Among the desserts are such regional favorites as Key lime pie made with fresh Key lime juice, pecan praline tarts and Southern peanut butter fudge pie. Tableside preparations include New Orleans-style bananas Foster, strawberries Romanoff and flaming coffees.
All entrées come with a signature house salad that includes hearts of palm and black bean relish. Fresh baked honey-glazed oatmeal molasses bread and corn muffins, served with Southern pepper jelly are also included.
"Every judge and lawyer in town visits on a weekly basis," says Murray, who does a good weekday lunch business owing to proximity to the county government offices in downtown Fort Myers. The courtyard usually is booked for one or two weddings a week, in addition to private parties for many occasions.
The Veranda gets a mix of locals and seasonal tourists. "To be in business over 25 years, you can't just survive on tourists," Murray notes.
Piano bar entertainment is provided nightly in the lounge, which is decorated with vintage photos of some of Fort Myers' famous former residents and visitors, including Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone and Peter Pulitzer.
Owner Peden also operates Rib City, a casual barbecue chain in the Southwest Florida area.
Carolyn Walkup, Nations Restaurant News, March, 2006
10 Best Desserts - Treat Yourself to these irresistible taste thrills
By Sammy Mack
An excerpt from the January 2007 issue of Gulf Shore Life Magazine
3. We’re nuts about the warm Southern pecan praline tart at The Veranda in Fort Myers. With just enough brown sugar to bring out the flavor of the toasted, candied nuts, but none of that excessive molasses goop that clogs up lesser pecan pastries, this is a pie that lets the pecans shine. It’s served with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you might find yourself ordering a second slice. We did. 2122 Second St., Fort Myers; (239) 332-2065.
