The Bohemian: An Eclectic Dining Adventure of Flavorful Fusion

The Bohemian exterior

By Autumn Gates

From the curb, The Bohemian looks minimalist with its clean, all-white exterior and aesthetic patio dining. Only the Zen statues near the door and a zebra print rug hint at the eclectic vibe inside the doors of the restaurant and Boho Bar.

The senses awaken as guests take in the vibrant, aqua-colored walls, accented with glinting gold-framed mirrors and bold art pieces. The space is filled with textures and patterns — velvet barstools, palm tree wallpaper, globe wall sconces and cozy carpet throughout the restaurant.

The funky decor foreshadows the dining experience ahead. 

“It’s Bohemian — we have a little bit of everything,” says our server, Britney Calderon.

Sharable plates allow diners to “eat and drink with no commitment,” adds Chef-Owner Brandon Schewe.

He and his wife, Caitlin Emery, are the visionaries behind this unique dining concept  that opened in downtown Bonita Springs in February 2022. Emery brought in her mother to help design the place with an artsy, free-spirited feel.

Schewe and Emery also own a coffee shop down the street which they opened in a retrofitted bank building. The Bohemian is their first restaurant concept.

Schewe likes to support local businesses when it comes to sourcing the freshest ingredients. The Bohemian gets produce from Farmer Mike’s, meats from Circle C Farm and fresh-baked bread from Cusano’s Bakery. Freshly caught seafood is delivered daily, and organic herbs are harvested right from the restaurant’s own rooftop garden.

Several of the dishes are attractively plated on heavy slabs of slate, which made Calderon’s arms sore her first week of serving!

The Bohemian’s cuisine is as eclectic as its decor. Inspiration for dishes comes from around the globe — Peruvian ceviche, Caribbean fritters, Japanese sweet potatoes and more. The menu is constantly changing according to what’s in season. Schewe likes to keep it intriguing.

“We twist the cuisines in our own way and have created a unique vibe that makes people want to come back,” he says.

Several dishes are prepared in the Florida hardwood oak grill, including a wood-fired flatbed featuring house-made lamb sausage. Additionally, all desserts are made in-house daily, including the surprising Sweet Potato Beignets, served with creamy sorghum gelato.

The extensive drink menu features local beers from Florida breweries, hard seltzers, handcrafted cocktails and international wines. Non-alcoholic refreshments include local organic drip coffee, Italian soda, indigenous mineral water and glass-bottle Mexican Coke made with cane sugar.

Unlike most chefs, Schewe didn’t grow up in a family of great cooks, but he did learn some things from his grandmother. He remembers she kept animal fat under the sink, had a tomato garden and made everything from scratch.

His own love of cooking developed through a series of restaurant jobs in college. He started as a busboy for PF Chang’s and worked his way up to the kitchen as he studied business at Florida Gulf Coast University.

“Cooking is my passion,” he now says. “I love making good, from-the-heart food.”

Open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly, The Bohemian is a great place to meet up with friends, enjoy a date night or go for late-night, out-of -the ordinary snacks. A multi-course tasting menu and wine nights are also in the works.

With Emery’s eye for design and Schewe’s culinary creativity, The Bohemian Restaurant offers a dining experience that’s unlike any other.