My husband and I splurged on a lovely lunch at the Twisted Vine Bistro to celebrate the offer we put on a house. It was a fabulous lunch and we plan to go back for a date night to experience the ambiance of the restaurant at night. The center bar is beautiful and the dining room is set up great. We had a table by the window so enjoyed people watching as we waited for our meal. *For starters, I got a free glass of wine for checking in on Yelp! Here is what we ordered: - lobster mac and cheese appetizer: Amazing! creamy, lots of lobster chunks and perfectly cheesy. I loved the spiral shells. -BLT with brie and smoked salmon. What a unique combination. And it was served on 9 grain toast. I only wish it came with sweet potato fries instead of regular fries. -TVB wrap- chicken salad with rasberry preserves in a wheat wrap. nice and light It was a wonderful meal. Thought it was a bit pricey it was worth every penny! We can't wait to go back and try the dinner. Great location in the River District downtown.
(5)
Lacey C.
Rolled up with my boos Jeff and Matt yesterday to get some grub on their fancy looking patio. "Oh, it's closed seasonally." You should let people know that, somehow. Considering it's how we picked the restaurant, we were already a little disappointed going in. Started out with some wine and truffle fries. The fries were just fine, but the pours were quite small. And my $13/glass sauv blanc tasted like the bottle had been open a while. Jeff ordered snapper, Matt got chicken, and I ordered scallops. The scallops smelled distinctly of ammonia. I ate one anyway, and the taste was the same. Yeesh. Matt wafted his hand over my plate toward his nose and said he could definitely smell it. The replaced the dish with the grouper, which came with roasted fennel and undercooked red rice. It was just ok, and though my scallops were comped and my meal replaced, it didn't really salvage the evening. And for the record, when one your diners makes a joke, you should laugh.
(2)
Bradley H.
My reservation on MOTHERS DAY was a complete disaster. The "girl" who took my reservation 1 week prior obviously wasn't trained properly or simply didn't care. Even after they realized that they significantly misrepresented their restaurant, the Manager simply told us she was sorry and they're was nothing we could do. Not to mention I drove from Tampa with my wife and mother-in-law for this occasion. It's too bad because the place looked great and the staff that I met F2F were very sympathetic, their boss however, didn't give a hoot! Thankfully, I took our party to the Firestone Bar & Grill next door and they were able to accommodate us and the food/staff was great. They made a great afternoon out of a bad situation.
(1)
Liz L.
I'll start this off by saying I'm really spoiled by great food living in Charleston. So maybe take what I say with a grain of salt. Overall the food was tasty. I got the twisted caprese salad and the tuna tar tar as my meal. We ordered the spinach-Brie-bacon risotto (typically comes with the duck breast entree but you can get as a side) and brussels sprouts for appetizers, and my husband got the honey roasted grouper. Two food-related things were less than desirable: the brussels sprouts were soggy and nearly flavorless, and my avocado with my tuna tar tar was almost 100% brown. This could be due to it sitting out for a long time which brings me to the other less-than-desirable thing: super slow service. I think we were there for about 2.5 hours and had ordered our food within the first 30 min. We had good conversation so no problem, but all sat with empty drinks for way too long. Speaking of drinks: goose island Sofie on draft. Major points for that!! All in all, it's not a bad place but it's overpriced for sure, and there's room for improvement. I would probably not choose to come back before trying some other spots in town.
(3)
Brian M.
My favorite downtown restaurant for an evening out or for Sunday brunch....it's always a hit with friends from Naples. My favorite appetizer is the roasted Brussels sprouts with Brie. I don't usually order chicken while dining out, however the "almost boneless" chicken is divine. Great food, fun atmosphere and terrific food = a great memorable experience.
(5)
Bill S.
The restaurant was ok not great, my friend and I had their ribeye and it was dry, my wife's fish was dry my friends wife's fish was dry it was dry night, for $33 dollars it was a rip and when we told the waitress she only offered a free drink or dessert, odd, we will not return!
(2)
Alexandra S.
Divine seared scallops with black pearl rice, broccolini and extra beurre blanc sauce. Not much else to say, just perfection!
(5)
Kevin K.
I suspect it was my 4-5 time over the past 3 or 4 years. It really bothered me to pay over $200 for the meal (including $135 for a bottle of wine) to be told by our waitress I still had to pay for a bad steak. I didn't argue but that should not happen at a place of your caliber. The first was a very thin cut of poor quality and cooked beyond well done. I ordered medium rare. The second was hastily prepared and uneven - just seared on one side and then cooked entirely on the other side. I was hungry and ate about one-third then stopped because it was not enjoyable (especially at the $33 price). I left the rest (despite having paid for it) because it was just not good. I understand places have off nights; but making me pay for it is not right. I also would have thought a manager would have come over at some point to check up, given I already had sent something back. I apologize but I do not know how to respond to you directly in this program.
(2)
Jen H.
My hubby and I decided to have a date night at The Twisted Vine Bistro. As soon as I checked into yelp, I received an offer for a free glass of wine. I had the house Merlot and it was very good. Thanks. Located in the river district of downtown Fort Myers, this restaurant seems to have it all... good location, good food, good drink selections with a full bar, good ambiance and pleasant servers. The restaurant was clean and well kept. The restroom was clean and luxurious. The bartenders were on point with their drinks. Our server was always attentive and make sure that we had everything we needed. My husband ordered a seafood platter which was part of the special that evening and was happy. I ordered the short rib with mashed potatoes and broccoli and was happy. I also ordered dessert, which was a white chocolate bread pudding with ice cream, wiped cream and some chocolate drizzle. We enjoyed our visit very much and plan on attending once again for a Sunday brunch.
(3)
Roger C.
What a difference a day makes (or two in this case) Liked it so much last visit I brought friends back to try it. Felt foolish after how good we said it was. Wife had the beet salad both times. First iteration was fresh and bright, this one was glopping with oil. I ordered the burger since a dinner companion ordered it last time and it looked spectacular. This time it looked like something from Carl Jr's. Uninspired prep and presentation Last visit the service was crisp and professional. This visit the waitress was lost in space. Uninterested, uniformed and really seemed like she wanted to be somewhere else. Really disappointing.
(2)
Judith H.
Had free glass of wine because of tickets to the theater (Florida Rep) which is great because they support this wonderful theater. I had Le Bouef Cobb and it was excellent including ingredients not usually found in Cobb salads. My husband and a friend ordered the Boulevard and though he said it was good, he couldn't distinguish the various flavors because the sauce tended to overwhelm everything. He said the fries were very good. Waiter at the bar was very nice and owner friendly.
(4)
Trish E.
The waiter Tim was fabulous! I dined there with my sister, we are on vacation from Chicago. I ordered the grouper and she had the short ribs, she loved her dish! Mine, not so much. The fish was bland and over-priced, would not recommend. The atmosphere is darling, very comfortable
(2)
Kevin M.
Good to hear from Steve H. at the Twisted Vine. Someone cares. My visit was Wednesday June 3.
(2)
Jamie R.
There is Home Style food offered in a dining room that features a huge central bar. So even our reserved table - a high top near the alley exit - felt like an extension of the bar. Despite the white table cloths, the casual feel of the place and bistro noise level made conversation tough - Difficult at least until the long table of a dozen chattering women nearby divided their bills along with their pennies and finally left. At last at peace to consider our menu choices, two of us went with the pork shank It was falling off the bone tender, plopped on a dropped spoon of mashed potatoes, and threatening slices of roast carrots at its edges with oblivion. Delicious, Another at our table said the shrimp and grits selection was quite to his Texas taste. Our waiter initially arrived and reported that the Rainbow Trout had not made the plane. omg, my busted up, free associating, Twisted Vine kind of mind conjured a family of rainbows, bags stuffed to overflowing with sun oils, tripping awkwardly along on slippery fish tails as they raced up the concourse. Didn't make the flight. oMy. So glad the hogs got stuck in the barn. And the shrimp didn't get out of the nets. The waiter made a new pot of decaff coffee, and gave his verbal stamp of approval of the steaming cups when he served them to us. "It's good. I should know. I'm from Seattle."
(4)
nosila D.
Food and service is always great here. We've been several times and never had a bad meal. Love the location. Such a cool building.
(4)
Todd C.
Food 5 star The atmosphere 5 star The service 3 star, I waited to be seen and I was the only one at the bar. I was only check on 1 time durning my lunch I would have easily ordered 2 more drinks. Very friendly very nice place I will be back. To their defense it was packed.
(5)
Andrew R.
$27 plate of what tasted like leftovers. I ordered the Pork Shank, which was served with ice-cold brussels sprouts that lacked seasoning in addition to heat, and unseasoned mashed potatoes that were luke warm and possibly made the day before. The pork shank was just ok, and the balsamic BBQ sauce resembled a generic store bought BBQ sauce. My girlfriend ordered the Shrimp and Grits entree and was brought the appetizer portion. Shrimp were good but the grits tasted like they were instant. $18 three cheese plate to start was...underwhelming and took about 30 min to come out. The wine, good. We've had some great meals here in the past but this trip was overly disappointing.
(2)
Rana H.
This is a frequent spot of mine for lunch. Last week, our office decided to head to the Vine for lunch. Luckily, I called ahead and was able to be seated with a party of 7. What we did not realize, is that the restaurant was full - - with people who were going to the matinee at Florida repertory theater. Nevertheless, we ordered. Some of the drinks (tea and soda) were slow as were refills. And while the food took more than 30 minutes, we still were able to complete our meal in just about an hour and return timely to work. Despite the crowd, we had a pleasant experience and the food was good. Not our best experience because of the noise and delay, but I wanted to post this interview because I was pleased they were able to manage a full house and still deliver within the lunch hour. If you are not a big fan of high top tables, make sure you have a reservation for lunch or dinner.
(4)
David O.
Our appetizers were good. The sirloin tips were good and the Tuna Tartar was ok.. Although the Plantain chips were stale and there was a lack of sauce. We ordered the Sea Scallops and they were Flavorless! Nothing on the plate had flavor. The veggies were overcooked. I had to order a side of sauce just so I could taste something. The filet mignon had no taste either. I dont think this place uses seasonings! This was my first time there and last. I would not recommend this restaurant unless you like dull tasting food that is expensive for what it is!
(2)
Brian R.
My wife and I came here in June with a group of six friends and we had a fantastic time. Here's why: 1. The waiter was a pro. He was quick, he was attentive and he knew the dishes. It felt good to have him in charge. 2. We asked for an outside table. They said they could squeeze us all in on a four-seater, but truth is this hog could have fit 10. The garden is beautiful if the weather is nice. 3. The food was awesome. Scallops were tasty, duck was delicious and the shrimp & grits were fiiiiiiine. Great, delicious, filling courses. Bonus: we took advantage of the Yelp checkin deal so got 5 free wines and then they comped us dessert for not having one appetizer. Class.
(4)
Robin T.
We dined at Twisted Vine before a theater performance. Our server was personable and attentive and the service was well paced. Everyone at our table enjoyed the food and the experience. Thank you!
(5)
E. M.
Upscale eatery w lovely seating choices and a bar the size of Rhode Island! We arrived for a late lunch, to find over five sets of guests enjoying lunch. The drinks are very high, glasses of wine go for ten and up. Specialty cocktail I tried was Green Flash. Hendricks gin, cucumber, lime sounded like a good idea. It missed the mark for me n gave it to mister. I got a free glass of Pinot Grigio chilled and full for checking in. It also missed w me...I must have been having an off tastebuds day. We ordered the crab Louis salad and the bourbon sirloin tip appetizer. They had qualities of being great but fell short through seasonings and heat. The crab was very salty n garlic.y not in a good way. The greens and salad toppings were beautiful but a slight bit aged. The dressing was to die for. Yum. The appetizer was horrid..lukewarm and sloppy. Don't get it. The steak is cool n rewarded w a sauce that separates, too strong for the dish. The service is somewhat cloudy! We arrived during the middle of a waitress n elderly customer discussing the dressing on his fish. He said, I wanted thousand island! I got a dill sauce instead! She: oh I can assure u its thousand island. There could be dill seasoning in it.....he, oh now you say there could be dill in it?? She...on n on. Overly long argumentative and ungracious. News flash!! The customer is 'right'.. U won't win this. Don't personalize it. Say this: sorry sir, how can this be fixed? I want you to enjoy your lunch and will sincerely try to fix this as our motto is The Customer is always right!....no, instead there was a bad vibe of hurt n elderly guy didn't eat, tip was prob negative n he was upset enough to wander around outside, forget his umbrella, come back for it n waitress is ignoring, muttering, stoic, cuz She is right. Nice. Meanwhile, we get treated w nothing. No greeting, no menus. We sat n was ignored an we asked another waitress for menus. No wine list came. Note name of restaurant.... We asked. We just kept working not relaxing, not comfortable. We were not impressed by the training, demeanor, professionalism of staff. Something is unraveling here. We won't be back. On the outside, this appears to be wonderful. Our experience w this twisted vine was less than what we expect n they need to retrain in customer service. Please don't argue in front of clients. Do that in your huddles at the bar where u are viciously replaying your indignities casting dark, disdainful glances at your worst clients...
