68 restaurants in Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral taking part in Sizzle SWFL Restaurant Week

It's a Restaurant Week for the record books with more than 65 area restaurants from Cape Coral to Marco Island taking part in this fall's Sizzle SWFL.

In late 2015 Guy Clarke sat in Rafael Feliciano's backyard and the duo crafted a plan for the first Sizzle SWFL Restaurant Week. 

Feliciano had worked as a restaurant trainer. He traveled to New York, Chicago, Cincinnati and points north for his job. He saw restaurant-week events take off in those larger cities. He wanted to bring the same to Southwest Florida. 

"I brought this up to Guy and he was like: I think this is a great idea. If you need any help, if you want me to work with you, I will quit my job and help you right away," Feliciano said. 

"I reached out to him on a Thursday, by Monday he was on my patio and we were working on restaurant week."

Clarke, who specializes in marketing and events, proved to be the catalyst Feliciano's idea needed. A few months later, in spring 2016, they launched their first-ever event with 23 restaurants, all in Naples.

Monday marked the start of the eighth Sizzle SWFL Restaurant Week, with more than 65 restaurants taking part from Cape Coral to Marco Island. The event goes through Dec. 15. 

How does it work? Sizzle's featured restaurants craft special fixed-price, three-course menus for the event. Dinner offerings include an appetizer, entree and dessert for $26-$36. Lunches feature the same three courses for $21-$26.

All diners have to do is show up to a participating Sizzle restaurant and eat. 

"It's really meant to introduce people to places that maybe they've heard of, but that they haven't been able to try yet," Feliciano said. 

"We make these restaurants more accessible. These probably aren't restaurants where most of us could eat every day or even every week, but this way you can go, check it out, and next time you have a celebration or birthday, you know such-and-such restaurant is going to be a great fit."

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Clarke and Feliciano said Sizzle's growth has been monitored and intentional. The partners had more than 120 restaurant apply to be part of this season's event, but only 65-some fit their criteria. 

Feliciano called that criteria their three-P system: price point, prestige and presence. 

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Price point: Sizzle searches out higher-end restaurants where a $26 or $36 dinner menu has value. "These are places where entrees can be $50 or more," Feliciano said. "I'm not saying $36 is cheap, but it's about what you're getting for your money."

Prestige: Sizzle selects restaurants based on their reputation in the community, places that are known for all-around quality. 

Presence: These restaurants must provide an experience, Feliciano said. High-end service and a beautiful setting are musts. 

Sizzle intentionally focuses on local independent restaurants. While it does feature a few select chains, Feliciano said those chains are meant to help highlight the mom-and-pops. 

"Maybe someone's never heard of Artisan Eatery," Feliciano said, "but they see it next to a more recognizable name like Fleming's or Ocean Prime, and that shows them what kind of league this is."

Also intentional is Sizzle's timing. The events take place in spring and fall, to help fill the voids area restaurants face going into and coming out of winter's peak visitors season. 

"This one especially is a no-brainer. After Thanksgiving no one's eating, and before Christmas no one's spending money at restaurants," Feliciano said. 

"This really fills in the gap."

So, what's next for Sizzle?

"One day, we'd love to get to 100 restaurants, but we'll get to that point when the numbers make sense," Feliciano said. 

"The goal is to look back 20 years from now and say, 'Wow, this is a two decade long event. It's a staple in the community. It's a pillar everyone looks forward to."

$1 from every Sizzle SWFL Restaurant Week meal sold will benefit the Sizzle SWFL FGCU Food & Beverage Scholarship. To view menus, restaurants and more visit swflrestaurantweek.com. 

Sizzle SWFL Restaurant Week restaurants

Fort Myers

Artisan Eatery (dinner)

Blue Pointe Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill (lunch and dinner)

Naples Coastal Kitchen (lunch and dinner)

The Melting Pot (dinner)

Society (TBD)

Cape Coral

Fathoms Restaurant & Bar (dinner)

Gather (dinner)

Point 57 Kitchen & Cocktails (dinner) 

Redfish Point Garden (dinner)

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Bonita Springs and Estero

Angelina's Ristorante (dinner)

Cirella's Italian Bistro (dinner)

KC American Bistro (dinner)

Roy's Restaurant (dinner)

South Fork Grille (TBD)

Ted's Montana Grill (dinner)

Wylds Cafe (dinner)

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Naples

Alexander's Restaurant (lunch and dinner)

Baleen at LaPlaya (TBD)

Bayside Seafood Grill & Bar (dinner)

Brio (dinner)

Chez Guy Parisian Bistro (dinner)

Cirella's (dinner)

Coast at the Edgewater Beach Hotel (dinner)

Coopers Hawk Winery & Restaurant (dinner)

Cote D'Azur (dinner)

Dorona (dinner)

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Fleming's Steakhouse (dinner)

KC American Bistro (dinner)

Lamoraga (dinner)

L'Auberge (dinner)

M Waterfront Grille (dinner)

Naples Coastal Kitchen (dinner)

Real Seafood Company (dinner)

Shula's Steak House (lunch and dinner)

T-Michael's Steak & Lobster House (dinner)

Tartine & Tartelette (dinner) 

The Bay House Restaurant (dinner) 

The Catch of the Pelican at Naples Grande (brunch, dinner, vegan menu)

The Hampton Social (lunch and dinner)

The Local (dinner)

The Pearl Steak & Seafood Restaurant (dinner)

The Rooster Food+Drink Dinner (lunch)

The Warehouse Cuisine & Cocktails (lunch and dinner)

Downtown Naples

1500 South at Naples Bay Resort (dinner)

Barbatella (dinner)

Bha! Bha! Persian Bistro (dinner)

Bistro 821 (dinner)

Bleu Provence (dinner)

Campiello (dinner)

Continental (dinner)

K-Rico Mexican Grill (lunch and dinner)

Mediterrano (dinner and vegan menu)

Ocean Prime (lunch and dinner)

Osteria Tulia (dinner)

Ridgway Bar & Grill (dinner)

Ristorante Ciao (dinner)

Sails (dinner)

Sea Salt (dinner)

The Boathouse on Naples Bay (dinner)

The Claw Bar at the Bellasera Resort (brunch, lunch, dinner)

The French (dinner)

Tommy Bahama Restaurant (dinner)

Veranda E at the Escalante Hotel (TBD)

Vergina Restaurant (TBD)