Sizzle Dining expands to 127 restaurants across SWFL

It’s dinner time! Sizzle Dining has broken its own record this year with the participation of 127 Southwest Florida restaurants, including 40 restaurants joining the Sept. 3-30 four-week discount dining promotion for the first time.  

“It’s the third year in a row we’ve broken the record, and we’ve expanded to four weeks,” said Sizzle co-founder Guy Clarke.  

Sizzle Dining sold a total of more than 62,000 prix-fixe meals at 114 participating restaurants last year during a three-week event, so Clark expects at least 80,000 meals sold this year. Sheer numbers point to success. 

On top of the additional restaurants and time span, the promotion has a larger staff and a bigger marketing effort this year, including print and streaming ads, a digital billboard, and assistance from the convention and visitors bureaus in Collier and Lee counties. Fresh from Florida, a marketing initiative from the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is sponsoring Sizzle this year to promote locally sourced products. 

“It could make a major impact. We’re super happy,” Clarke said. 

The Southwest Florida chapter of Blessings in a Backpack also is happy because $1 sold from every meal benefits the nonprofit organization, which provides food and nourishment to elementary students during the school year. Organizers invite patrons to take advantage of the local promotion, enjoy excellent meals and help others by dining with purpose. 

“Our challenge this year to everybody is to try and hit at least one restaurant per week. Try to go to some places you haven’t been to and let’s help feed the kids,” Clarke said. 

The event also comes during the post-summer, pre-season month when local restaurants especially struggle, so the idea is to fill dining rooms seats. 

 “The restaurants need this so bad,” Clarke said. “From the feedback I’ve been getting from talking to 100-plus restaurants is this is a lot of last-ditch hopes. There are a lot of restaurants out there that are really in desperate need of some business right now. They’re just not as busy as they used to be and really struggling.” 

Clarke stresses that this is the year and this is the time of year restaurant employees really need people to come together to help others as they did following major hurricanes. 

“We banded together after Ian and after Irma and everybody really went out and helped the community. We need that again,” he said. “We need that help this year. This is the time to do it, The restaurants need it.” 

Sizzle Dining’s participating restaurants from Cape Coral to Marco Island will offer special three-course dinners for the fixed prices of $29, $39 or $49; and two-course breakfasts and lunches for $19 or $29. For links to each restaurant and their special menus, go to sizzledining.org. 

2025 participating restaurants

A Table Apart 

Alice Sweetwater's Bar & Grille 

Amber Cove 

Angelina's Ristorante 

Aqua Bonita 

Aqua North Naples 

Artisan Eatery 

Backwater Jacks @ Bonita Bay Marina 

Baleen @ LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort 

Barbatella 

Bay House  

Bellini's Fort Myers 

Bha Bha! Persian Bistro 

Bicyclette Cookshop 

Bistro 821 

Bistro La Baguette 

Black Forest German Restaurant 

Blackbird Modern Asian 

Blanc 

Bleu Provence 

Boathouse on Naples Bay  

Bone Hook Brewery and Craft Kitchen 

C Level Bar & Restaurant 

Cabos Cantina Taco & Tequila Bar 

Cafe Normandie 

Caffè Milano 

Campiello 

Capone's Coal Fired Pizza 

Chez Guy Parisian Bistro 

Chops City Grill - Bonita 

Chops City Grill - Naples 

Cibao Grille 

CJ's on the Bay 

Claw Bar @ Bellasera Resort 

Coast @ Edgewater Beach Hotel 

Continental, The 

Cote D'Azur 

Deep Lagoon Seafood - Fort Myers 

Deep Lagoon Seafood - Marco 

Deep Lagoon Seafood - Naples 

Del Mar 

District 

El Gaucho Trattoria 

Enzo's Italian Restaurant 

Estia 

Fathoms 

Firestone Grill Room  

Flaco's Mexican Restaurant 

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse 

Fresh Catch Bistro  

Fresh Catch Inland 

Gather 

Grappino & The Bakery at Grappino 

Hampton Social  

Hangout by Two Guys  

Hogfish Harry's  

Italian Deli and Market 

Izzy's Fish & Oyster 

Junkanoo Below Deck 

JWB Grill @ Margaritaville 

Kabab Spot 

Keewaydin's on Fifth 

La Fontanella Ristorante - Bonita 

La Fontanella Ristorante - Fort Myers 

The Lakehouse Kitchen & Bar  

Latitude 26 @ The Hyatt Naples 

Limón Rooftop Bar 

Limoncello 

The Local  

The Lodge  

Lola 41 

LowBrow Pizza & Beer 

LuLu's Kitchen 

M & M's Cafe @ Tin City 

M Waterfront Grille 

M'Xuma Tacos Mexican Grill 

Martin Fierro Argentinean Steakhouse 

Mediterrano 

Melting Pot  

Mini Bar  

Naples Coastal Kitchen 

Next Door 

Nosh on Naples Bay 

Oar & Iron Raw Bar & Grill - Fort Myers 

Oar & Iron Raw Bar & Grill - Naples 

OASIS The Kitchen Lounge - Ave Maria 

Old Vines Naples at Mercato 

Olde Florida Chop House @ Trianon Hotel 

Paella's Mediterranean Fusion 

Pazzo! Cucina Italiana 

Pezzo Pizza + Bar 

Phuzzy's Boat Shack - St. James City 

Pinchers - Bonita Springs 

Pinchers - Cape Coral 

Pinchers - Fort Myers GCTC 

Pinchers - Fort Myers Marina Edison Ford 

Pinchers - Marco Island 

Pinchers - Naples Tin City 

Pinchers - San Carlos 

PJK Neighborhood Chinese - Estero 

PJK Neighborhood Chinese - Naples 

Real Seafood Co, 

The Rooster Food+Drink  

Roy's Restaurant 

Ruth's Chris Steak House 

Sage on 47th 

Sam Snead's Tavern 

San Matteo Italian Restaurant & Bar 

Savour Restaurant 

Sea Salt 

Seasons 52

Shula's Steak House @ Hilton Naples 

Stones Throw 

Sydney's Pub @ Tiburón Golf Club 

Taberna Ole 

Tap 42 Craft Kitchen + Bar - Naples 

Tarpon Bay @ Hyatt Regency Resort 

Texas Tony's – Naples

The 239 Naples  

Two Meatballs in the Kitchen - Cape Coral 

Two Meatballs in the Kitchen - Fort Myers 

Two Meatballs in the Kitchen  - Naples 

U.S.S. Nemo 

Unidos 

Warren American Whiskey Kitchen 

Watermark Grille 

Zaza Mexican Restaurant