PAST REPASTS
Restaurant reviews that have appeared in Florida Weelky

PHOTO KAREN FELDMAN Creamy risotto and fresh vegetables prove fine accompaniments to ahi tuna at Delicious Things.

Delicious Things, 2262 First St., Fort Myers; 332-7797. This lovely little downtown restaurant has the feel and taste of an authentic trattoria. Dine inside or at sidewalk tables on impeccably fresh, flavorful Italian favorites, such as caprese salad, carpaccio, bracciola, tender gnocchi and exceptional créme brulee. Specials often feature fresh seafood and vegetables in delicately seasoned sauces. There hasn't been a dish I've ordered here that hasn't looked and tasted terrific. And to top it all off: the service is good, too. Open for lunch and dinner. Price range: appetizers, $6.50-$11.55; entrees, $14.80-$28.90. Beer and wine served.

Food: 4 stars Service: 3  ½ stars

Atmosphere: 4 stars

Jayne's Victorian Garden, 12901-13 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers; 482-2466. Lunches here are healthy and tasteful affairs of organic brown ride and fresh vegetables, flavorful made-from-scratch soups and creative salads. And, of course, house-made cookies that aren't just delicious but generally wheat free. But, for dinner, Jayne and Brian Baker explore a larger culinary plane with dishes such as pan-seared scallops with white chocolate caper dill butter sauce, yellowtail on cilantro rice and pulled de-boned duck. The menu is small but each dish is artfully prepared and presented. Save room for one of Jayne's rich, decadent wheat-flour-free cakes, which can include brownies, lavender cake with lemon glaze and almond cake with coconut icing. Open for lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Thursday through Saturday. No alcohol served, but guests may bring their own for a small corkage fee. Price range: appetizers, $6-$11; entrees, $13-$24.

Food: 5 stars Service: 3 ½ stars

Atmosphere: 4 stars

P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Gulf Coast Town Center, south Fort Myers; 590-9197. Lush, lovely décor, exemplary service and praiseworthy food make Chang's an immediate hit wherever it opens. It's usually crowded and, as a result, a touch on the noisy side, but worth it to feast on Chang's vegetarian lettuce wraps, crisp crab wontons, mu shu pork, Cantonese roasted duck (Chang's version of Peking duck), and orange peel shrimp. Chocolate lovers should plan their meals so as to save room for the Great Wall of Chocolate, but also worthy of mention are the banana spring rolls with coconut-pineapple ice cream. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Price range: appetizers, $3-$8; entrees, $9-$17. Full bar.

PHOTO JIM MCCRACKEN Co-proprietor Jayne Baker of Jayne's Victorian Garden serves up healthy and tasteful dishes.

Food: 3 ½ stars Service: 4 stars

Atmosphere: 3 ½ stars

Yabo, 16681 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers; 225-YABO (225-9226). When multiple professional chefs and restaurateurs sing the praises of a new establishment, 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 demi-glace. Open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Price range: appetizers, $7- $12; entrees, $12-$30. Beer and wine served.

PHOTO KAREN FELDMAN Servers at P. F. Chang's China Bistro dress in black. They make sure customers are served quickly and have everything they need.

Food: 4 stars Service: 3 ½ stars

Atmosphere: 3 ½ stars

COURTESY PHOTO Michael David plays guitar recently at Yabo on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers.