Went to the original off Daniels. Disappointed with the changes that they made since opening up a satellite in Fort Myers. No sides included with dinner menus ... a-la-carte which averages a 40% additional cost to customer. The "etoufe soup" recipe has changed ... just a hint of rice, chucks of vegetables, minimal crayfish and very bland. Was eatable but not what it use to be. The restaurant was not busy for a Saturday ... when we left at 8 the bar was empty. read more

Wanted to try a place we've never been. Heard about Fancy's and decided to give it a try. Glad we did. My husband had pot roast which he promptly gobbled up. I had the chicken pot pie which was yummy. We shared an old fashion drink. Staff is friendly and well informed of their menu. The decor was comfortable and interesting. Thank you Fancy's for a great evenings read more

Fancy's Southern Cafe - Empty plate of what was pot roast. - Southern Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

I should have listened to the other reviews...they were right on! The food was all ala cart. Nothing comes with your meal. And to purchase sides it's a shareable side. So you have to ask people at your table if they'll go in to get the side you want. Because the "side" was such a large portion. Disappointing. This should be changed immediately. I had the country fried steak. It was ok. Gravy stated white peppercorn gravy. It was not white. But it tasted ok. Much better than the gravy that came on the potatoes. It was NOT good. My husband had the chicken and waffles. He liked it. Our other party had pot roast and they said the seasoning was a very unusual flavor. Not tasty. Potatoes and carrots were not cooked throughout. Liver and onions were good. The corn bread was good. Our server, Luke was cordial however it appeared that we irritated him. I caught him talking about us to another server and the cook as they all turned and looked us. Maybe I'm reading into it but based on other reviews I read I think they were being negative about our group. ‍ Anyway I would not recommend this restaurant and I'm sorry I didn't listen to the other reviews. Yelp never steers me wrong. read more

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1/28/2026 Beware maybe just pay cash. Fraudulent. If you leave a 22% tip you will be charged more on your credit card statement. Tab was $38.46 tipped $8.46 charges on my card $50. That girl training the new hire working the bar should be ashamed for stealing. Party of two paying separately a coworker and I both charged more. Food was low grade bland. Lacked any spice or flavor. Looked good but just lacked taste. Baked Mac n cheese was big let down. Sweet potato soufflé was good. I don't drink alcohol but coworker does. He said his old fashion was made wrong. Also for only 10 people in the place the service was slow for two bar people. I let my staff of a 100+ know while we're in town to avoid the place. Hope the entitlement and theft was worth it. I have never left a bad review but theft will not be tolerated. read more

Fancy's Southern Cafe - Country fried steak 6oz tons of batter - Southern Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

This place is so popular but I just can't get on board. The menu is amazing and boiled peanuts are my absolute favorite. Those were delicious and we ordered the donuts which were also superstars. However, the tradional breakfast was served lukewarm and it was less than appetizing. The hash browns were tough and tastes less and scrambled eggs watery. The biscuits were ok.. This place definitely has potential if they can increase the quality of food. read more

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We came to Fancy's Southern Cafe expecting southern hospitality, but unfortunately, that's the one thing that never showed up. After waiting over 10 minutes at the front door with no employee in sight, we should have taken it as a sign. Once seated, our server seemed annoyed that we were there and made us feel more like a burden than guests. The food didn't help. My husband's country fried steak was so burned it could have doubled as breaded charcoal, and my chicken pot pie was as bland as a rainy Monday. Neither of us ate more than a few bites. (pictures attached are our plates when we left) To top it all off, our server added a 20% gratuity to the bill himself--which was far more generous than I would have been based on the service we received. Bad food is disappointing. Bad service makes it unforgettable. We left hungry, frustrated, and wishing we'd chosen just about anywhere else. read more

Fancy's Southern Cafe - Country fried steak should have been named country fried charcoal. - Southern Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

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Although we called ahead, they were not ready to serve 15 hungry seniors. ONE server to record and distribute beverage options as well as take appetizers and lunch orders AND deliver them. This was early afternoon (1:30-4:00 pm!!!) and we were the only ones in the restarant. Sever did not know the bottled beer options and upon inquiry, they did indeed serve american beer in addition to some nice local drafts. Food was mediocre - I had mac n cheese - dry,dry,dry - and collard greens - nice flavor. As mentioned we were the only ones here for a long time, so we were able to entertain ourselves. read more