(3)
Susan F.
Had appetizers and drinks. The calamari was delicious. So was Lobster Mac& cheese. Dinner pretty expensive.
(5)
RT S.
We went for lunch. It's a nice restaurant downtown Ft. Myers. The lunch menu was limited to salads and sandwiches. Food is average.
(3)
Scott B.
Great meal. Wife had Filet cooked perfectly. We shared a Tomato salad, excellent. I had Breaston of Duck, really good. Risotto was excellent. Service on point. Great selection of wines. I think this restaurant is often overlooked.
(5)
Steven G.
This was a culinary experience, so amazing!!! If you're sick of the typical beach fare, this place will treat you well... Only problem, it's a little too far from DC:-(
(5)
Sean O.
My girlfriend and I had a pleasant evening at Twisted Vine. We had a cozy table for two by the window and they had live Jazz music. I got the NY strip and my date got the filet. We split a bottle of Malbec (the cheapest red on the menu but enjoyed it very much). The food was delicious with both of our steaks cooked to perfection. However, with just two entrees and a bottle of wine, the final bill was about $120. In conclusion, you will most likely enjoy your dinner, but be ready pay for it. Probably best reserved for a special occasion.
(4)
Frank P.
Great atmosphere, amazing food, good drink selection. A little pricey, but you reall can't get better in downtown. We haven't dined outside yet, but both of our visits were very, very good. Servers really know the menu and the wine.
(5)
Todd A.
I'd give it zero stars, but Yelp won't let me. It's a Saturday night in mid-April, busy but not packed. Most of the snowbirds have left and we're seated at our reservation time, and that's about all they get right. We order appetizers, entrees and drinks, and the wait begins. The wine comes, butno food for half an hour. I notice the 4 people at the next table who arrived after us, are already getting their entrees. Finally the appetizers arrive. The seafood bisque was ok, my wife's beet salad was fine, but my roasted brussel sprouts were badly undercooked, bitter and terrible. I didn't eat the near raw brussel sprouts and told the waitress that the dish could spend alot more time under the salamander (broiler) and she just stared me down, no apology, no nothing. Another 30 min. go by and we still have no food.We've almost finished a bottle of wine, between my wife and I, and that never happens. My friend who didn't have an appetizer, was starving. I complain to the waitress, noting the table next to us WHO HAVE FINISHED EATING, and she says to me (I kid you not), "Sir you need to change your attitude." I told her that was nonsense, and that she needed to get the manager, immediately. He eventually shows up and accuses me of cursing at his waitress, which I did not, by consensus of the table. Then I accused him of calling me a liar, and he deflected by defending his whiny little server, at which point we'd had enough. I asked for the check to pay for what we'd eaten and leave. So he brings me the check and charges us for food that was never served. Another couple at a nearby table was leaving while I was waiting for the check looked sympathetically at us and mouthed, "That was terrible service" as they left. Despite a 50% reduction in the wine price, I still left no tip and will never darken the door of this establishment. Considering the competitive landscape of the restaurant business, there's no reason to risk suffering this nonsense.
(1)
Joseph R.
Great atmosphere, great food, great wine... Limited seating with a large bar area. Reservations recommended.
(5)
John M.
Had a wonderful dinner! There were 6 in our party and the service was awesome. Be sure to try the Brussel sprouts...wonderful!
(5)
Sean D.
Three couples all ordered from appetizer menu that was excellent both in quality and quantity. Restaurant was quiet when we dined Sunday at 5pm prior to attending theatre. Excellent service.
(4)
Doubb M.
Had some great dinner at the Twisted Vine with some awesome cooked Sea Scallops! The service was excellent. Overall a great experience.
(5)
Greg M.
We have been here several times in the past and have really enjoyed this place. They normally have live music and very good food. This trip was entirely different. The service was very poor and very Slow. I had ordered the filet well done and butterflied. After waiting over an hour my steak came rare. After sending it back the waitress was very apologetic and then it came back and was still medium rare at best. I did my best and ate what I could but still left a piece for the waitress to see when I was done. Not a good experience but even worse as the meal was terrible.
(3)
kara m.
Normally love this restaurant, but was disappointed with my Vegetarian dish the other night. They served three carrots and some broccoli over their signature rice which was super crunchy, definitely undercooked. The waiter said it was aldente, but I'm positive it was undercooked. Was disappointed that it was $18, too embarrassed to confront staff.
(2)
J.C. C.
The missus and I gave the rehearsal dinner for our daughter's wedding at the Twisted Vine. We were not surprised by the level of service and the quality of the food. We had been there before. We reserved the courtyard [highly recommended] as it was the perfect size for the number in our party. The food was delicious as it was beautifully presented. The attendants were courteous, clean and quick. The wines recommended by Steve are always spot-on. You can trust his taste. The scallops and forbidden rice were absolutely divine. It really could not have been better. Well, maybe with some fireworks. Maybe next time. And there will be a next time. Thanks all, J.C & Sandra C Lakeland, FL
(5)
Troy D.
I generally hate to write reviews on places when they're decidedly negative, after just one visit -- but I feel as if I didn't have much choice. Showed up for lunch at 1230, with an OpenTable - and was seated outside. Friend showed up at 1235 - second showed up at 1245. First friend had to be back at work by 200 - we ordered, and waited. And waited. You can see where this is going. 140, lunch showed up. We didn't order anything fancy - sandwiches, salads, etc. We got a "your order is next" from the server - but didn't get our food until 15 minutes later. By that point, one friend had to scarf down lunch to get to work - and my 2hrs. of free parking had expired, thus leading to a ticket. Now, this kind of thing happens, sure. But, in this case, the restaurant wasn't busy. Compound that with a server who didn't quite seem to know what she was doing 100% of the time, and we have an issue. Ignoring the service issue, the lunch was decent - my club was good, although I could have used a couple more fries alongside. Curiously, I think my soda was flat - and - went empty a couple of times. If I lived here, I'd give it another shot - in fact, one friend visits often, and says its not typically like this. But, as a visitor, it left a bad impression. And... That's a shame.
(2)
Susan L.
You need to know that the average wait time for entrees during peak dinner hours is 45 minutes as quoted by our waitress. We waited almost one hour for our entrees. Runners bringing food from kitchen have no idea what the names of the entrees are and expect diner to raise their hand to claim their food. Management needs to step it up and hire another chef to handle peak seasonal demand and train waitstaff on proper presentation of food. Food is average Florida fare
(2)
Richard N.
This is a good restaurant. Not a great one though. No one in our party had a problem with their food but no one raved about it either. It was just another place to eat before the theater. I had the Shrimp and Grits which was an interesting variation on the theme. It was nice - but nothing special. $28.00 for a bowl of grits and 6 shrimp it seemed a little high priced. The same item in St. Pete last weekend was $18.00 and it was superior. My wifes' Grouper was $32.00. Again, the quality didn't justify that price. The Vine seems to have gotten their act together regarding service. Service was outstanding. A couple of people got dirty wine glasses and they were replaced immediately. On the other other hand why weren't these glasses caught by the waitstaff? Why did we have to check all our glasses for lipstick stains? The experience was pleasant enough but I don't feel compelled to make a return visit. When in this part of Florida the choices are so great that good is not enough. On the other hand the place was so busy that they're doing very well. Maybe I'm just too fussy.
(3)
Scott O.
Above average food for the downtown Ft Myers area. Great location. Menu doesn't change too often but very consistent, flavorful food. A bit pricey for portions. Been here multiple times and enjoy it each time.
(4)
Brian Q.
Been here twice and reviewed only once.... Regretfully. This place stands out amongst other casual establishments in the area, yet no one reviews it on yelp. If your looking for upper scale cuisine in Ft. Myers downtown area. This is the ONLY place to go. Average priced entrees in the upper twenties to thirties.
(5)
Alice M.
Service was extremely slow and our server, Jessica, extremely INATTENTIVE. This place really doesn't seem to care about the clients enjoying a dining experience.
(2)
L L.
A group of 8 came here for lunch after checking reviews here for a good place to go. We parked our boat (illegally, I think) and walked 5 minutes to arrive. The menu had something for everyone - salads, sandwiches, soups and strong martinis. I had the BLT with added salmon ($14) which was yummy! Son got the usual cheeseburger and he said the fries were awesome. They add cinnamon, I think, to the ketchup which I liked, but son asked for the regular stuff. Daughter got the lobster mac n cheese (just ok. Kinda watery and not much lobster.). Hubby got the crab Louie salad that he liked a lot. Other table mates got the fish sandwich (good), soup of the day, and another salad. Despite our group size and ornery behavior, the waitress was great and accommodating. Restaurant was clean and had nice decor. Bathrooms were modern and clean and beautiful. If we can find a legal place to park the boat next time, we will come for dinner since the menu looked great.
(5)
Angela C.
Awesome restaurant, we've been twice now and both times it was a home run. Great location, back patio is nice, we had (6) in our group this time and all plates were delicious! Perfect place to start an evening. We'll be back.
(5)
Deenah T.
Complete and utter disappointment. I expected so much based on the location and the atmosphere and instead I got sub par food at incredibly inflated prices. The sea scallops were laughable, and the salmon was without any flavor. Any entry level chef can sear a piece of salmon and slap it on a plate; and that's what we got. At least the wine was good. But at $300 for a party of 4, I feel like we should have at least gotten a happy ending.
(1)
Kaitlin S.
Came to Fort myers to visit family and decided to head down to Twisted Vine friday night. They were busy so we sat at the bar. The bartender was great she made excellent martinis.. my favorite and suggested the filet for dinner. The food took a while but worth the wait my husband and I had a fantastic evening and look forward to returning when we come back to town.
(5)
Robert Y.
We first visited the Twisted Vine Bistro last December and were very impressed . We couldn't wait to return after going North for the Holidays. Well we finally returned and brought friends with us. Another great experience. Two of us had the red snapper special and two had the glazed salmon from the menu. Food was excellent and the service was wonderful. We had an added benefit of live music too. I highly recommend this restaurant to all. It has become our new favorite after only two visits.
(5)
Tyler R.
New owners, new servers, new food, and an amped atmosphere - the new Twisted Vine calls for an updated review. For anyone that has dined here prior to a few months ago...that was yesterday's experience. Say no more to the days of pushy priced-based waitstaff and bottled water that will call 911 on you if you don't opt to order and drink it. Nicely situated in downtown Fort Myers, this place is my mom's go-to spot for an after work glass of wine, and she took me with her one night when I was visiting. She's a regular and somewhat of a celebrity; I was introduced to all with a very proud "THIS is my son Tyler" and it was immediately apparent that my mom shared some stories about [how cool I am, how much she loves me.] I approve of this. My mom is awesome. We sat at the bar with the new owners [Steve and Denise, successful Wisconsinite restaurateurs that most definitely know what the hell they are doing] that she recently, quite instantly became best friends with. They were sampling new wines (oh yes, their wine selection is selected with purpose) having dinner, and chatting up people in the area. Steve is a former chef, so you know the food will be chef tested and approved before it ever hits your plate. Had a few Yuenglings on tap (a requirement when it is available) and my mom was handed a glass of her preferred wine 3.6 seconds after she sat down. We munched on the calamari and ahi appetizers, both of which were amazing and I would get them again in a heartbeat. Despite my urge to order the pork Steve (owner) was eating, I opted for the chicken (see picture) that came with half a giant clove of garlic. SO good. Chicken was perfect, potatoes were creamy, and freshly roasted garlic in just about every bite made this a 6 star dish. Tip: Save a little garlic for the end (if you can manage that) and put some on a piece of bread, then dip that bread in whatever remnants remain on the place. Chew, enjoy, and repeat. So do yourself a favor and eat here. I recommend the chicken, but everything that came out of the kitchen was great, and, with a consistently updated menu, will continue to be great. Say hi to Steve and Denise who will most likely be right out in the restaurant with you, and tell them Tyler (well, Sharon's son) sent you.
