Il Pomodoro - Fort Myers, FL Review

We have been driving by Il Pomodoro for months. One thing that deterred us from dining there was road construction. The other was one stop we had made earlier between lunch and dinner. Too late for lunch; too early for dinner.

Every other time, often when returning from another restaurant experieince, we would say, "Hey, we could have stopped there."

So this time, we went out with neighbors and we planned ahead.

The building in which the Il Pomodoro resides is an archetecturally interesting, attractive and colorful structure. It catches the eye. 

Once inside, you pass a station where take-out orders can be picked up. Then to a hostess station. We were greeted pleasantly at both posts before being seated promptly.

The first surprise, a pleasant one, was a table card that announced a menu of specials at $9.99. That's right. A half dozen dishes for under $10, including a salad. Next was a wine list that had glasses as low as $6. Two of our party decided they wanted to split a bottle of white, which came in at $20 for 4 and 1/2 glasses. One bummer was the absence of a liquor license. Our rum-loving, wine-hating neighbor had to settle beer. That selection even was limited.

There had been a chalk board on the way in listing featured specials. One was a NY Strip with fries and salad at $14.95.

Orders went in with the first two going for the $10 cheese rigatoni with meat sauce. That was going to be my choice too. But I could not stand the idea of being seen as lacking originality. So I ordered the NY strip, medium rare. The fourth in the party order fettucine.

The salads were fresh and crisp. My caesar was good but made with prepared caesar dressing. (I guess no one makes one from scratch with fresh eggs any more.)  The head lettuce salads were equally pleasing, I was told.

The pasta was excellent - and generous - especially at $10. The steak was extraordinary. The first slice revealed a perfect degree of cooking, Just a little pink inside. It also was tender and tasty, my reward for staying original.

Rolls preceded the salads and they were good but overly garlic-seasoned. As a garlic fan, I was not deterred. 

No dessert was ordered. Take-away boxes were ordered. There was plenty left over to go home with us. The next day the steak was nuked and, remarkably for a steak in a microwave oven, it still was tender, juicy and well-flavored.

All up, this was an outstanding dining experience. If the steak is on the specials board, I heartily endorse it. But check the table card first. Great pasta at $10, including salad, is rare.