Casual vibe that I adore. Unfortunately they were out of many dishes because they opened a new down town location. The bartender was adorable and did the best she could for an understaffed Monday night. Food was spectacular and so was the service., Catfish and Mac and cheese were stellar Mimosa on the house for long wait times. Really pretty perfect for a low maintenance girl like me. read more

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We have been here several times over the years. This was probably our favorite sit down restaurant of all time before we moved out to Orlando and Las Vegas. We have always been a fan of the food but always felt the service has room for improvement. We have only come during dinner and we always have loved the country fried steak and chicken and waffles. We ordered this upon our recent visit after not coming for several years and the food is just as good as we remembered. The waffles stood out highly this time especially topped with the sweet potato shreds. 4 large waffles in the dish make for a huge plate super filling. The chicken fried steak was good also, one side seemed to be mostly all breading and minimal steak, but was still good. I love the gravy it comes with. Our servers, Ian and his trainee Joel, did a phenomenal job serving. They were extremely friendly and were great with natural conversation. I did knock off a couple stars, since we did see the hosts and some servers sitting around in the front while it wasn't too busy, it's a lazy look and when you look around, you easily see a bunch of dusty items that definitely could use a wipe down.. Overall this place has been pretty consistent with their food at least. Drinks are good too. Just some ambiance things that I feel can use a bit of improvement. read more

Fancy's Southern Cafe - Southern Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

It is very attractive inside and well lit . There are two rooms. One has the bar in it and the other is a dining area. I sat in the bar area. The waitress was very friendly and very helpful in ordering. I decided on the pot pie. It was delicious. I decided to order a banana pudding for dessert. He came in a soup bowl! I shared it with the people surrounding me. The price is reasonable and the ambience is great. I highly recommend it. read more

Fancy's Southern Cafe - Banana pudding - Southern Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

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Absolutely LOVELY ambiance. I can't wait to come back here and get a cocktail at the bar. As much as I want to love everything about this place, the food isn't great :/ it's bland, and the veggies are grey. Thankfully they don't charge outrageous prices, so it's less disappointing. Servers and hostesses are very friendly. read more

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Fancy's was a great time but the food is so so. The bartender was amazing and made killer cocktails. The food was good but not great. The place is beautiful so we would definitely stop back just for a cocktail. read more

Fancy FAILURE How do I begin, we walk in with no reservation.... 7:32 PM The restaurant has lots of seating. Keep reading you'll see why. We wait 15 mins. To get water. A waiter approaches the table next to us and totally ignores us. After 15 more mins Liz walks past and offers help says she is not our waitress but saw us sitting there.... She Takes our order we wait another 20 mins chicken and waffles come out. So not the entire order just chicken and waffles. 15 more mins my dinner date literally goes to find the waitress to ask where my food is at this point his food is rock cold. Liz finds my food lamb chops they were completely Unseasoned! * no sour cream no salt no pepper YUCK!!!! She offered to bring both but only provided sour cream. I eat one of the horrible chops then ask for the bill! She sends over the manager Lucious the inexperienced and overwhelmed manger... guess what guys. He waited on the table next to us.... But walked past my table like we were invisible.....Lucious provided an insincere apology and says he will see what he can do billing wise. Says he will be back in a minute.... He walks past us 4 times no eye contact. Finally Liz comes with the bill. See attached**** I call Lucious and ask why didn't come back to address our concern "I got busy". Ummmm this place is empty and he is reason why! Moving on I pay the bill but can't help but wonder why they wouldn't provide service to our table. See the bill!! They planned on charging me $65 for these nasty chops... OMG!!! In the case Fancy's restaurant downtown Fort Myers is an absolute FAILURE of a restaurant. SEATED. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RESTAURANT... IGNORED NO SERVICE NO FOOD***Sorry to deliver this news Dear owners the staff has no idea how to deliver food service. Please evaluate P&L with Lucious as the manager this location will be closed in no time. THIS IS LITERALLY ONE OF THE WORST RESTAURANTS I HAVE EVER VISITED !!! Guess what leadership people do not care about your attempt to get settled or in your grove we are paying for dinner!! read more

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Cute spot. Came for dinner with a friend while in town. We had chicken and waffles, Shrimp and grits and a side of mashed potatoes. Our server was so helpful, funny and kind. She encouraged to get whatever we wanted to eat, no restrictions and how we wanted it served. I'll come back here next time I'm in town! read more

