Needs Work
Matlacha, Florida
Cuisine Style: Italian
Average Price: $
Overall Rating: 0.5 / 5
Dined: June 2019
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Miceli's Restaurant Zomato rating:
Miceli's Restaurant Executive Chef:
The Miceli Brothers
Miceli's Restaurant is an Italian and American centric spot offering a basic traditional blend of foods plus regular live music on the back patio that faces the Buzzard Bay inlet to the Gulf Of Mexico. They are located on the main road to Pine Island to the West on the edge of Cape Coral next to the small town of Matlacha. Matlacha is one of five small communities near Cape Coral and is located on a small island in Matlacha Pass, east of the larger Pine Island. It is an "Old Florida" fishing village, home to many colorful art galleries, island boutiques, restaurants, and traditional Floridian cottages that have murals matching the “hippy” vibe of the village itself.
Miceli’s is the only Italian restaurant on the island as Matlacha is known more for its seafood, so it holds the market for now on this cuisine with the only competition being a Carrabbas Italian Grill several miles away. They also have their own shop with products and shirt artwork created by the local artists that Matlacha is famous for. The restaurant was very crowded with locals from the two islands and probably from people in neighboring Cape Coral as well and maybe some tourists. The patio was packed out with a live band, and the vibe inside was a little loud from conversation and music. My wife started with a cosmopolitan martini while I had a Peroni beer and looked over the menu.
Miceli's Restaurant Menu:
- Appetizers
- Fresh Salads
- Baskets
- Homemade Soups
- Sandwiches, Burgers & Wraps
- Grinders
- Specialty Pizzas
- Calzone and Stromboli’s
- Daily Specials
- Pasta Entrees
- Dinner Entrees
- Kids menu
- Homemade Desserts
We were originally attracted to come for two reasons, some locals recommended it not for food but for the vibe and atmosphere of island life, and the other because my wife has had nearly lifelong friends with that name. From the first impression, we can start by saying that the service was very not good, and the plate presentation and food quality could have been much better. My wife and I shared a bottle of Pinot Noir from the Seaglass Wine Company, a Santa Barbara Central Coast AVA from the Los Alamos Vineyard resting just 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean. According to the winemakers’ notes, it is a delicate, perfumed Pinot Noir, indicative of the sea-swept vines and on the palate, it is a quintessential expression of Santa Barbara County’s cool-climate vines, with its elegant, light-bodied style. Delicate aromas hint at the bright red cherry and strawberry flavors. Beautifully balanced with vibrant acidity, this wine is the ideal complement for grilled salmon, lamb, and earthy mushrooms.
We started with the bacon-wrapped scallops, four to the order raggedly placed onto the red plate over some lettuce leaves and a lemon wedge. The presentation did not impress, plus the bacon was very dry and the two of the scallops were slightly overcooked. The server also did not have much grace when presenting them and moved away faster than a bolt of lightning. Before we're done with the scallops the bread and salad orders had arrived, which gave us the feeling of being rushed, a big no-go when you dine out. If it was fast food, then that would be understandable.
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| Miceli's / Bacon Wrapped Scallops |
We didn’t really have time to enjoy the salad as the entrees came up right after, and then by rushing we filled up faster and took both the entrees to go after only have a few bites of each. My wife had the small Miceli’s vegetable pizza with onion, green bell peppers, mushrooms black olives, and spinach. They also advertised garlic but neither of us got any fragrant hint or hit of garlic on the palette as we ate the pizza. To my knowledge, I also do not remember any spinach being on that pizza either, so the menu needs to be updated, or the cook missed a step in preparation.
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| Miceli's / Vegetable Pizza |
I had the steak ravioli dinner covered in a mushroom sauce that did have good flavors and complexity and melting texture of ravioli, lightly seasoned and aromatic. All the ravioli’s looked the same as far as design and size, so either they had an industrial machine in the kitchen to make them that way, or they were all purchased from an outside vendor. If they were handmade in the kitchen bravo to the cook that does them.
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| Miceli's / Steak Ravioli |
Dessert:
We did not have dessert during this visit, but check out some of these wonderful selections from Wine Dine and Play:
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
United States:
California:
Sub-Central AVA’s:
Other noteworthy Italian cuisine articles and restaurants similar to Miceli's Restaurant:
Italian cuisine is noted for its regional diversity, especially between the northern and the southern Italian peninsula. It offers an abundance of taste and is one of the most popular in the world. It has influenced several cuisines around the world chiefly that of the United States.
