PAST REPASTS

COSTANZO Here are some capsule summaries from previous reviews:

. Angelina’s, 24041 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs; 390-3187

This gorgeous remake of the old Sanibel Steakhouse is a knockout, especially the glass-enclosed tower with spiral staircase that shelters Angelina’s stellar wine collection. The Italian food of

chef Nick Costanzo is vibrant and imaginative. A ceviche trio — tuna, scallops and grouper with shaved fennel, grapefruitradish salsa and yellow pepper relish – was as much a work

of art as an appetizer.

The housemade papardelle Capri (pasta with tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, basil and Sorrento lemon olive oil) made an outstanding second course, followed by savory grilled lamb chops marinated in lemon and mint accompanied by arrancini and yellowfin tuna al griglia with cannellini and lobster ragout. Warm zeppoli with a trio of dipping sauces makes a fine finish as do the $3 desserts, which included mascarpone cheesecake with lemon curd and crème de menthe and chocolate panna cotta. Our server could have used some polish but those at other tables appeared to be doing better. Full bar.

KAREN FELDMAN / FLORIDA WEEKLY A filet mignon topped with crab was a nightly special at the new Café Cibo. Food:     ½ Service:   

Atmosphere:     ½

. Café Cibo, 12901-16/17 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers; 454-3700

There are plenty of Italian restaurants in these parts but what sets Café Cibo apart is chef/owner Marc Marotta’s skill at taking classic dishes and making them his own. A fried calamari appetizer comes with baby arugula, black olive vinaigrette and a duo of dipping sauces. A crabmeatstuffed scallop is encased in golden pastry and accompanied by a delicate lemonbutter chive emulsion. Ravioli gets the royal treatment with mushrooms, grilled chicken, artichokes and pine nuts. The wine list is extensive and well chosen, the décor stylish. Full bar.

There’s no added charge for the glorious sunsets visible nightly from Tarpon Lodge’s dining room. KAREN FELDMAN / FLORIDA WEEKLY Food:     Service:   ½

Atmosphere:   

. 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.

Food:    ½ Service:    

Atmosphere:    

. Tarpon Lodge, 13771 Waterfront Drive, Pineland; 283-3999

A trip to Tarpon Lodge can seem like a mini-vacation. It can also be more than that since the restaurant is attached to a circa 1926 inn. Either way, a dinner timed to occur during — or just before — sunset is ideal. Within the intimate dining room, servers lavish customers with attention. The menu is ambitious and manages to deliver most of the time. Bronzed gulf shrimp, brushed with Cajun spice and brown sugar, were great starters. Entrees of tuna with a mandarin-ginger-teriyaki sauce and a New York strip steak with a morel and portabello reduction were showy and satisfying. The crème brulee was no slouch, either. Full bar.

. Angelina’s, 24041 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs; 390-3187 Food:    ½ Service:    

Atmosphere:     ½

. Ted’s Montana Grill, Coconut Point, 8017 Plaza Del Lago, Estero; 947-9318

Media mogul/environmental advocate Ted Turner has created an interesting casual restaurant concept in Ted’s Montana Grill. It combines classic comfort fare with a concerted environmental bent and adds in a hearty helping of bison for those who want a lean and healthy alternative to beef. Prices are moderate, choices are legion and the service was friendly, if a little slipshod. The dining room’s Arts & Crafts style, with lots of mahogany paneling, tiled floors and pressed tin ceilings, gives it a cool and refreshing ambience that’s most welcome during the subtropical summer. I particularly liked the salt and pepper onion rings (plan to share them), the St. Phillip’s Island crab cake, the cedar-plank salmon and Aunt Fannie’s squash casserole. Open for lunch and dinner daily. Full bar.

. Café Cibo, 12901-16/17 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers; 454-3700 Food:    Service:   

Atmosphere:    
. The Joint, 5848 Cape Harbour Drive, Cape Coral; 542-0123
. Tarpon Lodge, 13771 Waterfront Drive, Pineland; 283-3999
. Ted’s Montana Grill, Coconut Point, 8017 Plaza Del Lago, Estero; 947-9318