The Dish

from Res Gestae - August 2022

Legal Lens

the dish The Standard offers something for everyone — stellar food, trivia night and even drag queen bingo

by lauren baugh

Ihave heard for years that The Standard is a restaurant not to sleep on, but I have not really had an opportunity to check it out. I had been there years ago for various meetings, but with a new menu, I thought it appropriate to give it a try again. I had a meeting set up with our YLD President, Katherine Camadeco, and our Lee County Clerk of Courts Community Relations Manager, Yesenia Castro, to chat about our July CLE program. They chose The Standard, and I was elated. I knew this was my chance to give it another try, and write an article on it. The three of us meet at the restaurant, and we have the friendliest server. That is always a great start to any meal, especially a working meal! Looking at the menu, I cannot help myself; I must have the fried pickles. If you read my Dish on Hooters, you know I am a connoisseur of fried pickles, and thus, I have an obligation to try them! Although Yesenia and Katherine are both looking to eat healthier, I am not. The pickles come with ranch as a dipping sauce, which is a solid choice. I try them, and they are indeed delicious. I look over the menu and recall that the Blackened Chicken Alfredo was given a 10/10, so it’s the clear choice for my entrée. Katherine and Yesenia continue on their health journey and both order salads. One is the steak salad, and the other is the southwest cobb salad. We chat about our future partnership and life while waiting for our food. We see many other local legal professionals come in and sit down. This is the cool thing about working downtown; there is always a very good chance you are going to see a familiar face.

Our lovely server comes bearing the gifts of our entrees. While the salads look great, the centerpiece of the table is my pasta dish, and WOW, it looks fantastic! I know before I even take a bite that I am going to feel as if a nap is needed right after I eat it. The portion sizes of each of our entrees is generous, so we could have shared, but none of us are willing to

sacrifice our lunch to each other. When I say my blackened chicken alfredo dish is good, it is GOOD! The pasta is cooked to perfection; the chicken grilled and seasoned to perfection; the alfredo sauce, though, is noteworthy for sure. It is every bit of heaven in creamy and garlic form. Their menu has a little bit of everything you would want for lunch, and their dinner options are stellar as well. The Standard is known for their trivia nights and drag queen bingo. I have not yet been to either, but I am intrigued by these options. The Standard started in downtown Fort Myers and has expanded to Page Field, as well as North Fort Myers. This does not surprise me considering their menu options and various community activities. I highly recommend visiting one of their three locations.

Photos opposite page clockwise: fried pickles with ranch dressing, steak salad, southwest cobb salad, blackened chicken alfredo. Photos this page left to right: local owner and operator Christopher Blauvelt, chicken salad sandwich, black bean quinoa burger, chicken and waffles, pizza with egg.