By Tim Aten, Naples Daily News

 By Tim Aten, Naples Daily News
Dec 31, 2014
As the economy picks up, so does the potential to pick up tabs at more than 100 new area restaurants in
2014.
The most notable newcomers this year came in on the high end, raising the bar in a Southwest Florida
region that already has higher quality, costs and expectations. Most of these bright new dining options
opened at the beginning or the end of the year.
FINEST DINING
Chef Charles Mereday, who entered the local dining scene with Mereday’s Fine Dining in 2013, impressed
with two additions in 2014.
Mereday opened his jazzy Alto in Naples’ Bayfront in February, and his snazzy Mereday’s Brasserie in
Estero’s Coconut Point in September.
D’Amico and Partners also added two more restaurants this year to its already lofty lineage in Naples.
Joining D’Amico’s existing Masa, Campiello and company were The Continental, a steakhouse and craft
beer bar that opened this month to replace Handsome Harry’s in downtown Naples; and Fogg Café at
Naples Botanical Garden, introducing D’Amico’s catering arm to the area in October.
Chef Rafael Rottiers also was busy. He expanded Inca’s Kitchen and brought its renowned Peruvian
offerings to The Pavilion shopping center in November. In March, Rottiers opened Al Carbon Peruvian
Rotisserie Chicken and Bakery in East Naples.
The year also started strong with Cider Press Café, a raw vegan restaurant that brought its modern culinary
masterpieces to North Naples in January; and Avenue 5 is the jewel of a restaurant that replaced McCabe’s
Irish Pub & Grill in February and kicked it up a notch to enhance Phil McCabe’s remodeled Inn on Fifth.
During the last quarter, DeRomo’s Gourmet Market & Restaurant breathed new life into the Promenade at
Bonita Bay in Bonita Springs in October, and Bar Tulia expertly complemented Chef Vicenzo Betulia’s
Osteria Tulia on Fifth Avenue South in December.
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED
Although the aforementioned certainly were firsts, restaurants that made names elsewhere chose this area
for their first locations. Lamoraga, a Spanish tapas restaurant that has enjoyed success in Spain and
elsewhere in the world, debuted its first United States location in Naples in April. Ohio-based Rusty Bucket
Restaurant and Tavern has many locations in the Midwest, but it came to Naples — specifically Mercato in
North Naples — to open its first Florida restaurant in May.
Also opening its first restaurant in Florida, popular Chicago chain Rosati’s brought its first pizzeria to
Estero in July. Fried chicken chain Zaxby’s entered the Southwest Florida market in September with a store
in south Fort Myers. Also in September, Florida-based BurgerFi opened its first area location in East
Naples. Rosati’s, Zaxby’s and BurgerFi each plan additional area locations in 2015.
SECOND CHANCES
Some local restaurants this year benefited from second chances or new leases on life.
Martin Fierro, an Argentine steakhouse, reopened in February after an 18-month hiatus. The eatery
previously had a 12-year run at another location in East Naples.
Patric’s in North Naples was back in the public spotlight in a new location in May after taking a year off for
private service. Randy’s Paradise Shrimp Co. also reopened in November after taking a year off in Bonita
Springs.
After more than two years away, Little Caesars returned in April to the same location where the pizzeria
chain previously had operated for 24 years in Bed Bath & Beyond Plaza in North Naples.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory opened in May at Miromar Outlets in Estero. It marked a regional
return for the national franchise, which operated the local candy store and ice cream parlor in the same
location until 2008.
After closing in May, Sandy Parrot Tiki Bar & Grill in San Carlos Park reopened under new ownership in
October. Likewise, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels closed early this year in Coastland Center’s food court and
reopened in November in another location at the Naples mall.
SECONDS AND THIRDS
Other local eateries opened second locations in the area this year.
Bokamper’s Sports Bar & Grill expanded its South Florida franchise with a Coconut Point venue in
August. Smokin R’s BBQ expanded on its Golden Gate Estates roots, adding a location in March on Old 41
Road in Bonita.
Omei Chinese Cuisine opened a second North Naples restaurant in December. The local franchisee for
Saladworks opened its second North Naples location in May. Delicious Raw Juice Bar in downtown Naples
added another Naples location near Saladworks in Pine Ridge Crossing in December.
Larry’s Lunchbox Delicatessen, a popular local lunch spot in the Naples area for more than 25 years,
opened its third location this fall, but its first in the Fort Myers area. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers opened
its second regional location, and its first in Collier County, in November in North Naples.
