LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- Wake up your taste buds, we're taking you to the restaurant you voted 'best for breakfast' in our Taste and See poll.
But you also told us that what makes Moody River Grille so good is not just the food, but the fact they make their own syrup.
Few things look better in the morning than eggs on the grill. "It gets you fueled up for the day. It gets you started for the day. It's like putting gas in your car and getting you ready to go," says Jeff Smith.
We put the pedal to the metal and cruised over to North Fort Myers, to Moody River Grille.
You may not recognize the name; it's only been around for about four months. But owners Jeff and Caryn Smith are already whipping up some buzz.
"You have to be crazy to be in the restaurant business…because it's a risk. I mean, restaurants come and go, as we know. It's a huge food town. I know a lot of restaurant owners are my friends. A lot of our competition is our friends. And you know, you really have to believe in yourself," says Caryn.
There's no doubt, it's a tough business. But the Smiths believe they have a recipe for success. "People come out to the restaurant for three reasons: good food, good service and good atmosphere," says Jeff.
Let’s start with the food. Chef Drew Blake is winning back repeat customers with unique, all fresh from scratch creations. From omelets, to French toast, including homemade syrup, there's an attention to detail, as fine as the roses he creates out of strawberries.
"He puts four of these on a French toast with powdered sugar, and he stuffs it with a cream cheese with strawberry in it too, and it's really good," says Jeff.
'Really good' is also how you described the service there, when you voted for Moody River Grille on our Facebook page.
“Jeff's very good about connecting with people. He has a memory like crazy. He can remember people's birthday, who their cousins are...and just has a really great rapport with them," says Caryn.
"We get to know our customers. It's like their home away from home. That's how we try to make it."
Moody River Grille is located on Hancock Bridge Parkway at Orange Grove Boulevard in North Fort Myers.
