Mastello

Italian Steakhouse Serves Up Award-winning Fine Dining

By Cheryl Mandell

Mastello

Mastello Ristorante and Steakhouse brings Sicilian flavors and hospitality to Fort Myers. Brothers Vincenzo, Giuseppe and Pietro Cacciatore have been sharing Old World culinary creativity with Southwest Florida since opening their first local restaurant, Terra Nostra, in 2008.

When the opportunity arose in 2022 to revamp the longtime Fort Myers staple, Mastello Ristorane and Steakhouse, the Cacciatore brothers didn’t hesitate. While Hurricane Ian slowed down progress for a year, the new Mastello opened in June 2023 and has been enjoying accolades ever since.

Mastello was recently named one of the best steakhouses in Florida by the USA Today Network Florida dining and entertainment team, and also received the Diners’ Choice distinction in 2024 and 2025.

It’s not hard to see why, with Mastello’s selection of premium aged meats. Three strips are available — an 18-ounce Kansas City dry-aged, bone-in prime strip, a 10-ounce American Wagyu, and the best-selling Prime N.Y., in addition to another top-selling, 8-ounce filet mignon and a top sirloin American Wagyu. The large cuts and meals-for-two feature cowboy-cut, bone-in ribeye, prime porterhouse and chateaubriand tenderloin.

A raw bar menu features classic fare such as Northeast oysters and shrimp cocktail, as well as more unique offerings like cold-water lobster tail cocktail, snow crab claws, and a cold seafood platter tower.

Mastello also distinguishes itself with creatively crafted Italian and seafood dishes, from spicy crab spaghetti and creamy bucatini cacio e pepe, to the popular braised short rib ravioli and pappardelle lamb ragu with pecorino shavings and mint chiffonade.

“We do just about everything by hand, all from scratch,” Vincenzo said.

The details are in the delicacy. The veal is hand-cut, and the tomahawk braised short rib is braised for hours in red wine. Tomatoes are ground in-house for the restaurant’s fresh sauce, and the eggplant parmigiana is carefully layered like lasagna, not breaded.

“Our strength is simplicity, well-executed,” said our server Kathryn. “Everything is exactly what it’s supposed to be.”

Mastello offers a wide variety of cocktails, such as the lovely Modern Steakhouse Spritz featuring prosecco, contratto aperitif, framboise and toasted rosemary. The drink menu at Mastello includes numerous Old Fashioneds and espresso martinis, as well as “after dinner delights” from bourbons to trending tequilas. Mastello has over 100 carefully curated wine selections, which received Wine Spectator magazine’s prestigious Wine Spectator Award in 2025.

Classic white tablecloths and black chairs present a clean, minimalist ambiance, with modern chandeliers and dramatic black drapes setting the tone of the main dining room, while an intimate cocktail bar lines the back of the space. Rows of wine adorn the wall near the second dining room to the left of the entry, which can be used for private parties and events when it’s not chock-full of regular diners.

“We have a following that, for us, has been amazing,” said Vincenzo. “People love to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and graduations here. So, that’s something that’s been really positive for our community.”

Mastello is open from 4-10 p.m. daily. Whether you’re looking to celebrate something special or simply enjoy a night of fine dining, Mastello welcomes you with Italian hospitality and an award-winning experience from beginning to end.