PAST REPASTS

KAREN FELDMAN / FLORIDA WEEKLY An ever-changing array of grilled vegetables come piled atop creamy gorgonzola walnut polenta at The Joint. Bistro 41, Bell Tower Shops, 13499 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers; 466-4141

A Fort Myers mainstay, chic-casual Bistro 41 delivers high-quality food and service. The menu skillfully mixes inventive new fare with classic comfort food, ensuring there's something for everyone. High points of a recent dinner included: the 41 Flat, a platter containing olives, roasted red peppers, pesto, Malbec jelly and your choice of three artisanal cheeses; hog snapper with sweet chili cilantro cream sauce; hangar steak with herbed polenta; and a six-layer carrot cake with créme Anglaise and raspberry sauce. The well-chosen wine list and skilled service staff complement the creations of Executive Chef Reiner Drygala. Full bar.

Food: Service:

Atmosphere:

H2 Tapas & Wine Bar, 2214 Bay St., Fort Myers; 266-1687

Crisp coconut shrimp come tucked into a taco shell at KAREN FELDMAN / Parrot Key Caribbean Grill FLORIDA WEEKLY What began as a bar with tapas has matured into a hip dining spot in downtown Fort Myers. Chef/owner Harold Balink now offers some of the favorites from his previous restaurant, Harold's on Bay, including warm wild mushroom salad and grilled cowboy steaks. With a full bar and an impressive list of wines (22 of which are available by the glass), it's a popular watering hole but the food is worth a visit as well. A large plate of seared Copper River salmon with lime butter and a spicy shrimp salad was a satisfying entrée. From the tapas menu, we sampled four shrimp mini tacos, crab wontons, beef tenderloin sliders and a white pizza with chicken, all of which were nicely plated and tasted as good as they looked. A round serving of orange-caramel goat cheese cheesecake was creamy and satisfying. Full bar.

Food: Service:

Atmosphere: ½

The Joint, 5848 Cape Harbour Drive, Cape Coral; 542-0123

For a lively atmosphere and a full slate of well-executed small plates, The Joint is hard to beat. A

large covered deck gives customers an expansive view of some of the yachts docked at

Cape Harbour.

The management takes a fun-filled approach to food and spirits. The extensive drink list, for example, offers selections such as Wild Squirrel Sex, Shock Tart, a Diamond Cutter martini and a Double Passion mojito. The wine list is no slouch either. The wood-grilled veggie platter is a meal unto itself, although it pairs well with the uptown mac and cheese and/ or grilled Kobe sliders. There's a good selection of pizzas, too. Full bar.

Food: ½ Service:

Atmosphere:

Mille Sapore, 15880 Summerlin Road, Fort Myers; 437-5040

Whether it's a comforting calzone or a hearty Mediterranean feast of tabbouleh salad and lamb with pomegranate sauce, Mille Sapore (Italian for "a thousand flavors") does it and does it well. There are 30 variations of pizza on the menu as well as an edible tour of the Mediterranean in the form of baba ghanoush, paella Valenciana, red snapper cooked in parchment and tiramisu. The lamb (on this visit I tried it with a delicate ginger-soy and shallot glaze) and the red snapper were perfectly seasoned and cooked and an Italian lemon cake was an elegant finish to the meal. Service is gracious, and the dining room is nicely appointed but still suitable for those who don't want to dress up. The bar is also inviting, a place where no one is a stranger for long. Full bar.

Bistro 41, Parrot Key Caribbean Grill, 2500 Main St., Fort Myers Beach; 463-3257

For a lively subtropical dinner al fresco, this waterfront watering hole is a popular choice, and for good reason. The view of Estero Bay is lovely, and made even better when accompanied by a mojito or Cayo Costa rum punch. The kitchen has a deft hand with seafood, serving up a crunchy, not-too-sweet version of coconut shrimp accompanied by raspberry and mango sauces; a classic shrimp cocktail featuring huge, ultrafresh shrimp; grouper (available five ways) with mango salsa; and medium-rare tuna with a light sesame crust and teriyaki glaze. The restaurant touts its Key lime pie as awardwinning and, in this case, that's not just hype. Full bar.

H2 Tapas & Wine Bar, The Joint, Mille Sapore, Parrot Key Caribbean Grill,