THE BEST OF DINING 2024

 

EL GAUCHO TRATTORIA
14700 Tamiami Trail North, unit 5, Naples
239.591.5157 | elgauchotrattoria.com

Creative husband-and-wife restaurateurs Mariano Maldonado and Rocio Navarrete, of El Gaucho Inca fame, brought their signature fusion of global cuisines to north Naples at El Gaucho Trattoria. The extensive menu features everything from starters, such as sliced filet mignon Carpaccio di Lomo, to customizable pizzas, to more seafood options than you could dream of, all with a distinctly Italian flare. The incredible array of fresh, handmade pastas are tossed in every sauce and protein pairing imaginable. Specials include the Estufato di Carne: melt-in-your-mouth, braised short rib beef stew, carrots and onions in a thick, rich, tomato-based sauce on a bed of housemade gnocchi. Everything is fresh, organic and made from scratch. El Gaucho Trattoria, with its love affair for all things Italian, opened its doors in May. No need to grab your passport – visit Italy without ever leaving Southwest Florida.

 

 

 

FERNANDEZ THE BULL
3250 Bonita Beach Road, unit 207, Bonita Springs
239.676.7978 | fernandezthebull.com

For nearly 40 years, Fernandez The Bull has been known in Southwest Florida for “traditional Cuban dishes with a twist.” The origin story is nothing short of the American dream. In 1962, founder Luis Fernandez immigrated to the U.S. at age 16 to escape rising communism in Cuba. After many years working in the restaurant industry in Southwest Florida, Fernandez and his wife Raquel opened their first Fernandez The Bull in 1985. Four restaurants and nearly four decades later, the newest location opened in Bonita Springs last December. Many traditional Cuban dishes can be found on the menu, including an array of authentic seafood dishes such the Shrimp al Ajillo, featuring shrimp sauteed in a savory blend of garlic, herbs and white wine, topped with capers. The tasty dish is served with yellow rice and a garden salad with scratch-made house dressing. Menu items also include chicken entrees, sandwiches, soups, desserts and a bevy of beverages.

 

 

 

HOOKED ISLAND GRILL
9924 Gulf Coast Main Street, Fort Myers
239.313.7142 | facebook.com/hookedislandgrillfm

Hooked Island Grill features classics such as lobster tails, snow crab legs and a shrimp boil, along with unique menu items like The Sushi Dog, a unique entree that is known among sushi lovers of Southwest Florida. This extra jumbo sushi roll is filled with spicy krab, rice, marinated cucumbers, avocado, diced raw ahi tuna and sweet garlic teriyaki, topped with seaweed salad and sriracha mayo drizzle. It’s lightly battered, then fried and accompanied by house-made wonton chips. The atmosphere in the original Matlacha location, which was destroyed by Hurricane Ian, had a roll-off-the-beach vibe, but the newer, larger space in Gulf Coast Town Center is elevated to a beachy chic. Cool blue tones and a giant fish mural complement the island feel. Whether you dress up or down, just make your way to Hooked ready for an abundance of food and fun.

 

 

 

J. ALEXANDER’S
8860 Tamiami Trail N., Naples
239.778.9095 | jalexanders.com

J. Alexander’s is an upscale, contemporary American restaurant known for its wood-fired American cuisine including prime rib of beef, top quality hand-cut steaks, and a wide array of fresh seafood, sandwiches and entrée salads, crafted with choice ingredients by culinary experts. The newest location in north Naples is the seventh in Florida, residing in a former Italian restaurant space which was completely renovated to fit J. Alexander’s contemporary aesthetic. The menu boasts specialties such as Mr. Jack’s Crispy Chicken Platter, a South Carolina low-country recipe, and Slow-Roasted Prime Rib, a staple at J. Alexander’s – aged Midwestern beef, slow-cooked overnight to mouth-watering perfection, served with housemade horseradish, au jus and smashed red potatoes. The high-quality cuisine and impeccably “seasoned” service make this hotspot the perfect place to enjoy your next lunch or dinner.

 

 

 

OAK & STONE
10191 Estero Town Commons Place, Estero
239.217.1820 | oakandstone.com

The motto at Oak & Stone is, “Craft your own story,” and with the generous selections of artisan pizza, sandwiches, appetizers and much more, you can rewrite your story every time you go. What sets the pizza apart is in the process. Their signature hand-crafted dough is made with triple-filtered water and involves a 36-hour fermentation process to give the thin crust its unique flavor and texture. Take, for example, the Quattro Formaggi pizza, which features Oak & Stone’s signature dough and stone-fired baking process, four cheeses – smoked gouda, fresh mozzarella, crumbled bleu cheese and parmesan – with herbed extra virgin olive oil and savory herbs. While artisanal pizza may be the show-stopper, there are plenty of other reasons to dine and drink at Oak & Stone. Their famous self-serve brew wall features nearly 50 constantly rotating craft beers. Stop in and discover your next favorite neighborhood hangout.

 

 

 

 

OAR & IRON
8850 Founders Square Drive, Naples
239.427.3335 | oarandiron.com

At Oar & Iron, the new scratch kitchen in north Naples, creating delicious food that is safe for every guest is their specialty. The entire menu is either naturally gluten free or can be made that way, even if someone has a gluten intolerance or food allergy. Extra care is taken during every step of the process, from menu creation to food preparation and team member training. The generous menu offers an array of seafood (the “oar”) such as the Oven-Roasted Black Grouper, and steaks (the “iron”) like the mouth-watering Coffee-Braised Short Rib. There is also a generous raw bar. Starters include original hits like the Ahi Poke Tuna Stack, a tower of seared, diced ahi tuna stacked artfully over rice noodles with cucumber cabbage, red pepper, grilled pineapple, soy and ginger. Oar & Iron opened shortly after Christmas, with several more locations just on the horizon; the newest one is coming soon in Fort Myers.

