There are certain signs that you’re about to make an incredible dining memory. When the simple olive oil they serve you makes you sit up and say “oh my gosh – that’s incredible,” it’s a very good sign.
I’m an olive oil nut. I can tell when a restaurant cares enough to use high-quality, pure oil. It’s something that’s easy to skimp on. So when Sweet Melissa’s Café’s chooses to go with top-quality, and I imagine expensive, juice – it’s a good sign. Of course, it’s helped out with a mini loaf of toothsome, crusty, warm bread. It more than kept us busy.
Sanibel Island is known for world-class shelling, laid-back sunset strolls and a relaxed beach-y mentality – but now we can add foodie’s destination with the addition of Sweet Melissa’s Café. Café diminishes the splendor of it, with the exposed brick, upscale vibe and creative cuisine. Executive Chef Melissa Talmage knows her way through flawless executive and picture-perfect plating – she trained at Manhattan’s French Culinary Institute followed by working in Union Café in New York City and Commander’s Place and John Besh’s August in New Orleans. Those who remember Redfish Bluefish on Sanibel will be right at home in Sweet Melissa’s – it was renamed after her and reopened in 2009.
To get the most out of your experience, order as many small plates as your stomach can handle and take in as much of Melissa’s cooking as you can. The standout of the night was the Duck Confit ($16). A not-so-small plate of tender, amazing duck is served over mouth-popping lentils prepared with a subtle sweetness that my sister and I swear was bananas. I know – it doesn’t sound like it works, but I promise it did. It’s the dish we’re still talking about. (And I promise I only had one White Port Cocktail, $12, before making that deduction!)
The Cured Japanese Yellowtail plate ($14) is also a nice serving of achingly fresh fish served with zingy avocado puree cream, sliced jalapeño, a sprinkling of cilantro and a drizzled with ponzu. This dish was about the texture and the contrast and I almost licked the dish.
Other favorites were the beet salad ($12) a departure from the normal beet salad with the addition of smoked crème fraiche and the goat cheese crepe – made with oyster mushrooms, asparagus and cipollini onions.
Sweet Melissa's Café: 1625 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel; 239-472-1956; SweetMelissasCafe.com; open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and for dinner Monday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to close.
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