Outback Steakhouse appeased longtime hunger pains in East Naples by opening its second location in
Collier County in April. The next month, Chili’s Bar & Grill followed suit and moved its longtime Naples
location to East Naples. Gatsby’s Pizza to Go, which opened in August in East Naples, is a spinoff of
Gatsby’s Pizza in Bonita Springs.
SEEING DOUBLE DOUBLE
Many restaurant chains opened two locations in the region this year.
In March, Wisconsin-based Culver’s opened its second Lee County location in Estero. In June, the fastcasual chain opened another on Cleveland Avenue in south Fort Myers.
Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its second area location — its first in Lee County — in University Plaza
near Gulf Coast Town Center on April 16, and its third in the region on Cleveland Avenue in south Fort
Myers on July 23.
Starbucks became quite attached to Lee’s first Chipotle and then opened another coffee shop adjoining the
new Tide Dry Cleaners in Bonita. Tijuana Flats and Pollo Tropical also each opened two locations this year
in south Fort Myers.
Dunkin’ Donuts opened two locations in North Naples, and Pizza Hut opened takeout and delivery
locations in Bonita and North Naples.
Chili’s not only opened its first East Naples location, but it also joined the string of Alico Road restaurants
next to Gulf Coast Town Center.
JUST MOVIN’ ON
As mentioned in last week’s column, many local restaurants relocated to new spots for one reason or
another this year.
In addition to the transplanted Chili’s, Cracklin’ Jack’s replaced Porky’s in Golden Gate in November.
Greek Gourmet moved from Naples to East Naples in July. Grouper Grille transferred from North Naples
to Naples in November.
Susie’s Too changed its name to Andy’s Susie’s Too and added AJ’s Ice Cream when it relocated in East
Naples in July. Likewise, Little Italy became The Colosseum when it moved across the street in East
Naples in September.
Peace Love & Little Donuts stayed in Naples but lost its drive-thru when it moved in August, Thai Star
relocated from Bonita Springs to south Fort Myers in September, and Artichoke & Company transferred
this fall from North Naples to Bonita. Pinchers Crab Shack relocated its McGregor Boulevard restaurant to
The Marina at Edison Ford in March in Fort Myers.
OPEN-AND-SHUT CASES
Sadly, a few dining spots opened in early 2014 but closed before the year ended.
Pasta Spot had the shortest life span. It opened at the end of February on McGregor Boulevard in south Fort
Myers and closed in mid-May after operating only about 10 weeks. Also in south Fort Myers, The Original
Grub and Pub opened at the end of January off Daniels Parkway and closed in mid-November.
In Collier County, two eateries opened in April and closed near the end of the year. Famous Davis Deli
closed this fall on U.S. 41 in Naples Park. Boba Tea 21, serving Taiwanese-style refreshments in a food
court kiosk at Coastland Center mall, closed in early December.
FIXER UPPERS
Some established restaurants completely changed their dining rooms this year.
New York Pizza & Pasta overhauled and opened up its restaurant space recently in North Naples’
Riverchase Plaza. Also gutted and remodeled, Island View Restaurant reopened in March on the top floor
of the Lani Kai Island Resort on Fort Myers Beach.
California Pizza Kitchen at Waterside Shops also had a complete transformation this summer. The national
chain’s Naples restaurant was one of the first 10 in the country to get the new look and menu.
The longtime local Capt. Kirk’s Stone Crabs & Seafood Market recently expanded into the adjacent space
of the former Café Chic across from Cambier Park in downtown Naples. As the dust finally settled from the
recent expansion, a new restaurant emerged this month. The renamed Captain & Krew Seafood Market and
Raw Bar not only still serves lunch, but it will start serving dinner next month in its new dining room.
NAME GAME
Although maybe not as notable as Little Italy transforming into The Colosseum or Capt. Kirk’s becoming
Captain & Krew, a few other local restaurants changed names and more this year, too.
Celestial Deli on Davis Boulevard in East Naples is now Celestial Cuisine under new ownership. The new
owners of the Black Forest Mill Restaurant in North Naples’ Green Tree Center changed its name to simply
Black Forest Restaurant.
Zorba’s Greek restaurant in Bonita Springs expanded its offerings and is now Zorba’s Mediterranean Grille
& Bar. RedBrick Pizza in North Naples became BRK Pizza when the local franchisee dropped the national
franchise in October.
