‘Watts for Dinner’: Brio’s seasonal offerings seal the deal

Our next dining destination is Brio Italian Grille at Waterside Shops in Naples.

Things got off to an appetizing start with some crispy calamari ($12.99), featuring pepperoncini, with arrabbiata for dipping on one side and lemon aioli on the other. Amazing!

We also partook of soup on this rainy evening. I had the soup of the day ($7.99), a lovely minestrone. My dining companion had the lobster bisque ($7.99) featuring Maine lobster with a light cream and a touch of sherry.

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For my main dish, I selected the grilled salmon pasta ($24.99), featuring grape tomatoes, broccolini and garlic in a white wine and scampi sauce. The dish was beautiful, like a piece of art. The fish was cooked and seasoned to perfection and was perfectly complimented by the pasta and other ingredients. I highly recommend this dish. Just be careful, those grape tomatoes retain heat and can burn your mouth.  

My partner in dine had the “Ravioli Di Bello” ($17.99), featuring portobello ravioli, cremini mushrooms, tomatoes, Grana Padano Zanetti, fresh thyme and a champagne brown butter sauce. It was creamy, salty goodness.

For dessert, I had the seasonal selection ($7.99). It was this butterscotch, cakelike, almost bread pudding-ish dish, that when the ice cream was added, tasted like a butterscotch tres leches. It was so sweet. Like headache inducing sweet. And it was so good.

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My dining companion was a little less impressed with his tiramisu ($8.99), but I assume he was just jealous. Oh well, I offered to share. But I was rebuffed.

Brio offers a huge menu for nearly every taste. And it’s accompanied by some of the best shopping in Naples. Happy eating!  

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This newspaper pays for all meals related to dining reviews. We do not solicit or accept free food. Not all dishes are featured in print, but you can find a gallery of all reviewed dishes online at marconews.com.

If you go

Brio Italian Grille

• 5505 Tamiami Trail N., Naples (Waterside Shops)
• 239-593-5319
• brioitalian.com