Gulfshore Life Best of the Gulfshore 2002

BEST SEAFOOD
Charley's Crab (Naples)
Finalists: Chart House (Fort Myers)
Bill's Pier on Fifth (Naples)
What are all the raves about? Well, Charley's signature crab cakes for one thing-lots of crab, little filling. The daily lobster specials and the ultra-fresh fish also keep this five-year-old location at the top of the seafood-lover heap. The gorgeous views of Naples Bay and all those million-dollar yachts just add to the flavor.

BEST SUSHI
DaRuMa (Naples)
Finalists: Origami (Fort Myers, Naples)
Club Sushi (Naples)
Maybe it's that much of the fish is flown in fresh from Japan. Or maybe it's just those friendly sushi chefs, who are always eager to explain the difference between, say, inari and your everyday standard eel. Whatever it is, there's little doubt the 12-year-old DaRuMa knows its way around a spicy tuna roll.

BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT
China Pavilion Restaurant (Naples)
Finalists: China Fuji (Fort Myers); China Tokyo (Naples)
This near Pavilion tempts local lotus-eaters and business Brahmins with a beefy dinner menu chockful of choices. Try the specialty of the house, poetically named Happy Family-lobster, pork and chicken sautéed with vegetables. Or duck in for some afternoon delight with bargain-priced lunch specials.

BEST FRENCH RESTAURANT
Chardonnay (Naples)
Finalists: Bleu Provence (Naples); Marie-Michelle's (Naples)
At Chardonnay "every night is opening night," and it's been that way every day for the past 14 years. Chef Jean Claude Martin puts his all into the creation of such French specialties as Fricassee D'escargots and Le LaPin (rabbit), and the staff is fussy about getting every detail exactly right.

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Campiello (Naples)
Finalists: Anthony's Trattoria (Bonita Springs); Nonna Maria (Naples)
Readers loved life Italian style in Campiello's Tuscan-themed eatery, with two indoor and two outdoor dining rooms. Palate-pleasing picks include simple, fresh food like pizza cooked in a brick oven and chicken roasted on a rotisserie over an open, wood-fired grill.

BEST BARBECUE RESTAURANT
Michelbob's (Naples)
Finalists: Rib City Grill (Fort Myers, Naples); Porky's Last Stand (Naples, Bonita Springs)
"You can't expect me to reveal all our secrets, can you?" asks owner Bob Mattson, who opened this Naples landmark 23 years ago (there's a take-out location in Marco Island.) Our readers love the baby back ribs, but Michelbob's also serves up some primo All-American standards like hot dogs and hamburgers. And the homemade cole slaw, beans and onion rings add to the total'cue package.

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT
La Casita (Fort Myers)
Finalists: Flaco's (Naples); Iguana Mia (Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs)
Forget run-of-the-mill Tex-Mex when dining at La Casita. This three-year-old south Fort Myers restaurant-brought to you by the same folks who own the Mucky Duck on Captiva-prides itself on authentic Mexican dishes with plenty of fresh ingredients (they drive all the way to Immokalee to get fresh tomatoes for the salsa and other dishes.) Favorites include the shrimp soup, any number of different quesadillas and enchiladas, along with "flor bunuell," a dessert with a fried tortilla shaped like a flower and topped off with strawberries, cinnamon and vanilla ice cream.

BEST AMERICAN/CONTEMPORARY RESTAURANT
Tie: Chops City Grill (Naples); Silver Spoon (Naples)
Finalists: Stonewood (Fort Myers); Watermark Grille (Naples); Zoe's (Naples)
Down on Fifth Avenue South, Chops is known for its American favorites, including juicy, tender steak served in a trendy downtown atmosphere. At Silver Spoon it's fun and casual with signature soups and towering salads, sandwiches, burgers, gourmet pizzas and entrées.

BEST PIZZA
Tie: Aurelio's (Naples); Pizza 2000 (Fort Myers)
Finalists: Angelo's Pizzeria (Naples); Anthony's Italian Ristorante and Deli (Naples)
Our two winners agree on what it takes to make a perfect pie. "Fresh ingredients," says John Stewart, whose son J.P. opened Aurelio's a little more than four years ago. Says Patty Doubleday, whose husband, Rodney, is the main man at Pizza 2000: "We just use the really good stuff." And pizza lovers are really thankful.

BEST STEAKHOUSE
Andre's Steak House (Naples, Marco Island)
Finalists: Sanibel Steakhouse (Sanibel, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Naples); Shula's Steakhouse (Naples)
Here's the beef: Stake out Andre's for a cut of prime porterhouse, and polish it off with one of 200 velvety varietals from the top-rated wine list.

BEST GROUPER SANDWICH
Grouper & Chips (Bonita Springs, Naples)
Finalists: Tommy Bahama's (Naples); Steamers (Naples); Snook Inn (Marco Island)
"It starts with the freshest grouper we can get, and then it's all in the batter," says owner Francis Pischner, who opened the original G&C eight years ago and personally cuts the fish each day for his restaurants. He uses a tempura-style batter with a corn meal base and six spices. "But, hey, the exact details have to be kept secret," says Pischner.

