University Grill: See and Be Seen

Restaurant: University Grill
Address: 7790 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers, Fla., 33907
Phone: 239-437-4377
Web site: Prawnbroker.com
Recommended by: Jerron Hull, chief operating officer of AIM Engineering. “I meet clients here quite a bit,” says Hull. The food is reliable and the decor is suitable for a business meeting.

Reservations: The restaurant only takes reservations for parties of six people or more. During the busy winter season, consider arriving 15 minutes before noon to avoid waiting.

Parking: Plentiful. No valet parking.

One-hour lunch test: Service is fast and efficient because the restaurant caters to a business clientele at lunch. We were served within 20 minutes and our water glasses were replenished regularly, even though the restaurant was busy. We lingered over lunch, but were done in less than an hour.

Privacy: The University Grill is the place to see and be seen. Some tables are quite close to each other, so consider a booth if you prefer a more private conversation. Be aware that you're likely to be interrupted here as you run into business associates and clients. The restaurant is located near the College Parkway business corridor, home to banks and commercial real estate brokerage firms.

Ambiance: The restaurant becomes louder as the lunch crowd grows after noon. This is not the place to take a client for quiet and sensitive discussions, even in a booth. People you know will think nothing of walking up to your table while you're having lunch as they come and go.

Food: You won't impress a client with high culinary expectations, but the menu is full of reliable dishes and the fish is fresh. We're partial to the University Grill salad with artichoke hearts and kalamata olives, which can be topped off with chicken or shrimp. Lunch for two ran about $30.

Ownership: Locally owned and operated by the Prawnbroker Restaurant Group, which includes four partners. Besides the University Grill, the group owns a total of 10 restaurants on the east and west coasts of Florida.

Review date: July 2011