The Waterfront Restaurant is located at the southern end of St. James City on Pine Island. / The News-Press file photo
Because you shouldn’t sacrifice flavor during Lent.
• 3 Fishermen Seafood Restaurant (5100 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers; 13021 N. Cleveland Ave., North Fort Myers; threefishermenseafood.com): Run by a Florida native, 3 Fishermen offers grouper and grits, or mahi mahi with fried okra. Portions are generous and fresh.
• The Clam Bake Restaurant (1652-10 S. Tamiami Trail, south Fort Myers; 482-1930; clambakefortmyers.com): Go here for baskets of Ipswich clams, Maine lobsters or real-deal clambakes complete with newspaper for the table and bibs for you.
• Origami Sushi Bar (13300 S. Cleveland Ave., south Fort Myers; 482-2126; sushiorigami.com): The Cajun tuna (seared tuna garnished with radish sprouts, roasted garlic, green onion, jalapeno and special sauce) is my new addiction.
• Truluck’s (698 Fourth Ave. South, Naples; 530-3131; trulucks.com): Oysters Rockefeller, New Orleans BBQ shrimp, tempura crab fingers – all cordially served in a dark, romantic dining room.
• The Waterfront Restaurant (2131 Oleander St., St. James City; 283-0592; waterfrontrestaurant.com): One of the few places you can find sweet, Bahamian conch in all its un-frittered glory. The clam chowder’s darn good too.