(5)
Dayna S.
Had a reservation at 7:15 for 8 people. Arrived at 7:15 and was seated. Brian (manager) took our drink order and should have known when he totally forgot one drink that a problem was arising. He seemed very unorganized and took orders sporadically. When we received our appetizers all was good . Now remember we were seated at 7:15. At 9:05 we still didn't have our soups and salads. When asking our server (manager) he said the kitchen said he didn't fire the ticket. What does that mean exactly? Are you kidding me? When asked for the owner who we knew was there. They didn't want to talk to us. When the woman owner finally came over she was rude and unprofessional, what she didn't know was I own a chain of restaurants in Ohio. When I tried to talk with her and touched her arm she a told me very me very meanly not to touch her. Well at this point I was crazy mad. Our soup and salads were ready but the main dishes weren't !!! Really? At this point all 8 of us got up and left!! I don't think in my 40 years of being in the restaurant business I have experienced this kind of unprofessional ism!! Never would I go back there or recommend this place to anyone with any sense!!! Seriously!!!! Wow!!!! Miss owner take care of your restaurant!!
First time visiting this well known restaurant after a Florida Rep Theatre performance. We were seated promptly and the wait staff were friendly and attentive. The free glass of wine and the fixed price 3 course meal (shrimp and steak specials) were excellent and a reasonable value. Highly recommended....
(5)
Brett F.
This was one of the best restaurants in Ft. Myers. Something changed. Prices are way too high for the quality of the food now. The wait times are also extremely long. There were four tables of people and it took us 30 minutes to get a cheese tray. Sad, but that's the last time we go there.
(1)
Janice M.
Not sure why this is so popular. A mundane menu. Salad they forget to dress. A bartender who complains how tired she is at 5 pm (opening time). Not much to recommend this place sadly. Nice big bar though.
(2)
Carlos V.
Had a nice dinner with some "free" wine. Server didn't explain which "free" wines where included until the bill came, that was too late. The couple next to us didn't even know about the wine deal until they heard us talking to the server about the bill. Food & service were good, but not great for the price paid. Overall I would give the Twisted Vine another try.
(3)
Jay T.
Way overrated food 30 bucks for four scallops is a joke. Salmon was without flavor bread was stale got the money I spent I thought I would have had an explosion of great foods but was terribly disappointed never again.
(1)
John D.
Yes, we gave this place a return visit. It's a fun, happening place with above average food and above average service and above average ambiance. While the waiter won't attempt to sneak a $7 bottle of water onto your table anymore, he will aggressively attempt to upgrade you (ala "would you like fries with that?") He will, multiple times, recommend the bottled water, appetizer & high price items on the menu. SAY LAH VEE. Just resist, and enjoy...
(4)
Carolyn K.
Party of 6 ordered 7 pm food brought near 9pm .Waiter kept saying they were over booked. My chicken was not good to much sage flavor and side of rice lumpy. Waiter just said rice should have been stirred it was ok. Well it was not ok with me. Bill or food was not corrected . Steak ordered by my husband was very fatty. We will not return. When a waiter picks up a plate of food that had not been eaten they should know something needs to be done.
(2)
Luisa C.
We landed here while driving through Ft. Myers. I am glad I can rely on my fellow yelpers for their reviews as they never let me down. This place had a great ambiance and live music. Our server was friendly yet a bit slow and seemingly lost or new. I had to ask her to bring me water even though she should have noticed plus the restaurant was not that packed yet and attention to deatail cannot be overlooked. Oh well. She knew her menu and tried her best I think. Intially the service seemed a bit slow and they didn't serve us any complimentary bread or anything. I guess they want people to order appetizers - and that's what we did. My fiance had their tomato soup of the day and we also ordered the tuna tartar, which were both exceptional and fresh. The tuna tartar had great chunks of fresh tuna mixed in with red onions, capers and lemon juice. Really very tasty. They topped it with some home-made potato chips. Clever! Our entrees were delicious. I had the wild grilled salmon which they served on a bed of garlic mashed potato and baby squash medley. Presentation was neat, portion was right on and they paid attention to my special request to serve the beure blanc on the side. My firance had the duck with mango salsa and maduros. Seems like a strange combo but he liked it! Overall for a high-end meal and 1 drink the total came out to about 80 bucks. Not bad for a place in the middle of Downtown Ft. Myers.
(4)
Spencer B.
Attractive environment, pretty courtyard. Busy holiday evening, food took 1 1/2 hours to come. Reasonably good waiter service. Wine selection great but very pricy. Pot roast grilled cheese appetizer is to die for. Filet Mignon was chewy, sides were cold, Expected more from a high end kitchen on that. Overall favorable experience & good option for downtown. Hopefully the food was just due to the extremely busy night. Will try again.
(3)
Dan B.
Our reservation for a table of 4 was lost at the restaurant across the street, not willing to wait, we walked into Twisted Vine and were seated immediately. Our server, Joel, was great! The food was excellent! I had the special, Yellow Tail Snapper while the others had the Duck and Salmon dinners. Made for a great evening with the live music.
(5)
Erik D.
Update 7/22/13: We were contacted by the owner and the episode was resolved above our expectations. As a result we are changing the rating from two to four stars. ---- The two star rating is based upon something that should never happen during a typical dining experience: the server spilling a glass of red wine across my wife's white shirt and pants. If it was not for this experience and how it was resolved this would easily be a 4-5 star review. The food was excellent and the menu creatively tasty without being outlandish. Unfortunately, due to a clumsy accident by the waiter, a full glass of red wine was spilled, or more correctly splashed/sprayed across the front of her white shirt and into her lap. This was not a minor spill, it covered the chest area from right shoulder to left. The waiter apologized, immediately moved us to a dry table, and muttered something about dry cleaning. If we had any other plans for the afternoon (like going to work) we would have had to cancel them due to the complete bodily coverage of the spill. Thankfully, we didn't have anything else to do so my wife put on her light sweater and decided to remain for our lunch. When it came time for the check the waiter asked if I would like another glass of wine or if my wife wanted a dessert. After stating we desired neither it became obvious the offer was supposed to be in compensation for the horrendous spill. At this point I had to request that the proper thing to do would be to comp my wife's meal, especially since she remained seated in her wet pants along with her public display of Merlot "Splash". He stated he would have to call the owner to get that approved. We never saw the owner or manager but in the end her meal was taken off the check. This could have been handled so much better. Having to fight to get the meal comped was ridiculous. There should have been an acknowledgement from the management that a horrible event happened that ruined the outfit, a business card should have been presented along with a promise they would do whatever reasonable to correct the incident. Unfortunately this was not the case here.
(4)
Tom S.
Not sure what the other negative reviews were for. Beautiful atmosphere, great food and outstanding service. Will definitely be coming back here often
(5)
Pamela H.
So disappointed that a draw to downtown is losing it's luster. Dinner last night was a sad departure from experiences in the past. This is not the first and now it's just confirmed that it hasn't been because of an "off' night. Tonight, the kitchen staff was slower than usual and it was noted the restaurant was not full to capacity. As I looked around it seemed like every table was waiting for something...like the next course. (I will give kudos that the caesar salad was very tasty). When dinner arrived...my dinner mate gave thumbs up for his med-rare new york strip. My crispy-skin salmon was not only Not crispy, but the soggy, limp skin was a put-off. The salmon itself was lacking in flavor and was atop a serving of mashed potatoes that tasted and had texture similar to instant (over-whipped,under seasoned and loose). Since this is not the first disappointing dinner I've had at Twisted, it will be the last. Paying a premium, one would expect better. I still recommend Twisted Vine for the occasional appetizer, cocktail and easy listening guitar player.
(2)
Emily K.
Slow service! So slow that the waiter asked if we were doing okay with our drinks, I had to remind him he never brought mine! Only gave it 2 stars because at least I got a free glass of wine for checking in, when they should have given me the first glass gor free!
(2)
Ken K.
2nd time there in about 6 weeks. Food is good but very overpriced. 32.00 for 4 scallops? Very crowded and noisy as you are right on top of each other. Very convenient to Florida Rep. Though. Need to find a more reasonably priced alternative. 3 stars. Ken Naples
(3)
Kitchen Sales C.
I am all about passion for your business and Steve from Twisted Vines called me about my last review, he was concerned and wanted to know more details. After talking to him I realize that he is passionate and really cares about his customers. He explained the wine pricing and his pour strategy. His per glass prices are reasonable and fair. He has owned it for a couple of years now and is always looking to update and keep current his wine list. Great Job Steve I look forward to my next visit!
(4)
Lauren B.
I will rarely turn down a free glass of wine, especially when the menu is as alluring as Twisted's. If you check in on Facebook, Twitter, or Yelp at TVB, just ask and you will receive. Everything on and off the menu was mouthwatering, and so I decided to take the tapas/small plates route. My stomach would only, and unfortunately, allow two of them. So, I indulged in Tuna Tartare and the Duck Confit over Fried Green Tomatoes. The Tuna was prepared with capers, lemon aioli, and red onion. It was topped with homemade potato crisps. Absolutely delicious. My favorite, however, was the duck. It is, in fact, cooked in its own fat. Presentation was lovely and it was very filling for being a small plate. I could not turn down dessert, and the bread pudding came highly recommended. It came ala mode and was fantastic. A little Keoke coffee (Brandy, Godiva, and Kahlua) finished off my night. I won't lie, my stomach was so pissed off after this meal. Not sure if it was the combination (tuna + duck + pudding + brandy)...BUT it was well worth it.
(5)
Shaun V.
Came in for happy hour, and scored wine for $2.50 a glass! We came at 5:00 on a Thursday night. Ordered the lamb ribs, and a angus burger. Wow, made from scratch ketchup, and everything was delicious! What a great little secret in down town Ft Myers. A must go to place. Just renovated the bathrooms with raised vessel sinks, and an amazing bar.
(5)
K P.
This restaurant is all around amazing! Denise and Steve are absolutely great and life savers!! I was able to host a small wedding ceremony and reception in their outside patio. It was a dream come true! It was a very romantic-garden setting! The staff took care of everything.. I just had to say "I do!". As far as food goes... everything on their menu is delish! My favorite has to be the salmon and as an app the lobster mac and cheese. The inside bar is pretty cool-wraps around the middle of the restaurant. Sometimes they have music (singer) inside too. We absolutely loved hosting our wedding there and loveee this place to have dinner and drinks!
(5)
Ahren M.
We had some great times here. We met with a bunch of my wife's old friends and had a ball. We talked and ate and drank for three hours, until we were the last ones in the restaurant, The waiter and bar tender took care of everything we asked for. I had the salmon with whipped potatoes, which I was really surprised to find out was Alaskan salmon. Delicious! My wife had the snapper and said it was great. We'll be back!
(5)
Michael P.
Traveled to Ft. Myers/Sanibel for business purposes and enjoyed Sunday night dinner here. We were a large group, fully occupying the outdoor seating area, with a pre-fixe menu. The open-air courtyard was lovely for our purposes; we could circulate over drinks, and change seats before dessert. The food was consistently good. Service, however, was a bit slow at the start, and grew slower as the night passed. At the end, it took far too long to get the check; half our party had departed for the shuttle bus. Note that one needs to exit the courtyard and enter the corner restaurant to use the washrooms.)