BEST CAESAR SALAD
University Grill (Fort Myers)
Finalists: Pelican Larry's (Naples); Old Naples Pub (Naples)
You can't really improve upon the basic Caesar ingredients, but the south Fort Myers University Grill makes sure the romaine is well chilled, the croutons are homemade and the parmesan is the best available. They use pasteurized eggs, not raw or coddled, in the dressing, along with a milder flavored anchovy. All hail this Caesar!

BEST DESSERTS
Tony's Off Third (Naples)
Finalists: The Bubble Room (Captiva Island); Roy's (Bonita Springs)
The desserts at Tony's display the craftsmanship of pastry chef Toni Belknap. She uses top-drawer ingredients, including Lucerne chocolate (a dark Swiss chocolate) and premium liqueurs. Among our faves: piña colada cake, raspberry Grand Marnier cake and lemon mousse cake.

BEST KEY LIME PIE
Naples Cheesecake (Naples)
Finalists: Sunshine Café (Fort Myers, Captiva); Rodes Fresh & Fancy (Bonita Springs)
Naples Cheesecake owner Michael Gardner, the self-proclaimed "Big Cheese," began selling his cakes and pies to an appreciative audience 20 years ago. While he also makes a killer Key lime cheesecake, his traditional pie calls for sugared egg yolks that are whipped into a frenzy of chiffon. "It makes a lighter pie that people can't seem to get enough of," says Gardner.

BEST BRUNCH
The Registry Resort (Naples)
Finalists: The Ritz-Carlton, Naples; Bacchus (Fort Myers)
At Café Chablis, the atmosphere and the view of mangroves may be casual and peaceful, but the laden brunch tables are full of excitement, from pastries, fruit and omelets to made-to-order to fish specialties and prime rib. It's a feast for the eyes and the palate.

BEST BREAKFAST
First Watch (Fort Myers, Naples)
Finalists: Manna from Heaven (Naples); Sunrise Café (Naples)

BEST BREAD WITH A MEAL
The Beach Pier Side Grill (Fort Myers Beach)
Finalists: The Veranda (Fort Myers); Silver Spoon (Naples)
Somehow the staff of life stacks up better when munched beachside; and the Pierside's beach-bread appetizer-French bread with garlic butter, blue cheese, cheddar cheese and chopped tomatoes and onions topped with marinara sauce-won plenty of plaudits. The warm, dark squaw bread served with dinner also garnered a loyal tribe of followers.

BEST MARGARITAS
Iguana Mia (Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs)
Finalists: Flaco's (Naples); Yabba (Naples)
Owner Dirk Atherton, who launched this popular local chain in TK, spent long years arduously researching how to make the perfect margarita. You can't fool with the basics-fresh limes, Triple Sec and good tequila. Our readers say they enjoy the lively atmosphere at Iguana Mia's and like to customize their 'ritas with various call brands of tequila.

BEST WINE BY THE GLASS
Tie: Bacchus (Fort Myers); Cork's Steakhouse and Wine Bar (Naples); Zoe's (Naples)
Finalists: Bistro 821 (Naples); Syrah (Naples)
So many wines, so little time. Each of these oenophile's haunts abides by the same winning rules: an ever-changing list of selections, including champagnes and ports; a wide mix of price ranges; and quality stemware for serving.

BEST MARTINIS
Campiello (Naples)
Finalists: Chops City Grill (Naples), Ditka's (Naples)
A big wraparound bar that seats 75 indoors and out, a mind-boggling list of 50 types of martini, and generous 12-ounce glasses got Campiello's the nod for best martini. The daring might want to try an Amazon Monkey-a combination of rum, Midori and fruit juices-while the traditional will stick with the James Bond-"dry, very dry, and shaken, not stirred."

BEST WATERFRONT DINING
Tie: Turtle Club (Naples); Mucky Duck (Captiva)
Finalists: Marie-Michelle's (Naples); The Dock at Crayton Cove (Naples)
Cute critters rule on the waterfront! But great food in an awesome setting is the real payoff. The Turtle Club does it all-from steaks and pastas to a terrific Caesar salad and a well-rounded, affordable wine list. And the Mucky Duck has long since branched out from its original pub grub fare to include such dishes as grouper Café de Paris.served up with a sunset.

BEST ROMANTIC MEAL
Tie: Annabelle's (Naples); The Ritz-Carlton, Naples Grill Room; The Veranda (Fort Myers)
Finalists: Sign of the Vine (Naples); Chardonnay (Naples)
All three offer their own slice of romance. Share those special moments behind the private curtained tables at Annabelle's, cozy up to the fireplace at the Grill Room, or soak up the historic charm of The Veranda.

BEST BUSINESS LUNCH
Shula's Steakhouse (Naples)
Finalists: Alexander's (Naples); Campiello (Naples); University Grill (Fort Myers)
If you want a power meeting, you need power meat. At Shula's the menu is written on a football, and the prime rib should be delivered in a wheelbarrow. Heck, the baked potatoes are almost as big as middle linebackers.

