There is nothing quite like the neon orange glow of a Whataburger in the early hours of the morning to stir up a deep sense of nostalgia. Having spent years living in Texas, Whataburger wasn’t just fast food, it was a way of life, a sacred staple. It immediately brought back memories of sailing into Corpus Christi, dropping anchor, and strolling from the marina right over to the original Whataburger location.
When I heard Fort Myers was finally getting its own spot, I knew I had to make the early-morning pilgrimage. I arrived right around 5:15 a.m., beating the inevitable drive-thru line for weeks after a new location opens, and walked straight up to the counter.
The brand new place was squeaky clean, spacious, and beautifully appointed with about 20 to 25 tables and booths. The decor pays homage to the brand’s roots while celebrating its new home, complete with a massive Whataburger logo on one wall and a custom "Fort Myers, Florida" mural on another. After ordering, I settled into the dining area, which features a great setup to refill drinks and grab your favorite condiments.
One of my favorite signatures of Whataburger remains a practice. When you sit down with your plastic number placard or stand waiting to take it to go, the staff personally brings your meal right to you with a tray loaded with all the essentials you may need. Things like regular ketchup, spicy ketchup, and mustard included. I like that they bring it to you and you select what you want or need. The food was absolutely delicious and hit every nostalgic note.
I ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast taquito to enjoy right there, it’s a warm, soft flour tortilla packed with eggs, bacon and melted cheese, along with a warm, flaky buttered biscuit paired with strawberry jelly. I also picked up a sausage, egg, and cheese taquito and two Justaburgers to go for my wife. While the standard burgers here are delightfully massive, the Justaburger is her absolute favorite. It is a thin patty loaded with mustard and pickles (she skips the onions). She's going to wake up to a very sweet morning surprise.
Since this location just opened about a week and a half ago, the crew is still getting their footing with the ordering systems, and finding menu items took the cashier a brief extra moment. But speed comes with time and practice for a new operation, and their genuine friendliness, attentiveness, and spotless dining room more than made up for it.
It is fantastic to have a taste of Texas right here in Fort Myers.