(3)
Lisa B.
Armed with a nice Restaurant.com certificate, we tried MANY items, although the names escape me. Our waitress was very accommodating and Vanilla Crosby was playing on a Thursday evening (great local group). Some other reviews described it as "dressy" but I did not sense that vibe. Pricy, yes and I would suggest it for an appetizer, bottle of wine evening. The menu is interesting and everything we ordered was delicious. The main course, lovely, but were presented on overly large dishware. Not a dinner killer but it was awkward. The portions are what you would expect in such a place, no leftovers, but that's ok with me. We will return, equipped with discounts.
(3)
Dawn C.
Food was good. Gave it 1stars because my daughter was served wrong soup. Although when asked if she had touched or ate it she replied no the server reserved to correct table. How does he know she did not cough or sneeze. Gross....... Not restaurants fault but servers
(1)
Clark J.
Probably the most expensive meal we've eaten out in Fort Myers, but very pleasant. Not crowded at all on a Thursday evening in June. My wife's duck breast special was great, as were my scallops. A minor demerit for the Chocolate Pecan Pie, which seemed more like a big slab of chocolate with a little bit of pecan pie filling. I agree that this is a nice variation from the other options in downtown.
(4)
Scott S.
We had a reservation on valentines day which was difficult anywhere but they got us in with no problems. The setting of the restaurant is fairly classy. The wait staff on the other hand was a little sketchy, a scraggly long haired trashier kid rock took our order and during the meal we had to physically flag him down for more wine. The food was decent I ordered the lamb, it was cooked perfectly and very tender however the portions left much to be desired. The wine selection is extensive as well as the bar, although slightly over priced. Overall if your looking to really impress a date this place could do the trick, but there are several other local spots with great quality food and drink that are more resonabley priced. Dinner for 2 and 2 glasses of wine: $150.00. + tip of course.
(3)
Maxwell Y.
Wine was great, but most of my dishes were underwhelming. Their lobster mac n' cheese was a gimmick dish - you can definitely make amazing lobster mac, but this was just butter and lobster and noodles. It's like the chef had no idea how to make a roux. I told a nicer version of this to my waiter and he scoffed at me, because he probably thought that anyone who ordered it was childish. But believe me, there is a right way to do it, and they did not do it.
(3)
Ron M.
Went there before the rep and our waiter, Kevin, was very pleasant and helpful. The food was excellent. It was a little cramped and noisy so it was difficult to carry on a conversation. Live music began at 6:30 and the musician was very good but I think hardly anyone could hear him because of the loud noise. Also, I am not a fan of the high top tables and chairs which are at least one- half of the restaurant .
(4)
Stephen S.
Excellent food, excellent service, excellent ambiance. I went with a large group and we had the best time. Our server was incredibly knowledgable about the wines and made excellent pairings with our food. Everyone in our group ordered something different and nobody had a bad meal. I recommend. It's a great place for a date night.
(4)
Chip W.
Nice place for dinner, although a bit on the expensive side. French onion soup was burnt. Scallops were good, but $32. Had a few good beers on draft. Close to the theater.
(3)
Janis V.
One of my favorite restaurants. Great wine selection, the food is just delicious. Some of the servers are awesome, but there's one that I'm not very impressed with him.
(5)
michael m.
Great food and ok service. The wine selection was good and the bar seemed like it was well stocked. However, the number of tables crammed into the place is LUDICROUS. I am not exaggerating, I had to ask one of the patrons to get up so we could leave (I weigh 125#).
(4)
Harry S.
Very nice place great food excellent service
(5)
Lisa C.
Atmosphere is great. Bathroom was the nicest I've ever seen. Food, well, ok. My husband's steak looked phenomenal but since I don't eat red meat I went for the red snapper in spicy lobster sauce. For $30 there was certainly ample amount of fish on my plate but it was very bland. Spicy? Really? Very watery red sauce with very little flavor. The fish itself was mediocre. It tasted fried actually. My caprese salad to start with for $8 had three very large slices of orange, pale red tomatoes that were not even close to tasting like a tomato. Very disappointing! The mozzarella was excellent however. I will probably go back and try something else because I think the menu had lots of potential and the atmosphere was so fun. Maybe will try the chicken.... I suggest not wasting your $ on the snapper.
(3)
Joe W.
Outside courtyard nice. Food average. Overpriced Service very average. Never noticed our water glasses empty.
(3)
Scott N.
We are only in Ft Myers a few times a year and decided to try this restaurant although we were actually looking for it's former name H2 Tappas. When my wife and I and another couple got there we discovered the name change, ownership change, menu change and chef change. Since we were not expecting an upscale restaurant, we were dressed in jeans but the hostess and waiter made us feel welcome. The live entertainment was excellent and consisted of a guy playing his guitar singing 70's and 80's songs. The appetizers and salads were a little pricey ($8 or $9 for a wedge salad) but we were not that hungry anyway so we started with drinks. My wife had a chocolate martini which she really enjoyed and the rest of us enjoyed a bottle of wine. I decided to try the yellow fin snapper on a bed of mushroom risotto with spicey lobster sauce. This absolutely the best fish entree I have ever had. Even my wife who is not a big fish eater couldn't keep her fork off my plate. As for the previous comment about the water, our waiter asked if we would like tap water. Maybe they changed their ways after John's comment. We will definately be going back on our next visit.
(4)
Sam S.
I was in Ft. Myers on business with a co-worker and we ate at the Twisted Vine. The location of the Twisted Vine is in the historic downtown, a block off the water. When we arrived, we were a little hesitant in that the place was pretty quiet at 8.00 p.m. (although it was a Sunday). The menu was also somewhat limited. Anyways, after driving around we settled on the Twisted Vine and had a very nice dinner. The decor is beautiful, tall ceilings, one open space and it looked like the kitchen was open to the dining room. There was seating outside but it was right on the main road so we opted for inside. My only complaint regarding ambiance, which is common almost everywhere in Florida, the A/C was too cold. The food, we each had the shrimp chowder, which was cream based, with a hit of spice and big chunks of shrimp and potato. We both enjoyed the chowder. I had the wild salmon which was served over mashed potato and it had a sauce that was similar to the shrimp chowder base, creamy, sweet with a hint of kick. The salmon was properly prepared with a nice char to the outside. My dining companion had the snapper, which was served with risotto cake (she said the cake didn't have much flavor) and she was generally pleased with her meal as well. They also have an extensive wine list although I did not partake since this was a work trip. The service was prompt and friendly.
Atmosphere is perfect for a night out. Beautiful restaurant with really good food. Had the Wild Salmon and crab cakes. Both so fresh and delicious!! Presentation was good too. Definitely recommend to others.
(5)
Jim B.
Fantastic food. Best meal in 2 days since I arrived. Well done.
(5)
Carey S.
Absolutely delightful & delish! Hands down a four! We started the meal with FL Ceviche and Caesar salad...the salad was large enough to share. We enjoyed dirty martinis as well.... Mmmmmm. John had the Pan Seared Yellow Tail Snapper... I loved the risotto with it plus tons of garlic! I enjoyed the Wild Salmon on whipped potatoes. The raspberry chocolate martini for dessert was yummy! Atmosphere is fantastic too! If you go at sunset, you can walk over to the river and get a gorgeous view!
(4)
Alex J.
nice food and atmosphere for downtown.
(3)
Yelena R.
Decided to visit after reading reviews on yelp and so glad we did! The food was very good. Loved the atmosphere, this is the kind of place you dress up for. The wait staff was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant is located downtown ft Meyers. Walking distance to many bars in the area. We will definitely be back!
(4)
Katie F.
This restaurant is fabulous! My whole family was happy and satisfied leaving here. All the entrees-especially the salmon were amazing! Highly recommend it!
(5)
Nick F.
Went to the South Africa wine tasting and then went to dinner after. I have to say it's refreshing to see a Chef have passion and care with the plates he's serving. We watched him taste,send back plates, and perfect presentations. I got the the Red Snapper in lobster sauce which was amazing. It was the best dish I had on vacation! My girlfriend got the Mahi, the fish was cooked perfectly and the sauce light but flavorful. The wine pairing was on point but also have a great selection if you decide otherwise. The service was excellent and chef came over to the table to ensure our satisfaction. We will defiantly be back.
(5)
Filip D.
Good, honest fare. Nice atmosphere and great winelist.
(4)
Paul S.
We have eaten at the Twisted Vine at least 15 times in the last year and a half and have enjoyed it. We had been bragging to our friends, who always stay on Fort Myers Beach, how great Downtown is and finally talked them into the drive there. We may have chosen a bad day to go because of the Edison Festival of Lights parade, but we all got lucky and found places to park very close. When we arrived at the restaurant is was very empty, there seemed to be as much help, as patrons. We were seated immediately and had a great table. It was the high tops near, but not too close to the great entertainer. We ordered drinks (there were 6 of us) .The order was 1 draft bear, one scotch on the rocks, and four martinis It took very long, and then the waitress brought them one at a time. First the scotch and water,at least 5 minutes later, two dirty martinis, a few minutes later, an Almond Joy martini. next was a vodka martini, which must been made in the same shaker as the dirty martinis because it tasted of Olives,. This was replaced with the correct drink, which was fine. Finally the draft beer was brought to the table,. We were all laughing at how long the beer took. The waitress finally came to take our order. I had the Pan Seared Snapper, it was fantastic. I will find it hard to order anything else on the menu it was so good. It was a very generous piece and cooked perfectly. My wife, & a friends wife, ordered the tenderloin tips. We had been at the bar having drinks about a month earlier and the woman next to us had ordered them. They looked fantastic, was a very generous portion,and the woman was raving about them. My wife and friend's were not so great, they were tough, grisly, not as large a portion as we had observed before and didn't come with a sauce. After asking, the waiter brought a sauce to put on them. Also, because of the size portion we had observed before, my wife and friend ordered them as their main course. My wife had also ordered the wedge salad and loved it. It was a very large portion and the dressing was great. Another of our guests ordered the Braised Peruvian lamb Shank and said he would definitely go back and order it again, it was perfect. The last couple both ordered the special of the day, a Veal Porterhouse. They both liked it and said it was very good, (not great) but way more than acceptable. They also split a Caesar salad and liked it. We had eaten there many times before and miss a few items off their old menu, the house salad and the twin tenderloins wrapped in bacon. I think they should put them back on the menu, we miss them they were so good. We also ate there about a week ago and I had the Rib Eye Steak and it was good. and my wife had the Pan Seared snapper which was, as always, fabulous.The other couple was not impressed All in all, we like this restaurant and we will go back there and try again, (even Babe Ruth didn't hit a home run every time at bat). But, this is the third time in a row that it seams they are slipping. I don't know if it's the owners or chief, but I hope they get their act together because the place is beautiful, the bar can be fun, and we love to go downtown.
(2)
Kim O.
Attentive waiter; excellent snapper with risotto dish: live music in the background. Appealing atmosphere, good location; I'd go back for sure.
(5)
Dan D.
Great meal, went for restaurant week. Osso bucco was delish but the cioppino pot pie was fantastic, great presentation.
(5)
Rachel M.
Excellent service, pretty good food. The Friday night entertainment sets a nice atmosphere, too. It has a good balance of feeling upscale without being pretentious. All in all, a really great place for a night out.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Mon, Tue, Wed Coat Check : No Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Mandy C.
My husband and I splurged on a lovely lunch at the Twisted Vine Bistro to celebrate the offer we put on a house. It was a fabulous lunch and we plan to go back for a date night to experience the ambiance of the restaurant at night. The center bar is beautiful and the dining room is set up great. We had a table by the window so enjoyed people watching as we waited for our meal. *For starters, I got a free glass of wine for checking in on Yelp! Here is what we ordered: - lobster mac and cheese appetizer: Amazing! creamy, lots of lobster chunks and perfectly cheesy. I loved the spiral shells. -BLT with brie and smoked salmon. What a unique combination. And it was served on 9 grain toast. I only wish it came with sweet potato fries instead of regular fries. -TVB wrap- chicken salad with rasberry preserves in a wheat wrap. nice and light It was a wonderful meal. Thought it was a bit pricey it was worth every penny! We can't wait to go back and try the dinner. Great location in the River District downtown.
