I'm wondering if there is some fabulous Italian restaurant in the Naples to Fort Myers area that I am not aware of. So far, I haven't found anything that is really that spectacular. I would like great wines, some great appetizers, I Primi and Secondi to be very good. Campiello doesn't strike me as all that Italian. The Fort Myers offerings I've tried have usually come up short.

I'm not that fond of Bice in New York but is the Naples version good? Do they fawn over favored guests? I need to find something for a very good client ASAP. Thanks for any offering advice. LMF

LilMsFoodie, two suggestions in Naples. I've grown very fond of Bravissimo, where I've had some outstanding meals. They have a number of dishes representing various regions of Italy. I have loved the braised oxtail, but last time it was off the menu. They do an amazing pork shank with white beans. And they have a pappardelle pasta with a lamb ragu that is sensational. I'm not a dessert eater, but they have really great desserts also, including a tasting plate that is really spectacular. On the other hand, their menu isn't really set us a true Italian menu, for example pastas really are full main courses, although they will split them as a primi for two. And their main courses are huge. I don't know of anywhere around here where people seem to want to accept the Italian idea of a primi or pasta course followed by a smallish meat course. One touchy issue there, I've found their staff to be somewhat young and untrained. I'd suggest you be up front if you call for a reservation and say you want their most experienced or polished waiter -- I think they will understand and oblige.

I have not been to Ciao in Naples in ages, but clients rave about it being the best -- and last I knew (several years ago) it certainly was the most expensive.

I still avoid Bice -- I have yet to hear anyone say it wasn't overly pretentious and unwelcoming. And when my two friends went who were both not drinking to medical (or addiction) problems and the waiter asked them what the wanted to drink -- they said nothing but bottled water. The waiter in a gruff voice said, "no wine? what's the matter with you?" Then he insisted that since they ordered one "sparkling water" and one "still water" that meant a bottle and a glass of tap water, insisting that tap water IS still water.

thanks Patrick, just what I am looking for. The mystique of Bice eludes me. The food isn't that good either, IMNSHO.....LMF

LMF, we are going to try Cafe Cibo. We are big fans of Italian and heard this was good

Hi

We love Sotto Voce in North Naples (on 41 - just before Wifggins Pass) for great italian. They also run a special for $40 For 2!! that includes apps, entress, desserts and an entire bottle of wine! The food is very good and the atmosphere and servie is great. Also heard that DiJulio's on the East Trail is Great but haven't been , yet.

Thanks for the other suggestions but Patrick's is probably going to be it. My client loves Brunellos, the great one, so we need a restaurant that really cares about the wine. LMF

Patrick's comments make me smile because IMHO there is not a restaurant in the USA that serves food the same as in Italy.

They cannot, because than their customers complain.

A decent serving of pasta is considered "not enough". Unless the customer has spent time in Italy there is not the understanding that pasta is just one of the courses.

If the pasta is not smothered with sauce the customer is unhappy. Again, unless they have traveled in Italy they do not understand you have some sauce with your pasta, you do not have some pasta with your sauce.

And so on.

I am fortunate enough that my SIL, here from Rome for about 7years, has a frienship with a restaurant owner in SF. This owner is from Italy and goes back home about twice a year. He has a very successful restaurant. But he grumbles (in Italian to my SIL) he has to change the style of cooking to accomodate the diners he has. He knows if he does not that he would not be so successful. But he does try to keep to some of the Italian cooking traditions, and does a very good job of this. And has waiters from Italy, they seem to be here for about a year each, so the Italian waiter service is provided.

I am lucky, when I eat there it is pretty much as eating in Italy. Not completely of course, the tomatoes, the meat is USA not Italian, but as close as eating in Italy as one can get I think. And adjustments are made for us, the cooking of Italy, so I am truly fortunate.

I have heard so many times that Asians of all different countries smile about the restaurants in the USA. Same problem.

And Mexico restaurants are not like eating in Mexico.

And in Italy, when they try to cook Americano, no it does not work!!!

Actually, now that I think about it the closest to a real Italian restaurant in Naples I can think of is BuonGustaio on Fifth, but maybe not as upscale as LilMsFoodie is looking for. It is really owned, run, and staffed by all Italians. I've laughed because I find it more foreign than half the restaurants I've eaten at in Italy. I often cannot understand the waiters because their English is worse than the average Italian waiter's in Italy!
And here the pastas are smaller and aimed at serving as a true first course. The secondi tends to be a little smaller than many places and the prices seem to reflect that also. They don't bat an eye at someone ordering a salad after dinner, or getting fruit and cheese instead of dessert. I love eating outside there, set back a little more from the street than most of the Fifth Avenue places, and really more like eating in Rome than any other place I've been in the US. The wine list is somewhat small and I've been disappointed more than once as they haven't had their only Nobile di Montpulciano listed in their list. And recently they haven't had bucatini to do their wonderful Bucatini Amatriciana -- my favorite pasta dish!

But LoveItaly, you are exactly right!

We love Vincenzo's in Bonita Springs.
http://www.entreenaples.com/listings.phtml?id=15

Oh Patrick, the restaurant sounds wondereful!! You will have to nag them about the wine list.

And the waiters English. I, as they say in Italy "capito". That is how the waiters are at the restaurant in SF.

They are so delightful. But between the noise of the street, the noise of the restaurant (typical Italian noise) and their "English" with their darling accents one thinks to themselves "ok,, I think I understood what you said".

Patrick, you really need to nag them about what you desire, wine, pasta dish etc. If nothing else they will be pleased you take such an interest in their restaurant.

And as I have mentioned to you before, Oh I love your Naples! Use to go their after visiting family on LongBoatKey.

Correction: Use to go there. Oh sigh, I should use the
Edit button more!

Another vote for Sotto Voce there food is in the Southern Italy style Calabrase. It's a local favorite .

Another comment about BuonGustaio. One of my favorite dishes in Italy is a Tagliata when it is served as sliced steak over a bed of arugula (rucola) with big shavings of a hard Pecorino or Parmesan on top. They offer this at BuonGustaio, but no cheese on top. I asked about it, and they brought be fresh cheese which they grated on top, not what I wanted. I talked about how in Rome, I usually get it with big shavings of the cheese on top. Next time, that was how it was served!