Top 10 Bonita Springs Restaurants & Dining Spots
If you're looking for a great place to eat in Bonita Springs, Florida this is THE list. Maureen McCabe, one of my blog cohorts from Active Rain shared her favorite Columbus Mexican Restaurants and it sparked the idea for this article on my 10 favorite Bonita Springs restaurants. So I decided to share with you my favorite ten restaurants in Bonita Springs. Here’s the guidelines:
First, I’m using a 10-ish mile radius around Bonita Springs and including Estero and Naples. Why? Because it’s my list and my favorite restaurants. My list, my rules. Deal with it. You can start your own list on myspace. Besides, not all my fav’s are in Bonita Springs and it’s only 2 minutes more to drive to Naples or Estero from most of Bonita Springs.
Second, I don’t care a whole bunch for most franchises and I don’t like paying for the real estate at the Coconut Point Mall. I only had to pay $18 for a salad once and learned that was not my locale for dining in Bonita Springs. Plus, when you eat at LOCALLY OWNED restaurants your money stays local and helps local business owners and local families. Pardon me, but I just don’t see Johnny Carrabba coming out of the kitchen, shaking my hand and asking me how my Mini-me is doing her first semester in college. You only get that kind of personal interaction with a place the locals own and the locals patronize. Period.
Third, it's a good mix of all kinds of cuisine. From beer to brie. Yes, in some of these places they just might serve beer with the brie. Again, deal. Who says that might not be a good thing, just for a change of pace?
So here goes, in no particular order or a particular order. If you know me personally, you know the order of my favorites, I’m sure.
1. AA Two Brother’s Pizza and Italian Cuisine – 25251 South Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL (Behind the John R. Wood Realtor building) Great food, great prices, they stuff you even if you’re not hungry. Just like Momma use to make. Dine in, carry out.
2. El Mesquite Mexican Grill – 26930 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs, Fl. Great authentic food, super prices. Just North of W. Terry Street on Old 41.
3. Terri’s Summer Breeze Café – 3300 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, Fl. (Kmart/Publix Plaza) Breakfast and Lunch. The BEST biscuits in town and the home to most of my Seen in Bonita Springs photos.
4. Sushi Thai of Naples – 869 103rd Street N., Naples, Fl (Naples Park) The best sushi in Southwest Florida. Period (and I am a really picky eater, ask my Mom. I'm sure she's got the stories...and photos to accompany)
5. South Beach Grill – 7205 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach. Santini Plaza at the south end of the island. Fresh fish, great steaks, modern and hip.
6. Da Ru Ma Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi – 241 Center Street, Naples, Fl. Vanderbilt Drive by the Ritz Carlton. Kids like the action.
7. Buffalo Chips – 26620 Old 41 Road. (North of Terry Street) The hottest wings and the coldest beer in town. Tons of local color and characters to watch. Noisy so kids can cut loose, video games in back.
8. Dolly’s – 9930 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, Fl. (Across the street from Marbella at Spanish Wells) Breakfast and lunch. Pot Roast on Thursday, look for me and my crew. Plates and silverware doesn't match, just like when you grew up. It's awesome.
9. Roy’s - at The Promenade on the corner of US 41-Tamiami Trail and West Terry Street. You have to get the pot stickers and the chocolate soufflé. Great martini’s, too.
10. The Neon Grill – 3300 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, Fl. (Kmart/Publix Plaza) Casual, catch a game, great food, great prices, home cooked style and taste.
Now, if you have any restaurants you’d like to see added to this website, I welcome you to write a review for inclusion. I will post it on the site. Contact Chris for details on submission.