(5)Lacey C.
Rolled up with my boos Jeff and Matt yesterday to get some grub on their fancy looking patio. "Oh, it's closed seasonally." You should let people know that, somehow. Considering it's how we picked the restaurant, we were already a little disappointed going in. Started out with some wine and truffle fries. The fries were just fine, but the pours were quite small. And my $13/glass sauv blanc tasted like the bottle had been open a while. Jeff ordered snapper, Matt got chicken, and I ordered scallops. The scallops smelled distinctly of ammonia. I ate one anyway, and the taste was the same. Yeesh. Matt wafted his hand over my plate toward his nose and said he could definitely smell it. The replaced the dish with the grouper, which came with roasted fennel and undercooked red rice. It was just ok, and though my scallops were comped and my meal replaced, it didn't really salvage the evening. And for the record, when one your diners makes a joke, you should laugh.
(2)Bradley H.
My reservation on MOTHERS DAY was a complete disaster. The "girl" who took my reservation 1 week prior obviously wasn't trained properly or simply didn't care. Even after they realized that they significantly misrepresented their restaurant, the Manager simply told us she was sorry and they're was nothing we could do. Not to mention I drove from Tampa with my wife and mother-in-law for this occasion. It's too bad because the place looked great and the staff that I met F2F were very sympathetic, their boss however, didn't give a hoot! Thankfully, I took our party to the Firestone Bar & Grill next door and they were able to accommodate us and the food/staff was great. They made a great afternoon out of a bad situation.
(1)Liz L.
I'll start this off by saying I'm really spoiled by great food living in Charleston. So maybe take what I say with a grain of salt. Overall the food was tasty. I got the twisted caprese salad and the tuna tar tar as my meal. We ordered the spinach-Brie-bacon risotto (typically comes with the duck breast entree but you can get as a side) and brussels sprouts for appetizers, and my husband got the honey roasted grouper. Two food-related things were less than desirable: the brussels sprouts were soggy and nearly flavorless, and my avocado with my tuna tar tar was almost 100% brown. This could be due to it sitting out for a long time which brings me to the other less-than-desirable thing: super slow service. I think we were there for about 2.5 hours and had ordered our food within the first 30 min. We had good conversation so no problem, but all sat with empty drinks for way too long. Speaking of drinks: goose island Sofie on draft. Major points for that!! All in all, it's not a bad place but it's overpriced for sure, and there's room for improvement. I would probably not choose to come back before trying some other spots in town.
(3)Brian M.
My favorite downtown restaurant for an evening out or for Sunday brunch....it's always a hit with friends from Naples. My favorite appetizer is the roasted Brussels sprouts with Brie. I don't usually order chicken while dining out, however the "almost boneless" chicken is divine. Great food, fun atmosphere and terrific food = a great memorable experience.
(5)Bill S.
The restaurant was ok not great, my friend and I had their ribeye and it was dry, my wife's fish was dry my friends wife's fish was dry it was dry night, for $33 dollars it was a rip and when we told the waitress she only offered a free drink or dessert, odd, we will not return!
(2)Alexandra S.
Divine seared scallops with black pearl rice, broccolini and extra beurre blanc sauce. Not much else to say, just perfection!
(5)Kevin K.
I suspect it was my 4-5 time over the past 3 or 4 years. It really bothered me to pay over $200 for the meal (including $135 for a bottle of wine) to be told by our waitress I still had to pay for a bad steak. I didn't argue but that should not happen at a place of your caliber. The first was a very thin cut of poor quality and cooked beyond well done. I ordered medium rare. The second was hastily prepared and uneven - just seared on one side and then cooked entirely on the other side. I was hungry and ate about one-third then stopped because it was not enjoyable (especially at the $33 price). I left the rest (despite having paid for it) because it was just not good. I understand places have off nights; but making me pay for it is not right. I also would have thought a manager would have come over at some point to check up, given I already had sent something back. I apologize but I do not know how to respond to you directly in this program.
(2)Jen H.
My hubby and I decided to have a date night at The Twisted Vine Bistro. As soon as I checked into yelp, I received an offer for a free glass of wine. I had the house Merlot and it was very good. Thanks. Located in the river district of downtown Fort Myers, this restaurant seems to have it all... good location, good food, good drink selections with a full bar, good ambiance and pleasant servers. The restaurant was clean and well kept. The restroom was clean and luxurious. The bartenders were on point with their drinks. Our server was always attentive and make sure that we had everything we needed. My husband ordered a seafood platter which was part of the special that evening and was happy. I ordered the short rib with mashed potatoes and broccoli and was happy. I also ordered dessert, which was a white chocolate bread pudding with ice cream, wiped cream and some chocolate drizzle. We enjoyed our visit very much and plan on attending once again for a Sunday brunch.
(3)Roger C.
What a difference a day makes (or two in this case) Liked it so much last visit I brought friends back to try it. Felt foolish after how good we said it was. Wife had the beet salad both times. First iteration was fresh and bright, this one was glopping with oil. I ordered the burger since a dinner companion ordered it last time and it looked spectacular. This time it looked like something from Carl Jr's. Uninspired prep and presentation Last visit the service was crisp and professional. This visit the waitress was lost in space. Uninterested, uniformed and really seemed like she wanted to be somewhere else. Really disappointing.
(2)Judith H.
Had free glass of wine because of tickets to the theater (Florida Rep) which is great because they support this wonderful theater. I had Le Bouef Cobb and it was excellent including ingredients not usually found in Cobb salads. My husband and a friend ordered the Boulevard and though he said it was good, he couldn't distinguish the various flavors because the sauce tended to overwhelm everything. He said the fries were very good. Waiter at the bar was very nice and owner friendly.
(4)Trish E.
The waiter Tim was fabulous! I dined there with my sister, we are on vacation from Chicago. I ordered the grouper and she had the short ribs, she loved her dish! Mine, not so much. The fish was bland and over-priced, would not recommend. The atmosphere is darling, very comfortable
(2)Kevin M.
Good to hear from Steve H. at the Twisted Vine. Someone cares. My visit was Wednesday June 3.
(2)Jamie R.
There is Home Style food offered in a dining room that features a huge central bar. So even our reserved table - a high top near the alley exit - felt like an extension of the bar. Despite the white table cloths, the casual feel of the place and bistro noise level made conversation tough - Difficult at least until the long table of a dozen chattering women nearby divided their bills along with their pennies and finally left. At last at peace to consider our menu choices, two of us went with the pork shank It was falling off the bone tender, plopped on a dropped spoon of mashed potatoes, and threatening slices of roast carrots at its edges with oblivion. Delicious, Another at our table said the shrimp and grits selection was quite to his Texas taste. Our waiter initially arrived and reported that the Rainbow Trout had not made the plane. omg, my busted up, free associating, Twisted Vine kind of mind conjured a family of rainbows, bags stuffed to overflowing with sun oils, tripping awkwardly along on slippery fish tails as they raced up the concourse. Didn't make the flight. oMy. So glad the hogs got stuck in the barn. And the shrimp didn't get out of the nets. The waiter made a new pot of decaff coffee, and gave his verbal stamp of approval of the steaming cups when he served them to us. "It's good. I should know. I'm from Seattle."
(4)nosila D.
Food and service is always great here. We've been several times and never had a bad meal. Love the location. Such a cool building.
(4)Todd C.
Food 5 star The atmosphere 5 star The service 3 star, I waited to be seen and I was the only one at the bar. I was only check on 1 time durning my lunch I would have easily ordered 2 more drinks. Very friendly very nice place I will be back. To their defense it was packed.
(5)Andrew R.
$27 plate of what tasted like leftovers. I ordered the Pork Shank, which was served with ice-cold brussels sprouts that lacked seasoning in addition to heat, and unseasoned mashed potatoes that were luke warm and possibly made the day before. The pork shank was just ok, and the balsamic BBQ sauce resembled a generic store bought BBQ sauce. My girlfriend ordered the Shrimp and Grits entree and was brought the appetizer portion. Shrimp were good but the grits tasted like they were instant. $18 three cheese plate to start was...underwhelming and took about 30 min to come out. The wine, good. We've had some great meals here in the past but this trip was overly disappointing.
(2)Rana H.
This is a frequent spot of mine for lunch. Last week, our office decided to head to the Vine for lunch. Luckily, I called ahead and was able to be seated with a party of 7. What we did not realize, is that the restaurant was full - - with people who were going to the matinee at Florida repertory theater. Nevertheless, we ordered. Some of the drinks (tea and soda) were slow as were refills. And while the food took more than 30 minutes, we still were able to complete our meal in just about an hour and return timely to work. Despite the crowd, we had a pleasant experience and the food was good. Not our best experience because of the noise and delay, but I wanted to post this interview because I was pleased they were able to manage a full house and still deliver within the lunch hour. If you are not a big fan of high top tables, make sure you have a reservation for lunch or dinner.
(4)David O.
Our appetizers were good. The sirloin tips were good and the Tuna Tartar was ok.. Although the Plantain chips were stale and there was a lack of sauce. We ordered the Sea Scallops and they were Flavorless! Nothing on the plate had flavor. The veggies were overcooked. I had to order a side of sauce just so I could taste something. The filet mignon had no taste either. I dont think this place uses seasonings! This was my first time there and last. I would not recommend this restaurant unless you like dull tasting food that is expensive for what it is!
(2)Brian R.
My wife and I came here in June with a group of six friends and we had a fantastic time. Here's why: 1. The waiter was a pro. He was quick, he was attentive and he knew the dishes. It felt good to have him in charge. 2. We asked for an outside table. They said they could squeeze us all in on a four-seater, but truth is this hog could have fit 10. The garden is beautiful if the weather is nice. 3. The food was awesome. Scallops were tasty, duck was delicious and the shrimp & grits were fiiiiiiine. Great, delicious, filling courses. Bonus: we took advantage of the Yelp checkin deal so got 5 free wines and then they comped us dessert for not having one appetizer. Class.
(4)Robin T.
We dined at Twisted Vine before a theater performance. Our server was personable and attentive and the service was well paced. Everyone at our table enjoyed the food and the experience. Thank you!
(5)E. M.
Upscale eatery w lovely seating choices and a bar the size of Rhode Island! We arrived for a late lunch, to find over five sets of guests enjoying lunch. The drinks are very high, glasses of wine go for ten and up. Specialty cocktail I tried was Green Flash. Hendricks gin, cucumber, lime sounded like a good idea. It missed the mark for me n gave it to mister. I got a free glass of Pinot Grigio chilled and full for checking in. It also missed w me...I must have been having an off tastebuds day. We ordered the crab Louis salad and the bourbon sirloin tip appetizer. They had qualities of being great but fell short through seasonings and heat. The crab was very salty n garlic.y not in a good way. The greens and salad toppings were beautiful but a slight bit aged. The dressing was to die for. Yum. The appetizer was horrid..lukewarm and sloppy. Don't get it. The steak is cool n rewarded w a sauce that separates, too strong for the dish. The service is somewhat cloudy! We arrived during the middle of a waitress n elderly customer discussing the dressing on his fish. He said, I wanted thousand island! I got a dill sauce instead! She: oh I can assure u its thousand island. There could be dill seasoning in it.....he, oh now you say there could be dill in it?? She...on n on. Overly long argumentative and ungracious. News flash!! The customer is 'right'.. U won't win this. Don't personalize it. Say this: sorry sir, how can this be fixed? I want you to enjoy your lunch and will sincerely try to fix this as our motto is The Customer is always right!....no, instead there was a bad vibe of hurt n elderly guy didn't eat, tip was prob negative n he was upset enough to wander around outside, forget his umbrella, come back for it n waitress is ignoring, muttering, stoic, cuz She is right. Nice. Meanwhile, we get treated w nothing. No greeting, no menus. We sat n was ignored an we asked another waitress for menus. No wine list came. Note name of restaurant.... We asked. We just kept working not relaxing, not comfortable. We were not impressed by the training, demeanor, professionalism of staff. Something is unraveling here. We won't be back. On the outside, this appears to be wonderful. Our experience w this twisted vine was less than what we expect n they need to retrain in customer service. Please don't argue in front of clients. Do that in your huddles at the bar where u are viciously replaying your indignities casting dark, disdainful glances at your worst clients...
