Restaurant news: Kava bar opens in Naples

Things are weird right now, but this biodiverse sphere we call home spins on, and restaurants are feeding our communities through hell and high water. 

That being said, let's use restaurant news as a time to unwind and find out what's happening here in our tiny corner of the world.

Last week, we looked into a North Naples restaurant that reopened after a summer closure and found out The Culinary & Hospitality Education Foundation of Southwest Florida awarded thousands of dollars in scholarship funds to local high school students.

This week, a new Kava bar opens in Naples, a shaved ice dessert joint celebrates its first anniversary with a Halloween celebration and local restaurants offer dining specials to round out the last few weeks before season begins.

Kava Culture opens Naples location

A new Kava bar launched in Naples on Sept. 19 at the Pavilion Plaza in North Naples, in the location that formerly housed Delicious Raw Juice Bar.

This will mark the sixth location for Kava Culture, with stores in Tampa, Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Springs, downtown Fort Myers and Port Charlotte. 

“This is so different from anything people are accustomed to, especially in Naples,” co-owner Jacqueline Rushner said in a news release.

“We get so focused on our limited knowledge of the area around us that we often forget to stop and really enjoy the moments when and where we spend connecting with others. That’s what I really want people to experience when they come in.”

The bar's menu includes kava drinks, tea, coffee, organic juices and sodas, and "elixirs," which Kava Culture's website describes as providing "feelings of happiness and euphoria, anxiety-relief, muscle tension relief, energy and clear focus, and more."

Kava Culture is open 7 a.m.-4 a.m. daily at 8925 U.S. 41 N., No. 60, Naples. The bar is only open to customers who are 18 or older. For more, visit kavaculture.com.

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Vampire Penguin to hold month-long anniversary celebration

Starting Oct. 1, Vampire Penguin will celebrate its one-year anniversary with a month-long Halloween celebration. 

The celebration will begin with Halloween-inspired desserts, coloring pages for kids and doubled loyalty points for those who participate in the loyalty program. Customers will also be entered into a drawing to win T-shirts, masks, Vampire Penguin plushies and gift cards. Winners will be announced Oct. 31. 

The celebration will culminate with an event on Halloween day that will award costumed children and adults with dessert discounts. There will be extra discounts for those who dress as a vampire, a penguin or, you guessed it, a vampire penguin. 

Vampire Penguin is open noon-9 p.m. Sunday through Friday and noon-10 p.m. Saturday at 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, No. 142, Naples. For more, visit vampirepenguinswfl.com.

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Little Bites...

Parmesan Pete's reopened for lunch Wednesday, Sept. 30, after a six-month hiatus. The restaurant will offer a buy-one-get-one deal on lunch entrees with the purchase of two drinks. Lunch hours are 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Dinner hours continue to operate from 4:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday at 7935 Airport-Pulling Road, Naples. For more, visit parmesanpetes.com or call 239-992-3663.

Angelina's Ristorante in Bonita Springs will host two Avignonesi wine dinners from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, and Thursday, Oct. 22 at 24041 S. U.S. 41. The dinner will feature a five-course meal designed to pair with five wines, with menu items such as a truffled egg salad with focaccia, oysters Florentine with bacon and herb and cocoa powder encrusted ribeye. Cost is $150. Seating is limited. RSVP at 239-390-3187. For more, visit angelinasofbonitasprings.com.

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Dorona is offering a three-course pre-sunset menu for $28.95 available from 5-7 p.m. The menu features a Caesar salad, a surf and turf dinner with filet mignon, shrimp and spaghetti, and a vanilla ice cream espresso affegato. Dorona is open 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 2110 U.S. 41 N., Naples. To RSVP, call 239-529-2819 or visit doronanaples.com.

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Sarajane Sullivan writes about food and restaurants for The News-Press and Naples Daily News. Email her at sarajane.sullivan@naplesnews.com and find her on Twitter @bysarajane.