Quest to Find the Best Key Lime Pie in Fort Myers, Florida

As a die-hard key lime fan, I knew that my trip to Fort Myers wouldn’t be complete without indulging in the best key lime pie the city had to offer. With its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and delicious food scene, Fort Myers is a paradise for travelers.

While the key lime pie was the star of the show, Fort Myers and its surrounding islands, Captiva and Sanibel, have much more to offer. Explore the stunning beaches, indulge in water activities, discover unique shops, and immerse yourself in the local culture.

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What is a Key Lime?

Before diving into the search for the perfect pie, let’s explore what makes key limes so special. These small, round citrus fruits, native to tropical regions like the Florida Keys, are renowned for their tart, aromatic flavor. Unlike the more common Persian limes, key limes have a higher acidity and a distinct tang. They only grow in climates where the weather stays warm and never dips below freezing temperatures.

Key limes are typically yellow when ripe but can be slightly greenish or even yellow-orange. They have a thin skin and are known for their high acidity, which gives them their sharp, tangy flavor. Key lime juice is a key ingredient in various culinary applications, including the infamous key lime pie.

Best Key Lime Pie in Fort Myers Challenge

We spent our trip to Fort Myers, Sanibel Island and Cape Coral, searching for the best key lime pie we could find. We sampled 7 key lime pies over 7 days. To be clear, none of the pies we had were bad, just some were better than others.

Each piece of pie was rated on the following criteria out of 5 for each category, for a total possible score of 20.

• Crust – Shouldn’t it always have a graham cracker crust?
• Tartness – The more tart the better!
• Creaminess – Um, of course!
• Presentation – Who wants to eat something unappealing?

And without further delay, here are my rankings:

#7: The Island Cow, Sanibel Island

• Tartness: 3
• Crust: 2
• Creaminess: 3
• Presentation: 4

Total: 12

The Island Cow may not have ranked high in our quest, but the atmosphere and extensive menu is worth stopping by. Sanibel Island is worth visiting and supporting, especially after the damage from the hurricane they encountered in 2022.

#6: Pincher’s Crab Shack, Cape Coral

• Tartness: 2
• Crust: 4
• Creaminess: 3
• Presentation: 4

Total: 13

A key factor in key lime pie is the tartness of the filling. The pie at Pincher’s Crab Shack had a great crust but lacked the tartness that should come with key limes. However, we had great seafood at this restaurant!

#5. Fathoms, Cape Coral

• Tartness: 2
• Crust: 4
• Creaminess: 3
• Presentation: 5

Total: 14

The presentation was excellent and different from the other places. Unfortunately, as good as it was, it didn’t deliver on the tartness for the pie. However, I highly recommend having the amazing pizza at Fathoms.

#4. Cabbage Key Inn & Restaurant, Cabbage Key

• Tartness: 4
• Crust: 3
• Creaminess: 4
• Presentation: 4

Total: 15

This one was difficult to rate. Cabbage Key Inn had one of the best because it was frozen and creamy. But it lost points on the crust. Even though it was so good, the crust is a crucial component of the pie! However, I highly recommend taking a day trip out to the island to check out the iconic restaurant and the dollar bill wall!

#3. The Nauti Mermaid, Cape Coral

• Tartness: 4
• Crust: 4
• Creaminess: 4
• Presentation: 4

Total: 16

The dockside bar delivered on the view and ambience and the pie was pretty darn good as well. The tartness was almost the best. I didn’t expect this bar to provide a key lime pie that was as good as it was! If you are looking for a memorable vacation stay, I do recommend if you are looking to splurge on an amazing hotel, stay a night or two at the Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village.

And the winner is……

Okay there was a tie. It was a hard choice to make but in the end they both ended up as a number one!

#2. Nervous Nellies, Fort Myers Beach

• Tartness: 5
• Crust: 5
• Creaminess: 5
• Presentation: 5

Total: 20

I highly recommend Nervous Nellies. The service, scenery, and food was amazing! The filling on the key lime pie was creamy, perfect crust and a great, simple presentation. To add to it, the restaurant has an amazing key lime martini!

#1. Lobster Lady Seafood Market, Cape Coral

• Tartness: 5
• Crust: 5
• Creaminess: 5
• Presentation: 5

Total: 20

After indulging in a delicious seafood dinner at Lobster Lady Seafood Market, we were treated to a delightful key lime pie that perfectly complemented our meal. To our surprise, it was served with vanilla bean ice cream and a key lime sugar drizzle, adding a delightful twist to the classic dessert.

The pie was a masterpiece of flavor, combining the perfect balance of tartness and creaminess with a flaky crust. It was the perfect ending to our culinary adventure in Fort Myers.

Our Top Picks

After sampling key lime pies from various establishments, we narrowed down our favorites:

Our quest for the best key lime pie in Fort Myers was a delicious journey filled with memorable experiences. Whether you’re a key lime enthusiast or simply looking for a delightful treat, Fort Myers has plenty to offer.

Note, I am not a food critic and I do not receive anything from these restaurants. Just an average girl, with a love for key lime, who decided to find the best key lime pie in Fort Myers, Florida.