(3)Susan F.
Had appetizers and drinks. The calamari was delicious. So was Lobster Mac& cheese. Dinner pretty expensive.
(5)RT S.
We went for lunch. It's a nice restaurant downtown Ft. Myers. The lunch menu was limited to salads and sandwiches. Food is average.
(3)Scott B.
Great meal. Wife had Filet cooked perfectly. We shared a Tomato salad, excellent. I had Breaston of Duck, really good. Risotto was excellent. Service on point. Great selection of wines. I think this restaurant is often overlooked.
(5)Steven G.
This was a culinary experience, so amazing!!! If you're sick of the typical beach fare, this place will treat you well... Only problem, it's a little too far from DC:-(
(5)Sean O.
My girlfriend and I had a pleasant evening at Twisted Vine. We had a cozy table for two by the window and they had live Jazz music. I got the NY strip and my date got the filet. We split a bottle of Malbec (the cheapest red on the menu but enjoyed it very much). The food was delicious with both of our steaks cooked to perfection. However, with just two entrees and a bottle of wine, the final bill was about $120. In conclusion, you will most likely enjoy your dinner, but be ready pay for it. Probably best reserved for a special occasion.
(4)Frank P.
Great atmosphere, amazing food, good drink selection. A little pricey, but you reall can't get better in downtown. We haven't dined outside yet, but both of our visits were very, very good. Servers really know the menu and the wine.
(5)Todd A.
I'd give it zero stars, but Yelp won't let me. It's a Saturday night in mid-April, busy but not packed. Most of the snowbirds have left and we're seated at our reservation time, and that's about all they get right. We order appetizers, entrees and drinks, and the wait begins. The wine comes, butno food for half an hour. I notice the 4 people at the next table who arrived after us, are already getting their entrees. Finally the appetizers arrive. The seafood bisque was ok, my wife's beet salad was fine, but my roasted brussel sprouts were badly undercooked, bitter and terrible. I didn't eat the near raw brussel sprouts and told the waitress that the dish could spend alot more time under the salamander (broiler) and she just stared me down, no apology, no nothing. Another 30 min. go by and we still have no food.We've almost finished a bottle of wine, between my wife and I, and that never happens. My friend who didn't have an appetizer, was starving. I complain to the waitress, noting the table next to us WHO HAVE FINISHED EATING, and she says to me (I kid you not), "Sir you need to change your attitude." I told her that was nonsense, and that she needed to get the manager, immediately. He eventually shows up and accuses me of cursing at his waitress, which I did not, by consensus of the table. Then I accused him of calling me a liar, and he deflected by defending his whiny little server, at which point we'd had enough. I asked for the check to pay for what we'd eaten and leave. So he brings me the check and charges us for food that was never served. Another couple at a nearby table was leaving while I was waiting for the check looked sympathetically at us and mouthed, "That was terrible service" as they left. Despite a 50% reduction in the wine price, I still left no tip and will never darken the door of this establishment. Considering the competitive landscape of the restaurant business, there's no reason to risk suffering this nonsense.
(1)Joseph R.
Great atmosphere, great food, great wine... Limited seating with a large bar area. Reservations recommended.
(5)John M.
Had a wonderful dinner! There were 6 in our party and the service was awesome. Be sure to try the Brussel sprouts...wonderful!
(5)Sean D.
Three couples all ordered from appetizer menu that was excellent both in quality and quantity. Restaurant was quiet when we dined Sunday at 5pm prior to attending theatre. Excellent service.
(4)Doubb M.
Had some great dinner at the Twisted Vine with some awesome cooked Sea Scallops! The service was excellent. Overall a great experience.
(5)Greg M.
We have been here several times in the past and have really enjoyed this place. They normally have live music and very good food. This trip was entirely different. The service was very poor and very Slow. I had ordered the filet well done and butterflied. After waiting over an hour my steak came rare. After sending it back the waitress was very apologetic and then it came back and was still medium rare at best. I did my best and ate what I could but still left a piece for the waitress to see when I was done. Not a good experience but even worse as the meal was terrible.
(3)kara m.
Normally love this restaurant, but was disappointed with my Vegetarian dish the other night. They served three carrots and some broccoli over their signature rice which was super crunchy, definitely undercooked. The waiter said it was aldente, but I'm positive it was undercooked. Was disappointed that it was $18, too embarrassed to confront staff.
(2)J.C. C.
The missus and I gave the rehearsal dinner for our daughter's wedding at the Twisted Vine. We were not surprised by the level of service and the quality of the food. We had been there before. We reserved the courtyard [highly recommended] as it was the perfect size for the number in our party. The food was delicious as it was beautifully presented. The attendants were courteous, clean and quick. The wines recommended by Steve are always spot-on. You can trust his taste. The scallops and forbidden rice were absolutely divine. It really could not have been better. Well, maybe with some fireworks. Maybe next time. And there will be a next time. Thanks all, J.C & Sandra C Lakeland, FL
(5)Troy D.
I generally hate to write reviews on places when they're decidedly negative, after just one visit -- but I feel as if I didn't have much choice. Showed up for lunch at 1230, with an OpenTable - and was seated outside. Friend showed up at 1235 - second showed up at 1245. First friend had to be back at work by 200 - we ordered, and waited. And waited. You can see where this is going. 140, lunch showed up. We didn't order anything fancy - sandwiches, salads, etc. We got a "your order is next" from the server - but didn't get our food until 15 minutes later. By that point, one friend had to scarf down lunch to get to work - and my 2hrs. of free parking had expired, thus leading to a ticket. Now, this kind of thing happens, sure. But, in this case, the restaurant wasn't busy. Compound that with a server who didn't quite seem to know what she was doing 100% of the time, and we have an issue. Ignoring the service issue, the lunch was decent - my club was good, although I could have used a couple more fries alongside. Curiously, I think my soda was flat - and - went empty a couple of times. If I lived here, I'd give it another shot - in fact, one friend visits often, and says its not typically like this. But, as a visitor, it left a bad impression. And... That's a shame.
(2)Susan L.
You need to know that the average wait time for entrees during peak dinner hours is 45 minutes as quoted by our waitress. We waited almost one hour for our entrees. Runners bringing food from kitchen have no idea what the names of the entrees are and expect diner to raise their hand to claim their food. Management needs to step it up and hire another chef to handle peak seasonal demand and train waitstaff on proper presentation of food. Food is average Florida fare
(2)Richard N.
This is a good restaurant. Not a great one though. No one in our party had a problem with their food but no one raved about it either. It was just another place to eat before the theater. I had the Shrimp and Grits which was an interesting variation on the theme. It was nice - but nothing special. $28.00 for a bowl of grits and 6 shrimp it seemed a little high priced. The same item in St. Pete last weekend was $18.00 and it was superior. My wifes' Grouper was $32.00. Again, the quality didn't justify that price. The Vine seems to have gotten their act together regarding service. Service was outstanding. A couple of people got dirty wine glasses and they were replaced immediately. On the other other hand why weren't these glasses caught by the waitstaff? Why did we have to check all our glasses for lipstick stains? The experience was pleasant enough but I don't feel compelled to make a return visit. When in this part of Florida the choices are so great that good is not enough. On the other hand the place was so busy that they're doing very well. Maybe I'm just too fussy.
(3)Scott O.
Above average food for the downtown Ft Myers area. Great location. Menu doesn't change too often but very consistent, flavorful food. A bit pricey for portions. Been here multiple times and enjoy it each time.
(4)Brian Q.
Been here twice and reviewed only once.... Regretfully. This place stands out amongst other casual establishments in the area, yet no one reviews it on yelp. If your looking for upper scale cuisine in Ft. Myers downtown area. This is the ONLY place to go. Average priced entrees in the upper twenties to thirties.
(5)Alice M.
Service was extremely slow and our server, Jessica, extremely INATTENTIVE. This place really doesn't seem to care about the clients enjoying a dining experience.
(2)L L.
A group of 8 came here for lunch after checking reviews here for a good place to go. We parked our boat (illegally, I think) and walked 5 minutes to arrive. The menu had something for everyone - salads, sandwiches, soups and strong martinis. I had the BLT with added salmon ($14) which was yummy! Son got the usual cheeseburger and he said the fries were awesome. They add cinnamon, I think, to the ketchup which I liked, but son asked for the regular stuff. Daughter got the lobster mac n cheese (just ok. Kinda watery and not much lobster.). Hubby got the crab Louie salad that he liked a lot. Other table mates got the fish sandwich (good), soup of the day, and another salad. Despite our group size and ornery behavior, the waitress was great and accommodating. Restaurant was clean and had nice decor. Bathrooms were modern and clean and beautiful. If we can find a legal place to park the boat next time, we will come for dinner since the menu looked great.
(5)Angela C.
Awesome restaurant, we've been twice now and both times it was a home run. Great location, back patio is nice, we had (6) in our group this time and all plates were delicious! Perfect place to start an evening. We'll be back.
(5)Deenah T.
Complete and utter disappointment. I expected so much based on the location and the atmosphere and instead I got sub par food at incredibly inflated prices. The sea scallops were laughable, and the salmon was without any flavor. Any entry level chef can sear a piece of salmon and slap it on a plate; and that's what we got. At least the wine was good. But at $300 for a party of 4, I feel like we should have at least gotten a happy ending.
(1)Kaitlin S.
Came to Fort myers to visit family and decided to head down to Twisted Vine friday night. They were busy so we sat at the bar. The bartender was great she made excellent martinis.. my favorite and suggested the filet for dinner. The food took a while but worth the wait my husband and I had a fantastic evening and look forward to returning when we come back to town.
(5)Robert Y.
We first visited the Twisted Vine Bistro last December and were very impressed . We couldn't wait to return after going North for the Holidays. Well we finally returned and brought friends with us. Another great experience. Two of us had the red snapper special and two had the glazed salmon from the menu. Food was excellent and the service was wonderful. We had an added benefit of live music too. I highly recommend this restaurant to all. It has become our new favorite after only two visits.
(5)Tyler R.
New owners, new servers, new food, and an amped atmosphere - the new Twisted Vine calls for an updated review. For anyone that has dined here prior to a few months ago...that was yesterday's experience. Say no more to the days of pushy priced-based waitstaff and bottled water that will call 911 on you if you don't opt to order and drink it. Nicely situated in downtown Fort Myers, this place is my mom's go-to spot for an after work glass of wine, and she took me with her one night when I was visiting. She's a regular and somewhat of a celebrity; I was introduced to all with a very proud "THIS is my son Tyler" and it was immediately apparent that my mom shared some stories about [how cool I am, how much she loves me.] I approve of this. My mom is awesome. We sat at the bar with the new owners [Steve and Denise, successful Wisconsinite restaurateurs that most definitely know what the hell they are doing] that she recently, quite instantly became best friends with. They were sampling new wines (oh yes, their wine selection is selected with purpose) having dinner, and chatting up people in the area. Steve is a former chef, so you know the food will be chef tested and approved before it ever hits your plate. Had a few Yuenglings on tap (a requirement when it is available) and my mom was handed a glass of her preferred wine 3.6 seconds after she sat down. We munched on the calamari and ahi appetizers, both of which were amazing and I would get them again in a heartbeat. Despite my urge to order the pork Steve (owner) was eating, I opted for the chicken (see picture) that came with half a giant clove of garlic. SO good. Chicken was perfect, potatoes were creamy, and freshly roasted garlic in just about every bite made this a 6 star dish. Tip: Save a little garlic for the end (if you can manage that) and put some on a piece of bread, then dip that bread in whatever remnants remain on the place. Chew, enjoy, and repeat. So do yourself a favor and eat here. I recommend the chicken, but everything that came out of the kitchen was great, and, with a consistently updated menu, will continue to be great. Say hi to Steve and Denise who will most likely be right out in the restaurant with you, and tell them Tyler (well, Sharon's son) sent you.
(5)Dayna S.
