Sweet Melissa's CafeSanibel's BestFairly sophisticated food preparation matched by high quality service--our island is quite informal and this is not stuffy, but it is a cut above, particularly if you appreciate the subtleties and are willing to pay for them....I would add a few interesting red wines to the middle of their selections....other than that...it was perfectly lovely gourmet evening....5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMRun to Sweet Melissa's!Very nice, imaginative menu. Food was fresh, locally sourced and well prepared. My wife loved that there was a "petite size" price option for her meal, she found that to be just right. I highly recommend Sweet Melissa's for fine dining in a classy island casual setting.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMIf you're interested in uniqueIf you're interested in unique food combinations and wonderful flavor, rush to Sweet Melissa's. This was my third time there and I have never been anything but excited at the dining experience. GO!5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMmussels to die forFirst time visitors to Sanibel. We saw the review on Trip Advisor, and it met our expectations. And the mussels were perfect.
The duck was delicious, and the seafood "stew" was big,even for a petite portion.---And it tasted great too.
We had a great dinner.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMLunch at Sweet Melissa'sWe met an older couple for lunch and it was the perfect spot for the four of us. It was not busy and we were given a nice table by the window. Atmosphere very nice - it was hot, so the air conditioning felt good. However, i have been there when it was very pleasant to eat in the outdoor area - enclosed with screening and ceiling fans keep it delightful when not hot and muggy. Food is always very good, both lunch and dinner. Would highly recommend Sweet Melissa's to anyone who comes on the island.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic food, not the usualFantastic food, not the usual stuff that you find everywhere else. The small plates and petite portions allow you to try more than one meal. Our favourites were the goat cheese crepes and the duck confit.
The service was good, although they were very busy ( Saturday evening). Nice interior and sound ambiente (acoustic guitar player). It is definitely not heap, but absolutely worth the money. We will eat there again he next time we are on Sanibel4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMSweet Melissa's was outstanding.Sweet Melissa's was outstanding. Have been visiting Sanibel for over 30 years. Always looking for someplace good to eat. Finally found it. The food was just excellent. Loved the small portions. Will definitely be back and will hightly recommend it to my friends. I wish she had a place in my hometown, I would be a regular.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstandingAnother great evening l at this restaurant once again. The food is prepared with a great deal of care and imagination . The service is always very attentive and caring. I would high recommend this establishment as the owner takes great pride in making sure your experience from food and service is outstanding4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMCould see the kitchen fromCould see the kitchen from where I was sitting. It was extremely well run and the food was very good. The guitar music was lovely and the service high quality.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMA fine dining experience,A fine dining experience, shared with out of town visitors. Their first time and they enjoyed it.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMA wonderful meal. The choiceA wonderful meal. The choice of the smaller plates allowed us to try a variety of dishes, each one was delicious and beautifully presented.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food with unbelieveableGreat food with unbelieveable sauces - especially the Mussels! It was so nice to have the option of smaller portions - it left more room for appetizers and those incredible desserts.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMWe love this place! TheirWe love this place! Their hearts of palm salad is without a doubt the best salad I've ever had. Both my husband and I love their cheese plate. We've tried several of their entree "small plates" and have loved all of them. We're going back tonight!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMSweet Melissa's is a keeper.Sweet Melissa's is a keeper. As a Sanibel resident, I have dined there many times and have never had a bad meal. In fact, every meal has been outstanding. The wine list is superior to any on the Island. Even their wines by the glass great. Their bartender makes an excellent mixed drink too. Ha! They refer to some of their plates as "small." They are anything but small. Everything from petite to regular plate is more than enough food for most. And, the freshness, creativity and presentation are all wonderful and delicious. This restaurant has to stick around our little Island. It's our go-to spot. Keep up the good work. Almost forgot to mention that their wait staff is excellent.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a wonderful dinnerWe had a wonderful dinner at Sweet Melissa's. I liked the unique menu and the food was excellent. I would highly recommend it.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMSweet SurpriseWe dined at Sweet Melissa's April 15 2013 and were impressed . We ordered the Caesar salad, a grilled Romaine with lovely Caesar drizzle, outstanding. My husband had the cobia which was beautifully prepared and served with roasted fingerling potatoes and mixed veggies. I ordered the mussels with white wine and spinach as my entree, also beautifully prepared and presented.
The wine list is not extensive but every choice was excellent and not over priced.
Service was excellent and our diner was very well timed.
We will certainly return to Sweet Melissa's4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was fantastic. IThe food was fantastic. I had scallops, while my g/f had a fish stew. Our server was very friendly, and we would certainly recommend this place to anyone visiting Sanabel!4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMExceptional experienceWe have been to this restaurant on several occasions and the food, service and our overall experience continue to exceed our exceptions.
