Restaurants grapple with tough economic times

While the woes of commercial banks, construction companies and overextended homeowners dominate the news, there's another sector of the economy that's battling mightily to survive: restaurants.

From the mega-chains to the small independents, restaurants are hungry for business and doing their best to attract consumers and their diminished disposal income.

Starbucks, the ubiquitous purveyor of the pricey caffeinated buzz, recently announced the closing of 100 stores. Lone Star Steakhouse shuttered 27 of its 179 locations, including the one in Fort Myers.

Fast-food outlets, long considered the bargain-basements of the industry, have introducing value menus. Popular lunch spots, such as Panera Bread and Naples-based Calistoga Bakery Café, offer a choice of two items - soup, a half-salad and/or half-sandwich - for less than $8.

Some local independents have introduced value-added options to their menus, too.

Naples Tomato is leading the way. The progressive north Naples restaurant known for its emphasis on fresh, local ingredients and a vast wine selection, has just added a two-course value menu, among other cost-saving features, to its lineup.

COURTESY PHOTO Naples Tomato.

"Many of our customers have commented about how hard it is in this economy and we want to do something to help," says co-owner Jack Serfass.

First up is a new early dining menu and happy hour, available from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. seven days a week. Prices range from $14.95 to $19.95, with halfpriced well and call drinks, wines by the glass and draft beer.

Choose from appetizers such as Caesar or side salad, tomato bisque, pasta fagiole or a half-salad with a cup of soup. For an entrée, options might include chicken and eggplant parmesan with fettuccine and broccoli rabe, rainbow trout poached in a shrimp-scented tomato brodo with oven-roasted potatoes, braised baby fennel, leeks and caramelized onions, or fettuccine with Bolognese or marinara sauce. These dishes and several others, including prime rib, are available during regular business hours as well.

Other money-saving options include reduced pricing on standard menu items by 10 percent to 20 percent.

COURTESY PHOTO Panera Bread.

Serfass says the intent of the changes is to provide food lovers with the chance to enjoy homemade fare at prices similar to those of major chains.

"One thing we heard loud and clear is that no one wanted to sacrifice quality for price," Serfass says. "Many guests lamented that there are too many restaurants in Naples serving chain food out of a plastic bag. Our guests made it clear that the homemade quality of the food was more important than the price. Hopefully, we have succeeded in offering both."

Naples Tomato is at 14700 Tamiami Trail North. It's open for lunch and dinner daily. Call (239) 598-9800 or visit www.naplestomato.com.

In downtown Fort Myers, Torsten and Ines Josupeit are dealing with both the troubled economy and the closure of First Street smack in front of their restaurant, Delicious Things. To lure patrons down the metal walkways wedged between the street construction and the businesses, they introduced their own three-course value deal this week. The creative Italian menu offers a choice of two soups, two entrees and two desserts. Pick one of each for $26.90, a substantial saving over ordering them a la carte. In an effort to bring in people on traditionally slow Monday nights, the German transplants offer dishes from their native land every Monday. That's proved a big success, Torsten Josupeit says. (I can personally vouch for the sauerbraten, jagerschnitzel and potato pancakes.) Delicious Things is at 2262 First St., Fort Myers. Call 332-7797 or visit www. deliciousthings.com.

In North Fort Myers, L'Amore Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria proprietors Lou, Dorothy and Vincenzo Ferrigno now deliver food to customers' doors. It's at 4085 Hancock Bridge Parkway, at the intersection near Orange Grove Boulevard. It's open 4 to 10 p.m. daily. Call 656-3662 or visit online at www.LAmore. net.

Stay tuned. I'm betting we'll see more of this sort of strategy before the economy improves.

Short subjects

• Dwyers has opened its Tastes tapas and martini bar on the sprawling restaurant's second floor. Open from 5 p.m. to close Thursday through Saturday, it features world-fusion small plates, signature martinis, live acoustic jazz, classical guitar and contemporary piano music. Considering executive chef Bill Wavrin's background at top spas around the country, this format is likely to let his healthy, fresh style of innovative cuisine shine. Dwyers is at 13851 S. Tamiami Trail at Daniels Parkway in Fort Myers. Call 425-0782.

• Are you still holding onto a gift certificate from the defunct Blue Pepper? Karen Hutto, owner of The Flying Pig gourmet takeout and catering, will accept them at 50 percent of their face value every Tuesday through September. Bearers must have proof of the value of the card. The Flying Pig is at 7970 Summerlin Lakes Drive, Fort Myers. Call 337-3744 or online at www. theflyingpig.net.

• La Trattoria Caffe Napoli holds a five-course wine dinner on Thursday, April 10. There are seatings at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The cost is $65 per person. Owner/chef Gloria Cabral-Jordan will team up with wine consultant Amanda Mihalik. The menu includes: Cabrales cheese and orange-potato bacala croquettes with Cervera albarino; stuffed piquillo peppers with gazpacho sauce and La Bastida Crianza rioja; pumpkin saffron rice and ribs a la huerta with Ribera Del Duero Bodegas Aster; Galician turbot filet with Los Dos grenache/ shiraz; and duo Valencian quince paste-chocolate churro with Hidalgo Morenita cream sherry. It's at 12377 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers. Call 931-0050.