Best of the Gulfshore

For 35 years, Gulfshore Life has been your guide to all there is to love about life in Southwest Florida. Year-round, our editors search out great places, resources and people to help you get more out of living here. And once a year, we ask a team of lively local experts to share their collective knowledge for a detailed, up-to-date insider's guide to the Best of the Gulfshore, highlighting spectacular Southwest Florida restaurants, shops, experiences, controversies and more.

This year, our panel included a wide range of talents and points of view: foodies, a local chamber leader, a novelist, a marketing guru, a florist/designer (talk about a heavy-hitting Rolodex!), an all-around bon vivant or two, and more. As always, the discussion was passionate and at times heated, as we worked to choose a winner and two finalists (listed in alphabetical order) in each of the 47 categories. (Panel members who were eligible for any categories excused themselves from voting on those.) Also as always, even our best-connected experts came away with some new ideas and places to add to their Southwest Florida to-do list. And because even our all-knowing panel doesn't know all, this year we rounded out the judges' picks with expert advice on a few additional categories, from the best places to swing a golf club to where to stage a successful first date.

We believe the resulting list is the best Best of the Gulfshore ever. We hope it leads to some great new experiences-and re-acquaints you with some old ones as well. See you there!

Meet the Judges

Neapolitan Brenda Borchardt stays on top of businesses, newcomers and networking spots as vice president of

programs at the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce.

Food and style editor Marsha Fottler is Gulfshore Life's consumer-in-chief, every year sampling scores of restaurants and boutiques for her Shopping and Appetite columns.

Gulfshore Life publisher Lynne Groth oversees special publications and events, including the Naples Winter Wine Festival and ACE Group Classic, and is active in community affairs.

Accomplished cook, wine collector and Neapolitan, Charles Haskell is a founding partner of restaurant management and concept company Lettuce Entertain You, whose 50 properties include Chicago's Tru.

Gulfshore Life senior editor and Fort Myers resident Tracy Jones covers the region's people, parties and charities.

Lacey King is president of Naples' Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, a fine dining group that will hold its national meeting in Naples in October of this year.

Gary Shanabarger, one of the founding owners of 50fiftyflowerphilosophy, has a design business, Room, on Naples' Fifth Avenue South.

Fort Myers resident Laurel Smith is vice president of the public relations firm Gravina, Smith & Matte.

Panel moderator Robert Plunket is an editor at large, author of the magazine's monthly Culture Vulture column and of two comic novels, My Search for Warren Harding and Love Junkie.

Restaurants

Best Waterfront Dining

Baleen at LaPlaya (Naples)

Finalists: HB's on the Gulf (Naples), Parrot Key Caribbean Grill (Fort Myers Beach), Turtle Club (Naples)

This is why you're here: One look at the tranquil Gulf from Baleen's cozy outdoor dining area brings the area's charms into sharp focus. Those same waters are just steps away at the Naples Beach Hotel's HB's on the Gulf and Vanderbilt Inn's Turtle Club. At Parrot Key Caribbean Grill, boats bob in Estero Bay as you enjoy smart bistro fare.

Best Romantic Meal

The Grill Room at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples

Finalists: Lafite at the Registry (Naples), Thistle Lodge at Casa Ybel (Sanibel Island), Veranda (Fort Myers)

Despite the manly name and gentleman's club trappings, you're free to indulge your inner romantic at the Ritz-Carlton's Grill Room. Other best places to pitch woo-or fork over a ring-are the Registry's intimate Lafite, Fort Myers' historic Veranda and the sunset-struck Thistle Lodge at Sanibel's Casa Ybel.

Best Seafood

Truluck's (Naples)

Finalists: The Dock (Naples), Oyster Shell (Fort Myers), USS Nemo (Naples)

Good catches shine at the handsomely appointed Truluck's, which flies lobsters in from New England and sends its own boats out to catch stone crabs off the Isle of Capri. You can also expect honest, rather than fussed-up fish at Naples' Dock and Fort Myers' Oyster Shell. At USS Nemo, enjoy fusion takes on Chilean sea bass and other upscale swimmers.

Best Sushi

Blu Sushi (Fort Myers and Naples)

Finalists: Sushi-Thai (Naples), Zen (Naples)

It's double the pleasure for Blu fans now that the restaurant has added an ultra-cool Old Naples' outpost to its Fort Myers base. Fifth Avenue South's Zen coaxes diners beyond the California roll, while Sushi-Thai dishes sushi and ultra-fresh stir-fries in an atmosphere that's more colonial Singapore than Naples Park.

Best French

Cote d'Azur (Naples)

Finalists: Bamboo Café (Naples),

Bleu Provence (Naples)

If it were tucked away in the French countryside, Cote d'Azur would be a place worth ditching the guidebook to find. Fortunately, chef Claudio Scaduto is serving Gallic classics to happy regulars right in the heart of Naples. Two other top cafés intimes: Eastern-influenced Bamboo and charming Bleu Provence.

