Kids Eat Free At Hooters Restaurants In Southwest Florida

Mark your calendar for a night out with the family to celebrate the end of tax season. On Monday, April 15th, kids eat free at Hooters restaurants in Southwest Florida and across the Sunshine State, for some tasty tax relief.  Not only can you deduct the little ones on your 1040 form, you can also get a deduction on your bill at the world famous Hooters restaurants in Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte and Sarasota.

With a cheeky (pun intended) name like Hooters, kids dining might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, the restaurant has a kids menu and has always welcomed the so-called Lil Hooties with their parents and/or guardians. Meal offerings include grilled cheese, burger sliders, mac & cheese and of course wings, both regular and boneless.

The first Hooters opened in Clearwater in 1983 and the restaurant is still going strong. Chicken wings are the specialty here and with nearly a dozen options for flavoring. Wings are not all the establishment is known for.

They were also one of the first restaurants to feature servers in skimpy shorts and tight white shirts, hence the play on words (hOOters). A couple of years after opening, 12 servers were featured in the official Hooters Calendar. It is still in production and has become a collectors item.

The deal is for Monday, April 15th, only. In addition, it is only for dining in, not to-go orders. Patrons get one free kids meal per paying adult. So don't bring in the entire little league team with one coach. Kids meals include one side dish and one beverage. There are 15 Hooters restaurants in South Florida, five of them are on the Gulf Coast from Naples to Sarasota.

Enjoy some tax relief with this special dining offer.

Restaurants and bars have played a major role in the revitalization of downtown Cape Coral. But there was one that famously lead the charge when it opened 11 years ago. Its closing in December was bittersweet for Southwest Florida dining fans, for many reasons. But that is changing. Nevermind reopens in Cape Coral this weekend and here is a sneak peek.

I was invited to friends and family night for a first look at the new menu and the fresh coat of paint. It's common for restaurants to invite friends in for a sort of practice run before opening. It gives the kitchen a chance to work out any kinks on an audience that is forgiving.

Nevermind was the brainchild of well-known Southwest Florida restaurateur Shannon Yates. Shannon brought his unapologetic edginess and restaurant expertise to Cape Coral in 2012 along with a host of fans from all over Southwest Florida, including me. I was a frequent dinner at his restaurants beginning with Bacchus, a wine and tapas bar at The Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers. It was the first of many innovations for Shannon.

When he left Cru, also in The Bell Tower and announced his move to Cape Coral, the downtown dining scene was all but dead, with a few exceptions like Fish Tale Grill. He is credited with lighting a fire that forge the reimaging of the area. It's booming today.

In 2021, Shannon passed away. He was 49 years old. Staff, fans and investors did their best to keep his vision alive. However, Nevermind closed at the end of last year.

Saturday the restaurant is reopening to the public with a fresh feel and a menu Shannon would most certainly approve of. In fact, the kitchen is full of men you formerly work for him. In addition, his friend Mike Gavalia is one of the new owners. The longtime local restaurateur is partners with Waly Thomas and Dr. Brian Gear.

The mural of Shannon remains on the exterior of the building. The painting of Jack Nicholson from the movie "The Shining" remains on the wall in the bar. Much of the interior looks the same, just fresher. The menu has many of the cameos that Nevermind was known for. It looks good. It feels good.

Finally, Nevermind reopens in Cape Coral and here is a sneak peek from friends and family night. Congratulations team on keeping the lights on in this iconic, downtown restaurant and bar.