The Veranda restaurant celebrates 45 years of dining in downtown Fort Myers

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Both the modern and traditional anniversary gift for a 45th wedding anniversary is sapphire. Sapphire has been seen as a stone of wisdom and prophecy and a symbol of power and strength, but also of kindness and wise judgement.

Those traits definitely speak to an iconic dining institution on its 45th anniversary.

In 2023, the Veranda restaurant in downtown Fort Myers is celebrating its 45th year of operation. Owner Paul Peden says it feels like a marriage in some ways and he is very happy to celebrate this milestone anniversary.

Peden, who bought the two three-story, turn-of-the-century Victorian homes in 1978 and transformed them into the Veranda, has always maintained that there is no finish line for the restaurant and every day is a continuous mental exercise to work with purpose.

"I enjoy the challenge each day and I get to work with great people who care about people," he said. "We are accountable every day and that applies to the valet greeting guests as they pull up and carries over to the kitchen staff and everywhere in between."

Peden, who has operated nearly 30 restaurants in his career, says the Veranda's success is due to keeping its brand in line, staying focused on quality, product and people and the distinctive dining experience it offers.

"We’re selling a niche product you can't get anywhere else in Fort Myers," he said. "We offer a very distinctive dining experience and we have to be very detail oriented with a team that shares a similar DNA and understands our mission."

The staff is an extremely important part of the Veranda brand. Aside from their tuxedo attire, the staff's personalities and tenure are integral to the guest experience.

"I love this place and I love Denny," said Pete Turner, who is celebrating his 25th year as a waiter at the Veranda and is referencing restaurant general manager Dennis Genge.

Turner began working in the local restaurant industry on Marco Island before joining Smitty's in downtown Fort Myers and ultimately the Veranda.

"It's always a pleasure serving our guests. I simply put myself in their seat and I approach each shift like I’m serving myself and how I would want that done for me," he said. "I just enjoy what I do. I like pleasing people. I’m about detail and I try to be one step ahead of my guests."

"Having a staff that maintains and keeps their positive attitudes and continue to look forward to being part of a team is a must," said Peden. "It's a winning combination that includes staff, food, experience, setting."

From the maintenance man to many of the waiters to the pastry chef, most of the Veranda team have been with Mr. Peden for decades.

"You have to hire the right people, not the resume," he said. "We are like a big family and the biggest challenge for all of us is to keep operating at the level we’re operating at and that our patrons have come to expect. Expectations are continuous and keep evolving."

Peden is originally a Venice native and a graduate of the University of South Florida's business school. He got his experience in the hospitality industry waiting tables at Bern's Steak House in Tampa before moving to Fort Myers and working at local favorite Smitty's.

When the opportunity arose to purchase the Veranda in 1978 he jumped at it.

The story of the Veranda is ingrained in the City of Fort Myers’ own history. In the early 1850s, a fort on the Caloosahatchee River was reactivated and named for Colonel Abraham Myers. The fort contained 57 buildings, a hospital, lawns and gardens. A trading post pioneer by the name of Manuel Gonzalez delivered supplies and mail to the fort in his riverboat. After Seminole Chief Billy Bowlegs surrendered in 1858, the fort was abandoned until 1863 when a small number of Federal troops re-occupied the fort during the Civil War. After the war, the fort was again deserted. In 1866, Captain Gonzalez returned to the fort with his five-year-old son Manuel to become the first known residents of Fort Myers. For years, the Gonzalez family would operate a trading post on the site of the present Federal Building.

In 1902, young Manuel Gonzales built two houses at the corner of Second Street and Broadway. He and his family occupied the corner house, while the second home was built for his mother and was located adjacent to the first house (in what is now the Veranda's parking lot).

In the early 1970s, Peter Pulitzer, grandson of Joseph Pulitzer of the Pulitzer Prize and ex-husband of the fashion designer Lilly Pulitzer, joined the two houses for his long-time fishing buddy, Fingers O’Bannon.

The original kitchen building from the second house, along with a secluded landscaped garden courtyard featuring a waterfall and Koi pond, now joins the two houses.

The Veranda's interior is best described as an elegant Southern Victorian house. The low-lit, spacious, mahogany piano bar just inside the front door beckons patrons to have a seat at one of the high back cushioned chairs, order a drink, enjoy an appetizer and live music, relax and take in the vintage photos which line the walls. Along with the fully stocked bar, the Veranda also boasts a large selection of vintage wines.

Peden said to meticulously maintain the historic home's interior and exterior and to preserve the restaurant's authentic charm isn't cheap. Carpeting is regularly replaced; walls are repainted or re-wallpapered, drapes are redone, and the signature high backed, padded dining chairs are re-cushioned with new fabric or replaced.

The Veranda's menu continues to feature Southern cuisine staples including Southern Grit Cake, fresh Blue Crab Cakes, Bourbon (now Broadway) Street Filet, Chicken Orleans and Warm Southern Pecan Praline Tart, as well as traditional favorites like Beef Carpaccio, Escargot in Puff Pastry, Tableside Spinach and Caesar salad, Wedge salad, Filet Mignon, Rack of New Zealand Lamb, Pan Seared Grouper, Chilean Sea Bass with Parmesan Risotto and Triple Layer Chocolate Paté.

According to Peden, the longest running items for the past four decades are the now renamed Broadway Street Filet (formerly Bourbon), the grit cakes and escargot with blue stilton cheese sauce.

"We keep our staples, but every week our chefs are putting out something new whether that is an appetizer, main feature or dessert," he said.

Peden says he has been thankful in the past four plus decades to survive recessions and most recently COVID.

"It was challenging for us just like everyone else," he said. "Even when we were allowed to reopen some days we couldn't because we didn't have an operational staff to serve patrons."

Before COVID, the Veranda was open for lunch but now is only open for dinner Monday through Saturday.

"Lunch was always difficult for us and really put a burden on our staffing," said Peden. "COVID gave us an opportunity to reevaluate what we are best at and that is our dinner service. Guests can come into a historic, idyllic setting and feel special. That's what the Veranda soars at. Excellence is the constant attention to details executed perfectly."

Peden added that the Veranda's business has skyrocketed since the pandemic eased.

"I’m already looking forward to our 50th anniversary," he said. "The Veranda continues to be my passion every day. And we are grateful for every customer who dines with us."

"In Fort Myers we have the Edison Home and the Veranda. Anyone can manage the Edison Home. Only Mr. Peden can make the Veranda what it is," said local native and Fort Myers attorney Sawyer Smith.

"My wife and I have traveled the world and dined at some of the best restaurants. The Veranda sits at the top of our list," said Robert Walters of Bonita Springs. "It's a wonderful experience and it gives us another reason to visit downtown Fort Myers."

The Veranda is at 2122 Second St. in two turn-of-the-century Victorian homes. The restaurant features Southern regional cuisine with a full bar, extensive wine list and first-class service in a romantic setting. The Veranda is consistently honored as one of the most award-winning restaurants in the area.

Dinner is served Monday through Saturday from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. Private dining is also available from 10 to 400 guests. Live entertainment is featured in the Veranda's piano lounge Monday through Saturday evenings from 6 to 10 p.m. Both street and valet parking are available. For reservations and more information, call 239-332-2065 or visit verandarestaurant.com.

Source: The Veranda