WAIT, THERE’S MORE!
In addition to the aforementioned restaurants, more new eateries also opened this year in these localities:
■ Naples: In March, Bill’s Cafe replaced Ritchie’s, Old Chicago Pizza Pasta & More replaced Sweet
Home Chicago, and Kohr’s Family Frozen Custard replaced Abbott’s.
Molto Caffe & Pizzeria took over Altin’s on Fifth Avenue South, and La Bazenne on Fifth opened in April.
Pompano Surf and Turf initially opened in Pate’s former space at Ramada Inn in May.
CrepeMaker opened in the Coastland Center food court in June, Opa Greek Restaurant replaced Falafel
Grille on U.S. 41 in mid-summer, and Toast replaced The Swiss Diner in October.
■ North Naples: Beefstro’s Gourmet Beefs opened its first of many planned locations in January; French
Folies in Shoppes at Vanderbilt and Coffee Cup in Pebblebrooke Center opened in February; and Skillets’
Strand location and Benja Sushi Creations & Thai Cuisine opened in March.
Dagny’s Spirits in Pebblebrooke and Tavern West in the former Big Al’s City Grill space debuted in April;
Taco Bell came to Green Tree Center in May; Araya Sushi Asian Grill in Uptown Center and The Crust
pizzeria in The Pavilion shopping center started in June.
L’Auberge in Imperial Square and China Chef in Carillon Place opened in July; Café Blu in Mission Hills
shopping center and Simpatico ice cream parlor in Fountain Park opened in August. The Sizzle Truck also
was on a roll beginning in August.
Beach Tavern in Wiggins Pass Crossing and Limoncello Ristorante debuted in October; Johnsonville
Sausage Marketplace off Naples Bouelvard and Rhode’s End at Naples Grande Beach Resort were
introduced in November.
■ East Naples: Naples Rainforest Café opened in February; Cielito Lindo Mexican restaurant opened in
April; Bill’s Steak and Seafood and Rumba Cuban Cafe both opened in May; and Gators’ Crossroads
opened in June.
October openings included Bernard’s Restaurant, Anchor Bar & Grill, Baci Pizzeria, Uncle Louie G’s in
Brooks Village, and Cloyde’s Prime Steak & Seafood House.
In November, Henning’s Chicago Kitchen opened in Naples Outlet Center and Big Dawgs replaced the
little red food cart at Airport and Estey.
■ Golden Gate: Estates Country Restaurant opened in Wilson Plaza in January; Antojitos Ice Cream
opened in June; and El Palacio Cafeteria Restaurant is replacing Brown Bag BBQ.
■ Marco Island: Ciao Bella Ristorante Italiano opened in February; Marco Island Fish Co. replaced Capt.
Brien’s in August; and The SpeakEasy opened in October.
■ Bonita Springs: The Other Side Bistro opened in March; and La Casa de Frida and Divino Gelato Cafe
opened in May.
■ Estero: Cool Beans coffee bar opened at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in January and The German Deli
Spot opened on U.S. 41 in February.
Opening at Coconut Point were Unsinkable Molly Brown’s in April, Versace Gelateria Italiana in
November and The Brass Tap in December.
In Miromar Outlets, Norman Love Confections opened a location in September and French Deli debuted in
October.
■ South Fort Myers: PDQ chicken chain opened its first regional location in Gulf Coast Town Center on
Dec. 14. Along Alico Road just outside of Gulf Coast Town Center, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse opened
in November.
Elsewhere in south Fort Myers, Blue Moon Pizza opened in May, and Mama Nina Foccacheria and
11:Eleven Cafe opened in September.
SS Hookers, La Grotta Italian Grill, and American Classic Diner all opened in October; and Mr. Tequila
Mexican Restaurant opened its first Lee County location in Fort Myers Beach in December.
■ Fort Myers: Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery opened in March, and Belushi’s nightclub opened above it in
April.
Ter-Tini’s opened in January next to Gator Lanes, and Citrola’s Grill & Pizzeria opened another location
on McGregor in February.
Salty Papa’s Shrimp House opened in May, as did another location of BurgerQue, replacing Tom, Dick &
Harry’s. Prime de Leon steakhouse started serving in June.
The Pickle -N- Pub and Azul’s at Florida Gulf Coast University opened in August. Bruno’s of Brooklyn
began in the downtown riverfront district in October.