The food is freshly prepared to order with the quality and quantity superior of any hope one might have in achieving. The service is extremely that of a first class establishment as well . I am please to compliment this restaurant about the customer experiences which are fantastic. The wine list is extremely extensive and has so many selections to choose from that it because a difficult selection.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThe pompano on bok choy wasThe pompano on bok choy was wonderful. One of the most delicious fish dishes we've enjoyed. The fish stew was also excellent.
Two of us shared an heirloom tomato salad that tasted so fresh, it seemed like the tomatoes were grown on site. As always, our service was the best we see anywhere in southwest Florida.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous dinner and excellentFabulous dinner and excellent service! Very creative with food pairings!!!! Best of the island!4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMDelightful from start to finishTwo of us had an excellent dining experience at Sweet Melissa’s Café. The menu had some different creative choices, which we always like to see. We started with appetizers of red and gold beet salad, and cured yellow fin with avocado and ponzu sauce. Both were flavorful, attractively presented, and generous portions. Entrees are offered in petite and large portions, a nice touch. We had sweetbreads—crispy, flavorful, and a nice texture, and the pompano special served on a bad of sautéed Swiss chard, faro, and a mélange of golden raisins and chorizo; the fish was delicious, perfectly cooked and moist. Desserts were 5 spice ice cream—rich and gingery tasting, and chocolate torte with chocolate and orange sorbets. The service was excellent—fri4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMWe didnt feel welcome at allWe didnt feel welcome at all first, but then we had a very friendly and professional staff member serving us and the food was absolutely delicious.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved the scallops! LovedLoved the scallops!
Loved the halibut!
Loved the Florida wheat beer!4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMOur lunch experience, madeOur lunch experience, made through Open Table, was excellent
We had five for lunch. Service was attentive and lunch menu provided numerous options.
The presentations of quiche of the day, salads and burger selections were very well done.
For a moderate price, the freshly prepared lunch selections were an excellent value.
Based on our very positive lunch experience, we would return for dinner.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMHighest quality on SanibelHighest quality on Sanibel Island, hands down. We will be going back Friday night.4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMSanibel needs this kind ofSanibel needs this kind of restaurant! I hope locals and visitors support it. The food is delicious.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMWe love coming to Sweet Melissa's.We love coming to Sweet Melissa's. It is always the first place we go when we get to the island. The food is OUTSTANDING. The service is great.... always available but never overly intrusive. The last time we were there it was a little noisey. However, this time it was much more mellow. The only problem I have is that both evenings we ended up sitting at the small tables for two. Not real fond of those!!!! One person ends up facing the wall. I realize that not much they can do about it as it is the best use of their space. When they are not quite so crowded, we will wait for a larger table.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMTwo portion sizes for dinnerOne of the better seafood restaurants on Sanibel. Everything was perfect. Scallops were the best I've had in years in the Fort Myers area. The mussels are the best around. They have a nice guitar player in the background that isn't too loud.
A pleasant surprise is the choice of two portion sizes. I wish more restaurants would do this. Every entree comes in a petite and regular. This makes it nice if you want to have a salad, an appetizer and an entree without having leftovers. The salads are big enough to split as a side salad.
I was really impressed - esp for Sanibel where I find most meals overpriced and mediocore. We will definitely be back.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother terrific dinner atAnother terrific dinner at Sweet Melissa's! The seafood is always superb.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMOur best dinner in Sanibel.Our best dinner in Sanibel. Food, Service, everything made for a very enjoyable evening.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMA winner on Sanibel for great food!First time to Sweet Melissa's on Sanibel Island after going to the Island for the last 20+ years this restaurant is one of the best. Food is on par with Mad Hatter but the view is not. We had a wide sampling of dishes based on the small plate concept, except for a couple of us who had the Smoked Beef Tenderloin (outstanding flavor and great presentation).
My favorite was the Sushi Grade Tuna Special and the Pork Belly and Clams starter. We also had salads that were fresh and innovative.
