Restaurants: Who's new, what's coming, chef moves & deals in Naples, Bonita Springs
Ciao’s replacement is set to open this week and its kitchen boasts one of Southwest Florida’s most respected chefs. I can pinky promise you the line to dine will be out the door, so if you don’t have the Resy app on your phone, download it pronto for a chance to visit.
Travels around town this week include a peek inside a buzzed-about new private venue in North Naples, where memberships are priced along the lines of an exclusive golf or country club. While fees are kept mum, legendary captain of industry J.P. Morgan’s once said, “If you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it.”
The best way to describe it: Imagine designer Tom Ford opening a restaurant on Giorgio Armani’s yacht where nestling in a banquette is like being cocooned in a plush quilted Chanel bag. It’s quite lovely.
We also have deals and fun doings in Naples and Bonita Springs.
And if you’re a fan — and really, who isn’t? — of Saturday’s Third Street Farmers Market, it skips a date on March 11 in deference to traffic generated by downtown’s St. Patrick's Day parade.
PJK Neighborhood Chinese
Kayla Pfeiffer is the top toque at PJK Neighborhood Chinese. This new concept from Paul Fleming Restaurants is slated to open March 7 in what was Ciao, which closed in 2021. Pfeiffer received rave reviews from this newspaper for her stamp on Bar Tulia at Mercato where she was executive chef; before moving uptown, she held the same title at The French.
(835 Fourth Ave. S., Naples; 239-367-0300;pjkchinese.com)
More on PJK:Naples restaurants: PJK's Neighborhood Chinese coming soon
Chef moves
Darren Veilleux is chef de cuisine at Butcher Private, the new three-years-in-the-making members-only club owned by Corinne Ryan and Veljko Pavicevic. The space until spring 2020 was Agave on Vanderbilt Beach Road. Veilleux most recently served as executive chef at Sails Restaurant, which celebrated its fifth anniversary in February and is also owned by the couple. Sails’ new top toque has not been named.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs named Justin Spott as Tarpon Bay’s chef de cuisine. After an extensive renovation, the restaurant is preparing to reopen in spring with a new chef’s table concept. Spott began his Hyatt career working as a line cook at the hotel in 2012.
(5001 Coconut Road, Bonita Springs; 239-444-1234;hyatt.com)
More new pizza
A sign on the window announced that Rosati’s is taking over the space formerly that was Mama Mia at 720 Tamiami Trail, which closed in 2022 following a 47-year run.
Do it by March 9:Pizza madness: Round 1 voting begins for your favorite pizzeria in Collier County
Wine dinners
Carrabba’s next four-course wine pairing dinner is March 14 at 6:30 p.m., quite the deal at $55 per person, not including tax or gratuity. Reservations suggested.
(Multiple locations;carrabbas.com)
On March 23 at 6:30 p.m., Roy’s hosts a pairing dinner of four courses and five wines from Caymus Vineyards priced at $129 per person not including tax or gratuity. Reservations required.
(26831 South Bay Drive, Bonita Springs; 239-498-7697;roysrestaurant.com)
Deal
Spend $21 and save up to $300 when purchasing the seventh annual Ale Trail Passport. “Drink Local, and Earn Rewards” are scored by collecting stamps at participating breweries by buying a beer, flight, growler or crowler.
Incentives include BOGOs and other discounts. Participating breweries include Ankrolab, Bone Hook, Crazy Dingo, Oil Well Brewing and Riptide. Passport partners also include Industry Beer and BBQ, Brookside Market and LowBrow Pizza. Rules apply so visit swflaletrail.com for details and exclusions.
Update
Sammy's Pizza on East Trail is open seven days a week.
(3829 Tamiami Trail E., Naples; 239-529-2979; sammyspizzanaples.com)
Send your deals, news and scoops 2 weeks in advance for editorial consideration to diana.biederman@naplesnews.com.