Lunch is one of my favorite parts of the day! I became an early luncher when I was living in Tallahassee, I would always go to lunch with my boss at around 11:15am and then go back to the office to day dream about a nap. Having lunch that early has a lot of perks because the restaurants are not so crowded and the food is pretty fresh. At around 10:45am we would always look up for the best places to have lunch in town, and then we would go off on an adventure. I clearly have kept that habit of looking for the best places throughout my adulthood and now I am sharing my favorites in Southwest Florida so far, in no particular order.

1. Wally’s Deli
   Location: Fort Myers
   What I love: Wally’s Deli started serving the FGCU community and now it has become a Ft. Myers classic. They name their sandwiches after pop culture references, they are reasonably priced, and they can cure an early case of the munchies.
   What to get: Cheech & Chong: steak, crispy chicken, Buffalo sauce, and provolone.

2. Wicked Good Deli
Location: Fort Myers
What I love: They are a local classic. Their sandwiches are so big and full of meat, and their fries are amazing with some cajun seasoning.
What to get: I absolutely love their tuna melt, but their famous steak bomb is absolutely amazing!

3. Blue Dog Bar & Grill
Location: Matlacha
What I love: They source from local fishermen, farmers, and ranchers. The freshness of their food is very noticeable and they have very friendly staff.
What to get: Mullet dog

4. Deliciously Round
Location: Naples
What I love: They are the only option I’ve found so far for arepas in the area!
What to get: Arepa pelua: Shredded beef with gouda cheese.

5. Poke Hawaii
Location: Fort Myers
What I love: Their food is pretty fresh and their portions are worth the money.
What to get: 3 protein bowl: tuna, salmon, and shrimp

6. Hana Sushi Lounge
Location: Lakewood Ranch
What I love: The location is amazing and worth the drive. Every single thing I ate here was fresh and had so much flavor. They play with different cultural flavors and they mastered the art of fusion.
What to get: Bulgogi quesadilla + any of their sushi rolls