PAST REPASTS

Blue Water Bistro's vegetarian plate is a lovely mix of well-executed side dishes that combine to form a satisfying and inexpensive meal.

Azucar, 3326 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral; 549-02833.

In Spanish, Azucar means sweet and that's just what a meal at this lovely little family owned restaurant is. Hearty fare, sinfully rich desserts and soulful Cuban coffee are served up by a friendly staff. An appetizer sampler platter was delicious, laden with fried shrimp, tamales, yucca, roasted pork, chicken wings along with three sauces — mango-mustard, Creole and pineapple coconut. The paella Valenciana was a faithful version of the classic, with lots of chicken, shrimp, mussels, fish and a lobster tail, all perfectly cooked in saffron-scented rice. An entrée of roasted pork chunks with cumin-laced black beans and yellow rice was also tasty and large. Dessert is a must here. Both the flan and a chocolate cake with a crunchy topping and a hint of anisette were superb, although it was hard to pick just two from the dazzling array in the bakery. Beer and wine served. Ratings:

Yabo's chef-owner Ryan Kida

Blue Water Bistro, Coconut Point, 23151 Village Shops Way, Estero; 949-2583

The newest of the Culinary Concepts restaurants, Blue Water Bistro fits in well with the contemporary look and feel of Coconut Point. A casual bistro specializing in seafood, there's something for everyone on the menu. High points of a recent meal included crab- and lobster-stuffed pot stickers, crispy crunchy calamari, morning after mussels, chicken limone and a delicious vegetable platter (create your own from the list of veggies and starches).

Less successful was a nightly special of three white fish that came devoid of sauce or color. Pineapple upside down cake with rum raisin ice cream ended the meal nicely. Full bar.

La Trattoria Café Napoli, 12377 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers; 931-0050

It's hard to categorize this little lowkey storefront just one door away from Austin's Wine Cellar. The food is an amalgamation that stems from the experiences of chef/owner Gloria Cabral-Jordan, who is Cuban born and raised, now an American citizen by way of Sweden, Spain and the Dominican Republic. The 26-seat restaurant has attracted quite a following of food lovers drawn to Cabral-Jordan's charming hospitality and dishes such as paella Valenciana a la Cabral, fresh fish in salsa verde, and beef tenderloin pan seared with a sherry reduction, cloves, junipers and green onions. The desserts — especially the flan — are worth the trip alone. Beer and wine served.

Rain Sushi Bar & Thai Cuisine, 11861 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers; 693-7246. Stylishly executed Asian fare served in a lovely setting by a gracious staff awaits adventurous souls who head east on Palm Beach Boulevard to Rain, set in The Shops at Veranda, not surprisingly situated in front of the Veranda community. You can't go wrong with tom kha gai, a chicken soup with coconut milk, galangal and kaffir lime, the savory gingerine talay or tofu with cashews and vegetables. The sushi menu is extensive and the massive roll I tried — Pleasure Island — could almost constitute a meal by itself. The wine list offers an interesting selection by the bottle or glass.

Yabo, 16681 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers; 225- YABO (225-9226). When multiple professional chefs and restaurateurs sing the praises of a competitor, it's worth checking out. Yabo is one of these, a little throwback to the flower-child-style cafes of the '60s, with live acoustic music, walls full of musical memorabilia, a mere handful of tables and a blacked out front window. In this nostalgic setting, chef/ owner Ryan Kida conjures up classic Italian fare — lasagna Bolognese, linguine with clam sauce, gnocchi — as well as contemporary favorites such as blackened jumbo scallops and filet medallions with spinach, portobellos and gorgonzola demiglace. Beer and wine served.

Azucar, 3326 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral; 549-02833.

Blue Water Bistro, Coconut Point, 23151 Village Shops Way, Estero; 949-2583 La Trattoria Café Napoli, 12377 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers; 931-0050 Rain Sushi Bar & Thai Cuisine, 11861 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers; 693-7246. Yabo, 16681 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers; 225- YABO (225-9226).