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NOW OPEN: New area restaurants in 2011

El Morro Cuban Cuisine reopened in May 2011 after being closed for nearly a year at Santa Barbara Square, located on the northeast corner of Golden Gate Parkway and Santa Barbara Boulevard.

Photo by TIM ATEN

El Morro Cuban Cuisine reopened in May 2011 after being closed for nearly a year at Santa Barbara Square, located on the northeast corner of Golden Gate Parkway and Santa Barbara Boulevard.

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  • Gyrene Burger, a local fast-food hamburger delivery business dreamed up by Tom Monaghan, the founder of Domino's Pizza and Ave Maria University, opened during the last week of December at 51 U.S. 41 S. in Naples.
  • Paris French Bistro and Bakery opened in Naples in December 2011 at 2500 U.S. 41 N., the former Plaza Walk location of Amador’s and Maximo’s.
  • Flava Restaurant, Bar & Lounge opened Dec. 27 in the former location of Eric Pate’s Backstreet Bar & Grill, 849 Seventh Ave S., in downtown Naples.
  • Komoon Thai Sushi & Ceviche opened Nov. 6 in Mission Square off Pine Ridge Road. The North Naples restaurant serves a unique fusion of cuisines from Thailand, Japan, and Peru.
  • Coconut Jack's Waterfront Grille opened Feb. 25, 2011, in the former location of Vincenzo's on the Bay, 5370 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs.
  • Osetra Champagne Caviar Bar opened Sept. 2, 2011, on Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples.
  • Latitude, featuring Florida fusion cuisine, opened in April in Naples Walk shopping center on Vanderbilt Beach Road and Airport Road in North Naples.
  • L’Etoile, French for “The Star,” opened Nov. 11, 2011, at 10711 U.S. 41 N. in North Naples.
  • Annie and Rick Feinman and their daughter, Lauren, opened Mango’s Dockside Bistro on Oct. 29 in The Esplanade, 760 N. Collier Blvd., on Marco Island.
  • Chuey’s Tacos opened Oct. 16 in Coconut Point in Estero in a kiosk next to Hollister and in front of Hollywood Theaters. Chuey’s, which features homemade burritos, quesadillas and nachos, in addition to tacos, is a dream come true for owners John and Claudia Porter, who enjoy sharing their authentic Mexican cuisine.
  • Naples Caribbean Market & Take-Out Restaurant opened Nov. 8 in Pebblebrooke Center, near the corner of Collier Boulevard and Immokalee Road, in North Naples.
  • Simply Southern BBQ opened in August at 600 Goodlette-Frank Road N., suite 101, on the northern end of Empire Plaza in Naples.
  • Rosedale Brick Oven Pizzeria opened April 4 in Magnolia Square in North Naples.
  • Pete-zza opened Sept. 8, 2011, at 28811 U.S. 41 S., in Bonita Springs. The new restaurant is in the former home of Bonita Rice Bowl, next to Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, in Shops at Hidden Lakes.
  • Olympia Dining, serving Greek, Mediterranean and American cuisine, opened in May 2011 in the former location of Gemi’s Café in Davis Village, 2800 Davis Blvd., East Naples.
  • GreekElicious Food & Pastries opened Feb. 18, 2011, in Imperial Square Plaza on the northeast corner of U.S. 41 North and Imperial Golf Course Blvd., between Wiggins Pass and Immokalee Road.
  • Bernwood Grille opened May 26, 2011, in Bonita Springs at 25221 Bernwood Drive, suite 12, in Bernwood Business Park, located off Old 41 Road near U.S. 41.
  • Marcos Cuban Café II opened Feb. 22 at 1383 Airport-Pulling Road, in the same building as Captain’s Cabin, on the corner of Mercantile Avenue, in East Naples.
  • Fit & Fuel cafe had its grand opening July 2 at 819 Vanderbilt Beach Road in The Pavilion shopping center in North Naples.
  • Margaritas Mexican restaurant opened Oct. 3, 2011, in The Pavilion shopping center, 871 Vanderbilt Beach Road, in North Naples.