Had a reservation at 7:15 for 8 people. Arrived at 7:15 and was seated. Brian (manager) took our drink order and should have known when he totally forgot one drink that a problem was arising. He seemed very unorganized and took orders sporadically. When we received our appetizers all was good . Now remember we were seated at 7:15. At 9:05 we still didn't have our soups and salads. When asking our server (manager) he said the kitchen said he didn't fire the ticket. What does that mean exactly? Are you kidding me? When asked for the owner who we knew was there. They didn't want to talk to us. When the woman owner finally came over she was rude and unprofessional, what she didn't know was I own a chain of restaurants in Ohio. When I tried to talk with her and touched her arm she a told me very me very meanly not to touch her. Well at this point I was crazy mad. Our soup and salads were ready but the main dishes weren't !!! Really? At this point all 8 of us got up and left!! I don't think in my 40 years of being in the restaurant business I have experienced this kind of unprofessional ism!! Never would I go back there or recommend this place to anyone with any sense!!! Seriously!!!! Wow!!!! Miss owner take care of your restaurant!!
(1)Courtney M.
This is second time I've dined here. The first was not during a seasonal month so I take that into account. There was also Art Walk going on so I expected it to be busy and made a reservation accordingly. The restaurant was packed upon arrival and our table was not ready but the hostess found us two seats near the bar while we waited. It only took about 5 minutes to finally be seated. We placed a drink order with our waiter. This is where the time issues began. It took over 45 minutes to get one cocktail. We placed our order - 5 cheese sample plate, wedge salad and beet salad. We were going to decide on an entrée later. It took over an hour and a half for the cheese plate to arrive. We noticed that there were only 3 cheeses on the plate but had waited to so we were not about to send it back. The waiter came by 10 minutes later and we commented on only 3 cheeses and he realized that the food runner had brought us someone else's plate. He went to the kitchen and brought us our plate so we then had an abundance of cheese. Another 25 minutes later our salads arrived. Some of the beets in the salad were ice cold like they just came out of the refrigerator. By this time we were not in the mood to order entrees since we still wanted to go out and see the Art Galleries. Over two hours for an appetizer and salads was an incredibly long time to wait for things that do not need cooking.
(2)Robert V.
First time visiting this well known restaurant after a Florida Rep Theatre performance. We were seated promptly and the wait staff were friendly and attentive. The free glass of wine and the fixed price 3 course meal (shrimp and steak specials) were excellent and a reasonable value. Highly recommended....
(5)Brett F.
This was one of the best restaurants in Ft. Myers. Something changed. Prices are way too high for the quality of the food now. The wait times are also extremely long. There were four tables of people and it took us 30 minutes to get a cheese tray. Sad, but that's the last time we go there.
(1)Janice M.
Not sure why this is so popular. A mundane menu. Salad they forget to dress. A bartender who complains how tired she is at 5 pm (opening time). Not much to recommend this place sadly. Nice big bar though.
(2)Carlos V.
Had a nice dinner with some "free" wine. Server didn't explain which "free" wines where included until the bill came, that was too late. The couple next to us didn't even know about the wine deal until they heard us talking to the server about the bill. Food & service were good, but not great for the price paid. Overall I would give the Twisted Vine another try.
(3)Jay T.
Way overrated food 30 bucks for four scallops is a joke. Salmon was without flavor bread was stale got the money I spent I thought I would have had an explosion of great foods but was terribly disappointed never again.
(1)John D.
Yes, we gave this place a return visit. It's a fun, happening place with above average food and above average service and above average ambiance. While the waiter won't attempt to sneak a $7 bottle of water onto your table anymore, he will aggressively attempt to upgrade you (ala "would you like fries with that?") He will, multiple times, recommend the bottled water, appetizer & high price items on the menu. SAY LAH VEE. Just resist, and enjoy...
(4)Carolyn K.
Party of 6 ordered 7 pm food brought near 9pm .Waiter kept saying they were over booked. My chicken was not good to much sage flavor and side of rice lumpy. Waiter just said rice should have been stirred it was ok. Well it was not ok with me. Bill or food was not corrected . Steak ordered by my husband was very fatty. We will not return. When a waiter picks up a plate of food that had not been eaten they should know something needs to be done.
(2)Luisa C.
We landed here while driving through Ft. Myers. I am glad I can rely on my fellow yelpers for their reviews as they never let me down. This place had a great ambiance and live music. Our server was friendly yet a bit slow and seemingly lost or new. I had to ask her to bring me water even though she should have noticed plus the restaurant was not that packed yet and attention to deatail cannot be overlooked. Oh well. She knew her menu and tried her best I think. Intially the service seemed a bit slow and they didn't serve us any complimentary bread or anything. I guess they want people to order appetizers - and that's what we did. My fiance had their tomato soup of the day and we also ordered the tuna tartar, which were both exceptional and fresh. The tuna tartar had great chunks of fresh tuna mixed in with red onions, capers and lemon juice. Really very tasty. They topped it with some home-made potato chips. Clever! Our entrees were delicious. I had the wild grilled salmon which they served on a bed of garlic mashed potato and baby squash medley. Presentation was neat, portion was right on and they paid attention to my special request to serve the beure blanc on the side. My firance had the duck with mango salsa and maduros. Seems like a strange combo but he liked it! Overall for a high-end meal and 1 drink the total came out to about 80 bucks. Not bad for a place in the middle of Downtown Ft. Myers.
(4)Spencer B.
Attractive environment, pretty courtyard. Busy holiday evening, food took 1 1/2 hours to come. Reasonably good waiter service. Wine selection great but very pricy. Pot roast grilled cheese appetizer is to die for. Filet Mignon was chewy, sides were cold, Expected more from a high end kitchen on that. Overall favorable experience & good option for downtown. Hopefully the food was just due to the extremely busy night. Will try again.
(3)Dan B.
Our reservation for a table of 4 was lost at the restaurant across the street, not willing to wait, we walked into Twisted Vine and were seated immediately. Our server, Joel, was great! The food was excellent! I had the special, Yellow Tail Snapper while the others had the Duck and Salmon dinners. Made for a great evening with the live music.
(5)Erik D.
Update 7/22/13: We were contacted by the owner and the episode was resolved above our expectations. As a result we are changing the rating from two to four stars. ---- The two star rating is based upon something that should never happen during a typical dining experience: the server spilling a glass of red wine across my wife's white shirt and pants. If it was not for this experience and how it was resolved this would easily be a 4-5 star review. The food was excellent and the menu creatively tasty without being outlandish. Unfortunately, due to a clumsy accident by the waiter, a full glass of red wine was spilled, or more correctly splashed/sprayed across the front of her white shirt and into her lap. This was not a minor spill, it covered the chest area from right shoulder to left. The waiter apologized, immediately moved us to a dry table, and muttered something about dry cleaning. If we had any other plans for the afternoon (like going to work) we would have had to cancel them due to the complete bodily coverage of the spill. Thankfully, we didn't have anything else to do so my wife put on her light sweater and decided to remain for our lunch. When it came time for the check the waiter asked if I would like another glass of wine or if my wife wanted a dessert. After stating we desired neither it became obvious the offer was supposed to be in compensation for the horrendous spill. At this point I had to request that the proper thing to do would be to comp my wife's meal, especially since she remained seated in her wet pants along with her public display of Merlot "Splash". He stated he would have to call the owner to get that approved. We never saw the owner or manager but in the end her meal was taken off the check. This could have been handled so much better. Having to fight to get the meal comped was ridiculous. There should have been an acknowledgement from the management that a horrible event happened that ruined the outfit, a business card should have been presented along with a promise they would do whatever reasonable to correct the incident. Unfortunately this was not the case here.
(4)Tom S.
Not sure what the other negative reviews were for. Beautiful atmosphere, great food and outstanding service. Will definitely be coming back here often
(5)Pamela H.
So disappointed that a draw to downtown is losing it's luster. Dinner last night was a sad departure from experiences in the past. This is not the first and now it's just confirmed that it hasn't been because of an "off' night. Tonight, the kitchen staff was slower than usual and it was noted the restaurant was not full to capacity. As I looked around it seemed like every table was waiting for something...like the next course. (I will give kudos that the caesar salad was very tasty). When dinner arrived...my dinner mate gave thumbs up for his med-rare new york strip. My crispy-skin salmon was not only Not crispy, but the soggy, limp skin was a put-off. The salmon itself was lacking in flavor and was atop a serving of mashed potatoes that tasted and had texture similar to instant (over-whipped,under seasoned and loose). Since this is not the first disappointing dinner I've had at Twisted, it will be the last. Paying a premium, one would expect better. I still recommend Twisted Vine for the occasional appetizer, cocktail and easy listening guitar player.
(2)Emily K.
Slow service! So slow that the waiter asked if we were doing okay with our drinks, I had to remind him he never brought mine! Only gave it 2 stars because at least I got a free glass of wine for checking in, when they should have given me the first glass gor free!
(2)Ken K.
2nd time there in about 6 weeks. Food is good but very overpriced. 32.00 for 4 scallops? Very crowded and noisy as you are right on top of each other. Very convenient to Florida Rep. Though. Need to find a more reasonably priced alternative. 3 stars. Ken Naples
(3)Kitchen Sales C.
I am all about passion for your business and Steve from Twisted Vines called me about my last review, he was concerned and wanted to know more details. After talking to him I realize that he is passionate and really cares about his customers. He explained the wine pricing and his pour strategy. His per glass prices are reasonable and fair. He has owned it for a couple of years now and is always looking to update and keep current his wine list. Great Job Steve I look forward to my next visit!
(4)Lauren B.
I will rarely turn down a free glass of wine, especially when the menu is as alluring as Twisted's. If you check in on Facebook, Twitter, or Yelp at TVB, just ask and you will receive. Everything on and off the menu was mouthwatering, and so I decided to take the tapas/small plates route. My stomach would only, and unfortunately, allow two of them. So, I indulged in Tuna Tartare and the Duck Confit over Fried Green Tomatoes. The Tuna was prepared with capers, lemon aioli, and red onion. It was topped with homemade potato crisps. Absolutely delicious. My favorite, however, was the duck. It is, in fact, cooked in its own fat. Presentation was lovely and it was very filling for being a small plate. I could not turn down dessert, and the bread pudding came highly recommended. It came ala mode and was fantastic. A little Keoke coffee (Brandy, Godiva, and Kahlua) finished off my night. I won't lie, my stomach was so pissed off after this meal. Not sure if it was the combination (tuna + duck + pudding + brandy)...BUT it was well worth it.
(5)Shaun V.
Came in for happy hour, and scored wine for $2.50 a glass! We came at 5:00 on a Thursday night. Ordered the lamb ribs, and a angus burger. Wow, made from scratch ketchup, and everything was delicious! What a great little secret in down town Ft Myers. A must go to place. Just renovated the bathrooms with raised vessel sinks, and an amazing bar.
(5)K P.
This restaurant is all around amazing! Denise and Steve are absolutely great and life savers!! I was able to host a small wedding ceremony and reception in their outside patio. It was a dream come true! It was a very romantic-garden setting! The staff took care of everything.. I just had to say "I do!". As far as food goes... everything on their menu is delish! My favorite has to be the salmon and as an app the lobster mac and cheese. The inside bar is pretty cool-wraps around the middle of the restaurant. Sometimes they have music (singer) inside too. We absolutely loved hosting our wedding there and loveee this place to have dinner and drinks!
(5)Ahren M.
We had some great times here. We met with a bunch of my wife's old friends and had a ball. We talked and ate and drank for three hours, until we were the last ones in the restaurant, The waiter and bar tender took care of everything we asked for. I had the salmon with whipped potatoes, which I was really surprised to find out was Alaskan salmon. Delicious! My wife had the snapper and said it was great. We'll be back!
(5)Michael P.
Traveled to Ft. Myers/Sanibel for business purposes and enjoyed Sunday night dinner here. We were a large group, fully occupying the outdoor seating area, with a pre-fixe menu. The open-air courtyard was lovely for our purposes; we could circulate over drinks, and change seats before dessert. The food was consistently good. Service, however, was a bit slow at the start, and grew slower as the night passed. At the end, it took far too long to get the check; half our party had departed for the shuttle bus. Note that one needs to exit the courtyard and enter the corner restaurant to use the washrooms.)