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I liked this place. Went on a Sunday, so it was the weekend menu. Brunch and dinner. They close at 2:30 (until 3:30) for the changeover. Food was very good and service was very attentive. Place isn't huge but it's big enough. I understand they are opening a new location downtown - can't wait. read more

Fancy's Southern Cafe - Weekend menu - Southern Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

Chicken and waffles are fantastic as is the salads. Everything tastes homemade including the salad dressing and the syrup for the waffles. I've never tasted such elevated syrup before and it was a star! Highly recommend this place. Tucked away behind a strip mall, but it is worth looking for! Could use a bit brighter lighting, but that is the only complaint. Service was great, food was great, what more can ask? read more

I went to Fancy's Southern Cafe one day to meet a friend for lunch. I was shocked to see Frog Legs with Hot Honey Sauce on the menu, so I decided why not try it. My friend and I both tried their frog legs and both agreed that the hot honey sauce made the frog legs much more palatable. I also ordered their Fried Chicken & Waffles dish which was incredibly delicious (both taste and appearance). My friend ordered the same and we both licked our plates clean. Our server was great and very personable. The atmosphere inside was upscale but comfortable. Overall, great experience!! read more

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We had a very good lunch here. And if you like old-fashioned southern cooking, you would as well. Service was friendly but a bit slow. The kitchen staff, however, is most talented so any wait is well worth it. As we were traveling, it was nice that this restaurant was not a far detour off the highway. And it was easy parking right out front. The restaurant has a couple sections -- a bar area and a separate dining room. We chose to dine in the regular dining room as it was quieter. They had a number of appealing lunch specials. It was hard to choose. Each special came with the addition of two sides. And the portions are big enough to share. My husband selected the liver and onions. For sides, he chose the collard greens and mashed potatoes with gravy. He said it was very good. I opted for their chicken pot pie and got green beans and sweet potato casserole as my sides. The pot pie was creamy with a large amount of white meat shredded chicken, peas, and carrots, in the rich sauce. All was topped with a very delicious puff pastry topping. Both portions were huge, and we both took half our meals home. My husband did save some room for his (absolute) favorite dessert -- banana pudding. Again, a huge portion, with fresh bananas and crunchy vanilla wafers added to the pudding. There were also some small dollops of whipped cream, as well. We had the leftovers for a couple days... I'm sure we will be coming back here when we next pass by this area. This place is a keeper. read more

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Came here after work, I was surprise the place wasn't pack. Sat down at the bar and order my drinks and food. For appetizer I had the deviled eggs. Main course had the Shrimp and Grits and dessert peach cobbler. The deviled eggs was good, but it need more flavor & a kick to it. The star of the nite was the Shrimp & Grits, shrimp was cooked perfectly, and the grits has goof flavor, especially I love how it has a kick to it. Love it so much still thinking about that dishe. Lastly the dessert, peach cobblers it was warm and it was perfect. I was so full after the dinner. The server server is very attentive. Overall I love everything that I ordered. Highly recommend this place. I would definitely go back again. read more

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One star taken away since I've never ordered an entree of eggs Benedict and only receive one Benedict. The donuts while fresh are incredibly sweet fyi for those too sensitive. Service at the bar was great. The mac and cheese and country fried steak lived up to the hype. We'll come back again to try other items. read more

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What a welcoming vibe one gets walking into this quaint establishment. The alluring aroma from the delicious waffles fill the air. I met my friend for lunch. She had ordered for our appetizer Fried Frog Legs. I had never ever eaten frog legs before in my life. After Tim , our server, placed the plate between us, I took a pair of frog legs and placed them on my plate. As I gazed upon the chubby legs, I began profusely apologizing crying & asking for forgiveness. Once I finished my apology , I gently cut pieces off and ate them. The legs were perfectly seasoned & gently fried to perfection. It really did taste like chicken. I must admit it was very good. Then my entree came out...Chicken and Waffles! Wow! The buttermilk vanilla syrup really was absolutely amazing & delicious! The chicken breast was perfectly cooked and the small Belgian waffles were light , fluffy and yummy. The sweet potato accent spirals really topped it nicely. Tim was phenomenal. We couldn't ask for a better server. We shall return! read more

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I still love the location and the amazing interior of the restaurant. Andrew and Tracy were amazing bartenders as usual and the management (especially Jared) are ever present. Even previous servers and bartenders make you feel welcome and remembered(Lucias). I had a Ribeye tonight requested medium and it was served perfectly grilled. I was surprised by the balsamic vinegar which I don't like, but moved it piece by piece to a small plate, so it didn't matter much. I love Fancy's and I still stand by my assertion that it is the best fine dining that I have had in downtown Fort Myers. read more