  • Pate’s House of Prime Rib opened in October in the former Coastland Center mall location of Ted’s Montana Grill.
  • Figs Grille opened this fall in Bonita Commons, 25987 U.S. 41, Bonita Springs.
  • Toast opened a second Naples location in October in the Shoppes at Vanderbilt space formerly occupied by Luna Rossa Italian Restaurant.
  • Falafel Grill opened a second location in October at 336 9th St. N., next to Grouper & Chips in Trinity Plaza on the corner of Third Avenue North in Naples.
  • Zookies Too Sports Pub & Grill opened this fall in the former location of Frascati’s Italian Restaurant, the anchor of River Reach Plaza on Airport-Pulling Road in East Naples.
  • The second location for Empire Bagel Factory opened April 8, 2011, in Sherwin-Williams plaza, 3802 U.S. 41 E., East Naples.
  • Valento’s Pizza & Hoagies opened Nov. 25 at 21 Ninth St. S. on the southeast corner of U.S. 41 and Central Avenue in Naples.
  • New York Pizza & Pasta, the former Capri Ristorante and Lounge in North Naples’ Riverchase shopping center, 11140 U.S. 41 N., changed hands and names earlier this year.
  • Capt. Marcos Seafood & More, 1716 Airport-Pulling Road S., opened in mid-July 2011, in the former East Naples location of Mister Five and White House restaurants.
  • Aqua Seafood & Steak is the new name for the former Bert's Seafood and Chowder House on Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples.
  • Cgrape Chef, owned by Mai Harkness, specializes in gourmet coffee and Asian-inspired fare for breakfast and lunch at Flamingo Island Flea Market in Bonita Springs.
  • Jana’s Little Prague Restaurant opened July 4, 2011, at 289 U.S. 41 S., in the former Naples location of Little Prague Bistro, which recently closed after operating for two years.
  • Five Star Gourmet Catering had its grand opening Sept. 1 in Plaza Walk, 2500 U.S. 41 N., Naples, in the remodeled location of Gourmet Catering & Take-out.
  • Grace and Shelly’s Cupcakes opened its third Southwest Florida location in December on Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples.
  • Simply Cupcakes opened a new location Nov. 17 at 300 9th St. N., the Trinity Plaza endcap previously home to Jane’s Café and Fannie’s in Naples.
  • Tierney’s Tavern and Claw Bar is the newest addition to The Bay House restaurant, located at 799 Walkerbilt Road, just off of U.S. 41 and the Cocohatchee River, in North Naples.
  • Agave Southwestern Grill opened Sept. 16, 2011, on Vanderbilt Beach Road in North Naples.
  • Chen's Buffet opened in the spring of 2011 in Bonita Springs at 26051 U.S. 41 S., the former location of Duval Street Seafood Co. and R.J. Gators.
  • Pino's Pizzeria, 24600 S. Tamiami Trail, which opened in January 2011 as A Taste of Brooklyn, changed its name in June. Pino's is located in the former home of Frankie & Johnny's at the end of the southern leg of the Shoppes at Pelican Landing in Bonita Springs.
  • El Rincon De Mexico opened a second East Naples location this summer in the former Rodeo BBQ Place near the northwest corner of Davis and Collier boulevards.
  • Randy's Paradise Shrimp Co., a restaurant and a gourmet and seafood market in Bonita Springs, relocated in the summer of 2011 to 25010 Bernwood Drive, off Old 41 Road in the Bernwood Business Park, but it closed Sept. 1 and is not expected to reopen until November.
  • El Morro Cuban Cuisine reopened in May 2011 after being closed for nearly a year at Santa Barbara Square, located on the northeast corner of Golden Gate Parkway and Santa Barbara Boulevard.
  • Island Gypsy Café and Marina Bar opened in October at 292 Capri Blvd. at the Isles of Capri Marina on Isle of Capri.
  • Guy & Lisa’s Philly Grille opened in January 2011 at 1000 N. Collier Blvd., the former Marco Island home of Amigo’s.