(3)Lisa B.
Armed with a nice Restaurant.com certificate, we tried MANY items, although the names escape me. Our waitress was very accommodating and Vanilla Crosby was playing on a Thursday evening (great local group). Some other reviews described it as "dressy" but I did not sense that vibe. Pricy, yes and I would suggest it for an appetizer, bottle of wine evening. The menu is interesting and everything we ordered was delicious. The main course, lovely, but were presented on overly large dishware. Not a dinner killer but it was awkward. The portions are what you would expect in such a place, no leftovers, but that's ok with me. We will return, equipped with discounts.
(3)Dawn C.
Food was good. Gave it 1stars because my daughter was served wrong soup. Although when asked if she had touched or ate it she replied no the server reserved to correct table. How does he know she did not cough or sneeze. Gross....... Not restaurants fault but servers
(1)Clark J.
Probably the most expensive meal we've eaten out in Fort Myers, but very pleasant. Not crowded at all on a Thursday evening in June. My wife's duck breast special was great, as were my scallops. A minor demerit for the Chocolate Pecan Pie, which seemed more like a big slab of chocolate with a little bit of pecan pie filling. I agree that this is a nice variation from the other options in downtown.
(4)Scott S.
We had a reservation on valentines day which was difficult anywhere but they got us in with no problems. The setting of the restaurant is fairly classy. The wait staff on the other hand was a little sketchy, a scraggly long haired trashier kid rock took our order and during the meal we had to physically flag him down for more wine. The food was decent I ordered the lamb, it was cooked perfectly and very tender however the portions left much to be desired. The wine selection is extensive as well as the bar, although slightly over priced. Overall if your looking to really impress a date this place could do the trick, but there are several other local spots with great quality food and drink that are more resonabley priced. Dinner for 2 and 2 glasses of wine: $150.00. + tip of course.
(3)Maxwell Y.
Wine was great, but most of my dishes were underwhelming. Their lobster mac n' cheese was a gimmick dish - you can definitely make amazing lobster mac, but this was just butter and lobster and noodles. It's like the chef had no idea how to make a roux. I told a nicer version of this to my waiter and he scoffed at me, because he probably thought that anyone who ordered it was childish. But believe me, there is a right way to do it, and they did not do it.
(3)Ron M.
Went there before the rep and our waiter, Kevin, was very pleasant and helpful. The food was excellent. It was a little cramped and noisy so it was difficult to carry on a conversation. Live music began at 6:30 and the musician was very good but I think hardly anyone could hear him because of the loud noise. Also, I am not a fan of the high top tables and chairs which are at least one- half of the restaurant .
(4)Stephen S.
Excellent food, excellent service, excellent ambiance. I went with a large group and we had the best time. Our server was incredibly knowledgable about the wines and made excellent pairings with our food. Everyone in our group ordered something different and nobody had a bad meal. I recommend. It's a great place for a date night.
(4)Chip W.
Nice place for dinner, although a bit on the expensive side. French onion soup was burnt. Scallops were good, but $32. Had a few good beers on draft. Close to the theater.
(3)Janis V.
One of my favorite restaurants. Great wine selection, the food is just delicious. Some of the servers are awesome, but there's one that I'm not very impressed with him.
(5)michael m.
Great food and ok service. The wine selection was good and the bar seemed like it was well stocked. However, the number of tables crammed into the place is LUDICROUS. I am not exaggerating, I had to ask one of the patrons to get up so we could leave (I weigh 125#).
(4)Harry S.
Very nice place great food excellent service
(5)Lisa C.
Atmosphere is great. Bathroom was the nicest I've ever seen. Food, well, ok. My husband's steak looked phenomenal but since I don't eat red meat I went for the red snapper in spicy lobster sauce. For $30 there was certainly ample amount of fish on my plate but it was very bland. Spicy? Really? Very watery red sauce with very little flavor. The fish itself was mediocre. It tasted fried actually. My caprese salad to start with for $8 had three very large slices of orange, pale red tomatoes that were not even close to tasting like a tomato. Very disappointing! The mozzarella was excellent however. I will probably go back and try something else because I think the menu had lots of potential and the atmosphere was so fun. Maybe will try the chicken.... I suggest not wasting your $ on the snapper.
(3)Joe W.
Outside courtyard nice. Food average. Overpriced Service very average. Never noticed our water glasses empty.
(3)Scott N.
We are only in Ft Myers a few times a year and decided to try this restaurant although we were actually looking for it's former name H2 Tappas. When my wife and I and another couple got there we discovered the name change, ownership change, menu change and chef change. Since we were not expecting an upscale restaurant, we were dressed in jeans but the hostess and waiter made us feel welcome. The live entertainment was excellent and consisted of a guy playing his guitar singing 70's and 80's songs. The appetizers and salads were a little pricey ($8 or $9 for a wedge salad) but we were not that hungry anyway so we started with drinks. My wife had a chocolate martini which she really enjoyed and the rest of us enjoyed a bottle of wine. I decided to try the yellow fin snapper on a bed of mushroom risotto with spicey lobster sauce. This absolutely the best fish entree I have ever had. Even my wife who is not a big fish eater couldn't keep her fork off my plate. As for the previous comment about the water, our waiter asked if we would like tap water. Maybe they changed their ways after John's comment. We will definately be going back on our next visit.
(4)Sam S.
I was in Ft. Myers on business with a co-worker and we ate at the Twisted Vine. The location of the Twisted Vine is in the historic downtown, a block off the water. When we arrived, we were a little hesitant in that the place was pretty quiet at 8.00 p.m. (although it was a Sunday). The menu was also somewhat limited. Anyways, after driving around we settled on the Twisted Vine and had a very nice dinner. The decor is beautiful, tall ceilings, one open space and it looked like the kitchen was open to the dining room. There was seating outside but it was right on the main road so we opted for inside. My only complaint regarding ambiance, which is common almost everywhere in Florida, the A/C was too cold. The food, we each had the shrimp chowder, which was cream based, with a hit of spice and big chunks of shrimp and potato. We both enjoyed the chowder. I had the wild salmon which was served over mashed potato and it had a sauce that was similar to the shrimp chowder base, creamy, sweet with a hint of kick. The salmon was properly prepared with a nice char to the outside. My dining companion had the snapper, which was served with risotto cake (she said the cake didn't have much flavor) and she was generally pleased with her meal as well. They also have an extensive wine list although I did not partake since this was a work trip. The service was prompt and friendly.
(4)Rainer F.
We came here for our 25th anniversary. In retrospect I wish I'd picked a more romantic place as the place is open, tables fairly closely spaced, and noisy. I guess I should have taken "bistro" serious, which indeed it is. But it wasn't so noisy that you couldn't have a nice conversation without yelling. The food was good without being spectacular. My pork osso bucco nicely fell off the bone but could have benefited from more seasoning. My wife was very happy with her filet mignon without getting ecstatic about it. The desserts were arguably the best part of dinner. The espresso creme brûlée was very good but couldn't hold a candle to the bread pudding, which was excellent and is highly recommended. The wine list was somewhat limited and on the pricey side. All in all, we quite enjoyed our evening but would probably try some other places in Ft. Myers before coming back.
(3)Lindsay L.
Atmosphere is perfect for a night out. Beautiful restaurant with really good food. Had the Wild Salmon and crab cakes. Both so fresh and delicious!! Presentation was good too. Definitely recommend to others.
(5)Jim B.
Fantastic food. Best meal in 2 days since I arrived. Well done.
(5)Carey S.
Absolutely delightful & delish! Hands down a four! We started the meal with FL Ceviche and Caesar salad...the salad was large enough to share. We enjoyed dirty martinis as well.... Mmmmmm. John had the Pan Seared Yellow Tail Snapper... I loved the risotto with it plus tons of garlic! I enjoyed the Wild Salmon on whipped potatoes. The raspberry chocolate martini for dessert was yummy! Atmosphere is fantastic too! If you go at sunset, you can walk over to the river and get a gorgeous view!
(4)Alex J.
nice food and atmosphere for downtown.
(3)Yelena R.
Decided to visit after reading reviews on yelp and so glad we did! The food was very good. Loved the atmosphere, this is the kind of place you dress up for. The wait staff was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant is located downtown ft Meyers. Walking distance to many bars in the area. We will definitely be back!
(4)Katie F.
This restaurant is fabulous! My whole family was happy and satisfied leaving here. All the entrees-especially the salmon were amazing! Highly recommend it!
(5)Nick F.
Went to the South Africa wine tasting and then went to dinner after. I have to say it's refreshing to see a Chef have passion and care with the plates he's serving. We watched him taste,send back plates, and perfect presentations. I got the the Red Snapper in lobster sauce which was amazing. It was the best dish I had on vacation! My girlfriend got the Mahi, the fish was cooked perfectly and the sauce light but flavorful. The wine pairing was on point but also have a great selection if you decide otherwise. The service was excellent and chef came over to the table to ensure our satisfaction. We will defiantly be back.
(5)Filip D.
Good, honest fare. Nice atmosphere and great winelist.
(4)Paul S.
We have eaten at the Twisted Vine at least 15 times in the last year and a half and have enjoyed it. We had been bragging to our friends, who always stay on Fort Myers Beach, how great Downtown is and finally talked them into the drive there. We may have chosen a bad day to go because of the Edison Festival of Lights parade, but we all got lucky and found places to park very close. When we arrived at the restaurant is was very empty, there seemed to be as much help, as patrons. We were seated immediately and had a great table. It was the high tops near, but not too close to the great entertainer. We ordered drinks (there were 6 of us) .The order was 1 draft bear, one scotch on the rocks, and four martinis It took very long, and then the waitress brought them one at a time. First the scotch and water,at least 5 minutes later, two dirty martinis, a few minutes later, an Almond Joy martini. next was a vodka martini, which must been made in the same shaker as the dirty martinis because it tasted of Olives,. This was replaced with the correct drink, which was fine. Finally the draft beer was brought to the table,. We were all laughing at how long the beer took. The waitress finally came to take our order. I had the Pan Seared Snapper, it was fantastic. I will find it hard to order anything else on the menu it was so good. It was a very generous piece and cooked perfectly. My wife, & a friends wife, ordered the tenderloin tips. We had been at the bar having drinks about a month earlier and the woman next to us had ordered them. They looked fantastic, was a very generous portion,and the woman was raving about them. My wife and friend's were not so great, they were tough, grisly, not as large a portion as we had observed before and didn't come with a sauce. After asking, the waiter brought a sauce to put on them. Also, because of the size portion we had observed before, my wife and friend ordered them as their main course. My wife had also ordered the wedge salad and loved it. It was a very large portion and the dressing was great. Another of our guests ordered the Braised Peruvian lamb Shank and said he would definitely go back and order it again, it was perfect. The last couple both ordered the special of the day, a Veal Porterhouse. They both liked it and said it was very good, (not great) but way more than acceptable. They also split a Caesar salad and liked it. We had eaten there many times before and miss a few items off their old menu, the house salad and the twin tenderloins wrapped in bacon. I think they should put them back on the menu, we miss them they were so good. We also ate there about a week ago and I had the Rib Eye Steak and it was good. and my wife had the Pan Seared snapper which was, as always, fabulous.The other couple was not impressed All in all, we like this restaurant and we will go back there and try again, (even Babe Ruth didn't hit a home run every time at bat). But, this is the third time in a row that it seams they are slipping. I don't know if it's the owners or chief, but I hope they get their act together because the place is beautiful, the bar can be fun, and we love to go downtown.
(2)Kim O.
Attentive waiter; excellent snapper with risotto dish: live music in the background. Appealing atmosphere, good location; I'd go back for sure.
(5)Dan D.
Great meal, went for restaurant week. Osso bucco was delish but the cioppino pot pie was fantastic, great presentation.
(5)Rachel M.
Excellent service, pretty good food. The Friday night entertainment sets a nice atmosphere, too. It has a good balance of feeling upscale without being pretentious. All in all, a really great place for a night out.
(4)