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Jazz nightly at the Beach’s Roadhouse Cafe

By Staff | Nov 14, 2009

The Roadhouse Cafe has been a staple for the local jazz scene for nearly two years, and its owners, Lynda Colombo, Marc Neely and Sherri Colombo-Neely (above), pride themselves on being compared to a supper club of the 1950s, a place where people would gather for great food and live entertainment daily. Photo by MELISSA SCHNEIDER

In business for just about two years at 15660 San Carlos Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, the Roadhouse Cafe and Piano Bar is a little slice of heaven, offering patrons a casual fine dining experience intertwined with some of the best live and local jazz musicians around.

“It’s almost like a supper club of the ’50s, based around the great music that we have here,” said Sherri Colombo-Neely, co-owner of the establishment, along with her husband, Marc, head chef.

The quaint, warm and very inviting and ambient Roadhouse Cafe is tinged with a Mediterranean style and European flair, priding itself on the eclectic and homemade menu that’s catered around the toughest of appetites.

“My brother, David Colombo, owns the very famous Roadhouse Cafe up in Hyannis, Cape Cod,” Sherri said. “When we opened a ?Roadhouse Cafe down here, David’s menu is so perfected and well-known, written up as the best in Cape Cod, we flew his chef down, who taught our kitchen staff David’s menu, and it’s been very well enjoyed.”

In fact, the Roadhouse Cafe of Southwest Florida is so parallel to its predecessor in Cape Cod, Sherri said many seasonal visitors are sure to regularly frequent both restaurants.

The menu

The Roadhouse Cafe’s menu is extremely eclectic, ranging anywhere from homemade flat breads and veal gorgonzola to lobster tails, lamb duck and intricate pasta dishes.

“We’ve recently added pork osso bucco, stuffed chicken,” “and the best burgers in town,” said Marc, concluded by Sherri.

Desserts are as fresh and homemade as the rest of the menu, with famous orange cake, cheesecake and carrot cake the house specialties, and this restaurant has toggled between the No. 1 and No. 2 (mainly No. 1) spots on Trip Advisor’s rating system since first opening its doors.

While enjoying your entrees tableside (or cocktails and appetizers at the full bar), be sure to take in the fresh flowers hand-picked by gardener Jane Baker every day, along with the crystal candles generously placed throughout the establishment.

Aside from the great tableside layout, the Roadhouse Cafe offers special seating within The Cave, a quaint and cozy “cave-like” dining room that comfortably seats six.

“There’s no charge to dine in The Cave, but it’s probably a good idea to make a reservation,” Sherri said.

Another special seating area is the wine room, which seats 23 to 25 and perfect for parties, larger functions, business meetings and more.

“We host lots of parties and meetings, and I?love decorating. If there’s a special request, like balloons or flowers, let me know and we’ll have it done,” Sherri said.

Speaking of special requests, Sherri is happy to offer whatever she can to make patrons feel at home.

“We started our herb garden outside because one guest asked us to have mint for mojitos,” Sherri said. “If you have a special request for a certain wine, or liquor, food preparation or anything else, let us know and we’ll do what we can to get it done for you.”

The music

Being the daughter of a world-renowned trumpetist Lou Colombo (who has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra and more) Sherri and Marc are sure to incorporate and completely intertwine music within their restaurant, offering live and local jazz daily from some of the best musicians around, offering one of the very few piano bars in town, where patrons are invited to sit around the piano for an upclose and personal musical show.

The famous trumpeter is a seasonal resident of Southwest Florida and entertains to folks of the Roadhouse Cafe Tuesdays and Thursdays, creating a packed house night after night.

“We’ve always maintained live music seven days a week even in the summer,” Sherri said. “Music is such an important part of life.”

Monday nights, enjoy a New York Latin Jazz fusion with Tony Pastrana, along with Joe Delaney and others. Tuesday to Thursday nights are an array of different-styled piano entertainment, including Joe McCormick. Saturday is a wild jazz trio spectacle, and Sundays are encouraged as a complete jam session, inviting fellow musicians on stage for some fun.

Specials and hours

This quaint and social cafe offers dinner specials nightly, as well as two-for-one happy hour from open to 7 p.m. Sunday to Thursday on wells, house wines and half-price appetizers.

Hours are 4:30 to 10 p.m., with dinner beginning at 5 p.m., and early bird between 5 and 7 p.m., where you enjoy $5 off all entrees if seated before 6 p.m.

Also, a light menu is offered after 10 p.m. during season. Reservations are suggested. For more information, call 415-4375 or visit RoadhouseCafeFl.com.

“The biggest compliment we get is when someone tells us they feel like they’ve been invited in our home,” Sherri said. “People have told us upon stepping into our restaurant, they feel like they’re in Chicago or New York City, and they actually make a night here, coming in for dinner, then enjoying some drinks and live jazz music. We just want people to come in, relax, and have a nice night out.”