Bear Rock Cafe opened in south Fort Myers.
A new dining option has opened in south Fort Myers and local residents and businesses are lining up to take advantage.
Bear Rock Cafe has officially opened at the Shops at Jamaica Bay and the casual restaurant has garnered the attention of locals looking for a new place to eat.
“It appeals to a wide range of people ... we have had a good mix of residents from Jamaica Bay and working people,” said Nick Firrinciell, the co-owner of the restaurant that opened on Oct. 22.
Firrinciell and his business partner Lou Iamarino opted to open on the U.S. 41 corridor when they noticed a need for a casual dining atmosphere in the area.
“I feel that we fill a nitch that is above a fast food restaurant and a lot of people like the speed of the service,” said Firrinciell, about the cafe he feels is priced lower than a sit down restaurant and people don’t have to tip a wait staff.
“You order, you sit, we bring you the food and leave when you want.”
Leaving the Bear Rock Cafe is sometimes hard for customers who want to try everything on the menu.
Food options include garden fresh salads, hot sandwiches, soups and cold sandwiches.
“It’s fantastic. It has a nice atmosphere and the menu is huge. Everybody here is polite, efficient, and always smiling,” said Nancy Markey, 67, a Jamaica Bay resident who visited the restaurant twice in its opening week. “The menu has (ingredients) that I wouldn’t think to put together.”
Markey said the variety of ingredients and salads that include artichokes, kalamata olives, onion tumbleweed and hearts of palm, will make her a regular customer.
“I had the best sweet potato fries. ... There is nothing close by here and they have a lot you don’t get everywhere else,”she said.
The cafe also serves robust coffees lsuch as the Bear Latte — a mix of espresso, steamed milk, a swirl of honey, a splash of vanilla, a pinch of spice and a heap of whipped cream.
“Eating fresh foods and natural foods are in our nature. We wouldn’t serve anything frozen,” said Gary Cobey, a cafe employee who worked at the company headquarters in North Carolina before transferring to south Fort Myers. “The menu changes constantly and people like that.”
The dinner entrees the cafe begins to serve at 4 p.m. include pot roast, meatloaf or crab cakes and grilled shrimp.
“We have limited time offerings and bake our bread daily,” said Firrinciell, of the cafe that is 3,450 square feet and seats 144. “Two people can eat for less than $20 here.”
The cafe is the first of the 33 locations in the U.S. to offer a full menu that now includes burgers, entrees and a five iced coffees.
“I don’t eat at $50 restaurants and this fills that need for me and not have to eat fast food,” said Markey while looking at the dessert menu. “The cookies are wonderful and I still have a a lot more to taste.”
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