RESTAURANT NEWS

Despite all the economic doom and gloom dominating the headlines, stalwart entrepreneurs continue to open restaurants at an impressive pace.

Long-time restaurateur Sal Basile has just opened Two Meatballs in the Kitchen. The aforementioned meatballs are his son-in-law, Paul Torocco, and his son, Alex, who run the restaurant with Basile's daughters Maria (Paul's wife), Gina and Alaina.

Overseeing it all will be Mr. Basile, the personable chef/owner who previously ran Taste of New York, Basile's and Bella Rosa.

The restaurant came about when Paul Torocco began wondering what he'd do after finishing his second stint in Iraq with the Marines. He and his wife expressed an interest in opening a restaurant and "it all fell into place," Mr. Basile says.

The casual Italian restaurant features big booths, granite countertops and an open kitchen. There's a takeout window facing the parking lot for easy pickup.

"The menu is focused on traditional cooking," says Mr. Basile. "We're taking classic dishes and giving them a little flair. It will be real quality food without the high prices."

Among the offerings are pizzas, calzones, fried calamari, antipasto, salads, veal and chicken parmagiana and pasta and meatballs. Wine and beer are available.

Two Meatballs is at 8890 Salrose Lane, off Daniels Parkway. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Call 489-1111.

Twilight time on Sanibel

The Twilight Café is back. Chef/ owner Robert Parks ran the eclectic restaurant for several years in the Tarpon Bay Road space now occupied by Sweet Melissa's. He left to open Rivals Sports Kitchen at Miramar Outlets in Estero. It closed a few months ago. The new Twilight Café is at 2761 W. Gulf Drive, formerly the home of Riviera and Nutmeg House. The restaurant's grand opening is set for Saturday, Nov. 1. It's open for dinner today through Saturday and will be closed Sunday, Nov. 2. After that, it will serve breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. every day. Call 472-8818.

Sweet Melissa's on the move

Sweet Melissa's is moving, but it hasn't closed. Chef Melissa Talmage moves in early February to the building that was formerly La Vigna at 1625 Periwinkle Way after doing some renovation.

"It will double our seating and it's a fabulous location," says Ms. Talmage, a French Culinary Institute graduate whose credentials include stints at New York City's Union Square Café and Commander's Palace in New Orleans. "We'll be keeping the small-plate concept but will also add in a couple of really nice full-sized entrees."

In the meantime, it's business as usual at the current location (formerly Redfish Blufish) at 751 Tarpon Bay Road.

Among the seasonal items on the menu are white asparagus soup, skewered lamb with vegetable tian and seared mahi mahi with creamy banana lentil salad and tamarind broth.

Sweet Melissa's is open from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Starting the second week in November, it will open on Sundays, too. Call 472-1956 for reservations.

Vincenzo's back in business

Vincenzo's on the Bay has a new owner plus a fresh new look and menu. The popular waterfront restaurant in Bonita Springs closed a few months ago, reopening Oct. 15 under new owner Lisa Borman.

The new menu still features Italian fare but chef Adrian Dejong (formerly of Mucky Duck and Morgan House) has added steak and seafood. There's also a full bar. Vincenzo's, which is open from 5 to 10 p.m. daily, is at 5370 Bonita Beach Road. Call 992-1159.

NoFo gets Chicago pizza

Chicago transplant Lenny Cannova recently opened Lenny C's Pizzeria Chicago in the former Land & Sea on U.S. 41 in North Fort Myers.

Mr. Cannova made pizzas in Cape Coral for many years before going into the banking business for while. Now he's back in the kitchen. He offers thincrust pizzas, deep-dish pies, wings, salads, Italian roast beef sandwiches and Chicago hot dogs (Vienna brand dogs in poppy seed buns stuffed with relish, mustard, onions, tomatoes, peppers and celery salt).

He serves beer and wine but plans to expand to a full liquor bar by mid- November, promising to have the best martinis in the area.

There are flat-screen TVs around the dining room and Mr. Cannova is happy to take requests, with one exception: "I'll put on whatever game you want, but if there's a Bears game, that's what's on."

Lenny C's is at 13121 N. Cleveland Ave. Hours: 11a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. Delivery and takeout available. Call 997-7437.

Boulevard Deli adds tavern

The Boulevard Deli's owner Bobby Rapp has opened the Boulevard Tavern next door. The tavern offers bargainpriced brands on up to such heady pours as Remy Martin's Louis XIII cognac, says manager Mark Jensen. Deli customers will recognize the menu, which features 100 percent black Angus burgers, house-made pizzas and chicken wings.

From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, the tavern will hold a Halloween party. There's no entry fee and participants are encouraged to wear costumes.

It's at 12220 Towne Lake Drive, Fort Myers. Call 561-7444.