Sweet Melissa’s exterior -COURTESY PHOTO
Sweet Melissa’s Restaurant is inviting guests on a culinary journey around the world, one glass at a time, with the launch of its Summer Wine Dinner Series, as well as a new nightly three-course prix fixe menu.
James Beard Award nominee and Food Network alumna Chef Melissa Donahue is leading guests on an intimate, globe-spanning exploration of wine regions through a rotating lineup of chef-crafted, multi-course tasting dinners— no passport required. Each stop on the itinerary will be paired with an exclusive seasonal dining experience available throughout the summer.
Each dinner in the Summer Wine Dinner Series will transport guests through a different wine-producing region of the world, with Chef Melissa curating multi-course tasting menus specifically designed to complement the featured wines. Sommelier and Mixologist Kevin O’Malley, widely known among local dining enthusiasts as K.O., will guide guests through the evening’s wine selections.
Sweet Melissa’s interior -COURTESY PHOTO
Spanish Wine Dinner — Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 6 p.m.
Escape to Spain for an unforgettable evening of exceptional wines and authentic flavors. Guests are invited to join Chef Melissa for an exclusive, beautifully curated five-course tasting experience, with every course featuring a signature Spanish dish paired with a hand-selected wine:
Course 1: Faustino Cava Brut paired with salt cod-stuffed piquillo pepper
Course 2: Licia Albariño 2024 paired with squid ink angel hair pasta, charred octopus sofrito and English peas
Course 3: Alto Moncayo Veraton 2022 paired with patatas bravas with ’nduja and tomato broth
Course 4: Porta Crianza 2021 paired with short rib croquette
Course 5: Pedro Ximénez Sherry paired with churros with flan sauce
The Spanish Wine Dinner will be held Wednesday, July 22, at 6 p.m., with tickets priced at $100 per person. Seating is limited, and reservations are highly recommended for this special culinary journey.
Upcoming wine dinner dates include:
Italy – Friday, Aug. 14, 2026
Portugal – Friday, Sept. 18, 2026
Nightly Three-Course Prix Fixe Menu:
In addition to the wine dinner series, Sweet Melissa’s is offering a new nightly three-course prix fixe menu, available throughout the summer and priced at $50 per person. The prix fixe menu offers guests an opportunity to experience Chef Melissa’s chef-driven, farm-to-table cuisine in a structured format that highlights the freshest seasonal ingredients. The current menu features fire-grilled artisan romaine hearts with Parmesan, white truffle oil and house Caesar dressing; a grilled 6-ounce flat iron steak with crispy fingerling potatoes, caramelized cipollini onions, sautéed spinach and a rich demi-glace; and a key lime white chocolate bread pudding finished with mixed berry coulis. Dishes will rotate periodically throughout the summer, so this menu will only be available through the end of July.
Seating for each event is limited and reservations are required. For more information or to make a reservation, visit SweetMelissasRestaurant.com or call 239-990-6889.
Patatas Bravas -COURTESY PHOTO
short rib croquette -COURTESY PHOTO
squid ink angel hair pasta, charred octopus sofrito and English peas -COURTESY PHOTO
Squid ink angel hair pasta -COURTESY PHOTO
About Sweet Melissa’s Restaurant
Sweet Melissa’s Restaurant is a chef-driven, farm-to-table dining destination located at 16230 Summerlin Road in Fort Myers. Founded and led by Executive Chef Melissa Donahue, a James Beard Award nominee and Food Network television personality, the restaurant carries forward more than a decade of culinary legacy originally established at the beloved Sweet Melissa’s Café on Sanibel Island. Following the devastation of Hurricane Ian in 2022, Chef Melissa brought the Sweet Melissa’s experience to a new Fort Myers home, where she continues to craft seasonal, ingredient-forward menus alongside Executive Sous Chef Thomas Juneau and Sommelier/Mixologist Kevin O’Malley. Sweet Melissa’s has been recognized by Gulfshore Life magazine and the News-Press and was featured in a Food Network Beat Bobby Flay appearance in 2024. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 5 to 9 p.m. Reservations are strongly recommended. For more information, visit SweetMelissasRestaurant.com or call 239-990-6889.
Dining and Cooking