When the Sunshine Café in south Fort Myers got a new owner last year, some long-time customers were a bit anxious. Many feared there would be an overhaul, drastically changing the character and menu they’d come to love. Fortunately, the new owner was Sandy Stilwell, and in the year since she’s been in charge, loyal patrons of the old Sunshine Café have more reasons than ever to like it as the Sunshine Seafood Café & Lounge.

Stilwell is an experienced restaurateur who knows a good thing when she sees it. Her other restaurants are on Captiva Island, and include Sunshine Café’s sister establishment, as well as Key Lime Bistro, R.C. Otter’s Island Eats and Latte Da Coffee Shop. Despite the loss of millions in revenue after Hurricane Charley’s devastating blow to the island two years ago, Stilwell’s eateries have come back nicely, allowing her to bring her expertise to the mainland.

Most of the post-purchase changes Stilwell has made at the Winkler Road establishment have been subtle but significant, starting with the name. Stilwell says that according to a market study, the previous name gave the wrong impression.

“People thought that it was a breakfast place,” she says. Because of that and its shopping center location, they further assumed that no alcohol was served when in fact, there is a full liquor bar. The name Sunshine Seafood Café & Lounge more accurately reflects what it has to offer a menu that emphasizes fresh seafood and an inviting lounge with ample seating for drinking or dining.

Although she more than doubled the size of the restaurant by expanding into adjacent space, Stilwell enlisted the aid of long-time friend, respected interior designer Kappy King Cole, to update the decor without doing an extreme makeover. Cole brightened up both rooms using warm, lively colors on the walls and rich, colorful accents in the seat covers. The new dining room also contains a striking wine cabinet and original works by Hawaiian artist Lauri Kaihlanen that once hung in the Sunshine Café on Captiva.
Since the restaurant was well established when Stilwell arrived, she was careful to make only modest tweaks to the menu and keep the prices extremely reasonable. All the best-selling items remain, namely the wood grilled offerings ranging from steaks and poultry, to shrimp, scallops and other seafood.

Favorites include the Sunshine Paella (filled with top-quality shrimp, scallops, chicken, sausage and mussels), the Wood Grilled Duck Breast (available as an entree or appetizer), Fresh Florida Red Snapper Picatta, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes and almost any dish featuring the restaurant’s Dry Sea Scallops.

The Sunshine Seafood Café also offers ever-popular “comfort foods,” such as a Wood Grilled All American Hamburger and Homemade Meatloaf. The meatloaf is accompanied by delicious mashed potatoes and/or fresh vegetables, as are most dinner entrees. They’re also among the many items also served at lunch, in addition to a soup du jour, various salads and daily specials.

Speaking of comfort foods, the homemade desserts are not to be missed. Made fresh daily by the on-site pastry chef, the stars of the after-dinner show include Carrot Cake (covered with generous layers of creamed cheese icing and served in huge slices) and Chocolate Fantasia (a brownie topped with vanilla and chocolate ice cream, chocolate butternut sauce and whipped cream). Key lime pie, cheesecake and other selections are also available.
Additional enhancements include expanded hours and uninterrupted food service, which make the Sunshine Seafood Café ideal for late lunches, mid-afternoon business meetings and after-work gatherings.

On weekend nights, Marc Vee plays acoustic guitar, providing the perfect accompaniment to dining or enjoying an after-dinner libation. And on Sundays, omelettes, waffles and other brunch items are served from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., along with the regular lunch menu. There’s even a Bloody Mary station.

One of the restaurant’s more unusual features is its team approach to service. Rather than assigning waiters to specific tables, various servers cater to patrons throughout the meal. Combined with the cafe’s other unique benefits, such attentive service is the perfect complement to an outstanding dining experience.

(Sunshine Seafood Café & Lounge is open for lunch and dinner 7 days at 8750 Gladiolus Drive in Fort Myers. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Reservations accepted. Private dining room available for professional seminars, corporate meetings and social events. Phone: 239-489-2233.)