Alioto’s Restaurant Historic restaurant serving Sicilian-infused seafood in San Francisco, California
BiCE Restaurant Acclaimed upmarket classic with innovative Italian at the Dubai Marina in Dubai, UAE
BRIO Tuscan Grille Relaxed Tuscan-inspired Italian chain eatery, reviewed in Sarasota, Florida
Feola’s Italian Ristorante Relaxed eatery for pizza and pasta in Treasure Island, Florida
Gino’s East Pizzeria Chain serving Chicago-style deep dish pizza and other Italian eats in Chicago, Illinois
Greystone CIA Restaurant CIA School restaurant formally called Wine Spectator now Gate-House in Calistoga, California
La Petite Maison Relaxed French-Italian restaurant at the DFIC in Dubai, UAE
Locale Seasonal Northern Italian at the De Bortoli Winery in the Yarra Valley, Australia
Noble Crust Modern contemporary Italian and Southern dishes in St Petersburg, Florida
Pia’s Trattoria Tuscan-themed old-school Italian restaurant In Gulfport, Florida
Pizza Republica Trendy Italian trattoria and pizza restaurant in Centennial, Colorado
Ponte Vecchio Fine dining Italian classics in the Fallsview Hotel, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Portofino’s A family-owned Italian Restaurant near Maximo serving great pizza in St. Petersburg,
Prato Rustic Italian bistro with modern takes on classic dishes in Winter Park, Florida
Roberto’s Ristorante A walk into the Piemonte with a contemporary twist at the DIFC, Dubai, UAE
Sea-Guini Chic restaurant with seafood and Italian-inspired cuisine in Clearwater Beach, Florida
The Garlic An old-world approach to Italian with Mediterranean classics in New Smyrna Beach, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
A few Florida restaurant favorites:
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Izakaya Japanese restaurant focusing on ramen bowls
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
|
A Philadelphia style sports bar and sandwich shop
Tierra Verde
|
Sports bar, eatery, and driving range
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations, and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambience, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Miceli's Restaurant a 0.5 out of 5 stars, meaning that they were below the average of most dining experiences in restaurants, and with some better much customer service and more concentration to plate presentation and food quality they will increase in rating score.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Miceli’s Restaurant
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambience
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11
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9
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2
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Food quality
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11
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8
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3
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Plate presentation
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9
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5
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4
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Customer service
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14
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6
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8
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Alcohol and other beverages
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9
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7
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2
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Total regular points awarded
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54
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35
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19
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.648148148148148
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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0
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.648148148148148
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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0.5
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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0.5 of 5 Stars:
65% Rating with a 0 point “wow” bonus
A below Average Dining Experience
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Corkage fees:
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Miceli's Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge $25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant-style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style at Miceli's Restaurant:
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Italian
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Gluten-free choices, Low Carb Pescatarian, Vegetarian Options
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Reservations:
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Recommended
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wear’s flip-flops!
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Miceli's Restaurant Experiences:
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Contemporary, Hotspot, Great outdoor dining, Good for special occasions, Rustic, Scenic views, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Miceli's Restaurant has a private lot
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Loud
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Smoking:
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Miceli's Restaurant is a non-smoking restaurant with a non-smoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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££
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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Miceli's Restaurant:
3930 Pine Island Road
Matlacha, Florida
33993, USA
By Boat
Latitude:N 26° 38′ 9.0035″
Longitude:W 82° 3′ 53.4719″
Longitude:W 82° 3′ 53.4719″
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 239-282-8233
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Email Us:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Lunch: Sun - Thur
11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Fri - Sat
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Happy Hour: daily
11:00 am - 7:00 pm
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Social Media
And
Accolades for Miceli's Restaurant:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Farm-to-Table Southern bites spot Sandy Springs, Georgia, USA
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Fine-dining waterfront spot for grilled fish and steaks
Indian Shores, Florida, USA
|
Native American Cuisine w/Barbacoa Grilling
Tampa, Florida, USA
|
Other Miceli's Restaurant Pictures:
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| Miceli's / Salad and bread |
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| Miceli's / 10th Anniversary logo |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
