Diverse Dining in Naples, Marco Island & the Everglades

Fresh seafood is the star of many menus.

Florida's Paradise Coast dining was born in a humble fish shack, and through the years it's grown into a sophisticated scene with uptown sidewalk cafes, global offerings and luxury resort restaurants that remembers its seafood roots. The result? Something for everyone's palate.

In fact, the interpretations of "local cuisine" are as diverse as its restaurants. Some define it as the rustic fare you find around Everglades City: frog legs, stone crab, Seminole Indian fry bread. Along the Barron River, a procession of funky seafood shacks specialize in stone crab, the town's biggest claim to fame. Try Joanie's Blue Crab Cafe for swamp ambiance and a menu to match. Or dine dockside at Triad Seafood or City Seafood.

Other locals point to Goodland's brand of Old Florida seafood. Stan's Idle Hour and Little Bar excel in the genre, with waterfront views and local color to boot. In Naples, casual seafood haunts include Randy's Fishmarket Restaurant (don't miss the Key lime pie) and Tommy Bahama's, with its infectious island beat. Longtime favorite Dock at Crayton Cove perches harborfront and purveys Florida style with a Caribbean

Stone crabs are in season from October 15 to May 15.

and New Orleans slant. Riverwalk at Tin City's grilled seafood and nautical atmosphere also draw crowds.

Still others identify local cuisine as upscale and innovative. On the finer side of waterfront dining, whimsically sophisticated Baleen Naples at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort has inherited a Miami vibe from its Coconut Grove forerunner, known for its creative Floribbean-Asian fusion. Nearby Turtle Club at Vanderbilt Beach Resort serves an awesome brand of Southern-accented cuisine in dishes such as Low Country Shrimp & Smoked Sausage.

On Marco Island, sample true Tuscan from the rooftop of Sale e Pepe at Marco Beach Ocean Resort, with a view and homemade pastries to die for.

Downtown Naples boasts the area's hip and daringly ethnic side of dining. Pazzo! reinvents Italian, and Bleu Provence delights with French nouveau. In North Naples, Bha! Bha! wows with Persian bistro exotica and Turkish ottomans.

With the breadth of dining experiences on Florida's Paradise Coast, perhaps the true definition of local cuisine encompasses all of the above and then some. The best thing to do is wine, dine and create your own meaning.