Why We Love It: Maks traces its pedigree back to Hong Kong and to the original staff of Blu Sushi. The two accomplished Mak brothers opened this sleek, chic corner storefront in the Publix plaza on Fiddlesticks Boulevard in Fort Myers last year. Its location off Daniels Parkway makes it a convenient lunch or dinner stop for airport runs. Room dividers create privacy for down-to-business encounters, or you can sit at the L-shaped sushi bar to take in the action and interact with the Mak brothers, who are always ready to suggest something that might not be on the menu of 25 or so traditional and out-of-the-ordinary rolls.
Ideal Meal: Starting out your Maks experience with sushi, sashimi or a roll is tantamount because that is truly where the restaurant shines with freshness and expertise. For American palates, the PBJ roll combines raw and cooked fish—spicy tuna and tempura white fish—with avocado, cream cheese, spicy mayo and eel sauce. Maks’ lunch and dinner menus cover typical pan-Asian specialties in a wide variety. The crispy rice appetizer of either spicy salmon or spicy tuna wins raves. For the main course, you can’t go wrong with the garlic broccoli and your choice of protein—chicken, beef or shrimp. It’s available also in a luncheon Bento box with miso soup, a small salad in a nice sesame-rice vinegar dressing, four pieces of California roll and steamed white or brown rice. For an authentic finish, try the mochi ice cream in green tea, mango or red bean flavor. (We recommend the mango.)
Vibe: Cheerful and tasteful, Maks welcomes diners with brightness and contemporary Asian design. Interpretive art accents the walls, and pendant lighting adds style. For large groups, a partitioned section holds an eight-top with a filmy white curtain backdrop that has a rather elegant feel.