays. Located in an odd industrial park, Fort Myers Brewing Company is a perfect spot for casual fun. There are TV's to watch sporting events and oversized games like Jenga and the bean bag toss, to keep you company while you sample the award-winning brews from the more than 20 taps. Corn hole, football, beer, food trucks and lawn chairs (you can bring your own), the scene has fall written all over it.

While dishes made with apples, pumpkins and squash are certainly popular in Southwest Florida for fall, what people here talk most about, is the opening of stone crab season. And one of the best places to get your fix is at Skip One, a fish market and restaurant on US41 in Fort Myers since the '80s. The building doesn't look like much from the road. Inside the ceilings are low, the tables close, and the seafood is some of the freshest you'll find. The owners operate one of the largest fleets of shrimp boats in the state. The chowders (New England clam or Bahamian conch) will warm your bones, so will the southern hospitality.

This downtown Fort Myers dining icon occupies two old homes dating back to 1902. For decades the Veranda has provided an atmosphere of southern sophistication, consistently good cuisine and impeccable service. It just feels right for the fall season. Many of the staff have been here for years and will go above and beyond to make your night memorable. Specializing in regional flavors and seafood, a restaurant favorite is artichoke fritters stuffed with blue crab. Table side preparation is not a lost art here and the menu is full of hearty meat dishes as well. The Veranda's lounge is cozy, often featuring live music music. It's a favorite special occasion place.

Angelina's screams elegance from the moment you pull up to the restaurant and hand your keys to the valet. The dining room is large but still intimate and the polished servers know exactly how to navigate it. You may want to ask for direction from the sommelier when choosing from the nearly 4,000 fantastic bottles housed in the thirty-foot wine tower. The food is plated to perfection, with attention to detail, and tastes as good as it looks. A season favorite and must-have is the award-winning ravioli stuffed with butternut squash and mascarpone cheese, topped with a citrus tomato butter and truffled almonds. If you are dressed a bit too casual, you may find yourself being guided to the bar and patio for dining, both have the same great menu and atmosphere.

Tarpon Lodge is a winding rustic drive through Pine Island, getting there is part of the fun. Dining here gives you a glimpse into the so-called "old Florida," days gone by, where time slows down and superb service takes over. It feels cozy, with it's creaky wooden floors and fireplace in the bar. A perfect place to settle in for a cool night on the water. The menu is fresh and seasonal, much of the produce from island farmers. The daily fresh catch is pulled from the waters surrounding the Lodge. Perfect for fall, or anytime of the year, is the restaurant's signature blue crab and roasted corn chowder. Visit the lodge for lunch or dinner, or better yet, book a room and stay the night.

Tarpon Bay offers casual, yet classy dining in a comfortable Old Key West style house on the grounds of the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. The chef's special for two�—14 ounce chateaubriand and 3-pound Maine lobster�—is a special treat for the season. While dining inside is memorable, nothing says fall quite like sitting outside around the fire pit. Here you can order smores. The smell of toasted marshmallows, the ooze of melted chocolate, the crunch of graham cracker cookies, while sitting around a fire...quintessential fall. Add to this, a garden full of lush plants and twinkling lights, it doesn't get much better than this for atmosphere.

A farm to table mentality by popular chef Harold Balink, the restaurant has expanded, a full liquor bar added, but it has managed to maintain an intimate feeling where everyone seems to know and care about each others. Sometimes it feels like you're a guest at a special dinner party, it's especially true in the fall. Harold is known for making carnivores happy, and the creative preparations found here continually impress critics and followers alike. Wines selections are handpicked and not ones you are likely to find in the big retail outlets. The staff pays great attention to detail and always make you feel welcomed.

The Farmers Market is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Lee County, located off the beaten path in an industrial area that you might drive right by. When the temperatures drop and you want a big plate of comforting, seasonal food, this is the spot. The no-frills, homey eatery serves the big portions and great quality that a Southern Grandma would, and they've been doing it since the 1960s. The lunch and dinner specials don't come with one side; they come with THREE. You also get a basket of cornbread and rolls. Enjoy belly-filling mashed potatoes and gravy, and southern favorites like country fried steak, fried okra, collard greens and seasonal produce. This is a great spot for that apple or pumpkin pie you might be craving. The homemade desserts are a long-standing favorite.