Naples uptodate restaurant recommendations
 

I know that there have been recommendations in the past for Naples, but could any one give me an up to date list of restaurants that have atmosphere, medium priced good food that won't break the bank. We are arriving for our long awaited holiday in Naples next Saturday & will be staying in North Naples. any suggestions for 2 weeks holiday please?

A couple nights ago we had a wonderful evening at Bricktops, a new place at Waterside Shops. It appears like a rather upscale supper club with a wonderful big bar, but the menu and it's prices happily shocked me. I had the wonderful half rotisserie chicken with spectacular pommes frites for $14. My partner opted for a blue cheese hamburger and they offered broccolini instead of fries. The menu is varied from sandwiches to aged steaks and chops or even stone crab claws (at $42). And I loved that when my dry robroy was half gone, someone came by the table with a newly chilled martini glass and poured the remainder of my drink into it!

Noodles on Pine Ridge Road is certainly a bargain and again has a sort of supper club feel with varied entertainment most nights. I pass on the pastas (although they have great ones) and usually get the wonderful slow roasted lamb shanks which are seved on a bed of fettucini.

We actually have good Mexican food here now at Cilantro Tamales, a sort of hole-in-the wall across from P.F. Changs on the north Trail near Expo.

For a casual lunch, I can't pass by Airport Road near Vanderbilt Drive without a stop at Calistoga Bakery where I order a Ranchero Carnitas Pressata sandwich with half a salad (cobb or other choices). It's inexpensive, you order at the counter and pick a table, probably on the veranday by the fountain.

Thanks for the tips. I will be there in a couple of weeks.

Keith

Thanks Patrick - good tips as usual!
Is Campiellos still good ?

I've been too busy to do a lot of eating out lately, but did sneak in one nice lunch at Campiello about a month ago. Yes, still perhaps my favorite place in town overall.

I certainly second Patrick with the Calistoga recommendation! My favorite is the Calistoga salad with candied walnuts and mandarin oranges. There’s even complimentary high-speed internet service for fellow wireless junkies. It’s a great spot to hangout and read the paper while enjoying a cup of coffee. A terrific place to satisfy your sweet tooth is at the French Bread Oven. It’s an authentic French bakery with the tastiest pastries. The glass cases display the works of art from the Napoleons to the apple tarts baked daily by the owner, a French artisan baker. It’s tucked into the corner of the St. Andrews shopping center at 8793 Tamiami Trail East.

Wondering: Is Cilantro Tamales significantly better than Flaco's? If it is, and if they take reservations, we'll give it a try.

I think Bonefish is in the category that DianeC seems to be looking for.
And what about BhaBha? (I didn't think much of it, but other people seem to like it a lot.)
And Thai-Sushi, just a little north of that Pavillion Shopping Center.

Flaco's is a "fancier" place than Cilantro Tamales, but not nearly so good for food in my opinion. I don't think Cilantro Tamales takes reservations but I've never waited there for a table.
I have no idea what the attraction is for the bland food at BhaBha. I've been dragged there several times by friends who have never eaten at a "real" Persian or even Indian restaurant. I think they like it just because it's a different menu from other places.

I agree abt BhaBha, Patrick.
What do you think of Thai-Sushi and Bonefish?
Also: I keep wishing that there was a good Chinese restaurant in the Naples/Bonita area. I've tried every one (that I know of) and think they're all mediocre.
We'll try Cilantro.
(Do you like Truluck's?)

Never been to Bonefish or to Thai Sushi. I live just south of Fifth Avenue South so there are plenty of restaurants in my area not to "commute" so far.

You are right about Chinese. While not true Chinese, at least PF Chang's has really good food, all made with very fresh ingredients and having good flavor, so while it may be a chain, I think it's hard to top for "Chinese".

I do like Thai Basil which in on 41 near Robb and Stucky.

Truluck's is good, but soooo expensive for what it is in my opinion. I'd rather get a couple pounds of crab claws at Captain Jerry's, take them home, and have a freast.