  • Chrissy's, the latest offering from longtime Naples restaurateur Chrissy Bianchi-Rabil, opened this summer in the former location of Jona Cafe in Tanglewood Market Place on U.S. 41 North in North Naples.
  • Toucan’s Bar & Grill opened in November at 657 S. Collier Blvd., the former location of Bimini’s Beach Club restaurant on Marco Island.
  • Roma Italian Bistro and Pizzeria opened Nov. 27, 2011, at 655 Fifth Ave. S. in downtown Naples.
  • Pizzaro's opened near the end of 2011 at 24611 Production Circle, the former home of Olympia Cafe in Bonita Springs.
  • Norman Love Confections opened a chocolate salon in the spring of 2011 in Parkshore Plaza, 3747 U.S. 41 N., Naples.
  • Mark Couch opened Peace Love & Little Donuts in May 2011 in Naples Plaza near Coastland Center mall. The new drive-thru doughnut shop is on the south side of Wayne’s World BP, 2201 9th St. N., on the southwest corner of Mooring Line Drive and U.S. 41 in Naples.
  • Casa Mia Italian Steakhouse relocated this fall from inside the Lakeside Inn on Marco Lake to 1000 N. Collier Blvd. in Heritage Square shopping center on Marco Island.
  • China Express opened a new location Oct. 27, 2011, in Piper’s Crossing in North Naples.
  • The region's first Chipotle Mexican Grill opened April 12, 2011, at 9100 Strada Place in Mercato, near the corner of U.S. 41 North and Vanderbilt Beach Drive in North Naples.
  • Seasons 52 Restaurant. Scott McIntyre/Staff
  • Boston's Restaurant and Sports Bar opened March 11, 2011, in Sugden Park Plaza, off U.S. 41 East in East Naples.
  • National pizza chain Papa Murphy's opened its first Southwest Florida location this year at 4990 Golden Gate Parkway in Golden Gate.
  • The Pita Pit opened in August at 1427 Pine Ridge Road, the former Quiznos Sub location between Rosedale Brick Oven Pizzeria and Starbucks in North Naples' Magnolia Square.
  • Five Guys Burgers & Fries opened its fourth Collier County location in late October in the former home of Grecian Gardens, 3148 U.S. 41 E., East Naples.
  • Rib City opened June 6 in Estero at 10431 Corkscrew Commons Drive, located on the northwest corner of Corkscrew Road and Interstate 75.
  • Taco Bell opened its new East Naples location July 11, 2011, at 4201 U.S. 41 E., the former Bank of America branch location on the Lakewood Boulevard corner.
  • Olive Garden opened this new restaurant in October 2011 in Coconut Point in Estero, and opened another one in April 2012 in University Plaza, which abuts Gulf Coast Town Center in south Fort Myers.
  • Menchie's Frozen Yogurt opened this year in the Boulevard Shoppes, 6355 Naples Blvd., across from Hollywood 20 in North Naples.
  • Dunkin' Donuts opened its 'South Naples' location in January 2011 at 6685 Collier Blvd., near the new Lowe's home improvement store in the Shops at Eagle Creek.
  • Dunkin' Donuts opened Oct. 21, 2011, in the Marco Town Center mall on Marco Island.
  • Subway opened in October in Collier County's fourth Walmart Supercenter, 11225 U.S. 41 N., near Immokalee Road.
  • Heidelberg Bistro, formerly Bohemian Schnitzelhouse, had its grand opening July 1 at 835 Vanderbilt Beach Road in The Pavilion shopping center in North Naples.
  • Joey D’s Italian Restaurant became Joey D’s Italian Restaurant & Bar after it nearly tripled its size in 2011 in Green Tree Center, 2356 Immokalee Road, North Naples.
  • After operating for more than 30 years on Linwood Avenue, The English Pub moved in November 2011 to a new East Naples location at 5047 U.S. 41 E., south of Rattlesnake Hammock Road in the Village Falls complex.
  • Mangrove Café, 878 Fifth Ave. S., reopened in November after being closed for more than 10 months when the local restaurant was destroyed following a propane tank explosion Jan. 10 behind the building.
  • Photo

Naples-area restaurants that opened in 2011.

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