Buon Appetito Cafe

5.0 star rating
14 reviews Rating Details

Category: Italian  [Edit]

6314 Corporate Ct
Ste D

Fort Myers, FL 33919
(239) 433-0117
Hours:

Mon-Sat 9 am - 9 pm

Good for Kids:
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Private Lot
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Price Range:
$$
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
Yes
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Wi-Fi:
No
Good For:
Lunch, Dinner
Alcohol:
Beer & Wine Only
Noise Level:
Average
Has TV:
Yes
Caters:
Yes

Review Highlights   

  • user photo
    "baked on pizza stones, the crust is really crisp." In 3 reviews
  • user photo
    "...a restaurant that will warm the hearts of those from NY/NJ." In 3 reviews
  • user photo
    "...are friendly & fun, and the atmosphere is small & intimate." In 3 reviews
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14 reviews in English

  • Review from John D.

    Fort Myers, FL

    5.0 star rating
    4/14/2012 1 photo 3 Check-ins Here

    Excellent, cozy Italian restaurant. It's small and family run (not a corporate chain) and you want to like it before the food even comes. Based on the Yelps, we've been wanting to come here for some time.

    We came mid-morning on a Saturday in April and started with two espressos, & then shared a pizza & a Caesar salad, finished off nicely with a chocolate cannoli for dessert. Everything was delicious. The pizza rivals Grimaldi's.

    They weren't busy when we were there, and three different family members/owners came to our table to talk. Very nice people.

    Hmm, did they think I was Jean LeBoeuf?  :)

  • Review from Amber C.

    • 0 friends
    • 3 reviews

    Fort Myers, FL

    5.0 star rating
    12/24/2011

    Two words: white lasagna.

    Oh my god. Please, please, PLEASE bottle this sauce so I can buy 10,000 jars and bathe in it.

    Cannolis rock too. Spaghetti is amazing. Tiramisu is to die for.

    It's small, and I think they like it like that. Food trumps any negative views on the size or homeliness of the location.
    GO. Best Italian food around here.

  • Review from Ross K.

    • 1 friend
    • 11 reviews

    Lawrenceville, GA

    5.0 star rating
    5/22/2012

    This place is ridiculously amazing. You will be knocked off your feet big time by the homemade pastas, pizza, meats, desserts, and carafes of wine.  It is a small intimate dining room operated by an amazing family.  This hidden gem is well worth the hunt to find it (as well as the possible wait).  A visit to Buon Appetito feels like a legal requirement I have on myself for every visit to Fort Myers. I wish Yelp had a Sixth star to indicate a person's favorite overall restaurant ever. This spot would be seriously considered by me.

  • Review from Uncle K.

    • 3 friends
    • 53 reviews

    Key Largo, FL

    4.0 star rating
    3/20/2012

    We hunted down this place on our annual trip to Red Sox Spring Training.  Although it is small, it was full on a Monday night, so we had to wait a couple of minutes for a table after being greeted promptly.  Once seated we were immediately brought a plate of bruschetta, mortadella/cheese roll, and olives...nice touch.  We ordered the special hot antipasto, which included eggplant rollatini, stuffed mushroom, stuffed pepper, and friend artichoke.  It was good, not great.  I ordered the veal marsala, which I was able to cut with my fork, which means it was butchered and pounded properly.  The marsala was not a traditional marsala, more like a lemon marsala although the citrus was not prominent.  I enjoyed it, but if you are looking for a marsala like gravy, this may not be for you.  My wife had the porcini mushroom ravioli, which she loved.  I tasted and thought it was very good as well.  My daughter had the cheese tortellini with bolognese sauce and absolutely loved it.   I tried that (several times) and it was a superbly flavorful bolognese unlike the american chop suey that most italian restaurants pass off as bolognese.  My littlest had spaghetti with marinara and cleaned his plate, which is like seeing the Loch Ness Monster.  They had Zeppole (the cream filled kind, not the balls), which I had been jonesing for all day as it was St. Joseph's day.  We had one of each kind, custard filled and cannoli cream filled, as well as some regular and a chocolate cannoli to go.  They were quite  good, although the zeppole were dense (like the ball kind).  Mine are more like the consistency of a french cruller.  Anyway, this place is worth checking out, despite the fact that they are Yankees fans.  If you choose Buca Di Beppo instead, ask for Anthony, the second generation Sicilian American to be your waiter.

  • Review from Betsy H.

    • 16 friends
    • 42 reviews

    Fort Myers, FL

    5.0 star rating
    12/27/2011

    Once upon a time my mom brought me some of her leftover white lasagna. Let's just say this stuff rocketed my life into another dimension of existence. It was amazing! I've been back since and I dream about that stuff sometimes. I've lived here my entire life and it's the best Italian joint I've ever been to.

  • Review from Missy C.

    • 23 friends
    • 80 reviews

    Fort Myers, FL

    5.0 star rating
    2/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here

    This has to be one of my all time favorite finds in Ft. Myers. The breakfast menu is quite small, but the food is excellent.
    The owners are from Long Island NY so be prepared for a traditional NY bantering.  Also, for those of you that may not understand NY traditions, they believe that if you ask for something that is not on the menu, and they have the ingredients and the equipment to make it, they will.  So dont be afraid to ask for something YOUR WAY...

