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Dining in Paradise: Eating heaven in Naples and Marco Island, Florida
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Dining on Stone Crabs in Everglades City, the Stone Crab Capital of the World courtesy of Naples Marco Island Everglades CVB
You’ve scouted out great values, shopped up a storm, and blissed out at the palatial spas on the beautiful Paradise Coast. What next? Well, you may have worked up an appetite by now, so it’s time to eat. And, what an array of choices you’ll have in Naples and Marco Island! From rustic diners serving seafood that’s super-fresh and amazing, to a very cool and cutting-edge restaurant with a self-serve wine bar, the culinary world is your oyster (sometimes quite literally).
The New Kid in Town
Stilts is one of the newest eateries on the Paradise Coast, but it’s already standing tall on Marco Island’s beach, and creating quite a buzz. The beachside bar and grill is inside the Marriott Crystal Shores vacation club, and lives up to its name by actually sitting up on concrete piers, giving diners an unparalleled view of the fabulous beach and the Gulf of Mexico. To further highlight the view, Stilts is built without walls on three sides, so you’re caressed by gentle Gulf breezes as you eat. As you can imagine, sunsets here are incredible. The food is billed as “Island cuisine,” and the seafood is so fresh that it’s practically still swimming on your plate. (It’s delivered twice a day by the Incredible Fresh Fish Company of Naples.) Favorites of the locals include sweet chili-glazed grouper and teriyaki pineapple chicken.
Paradise Café
Opt for breakfast at the Paradise Café (located at the Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa, and you can choose from their bountiful buffet or order off the menu. Best of all, you can sit on the screened patio and enjoy the sounds of the gentle Gulf surf as you plan your day. The Paradise Café is also open for lunch and dinner—don’t miss their famous Friday night seafood buffet!
I’ve also eaten at Sandcastles at the same resort, and love their Caribbean-inspired menu. Sandcastles also offers nightly live entertainment in the Lounge.
Sale E Pepe
Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the Sale E Pepe dining room (in Marco Beach Ocean Resort) offers gourmet Italian cuisine and authentic Italian ambience. (When I first walked into this ornate Renaissance-style palazzo, I felt as if I were suddenly transported to romantic Italy, as I marveled at the aged stone, marble floors, and hand-painted frescoes.) The surroundings are sublime, and just wait until you taste the food! Chef Alberto Varetto is Italian to his soup bones, and imports all the fundamental ingredients of his recipes from Italy. I recommend the Fettucine ai Frutti di Mare, homemade fettucine sauteed with a daily selection of fresh seafood in a light tomato sauce. It’s fabulous!
Naples Originals
Local residents and visitors to the Paradise Coast support the trend for local foods and regional cuisine by frequenting members of Naples Originals, an association consisting of 46 independent and locally-owned restaurants that each offer innovative recipes using local ingredients—resulting in culinary masterpieces that can only be found in Naples and Collier County.
One of the Originals, Naples Tomato, has even received attention from the New York Times for its innovative practices. Naples Tomato was the first restaurant in Florida to install an Enomatic self-serve by-the-glass wine dispensing system. There are 48 wine and six single malt bottle stations. You buy a debit card at the bar, and then you can sample one, three, or six ounce pours of your favorite libation. This provides an excellent opportunity to try out wines in every price range, without having to pay for a full bottle of something that you aren’t sure about. You can sip your choices in a comfortable wine lounge, situated in between two dining areas.
Naples Tomato has also installed a Mozzarella Bar, with fresh cheese made in-house, as well as some imported varieties. The mozzarella cheese-tasting concept is similar to Naples Tomato’s approach to wine, as several varieties are available in small portions, which allow you to compare flavor, texture, and style. The Mozzarella Bar also includes antipasto accompaniments, such as sea salt, extra virgin olive oil, marinated mushrooms, roasted eggplant, cherry tomatoes with pesto, and Italian meats. It’s guaranteed to make the foodie in you smile!
The open pasta kitchen at Naples Tomato is also a lot of fun. All the pastas and sauces are made from scratch at the restaurant. Try the Stone Crab Ravioli for a real taste of Paradise.
My favorite Naples Original is HB’s on the Gulf, located at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. HB’s is Naples’ only beachfront restaurant, and it serves exceptional regional seafood, as well as steaks. Try the grilled swordfish served with roasted shallot butter, and you’ll truly be eating heaven. But save some room for dessert—I drooled over HB’s extensive dessert menu, which includes “Frozen Orange Creamsicle” (frozen orange mousse with a crunchy orange center)—the perfect way to end a sunny summer day in Paradise.
Past articles on the Paradise Coast have focused on vacation values, shopping in Paradise, romance in Paradise, and spas in Paradise.
Next up: Babes in Paradise: Fun for Kids in Naples and Marco Island, Florida
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