By the way, last night after seeing "Happy Feet" we went to Bricktops again. My great niece from Miami is visiting with us. We all had great food -- she loved her tuna burger with a wasabi slaw. Lee had an arugula salad with carpaccio, and I couldn't pass up my rotisserie chicken and frites once again. But Lee and Cindi raved about their desserts -- a banana split with a dish of hot fudge sauce and a chocolate chip cookie baked in its own skillet topped with ice cream and carmel sauce.

I’ve been to Thai-Sushi a couple of times but prefer Thai Basil or Siam Thai. Siam Thai is on 41 near 5th Avenue. It looks a little scary and the parking setup is strange because you park in the rear but the folks who run the place are so nice and my red curry has always been delicious.

If you’re ever on Marco Island, the Cilantro Tamales there has a nice roomy outdoor seating area. The N. Naples location doesn’t really have outdoor seating.

Is there not a single Indian restaurant in Naples?

And where can you find the best sushi?

Many rave about the sushi at Blue Sushi on Third Street South, but I haven't been. I've found the sushi at Chops on Fifth Avenue to be very good, but I'm no expert. I've also joined friends at the Quality Inn place on 41 for sushi which was very good and surprisingly cheap.

And no, I don't think there is an Indian restaurant in Naples.

In May we ordered delivery of a meal for 5 people from Sushi Thai. It was fairly good but they forgot our order of Pad Thai. The restaurant was rude when we called about it, not believing us.

Eventually we got what we had ordered and paid for. It was quick enough that I am sure they found where they had prepared but not delivered it. But it was then cold and they never apologized for messing up or their behavior on the phone.

Keith

There's an ok Indian restaurant on Bonita Beach Rd abt half way between 41 and the beach, on the south side of the street. Can't remember its name. I'd rate it about a "C+" (Haven't been in a number of years.)

I think the place the above poster is talking about is called Passage to India. A C+ might be kind.

Passage to India it is-- and I think you're probably correct about the C+ being grade inflation. The reason we didn't go back (I enjoy good Indian food) is that the place wasn't very good.

No wonder I blocked that place out of my mind. Here are some interesting reviews of Passage to India. I dare you to read them all and still go there!

http://tinyurl.com/y6k7qc

A friend that lives in Naples wants me to take her for Indian Food this week.

Any suggestions in nearby towns or along the route driving over to Fort Lauderdale and down the keys?

Keith

Hmmm. Do you mean Indian as in Asian, or Indian as in Seminole?
If it's the latter, there is a place on US 41, Tamiami Trail not far from Shark Valley. The only place I know along Alligator Alley, although run by Indians is really four steps below a typical 7-11.

I'll be in Naples from 12/16-12/24 and will have to try Bricktops! It sounds great, and I had wanted to visit the Waterside shops anyways.

Asian, but thanks anyway.

Keith

OK. I thought since you specifically mentioned "on the way" across the state which is through the Indian reservation, that you meant. . .oh well, never mind.

But my favorite stop is also on Tamiami Trail -- not far before reaching Miami and just before the big Indian Casino. It's a hole in the wall, Bar-B-Q joint with outside picnic tables under chickees (palm thatched shelters). Really good. I'm not sure it has a name, just a big sign that says "BarBQ" on top.

Tell your friend to save the craving for Indian for another trip to somewhere else.

Except she lives in Naples and none of her family are interested in Indian Food.

I did get a couple of leads in Fort Lauderdale on Roadfood.com

Keith

Yes, I realized she lives in Ft. Myers. I just meant she needs to save that craving for when SHE goes somewhere else -- like I do for when I go to London.

A word of caution for Daine C: I am just back from 18 days in Naples. I was armed with restaurant quotes from this forum. Campiellos was rated the best. I went there twice (Fridays, dinner) but preferred Bleu Provence, to which I went four times. Bleu Provence was not mentioned in the forum but was recommended by local snowbirds of my own vintage.
Campiellos is for those who want to party and maybe even pick up a date. People are two-deep at the large bar and it is very difficult to get a reservation. It is probably the place to be seen in Naples. The food and service were ok.
Bleu Provence is quiet and refined by comparison with good French cooking.
Neither will suit DianeC as they are not “medium priced”.

Neo could you have been referring to Rib City on North Tamiami ?