Best Italian

Sale e Pepe (Marco Island)

Finalists: Mama Pasta (Fort Myers), Ristorante D'Angeli (Naples)

Sale e Pepe's Alberto Varetto serves dreamy Italian cuisine and distinguished vintages in an opulent resort atmosphere. Our panel also raved about Fort Myers' Mama Pasta, where an "everyone knows your name" vibe enlivens spacious digs, and Fifth Avenue South's equal-opportunity Ristorante d'Angeli, serving both Southern and Northern Italian favorites.

Best Mexican

Cilantro Tamales (Naples)

Finalists: Flaco's (Naples), La Casita

(Fort Myers)

The atmosphere is airy American bistro, but the food is stick-to-your-ribs Mexican, a combo that keeps crowds packing North Naples' Cilantro Tamales (and prompted a new Bonita Springs version this spring). The cucina has a conquistador flair at the Spanish-influenced Flaco's, while Parmesan-sprinkled gorditas and fish tacos at the funky purple La Casita on McGregor Boulevard transcend national boundaries.

Best Asian

P.F. Chang's (Naples)

Finalists: Origami/Wasabi (Fort Myers

and Naples), Pad Thai (Naples)

Collier County wouldn't let P.F. Chang's put up the terracotta horses that mark the entrances to the chain's other outposts, but that doesn't mean its sophisticated spin on Chinese take-out favorites hasn't won local raves. Pad Thai curries favor among Thai lovers, and whether it's called Origami in Fort Myers or Wasabi in Naples, this local favorite serves up fresh ingredients with showy style.

Best Other Ethnic

Bha Bha (Naples)

Finalists: Dwyers (Fort Myers),

World Bakery & Cafeteria (Naples)

Our judges savor the Persian-inspired cuisine of Bha Bha chef/ owner and James Beard honoree Michael Mir. Spanning the globe-and the decades-contemporary Irish rock bands accompany old-fashioned shepherd's pie at Fort Myers' Dwyers, and tres leches and empanadas are served with a side of Havana nostalgia at World Bakery & Cafeteria.

Best Pizza (Non-Chain)

Aurelio's (Naples)

Finalists: Joey D's (Naples), Stevie Tomato's Sports Page (Fort Myers and Naples)

There's nothing fussy about the pies at these Gulfshore stalwarts. Its magical, sweetly smoky sauce landed Chicago-style Aurelio's on top, but New Yorkers craving thin crusts and infinite toppings will find them at Joey D's and Stevie Tomato's Sports Page.

Best Steakhouse

Fleming's (Naples)

Finalists: Andre's (Naples), Chops (Bonita Springs and Naples)

When you're the new kid in town, you have to make your reputation early. Of course, it helps if, like Fleming's, you're packing serious, top-drawer beef. Andre's melt-off-the-bone offerings made judges' mouths water, and Chops is where many local chefs go to indulge carnivorous yens.

Best Bakery

Mikkelsen's (Naples)

Finalists: Sucrée Salée (Fort Myers),

Tony's Off Third (Naples)

Picture a fairytale cake-all swirls and layers and rich, complex flavors without the sugar shock. There's no mistaking the handiwork of Paw Mikkelsen, even when Gulfshore hostesses (or restaurants) try to pass it off as their own. Sucrée Salée and Tony's Off Third also keep the crowds lined up for tasty treats.

Best Desserts

Ritz-Carlton, Naples

Finalists: Bubble Room (Captiva Island), Registry Resort (Naples)

For desserts, the Ritz-Carlton, Naples, is the crème du la crème brûlée-or maybe it's the decadent chocolate mousse that's calling your name. At the Registry Resort, Brit Paul Heyward, the pastry chef, concocts sweets as handsome as he is. At Captiva's Bubble Room, lusciously layered red velvet and orange crunch cakes are straight out of Southern Living-or maybe Steel Magnolias.

Best Brunch

The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples; Lemonia at the

Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort

Finalists: Chablis at the Registry Resort (Naples), Sanibel Princess at Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa (Sanibel)

On any Sunday morning, guests at the Ritz-Carlton's two Naples properties sit down to brunches so sumptuous there's no choosing between the two. You can also end your week on a romantic note-or impress guests to the point of speechlessness-at the Registry's Chablis or the Sanibel Harbour Resort, where brunchers get their fill aboard the Sanibel Princess.

Best Wine List

The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples

Finalists: Fleming's (Naples), Zoe's (Naples)

Some Talmudic texts haven't received as much scholarly study as the wine list at the Ritz-Carlton's Dining Room-and this season's series of dinners with celebrity vintners only adds to the lore. Fleming's makes many top vintages available by the glass, and the wine list at Zoe's befits owners Marie and Larry Andrews' status as Naples Winter Wine Festival trustees.

Best Coffee Bar

Starbucks (Naples, Bonita Springs)

Finalists: Coffee Beanery (Naples), Lighthouse Coffee (Fort Myers)

We understand if you worry about the Seattle company's total world coffee-shop domination. We'll worry, too, just as soon as we've finished our mocha latté grande. Never fear, the '60s coffee shop vibe-folky musicians, homemade art-show flyers and good brew-can still be found at Naples' Coffee Beanery and Fort Myers' Lighthouse Coffee.