Looking for the best restaurants in Fort Myers, Florida? Add Sweet Melissa’s Restaurant to your list. This chef-driven Fort Myers restaurant brings a beloved Sanibel Island culinary legacy to the mainland with seasonal dishes, Gulf seafood, Southern flavors, and a menu that delivers serious flavor.

When you’re traveling, finding a restaurant that gives you more than just a good meal can make the experience even more memorable. Sometimes it’s the food. Sometimes it’s the atmosphere. And sometimes, it’s the story behind the restaurant that makes you want to tell everybody about it.

Sweet Melissa’s Restaurant in Fort Myers, Florida, has all three.

Located at 16230 Summerlin Road, Sweet Melissa’s is the next chapter of a beloved Southwest Florida restaurant that began on Sanibel Island, survived the devastation of Hurricane Ian, and eventually reopened on the mainland.

After experiencing the restaurant ourselves for a date night, we quickly understood why Chef Melissa Donahue has built such a loyal following.

If you’re planning a trip to Fort Myers or simply looking for a new restaurant for your next date night here’s why Sweet Melissa’s deserves your attention.

From Sanibel Island Favorite to Fort Myers Restaurant

Before becoming a Fort Myers restaurant, Sweet Melissa’s was a longtime favorite on Sanibel Island.

Chef Melissa Donahue spent 14 years building Sweet Melissa’s into a destination for locals and visitors looking for thoughtful, seasonal cuisine. The restaurant became known for its chef-driven approach and signature dishes that highlighted the flavors of Southwest Florida.

Then Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida in September 2022.

That future eventually led to Fort Myers.

In March 2025, Sweet Melissa’s Restaurant officially opened its new location on Summerlin Road, bringing the restaurant’s signature culinary style and plenty of Sanibel nostalgia to the mainland.

For first-time visitors, it’s an opportunity to discover the Sweet Melissa’s story for themselves.

Sweet Melissa’s Restaurant Brings Coastal Florida Flavor to Fort Myers

Walking into Sweet Melissa’s, you’ll quickly realize that this isn’t simply another restaurant serving seafood in Southwest Florida.

Chef Melissa Donahue’s approach is chef-driven, seasonal, and heavily focused on flavor.

The menu incorporates the region’s seafood while drawing inspiration from Southern and New Orleans cuisine. The result is food that feels elevated but still approachable.

The restaurant also has a strong beverage program, creating an experience that works for everything from a casual lunch to cocktails with friends or a romantic Fort Myers date night.

And for us, date night was the perfect way to experience it.

What We Ate at Sweet Melissa’s

Let’s get to the part you really want to know about:

THE FOOD.

We visited Sweet Melissa’s Restaurant for date night, and Chef Melissa wasted no time showing us what she can do in the kitchen.

The Crab Pasta Appetizer

We started with the crab pasta, and this was easily one of our favorite dishes of the night.

The pasta was warm, buttery, rich, and absolutely loaded with crab.

And when I say they were not stingy with the crab, they were NOT stingy! 😂

Every bite was packed with flavor, and the pasta practically melted in our mouths.

Our only complaint?

There wasn’t enough!

Honestly, we would love to see this become an entrée because it deserves a whole plate of its own. If you’re sharing appetizers, just know that you may find yourself wishing you had ordered two.

The Duck

For my entrée, I ordered the duck with confit fried rice and a puree.

And listen the duck was seasoned beautifully.

It was flavorful, tender, and paired perfectly with the rice and puree. The combination worked so well together that there was no need to reach for additional seasoning or sauce.

That’s something that immediately stood out to us throughout the meal.

The food didn’t need help.

You know how you sometimes get a beautiful plate at a restaurant and immediately start looking for salt, pepper, hot sauce, or another sauce?

We didn’t need to do that here.

The dishes came out already packed with flavor.

The Roasted Redfish

My boyfriend ordered the roasted redfish with andouille ravioli, and his dish was just as impressive.

The combination of seafood and andouille brought together the coastal and Southern influences that make Sweet Melissa’s menu so interesting.

It was flavorful, thoughtfully prepared, and definitely not one of those dishes where you leave thinking, “It was pretty, but it needed something.” It didn’t.

Why Chef Melissa Donahue Is One to Watch

There’s a reason the food at Sweet Melissa’s tastes like it does.

Chef Melissa Donahue has an impressive culinary résumé that includes training at the French Culinary Institute in New York and experience working in notable kitchens, including restaurants in New York and New Orleans.

And honestly?

You can taste the experience.

There’s an intentionality behind the dishes at Sweet Melissa’s. The flavors work together rather than competing with one another, and the menu showcases Chef Melissa’s ability to take familiar ingredients and turn them into something memorable.

The Famous Fish Stew Is Still Part of the Story

If you’re familiar with Sweet Melissa’s Sanibel Island history, you’ve probably heard about the restaurant’s famous Fish Stew.

The signature dish has become part of the restaurant’s identity, featuring Gulf fish, scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels, smoky chorizo, tomato-saffron broth, lemony saffron cream, and fennel.

For longtime Sanibel visitors, seeing the Fish Stew continue at the Fort Myers restaurant is more than a menu item.

It’s a taste of home.

And for travelers discovering Sweet Melissa’s for the first time, it’s a chance to experience one of the dishes that helped make the restaurant so beloved.

A Fort Myers Restaurant With a Story

One of the things we appreciate most about Sweet Melissa’s is that the restaurant’s story is just as memorable as the food.

Southwest Florida has experienced tremendous loss and rebuilding since Hurricane Ian.

Restaurants and small businesses weren’t simply buildings. They were gathering places, livelihoods, community hubs, and pieces of people’s everyday lives.

Sweet Melissa’s represents that resilience. And that’s what makes dining here feel different.

You’re not simply trying a new restaurant.

You’re experiencing a comeback story.

Is Sweet Melissa’s One of the Best Restaurants in Fort Myers?

If you’re looking for restaurants in Fort Myers for date night, a special occasion, or a memorable meal while visiting Southwest Florida, Sweet Melissa’s should absolutely be on your radar.

We especially recommend it for travelers who enjoy:

• Chef-driven restaurants
• Locally owned businesses
• Fresh Florida seafood
• Southern-inspired cuisine
• New Orleans flavors
• Seasonal menus
• Unique dining experiences
• Date-night restaurants
• Supporting restaurants with a meaningful local history

And if you’re staying in Fort Myers while exploring Southwest Florida, it’s also a great restaurant to add to an itinerary that includes Sanibel Island, Captiva, Fort Myers Beach, and other nearby destinations.

Why We Would Go Back

For us, Sweet Melissa’s checked all the boxes.

The food was flavorful.

The portions were thoughtful.

The service and atmosphere made it easy to settle in and enjoy the evening.

And most importantly, the meal was memorable.

That crab pasta alone is enough to have us thinking about our next visit. 😂

She took the legacy she built on Sanibel Island and created a new chapter in Fort Myers.

And if the food we experienced is any indication, Sweet Melissa’s isn’t simply back it’s thriving.

Plan Your Visit to Sweet Melissa’s Restaurant

Sweet Melissa’s Restaurant
📍 16230 Summerlin Road, Fort Myers, FL

If you’re planning a Fort Myers date night, celebrating a special occasion, or simply looking for a new place to eat in Southwest Florida, consider adding Sweet Melissa’s to your itinerary.

Reservations are recommended, especially for dinner and weekends.

It’s good food, local history, resilience, and a whole lot of flavor all at one table.

And after that crab pasta?

We completely understand why people keep coming back.