Stop it right now! Why have I taken so long to come to fancy's? It's been on my list for 2 years and we just went in on Sunday! We were one of the last ones to come in about an hour before close and they were so accommodating! They had live music and the perfect dimly lit ambiance! We were seated, promptly greeted, taken care of very well, and our food came out fast, hot, and fresh from the kitchen! Everything we tried was absolutely divine: the ribs, the mac n cheese, the chicken and waffles, the sweet potato casserole, the chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, etc! Everything is melt in your mouth and the perfect combo of flavors! This is absolutely a comfort food spot that fulfills every craving! Come to fancy's, you won't regret it! read more

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I had heard good things about Fancy's and thought our party would give it a try. In a nutshell, it would seem it lived up to our expectations. We had our choice of the "music room", with a live band, or general seating in the bar area. We chose the bar area as we wanted to chat during dinner and were unsure if the music room would allow casual conversation. Our server explained that all food is prepared fresh to order, so some items might take a little longer due to cooking time. This allowed us to reasonably set our food arrival expectations. We took a look at the menu and, let me just warn you, it can be a little startling. The pricing seems a bit much for the upscale but still casual southern dishes that they serve. We were hungry and the pricing was not prohibitive, so we went ahead and ordered. We failed to notice the comment on the menu that referenced the orders being large enough to share.... As it turned out, there were copious amounts of food, bringing the value of each dish to a respectable level for the casual diner looking for great food at a reasonable price. We ordered the Florida hot chicken,chicken pot pie,and chicken fried . The food arrived earlier than expected given the chicken I ordered had an estimated cook time of 17-24 minutes. I found the Florida hot chicken to be just the right balance of savory and spicy. The chicken fried steak was a generous portion of beef with just the right amount of breading with a homemade gravy that complimented each bite. While quite delicious, the chicken pot pie would have benefited from a little less salt. Order an extra glass of water with this one. Overall, I would recommend this establishment in a heartbeat. Good food, good overall value, and great service. Give this one a try if you find yourself in the area. read more

We stopped in on a Friday afternoon. Recommended by someone we met briefly. We sat at the bar. One other person was there too. No drink in front of him. Hmm I had to use the restroom. It was so dark in there I could not see! I was looking around, is this a joke? Well, the door didn't lock either, oh well. Scary. I got back to the bar. The other guy at the bar had to go to dining room to find someone to wait on him. A server came over to bartend. My husband's bloody mary had a brown piece of celery and a brown dry wedge of lime. WTF? My Chardonnay was good. Well, we didn't see that server/bartender for another 10 minutes. Our food took another 1/2 hour after that. Chicken was very dry. He asked for onion. It looked like it was drying in the fridge for a month. $1.00. Fries were not only house cut but raw and limp too. They don't believe in chopping greens before they cook them apparently. The bill came at $98. Wow! We should have ha 2 drinks on happy hour... we will never go back. Will never recommend to anyone total fail!Oh that bloody mary was $14.00! What? read more

OMG why haven't we been here sooner? Super cute place so much to look at inside. Food was amazing & server Carlos was great. I had the meatloaf & hub had the country fried steak, both were delicious. Tried the drink special espresso old fashioned & it was great! read more

Fancy's Southern Cafe - Bar side of the dining room - Southern Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

I think they use the title "Fancy" as a crutch.... Everything was just "meh" at best. Nothing to write home about. FOOD: biscuits were stale. I did taste alot of salt in their "fresh" recipe. The French toast was just alright. The "spicy" chicken was just fried chicken with ole bay seasoning. The only thing decent had was the home made donuts. At least those tasted fresh. Service: lacks zest. But at least she was honest. Ambiance: what's with all the cabinet doors? According to my mom... Ladies bathroom needed to be freshened up #gross Buy in large: ill fancy that this trip was a one n done for me. read more

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This was a little over 30 minutes drive. It would be well worth 45 minutes of a drive to enjoy the atmosphere of this hidden gem. We had the chicken pot pie and cornbread, which measured it up to every dream that you would have about southern fare. On the non-southern side of the menu I had a wedge salad, which is one of my favorites and I'm happy to report that this is probably one of the best wedge salads I've ever had. We are traveling, but if I lived here or if I ever come here again, this will be a "for sure" stop read more

My reunion with a lifelong friend, was made even more special at Fancy Southern Café. I asked the server to surprise me with his favorite drink, and although he was only 18, he recommended the Smoked Manhattan, which was remarkable! Every dish we ordered was as good as what could be found on grandma's table! The country classics, like deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes, Florida hot chicken sandwich, and my country fried steak, were all excellent options from this delightful menu! read more

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This meal was excellent!!! Hot, flavorful!! I'm from out of town, and it was a great choice!!!!