    The 16 inch pizza will serve a group of 4 hungry eaters...baked on pizza stones, the crust is really crisp. You wont get that soggy crust here.  The 10" personal pizza is good for 2 people... its more like a 12 " pizza.

    If you want the best Italian Wedding cake or Italian Rum cake, you must try Buon Appetitos's.  They bring it in from NJ and since I have been back in Florida, I can honestly say I havent found a place until now that serves a real Italian Rum Cake... I can go just for the desert.

    Price wise you cant get any better.  Lunch specials and menu items cost from $5 to $10 with large portions.  Maybe you should split a sandwich and get the Rum cake... or the home made, filled to order, chocolate dipped cannolli!

    The first time I went to this little Cafe I walked up to the door for breakfast around 8:30 and the door was locked... saw the sign said they dont open until 9 am... as I turned around to go back to my car the door opened and I was greeted with a smile..and a warm welcome..."Your here and I'm here, that means were open".  That was it for me... true customer service.

    They have Breakfast although they dont open until 9 am
    Lunch outstanding... and yes you can have lunch at breakfast time
    and Dinner....

    They also have a fantastic catering menu...

  • Review from Jamie R.

    • 254 friends
    • 496 reviews

    Naples, FL

    4.0 star rating
    Updated - 11/13/2011

    Returned for a sneak "lunch" of chocolate cannoli, filled on the spot with chilled Italian creme.  The coffee was enjoyable and a lovely co-conspirator in this 3PM gultty pleasure.

    Listed in: Oui-Oui

    Was this review …?

    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 5.0 star rating
      10/15/2011

      A bold bright star for each attribute, including 1) being locally owned and family operated by a… Read more »

  • Review from Shara R.

    • 0 friends
    • 5 reviews

    Fort Myers, FL

    5.0 star rating
    9/20/2011

    Locally owned, small and intimate, handwritten menu based on what is fresh and the owner makes his own fresh mozzarella everday around 2pm.  They sell sandwiches, real meals for dinner.  It is mid-range  prices for exceptional food.  Service is friendly, prompt and accomodating. Family owned and operated. Dark and cozy-great to meet friends or take a first date.  Look for the hand made signs along Presidential court--first street on right once you turn onto Whiskey Creek drive off College Parkway

  • Review from Ken B.

    • 0 friends
    • 5 reviews

    Fort Myers, FL

    5.0 star rating
    9/20/2011

    Excellent Italian restaurant. Cozy atmosphere. Limited menu. Fairly priced. Food quality is excellent.

  • Review from Albert O.

    • 0 friends
    • 8 reviews

    Orlando, FL

    5.0 star rating
    9/18/2011

    We found this place on Yelp while on vacation, and had some difficulty finding it. Once we got there, we were greeted warmly by the owner. The service was wonderful. We ordered the pizza recommended by the other reviewer. The crust was crispy and hot, and the pizza was wonderful.

  • Review from Aaron S.

    • 4 friends
    • 3 reviews

    Fort Myers, FL

    5.0 star rating
    8/8/2011 1 photo 1 Check-in Here

    The man made pizza is superb. Sliced meatballs, sausage, huge pepperonis. The cheese is delicious. The location is very small and really hard to find unless you know it's there.

  • Review from Heather O.

    • 0 friends
    • 4 reviews

    Orlando, FL

    5.0 star rating
    10/24/2011

    Excellent! Very friendly waitress and staff. They gave our daughter a piece of fresh mozzarella and for the adults a bruscetta, two olives, and a cheese/meat rollup thing. We ordered a half man made and half margarita. So yummy! Very thin, crispy crust with fresh tomatoes and cheese,  and thin crispy pepperoni. Just the right amount of meat. This place was a little hard to find, but totally worth stopping in!

  • Review from B W.

    • 7 friends
    • 37 reviews

    Chula Vista, CA

    4.0 star rating
    10/26/2011

    This is a great place and a real oasis from the franchise/chain restaurants that are found all over town.  The restaurant is run by a family with some help from close friends.  They offer a little piece of home cooked Italian in a restaurant that will warm the hearts of those from NY/NJ.  Great hosts and great food, and they serve food that compliments their style as hosts-- familiar, comforting,and reassuring.  They don't put on airs or attempt to act ristorante when they are trattoria or Cafe.  If you like Southern Italian food as served in Italia, you will like this brand of comida.  A prime example of authentic and delicious but not pretentious is the bread.  This is bread exactly as you would be served in Napoli.  They don't try to dress it up or make it fancy and that is not I am looking for.  I lived in Italy for three years and eating here is like being invited to a family party in Italy.  Plenty of great food and friends and really enjoying life with the salt of the earth.  The only thing I wish is that they could have a bigger place so that it would not be so tight.  Hopefully in a few years they will be able to expand.  Try the al Forno dishes or any of the specials.  Enjoy.

  • Review from Sandi E.

    • 5 friends
    • 3 reviews

    Fort Myers, FL

    5.0 star rating
    2/21/2010

    This is one of the best-kept secrets in SWFL! I now go to this wonderful, little Italian Bistro 1-3 times per week. The food is delicious, the owner & staff are friendly & fun, and the atmosphere is small & intimate. I always recognize at least one person from Fort Myers. (Guess the secret is out!)

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