Overall a great experience with a nice guitar player to add to the ambiance of the nice restaurant. Our waitress could have been better but it did not take away too much from our nice evening. We will definitely be back!3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMDefinitely a step up from the usualSweet Melissa's was a lovely alternative to the typical Sanibel place. The food was imaginative and not the typical fried food found so many other places. Service was very friendly because we engaged our waitress, but if you prefer it more reserved, you could get that as well. A great innovation is the offering of main courses in small or large portion sizes. This allowed us to have appetizers and main courses without overeating. Even our teenage daughter tried two courses because of this. It also made for a somewhat more affordable meal, especially given the quality. Another nice touch was allowing us to taste a different wine when we were undecided bet two bottles. Reservations a must in season, but well worth the effort.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMA sophisticated ambiance withA sophisticated ambiance with friendly staff and atmosphere. The option of the satifying small portions are appreciated. Melissa's offers gourmet dining with island style.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMOn the tiny island of Sanibel,On the tiny island of Sanibel, many miles away from New York City, one would not expect to find such a superb restaurant. Sweet Melissa's was upscale, sophisticated without being stuffy, and a dining excellence. I will definitely return.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMService by Paul was knowledgeable,Service by Paul was knowledgeable, attentive, but not smothering.
The grilled romaine salad was excellent.
Overall, it was a very good dining experience & I would not hesitate to return.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMPride of Periwinkle in SanibelWe all really enjoyed our dinner at Sweet Melissa's Cafe. Everything was excellent, from the wine to the appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts. We will definitely return to dine here during our next vacation in Sanibel.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMExceptional food. We wereExceptional food. We were delighted to find really fine cuisine in Sanibel. The menu is diverse and offers some very exciting dishes. The concept of offering the options of Regular or Small plates for entrees is very appealing. The food preparation is expertly done and beautifully presented. Service was professional and friendly.
This is a terrific restaurant and probably the best in the Sanibel / Captiva area.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMRestaurant GemThis is the real deal! This is Sanibel's finest, most genteel restaurant. The food is exquisite and the service is impeccable.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThe menu at Sweet Melissa'sThe menu at Sweet Melissa's is wonderful. It was difficult to choose from the great selection. With a large selection of small plates and the offer of petite portions of most entrees, it made for a satisfying but not "over filling" dining experience. Not to be missed are the beautiful gelatos so save room for those.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMIt was truly a delight toIt was truly a delight to dine vs. good out to eat. From the lovely wine-by-glass selction to the inventive menu choices and beautiful plating, it was truly a delicious experience. I particularly like the "small plates" option. Our server was very well versed in both wines and menu. And the pompano was amazing.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMSweet Melissa's does not disappointWe returned to Sweet Melissa's with our son, having eaten there a month ago. I had different menu items than before that were fabulous. The beet salad was excellent and the seafood stew was seasoned just right with seafood and fish cooked to perfection. The key lime layered dessert was heavenly with the white chocolate panna cotta, key lime curd and key lime mousse.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMWithout a doubt this was theWithout a doubt this was the best food we have eaten anywhere between Marco Island and Fort Myers. We were stunned to discover sweetbreads on the menu. They were absolutely delicious. The wine was excellent and my Sanibel Sunset cocktail was perfect. Service exactly right, concerned enough to make sure we were happy with everything but not too intrusive. Unfortunately we went for the first time on the last day of our holiday so we will have to wait until next year to enjoy the pleasure again!3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMMy top restaurant choice onMy top restaurant choice on Sanibel. Well thought out selection of menu options that are visually appealing and delicious. Offering a petite version of entrees another plus and the live background guitar music is the icing on the cake.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMAs always.....Outstanding!As always.....Outstanding! We had the short ribs and the special stiped bass. Both were delicious. And the beet salad had a wonderful smoked creme fraiche on it. Best beet salad ever. Watch out for their martini's. They are really strong, but very well made. You will defin itely need a reservation during season.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother great meal at SweetAnother great meal at Sweet Melissa's. Words couldn't possibly do this restaurant justice. We make excuses to visit Sanibel mainly to have dinner here. A true gem.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMTerrific findThis a five star. Food and service is outstanding. You have a choice of petite or regular portions. We found petite portion more than enough. You have to be very hungry for the regular portion. Go and enjoy.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and service. DefinitelyGreat food and service. Definitely worth a trip to Sanabelle Island.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was excellent. ServiceFood was excellent. Service was excellent. Tables for two were in a dark and boring corner of the restaurant. Ask to sit by the windows instead.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMI liked this restaurant aI liked this restaurant a lot. I wanted to like my food more. Everything was good or very good but I wasn't "wow-ed" by anything. I would love to go back and try again.3/11/2013 12:00:00 AMOur first trip to Sweet Melissa'sOur first trip to Sweet Melissa's will not be our last! We had a wonderful meal. We take our dining experiences pretty seriously, so we are fairly critical. The meal was lovely, but the absolute best part was the choice given to cut the amount of food in half - well done, Melissa. We both had a salad that was delicious. My husband had the smaller portion beef tenderloin, and I had the scallops. The 1/2 portion size was perfect. We left feeling satisfied and not stuffed. Sweet Melissa's has been added to the "make reservation before getting on the plane" list.3/6/2013 12:00:00 AM