Unfortunately food was not as good as we had hoped. I got the Country fried steak, and it tasted like grease, and the gravy had no flavor and must have sat under the warmer for too long; it had a layer of shine. Paying $20.00 for a piece of greasy meat with no flavor, only to have to add $11.00 for mashed potatoes, which luckily saved the meal. The Florida Hot Chicken sandwich was decent, although the French fries weren't anything to write home about. Chicken pot pie was large and also lacked any true flavor in the filling. The service was excellent and was worth 5 stars. The restaurant is lovely inside; it just needs to iron out the lack of flavor in its dishes. read more

True southern cooking. We had a minor issue with one of the orders and they immediately rectified it. Great ambience and the food was even better. read more

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This past Sunday, a group went to Fancy's. We went after church (we had a reservation). What a great time we had! The service was great. The atmosphere was warm (not temperature--mood). The food was fixed well and tasted great. Highly recommend the home made donut appetizers. None of us had the same thing. All were prepared well. So good. read more

Excellent food and service. Best chicken and waffles around. You have to try the donuts!!!

OMG. What a find! Decided to stop for brunch after a golf lesson. Both my husband and I love chicken fried steak, and this did not disappoint. The steak was tender and fried with a perfect amount of coating. The mash potatoes were the best( better than homemade with lots of butter) Definitely a great find. We will be back read more

As a southern restaurant they had no fried green tomatoes or corn bread at 4:30pm on a Saturday. They were also out of several other things. The smashburger was "grey" and the roll was burnt. Drinks cost as much as a dinner entree. read more

What a fabulous brunch for 5 ladies this past Sunday . It was rainy and gloomy, but we had an amazing time at Fancy's Southern Cafe. Our server Danielle was amazing, very friendly and professional, she checked on our special requests w the chef. The food arrived quickly and it was soooo delicious. We split few apps : fried green tomatoes, deviled eggs, doughnuts, fried frog legs (omg ..the best frog legs I ve had anywhere)! I had catfish w waffles, my friends had mountain man omelette, sausage gravy and biscuits, crab Benedict, sausage patties, pancakes, Mac and cheese. Everything was delicious , everyone was happy. Oh ye..and we did bottomless mimosas ..$23 a person, was def worth the price w 4 dif juices to choose from to accompany. We ll be def back to such a fine establishment in Ft Myers, FL!!! read more

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GREAT PLACE!! One of the vest espresso martinis!! we were visiting my husband's son and family and they recommended this place. I had some of the best ribs I've ever had! And a loaded baked potato. My husband had the jambalaya. My SIL had the chicken and waffles. It looked fabulous! Kids had the biggest portion of mac N cheese I've seen! Most adults couldn't finish it. We had leftovers! I can't wait to come back... read more

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Such a cool looking place. The walls have elements of old buildings and homes; old doors, cabinets, windows, tin roofs. He tries the frogs legs and ate every bit of meat off them. The chicken and waffles did not disappoint. The waffles are fluffy and full of flavor, as is the chicken. He tried the ribs, which were fall-off-the-bone tender and melted in the mouth. The only complaint was that the Mac and cheese was cold in the middle. Our server was very friendly and attentive. read more

Oh, in all honesty, I was there with five friends and the other four thought the place was marvelous. I however, was not a fan of southern cooking. I had the waffles and chicken and it looked amazing. It was delivered and it was a high tower of chicken and waffles. Eating it, though, was not as great as I thought it would. The chicken was dried out and over salted -really not pleasant to eat. The waffles themselves were fine, but the syrup was a homemade, thick caramel gloup that I did not care for. Two of the other ladies had shrimp and grits and étouffée. They both loved it. Two had a meatloaf sandwich. They said it was amazing- so it was probably just my choice, but I think I would probably only go there if you were a big fan of southern cooking which obviously I am not. read more