Oh heavens no!!!
I'm talking about a barbeque place that is on the western fringes of Miami, on Tamiami Trail, US 41.

Karen, I need to go back to Bleu Provence, and it is only a couple blocks from me. My two experiences there were not good -- a horrible surly waiter who told us at least twenty times that we were in for the best meal we'd ever eaten -- hey let us decide. I had a featured lamb shank which I wanted to be fall of the bone delicious. I could barely cut it with a sharp knife and it was tasteless -- and it cost something like $28 -- for a lamb shank! One night they kept apologizing for the kitchen. We must have waited at least an hour between first and second course. Frieds did the "special fixed price dinner mainly because of the spectacular dessert on it, which the waiter said you couldn't order ala carte. Then when it was time for dessert, he informed them they were out of it and they could substitute one of the regular desserts.

By the way, there is another French restaurant in that area -- closed during the summer when the owners return to France. It's called Lafayette and is on 13th Avenue South. Just as expensive as Bleu Provence, but with really wonderful food and pleasant servers. Their cassoulet is fantastic as is their rack of lamb with those amazing au gratin potatoes.

You are right about Campiello, except for one thing -- it is only hard to get a reservation last minute. I usually book them on Open Table up to a couple days ahead with no problem.
Those of us who make a reservation and book a table for dinner at Campiello are not there to "party and pick up a date". What an odd statement to make about a place just because their bar is busy with people who didn't book a table.

I've been to Calistoga many times because my 2-year-old loves it, but the food is simply not very good, and the coffee is actually bad. And I'm no food snob. So now I go and let her gnaw on a bagel while I drink a bottle of water.

I've tried the salads and sandwichs and have never finished any of them, and I always clean my plate!

Isn't it called Sushi-Thai, not Thai Sushi? Regardless, I thought it was fin-the Thai food. Not great, but not bad. The food at Thai Basil was very bland--basically the worst Thai food I've ever had. I'll have to try Siam Thai, though.

You apparently haven't eaten at Thai Basil. You might not like the food there, but there is no way you could call it "bland" as they ask you how spicy you want it. If you ask for the spicy, no one could ever under any circumstances call that food "bland"! I normally like mine pretty spicy, but at Thai Basil I couldn't possibly ask for it "spicy".

Oh, and I won't touch your comments about Calistoga. If you don't like any of the salads or the sandwiches, well, heaven help you if you say you're not a food snob. That's true. A food snob knows good food. It is cheap, fast food for God's sake. What are you looking for? Where else can you get a quarter wedge of very fresh, crisp iceberg lettuce with a wonderful creamy blue cheese dressing. Or a very fresh baby spinach salad with gorgonzola, apples, and candied walnuts in a balsamic vinagrette. If you don't like such things, that's one thing, but everything they serve there is fresh, and well prepared -- not a five star restaurant, but miles and miles above other similarly priced fast food places. Please tell us what you DO like -- MacDonald's? Taco Bell? Wendy's? For the same price for lunch, I can't imagine anyone thinking those places might be better. But I'm willing to hear of anything else that is, within the same price range.

The menu at Calistoga's SOUNDS great, but unfortunately they don't deliver. My husband will eat just about anything (except McDonald's) and he now refuses to go to Calistoga for anything but bagels. Panera's a lot better.

For lunch, I like places like Panera and Sunburst. Just give me a decent turkey sandwich, and I'm happy. Unfortunately, Calistoga can't do that.

I have eaten at Thai Basil--twice, because I wanted to give it a fair shake. And it's bland. Simple as that.

Well, I will admit one thing about Calistoga. It's very difficult these days because it is SOOOO popular. I stopped at about 2 PM last week to grab a quick sandwich and the lines were out the door -- thank goodness they are very organized and move pretty quickly -- they had four cashiers open, and now they're adding another one outside. Obviously the masses totally disagree with you about the quality. Frankly I wish the quality would slip a little so I could get in and out quicker. You are absolutely the FIRST person I've heard from who doesn't absolutely rave about the quality and the flavor of Calistoga.

But of course if you're looking for plain turkey on plain bread, then Calistoga is NOT the place for you, so I do understand.