BEST PLACE FOR A REALLY CHEAP MEAL
Mel's Diner (Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Naples)
Finalists: LuLu B's (Naples), Sweet Caroline's (Naples)
Economists long have warned that there is no free lunch. But there is a cheap lunch-and breakfast and dinner-at Mel's Diner, sort of a retro-chic '50s diner crossed with a Denny's. The thrifty and the hungry line up to gobble good grub here-standard American chow like meatloaf and ribs served with all the trimmings.

BEST IRISH OR ENGLISH PUB
McCabe's (Naples)
Finalists: Paddy Murphy's (Naples), Cassidy's (Fort Myers)
Philip McCabe, proprietor of the Inn on Fifth Avenue, journeyed to Ireland in 1997 to research his roots and come up with the Hibernian-American pub grub that characterizes this cozy eatery adjoining his hotel. Diners delight in Gaelic fries, McGillicuddy Cobb salad, auld Tatty, leek soup and even pasta O'Brien and shanachie Reubens-and wash it all down, of course, with a pint o' Guinness.

BEST BARTENDER
Robin Thomas and Jennifer Giroux, Cloyde's Steak & Lobster House (Naples)
Finalists: Ralph Ceglia, Carrabba's (Naples)
The era of the good, stiff drink may have drowned in Perrier and wine in many a bar, but here at Cloyd's, veteran bartending team Robin Thomas and Jennifer Giroux honor the time-tested rituals of their ancient and noble craft: liberal libations and friendly but crisp and professional service. Cloyd's customers, many of them loyal locals, want traditional drinks: martinis, Manhattans, Scotch on the rocks. "This is a steakhouse," Thomas explains. "No froufrou drinks here."

BEST WAITRESS
Nia Airgood, Turtle Club (Naples)
Nia Airgood admits she never expected to still be waiting tables at age 36. She started waiting tables in her home state of Indiana at age 21 and just never left-the profession, that is.
"It's convenient," she says. "It allows me to live the life I want." Meaning, Airgood is perfectly content being a seasonal Naples visitor and flitting off to another state of her choice each summer. Last year it was Maryland, this year it's Colorado. "That's the best thing about this business. You can find work anywhere, leave for a few months, and know your job will be there when you return."
Each fall when she returns to Naples, Airgood tends to gravitate to the Turtle Club, where the view and the atmosphere are spectacular. Her philosophy: "If you can't be on the beach and have to work, why not work on the beach?" Sometimes she even moves within Naples. Before season ended here, she found herself at the Cocohatchee Bay House.
But no matter where Airgood's summer jaunts lead, she admits the Turtle Club feels like home. There, the staff has become her family. And she greets her customers with the same welcoming warmth, serving everybody with a genuine smile.

BEST CHEF
Ross Peterson, Syrah (Naples)
Finalists: Chris Agius, Sunshine Café (Fort Myers, Captiva); Michael Mir, Bha Bha (Naples)

BEST CATERER
Wynn's Catering (Naples)
Finalists: Derek Bennett (Naples); Blue Pepper (Fort Myers)
Wynn's team of eight chefs understand that in this business it's not just about the food but more about the presentation. So they get creative. For instance, a 72-inch round table would be perfectly fine with a floral centerpiece, but these chefs carve vegetables and fruit for a centerpiece that makes a statement.

BEST FISH MARKET
Captain Jerry's Seafood (Naples)
Finalists: Prawn Broker (Fort Myers), Swan River (Naples)
Capt. Jerry, a commercial shrimper from Fort Myers Beach, set sail from this market years ago, but its two locations in Naples retain a salty tang and yield some of the freshest fish out of the Gulf. On a typical day, shoppers get to pick from more than 20 species, including local favorites like grouper and snapper, and exotics like Boston scrod and scallops, Alaskan halibut, and Chilean salmon and sea bass. Some take home a package of 'gator tail or Carolina crawdads. Others dig shellfish: plump, briny oysters, sweet littleneck and cherrystone clams, succulent stone crab claws, live Maine lobsters or frozen Florida lobster tails. Time-strapped hosts cruise by to pick up prepared appetizers like crab cakes, conch fritters, shrimp platters, oysters Rockefeller and other concoctions of delicious fishes.

BEST FRUIT AND VEGETABLE MARKET
The Fresh Market (Naples)
Finalists: Sun Harvest Citrus (Fort Myers), Oakes Farm Market (Naples)
In search of celery hearts or celery roots, broccoli or broccoli rabe, grapes or grape tomatoes, local lettuce heads have an easy row to hoe at The Fresh Market, where they can harvest bushels of some of the area's finest fresh fruits and vegetables.

BEST WINE SHOP
Bacchus of Naples
Finalists: Haskell's (Naples); The Wine Merchant (Naples)
"We like to say we're the Tiffany of wine shops without the Tiffany prices," says Bacchus' David Contreras, who with partner Susan Esson opened this high-profile shop on Fifth Avenue barely a year ago. Our readers say they like the intimate tastings, often with visiting vintners, along with the artful and relaxing setting.

BEST SPECIALTY FOOD SHOP