 

 

PEZZO PIZZA + BAR
20041 S. Tamiami Trail,unit 18, Estero
239.908.9197 | pezzopizzabar.com

Pezzo Pizza + Bar has been an instant hotspot since local restaurateur and FGCU graduate Antonio Longobardo opened this trendy artisan pizzeria and authentic Italian restaurant in June 2023. Pezzo (pronounced PET-so) is Italian for “piece,” in this case, a piece of pizza. A party of four can order three of these small, gourmet pizzas and an appetizer to share. The concept behind the name is that everyone will want to share a piece. There are show-stopping appetizers like the burrata with prosciutto and fig, and baby calzone filled with creamy ricotta and cubes of ham, drizzled with spicy honey and powdered sugar. Spicy Baby is a crowd-pleasing pizza, with ricotta in artful dollops alongside the pepperoni, all of which glistens with red-pepper-infused honey. Put Pezzo on your to-do list this holiday season!

 

 

 

 

THE REAL MACAW
3275 Bayshore Drive, Naples
239.732.1188 | therealmacawnaples.com

Head down to The Real Macaw in the Bayshore Arts District past Tin City for a combination of delicious food, creative cocktails and an ambiance that will send your worries packing. Peacock chairs, strung lights, palms and feathers, vibrant colors and nightly live music transport patrons to breezy island time. Established in 1992, the Real Macaw remains one of the oldest continuously owned and operated restaurants in Naples. The menu reflects its Caribbean influence, with mouth-watering dishes like the Caribbean Duck – a house favorite since the beginning. Crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside, this half duckling is roasted with a tamarind rum sauce and served with whipped potatoes and green beans. Featured in Bon Appetit magazine and on the Food Network, and named “best overall restaurant” in Collier County, The Real Macaw has been pleasing customers and critics alike for over three decades.

 

 

 

SAN MATTEO ITALIAN RESTAURANT & BAR
19810 Village Center Drive, Fort Myers
239.234.2536 | sanmatteorestaurant.com

In early December 2023, New York City restaurateurs Fabio Casella, Giuseppe Manco and Eleonora Cavacchi opened San Matteo in University Village. The original San Matteo was founded in 2010 by Casella and his brother Ciro, with two popular locations in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. During his extensive culinary career, Naples, Italy native Chef Manco has received awards for Best Neapolitan Pizza and Best Roman-style Pizza, as well as rave reviews from New York Magazine, The New York Times and Forbes. Dishes like the San Matteo Estero pizze bianche, or white pizza, is given the restaurant’s namesake for a reason: it is a classic pizza on the narrow streets of Rome. This gourmet variation consists of truffle cream, Porcini mushrooms and speck (Italian smoked ham). Diners searching for authentic pasta dishes and sensational brick oven pizza now have another reason to eat local.

 

 

 

SIMIT FRESH MEDITERRANEAN
1230 Airport Pulling Road North, Naples
239.331.4477| simitfresh.com

SIMIT Fresh Mediterranean is a beautifully quaint restaurant tucked away in the corner of a small plaza off of Airport Pulling Road in Naples. It features authentic and diverse cuisine steeped in Turkish and Macedonian culture. The decor blends modern design with Mediterranean accents in an intimate and inviting atmosphere, with 10 tables inside and nine tables arranged for outdoor dining. From aromatic spices and savory kebabs to sweet pastries and creamy hummus, each dish features meticulously created artistic presentations, taking care to honor the eastern Mediterranean cultures they bring to each dining experience. We recommend The Sultan’s Delight; this savory dish was a favorite of Sultan Suleiman in the 16th century, prepared with a decadent, six-hour braised lamb shank, served over creamy eggplant puree, and refreshing herb salad. It’s easy to see why first-time visitors to SIMIT quickly turn into regulars.

 

 

 

 

TWO FILLETS
10395 Tamiami Trail N., Naples
239.788.0222 | twofillets.com

Two Fillets restaurant in Naples provides unique dishes with the freshest local fare in an upscale, yet coastal, casual atmosphere. The double “L” spelling of fillet represents the dual land and sea specialities for which they are well known. Guests seeking a filet of unsurpassed quality beef or freshly caught fish need not look further. Adorning the walls are black-and-white photos of cattle from the Phelan farm in Lockhart, Texas — where top-of-the-line American Wagyu beef is raised. A uniquely sweet and savory dish, the Tropical Mahi is a cut of blackened, fresh Mahi Mahi served over sweet potato mash and fried plantains topped with rum butter and pineapple salsa. Beef and seafood may steal the spotlight, but the menu contains a variety of soups, salads, sandwiches, desserts and craft cocktails to round out the dining experience.

 

 

 

UNIDOS LATIN KITCHEN + BAR
19th Street South, Naples
239.331.3668 | unidosrestaurant.com

Since its opening in January, Unidos Latin Kitchen + Bar in Naples has been warmly welcoming guests with gracious hospitality and an outstanding array of cuisines from all over Latin America. Unidos, which means “united” or “joined” in Spanish, was built upon the success of its sister restaurant, Unidad in Illinois. From the eye-catching arches and intricate Spanish tiles to the ceviche bar and famous Santa Maria wood grills, the interior of Unidos beautifully reflects the many cultures it represents. The trio of chefs expertly create fresh seafood and meat dishes, along with enticing appetizers such as the Ceviche Mixto, a classic combination of octopus, fish and shrimp, mixed with an incredibly delicious tiger milk (leche de tigre) passion fruit Peruvian citrus-based marinade. The dish is served with large Peruvian corn, fine julienne onion and marinated roasted prawns. Enjoy a fusion of cuisines from Mexico and all the way down the coast of South America.