Chris Casmirri's Restaurant Guide for Bonita Springs and Naples

 Ruth's Chris Steak House, 23151 Village Shops Way Suite 101,  Coconut Point Mall, Estero, FL 33928 (239) 948-8888
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At Ruth's Chris Steak House in Bonita Springs, you'll find soaring ceilings with massive arched doorways that are accented by exquisite dark wood molding. Beautiful eclectic tile inlays, contemporary chandeliers and Tuscan styled walls add to the feel of a classic old world steakhouse one would expect in a European setting. Whether it's a romantic dinner for two, an important business meeting, or a private dinner party, Ruth's Chris Steak House will accommodate your needs.

  The Grill - Ritz-Carlton Hotel - 598-3300. Excellent - Jackets required - ties optional. - Less formal and smaller than the Dining Room. More like a hunt club. One of the best restaurants in Florida and service to match. Pianist during dinner. In the Top 200 restaurants in Florida by Florida Trend magazine in 2/96. This is my favorite dining spot! Reservations long in advance are almost always needed. NDN 4 stars several times (latest ).

 Gumbo Lumbo - Ritz-Carlton Hotel - 598-6644
Informal bar and restaurant. Lunch or dinner. Kid friendly. Open-air eatery is on the boardwalk overlooking the beach. Reggie music in the background and flaming torches. Sunsets are great! Food ranges from American to Caribbean favorites. NDN 4 stars on 4/23/99

 Chops City Grill - 837 Fifth Avenue South, Naples - 262-4677. Owned by the owners of Pazzo's. Innovative cuisine. It serves only the finest steak/beef available in the USA. Only problem, it is another loud restaurant. NDN 3 1/2 stars on 4/9/99. Excellent steaks - Much better than Corks and not as loud!

 Annabelle's - 300 5th Avenue South, Naples - 261-4275.(open Thursday, Friday and Saturday only). Excellent décor and food (in that order) - When making the reservation, ask for one of the "colorful" tables in the rear or behind the curtains - take center area as a backup. Make sure they know you want a table with a view of the interesting interior. NDN 4 stars (6/02/00). Note: MAKE SURE THEY ARE STILL IN BUSINESS. Rumor has it that they were going out of business. 

 Sale e Pepe, Marco Beach Ocean Resort,, 480 S. Collier Blvd.; Marco Island 393-1600. 3 rooms for dining. Outdoor patio (casual dress) the formal dining room (jacket required) - ask for Table 14, under the mural, or dining in the bar (casual dress). The best Italian food and service in S.W. Florida. Worth the 45 minute ride (very pleasant ride). NDN 4 stars (8/23/02)

 Roy's - The Promenade at Bonita Bay Commons, 26831 South Bay Drive, Bonita Springs - 498-7697. Opened 1/99. One of a few Roy's restaurants (13th) in the world. Food and ambiance mixes Hawaii and the Pacific (Japan). I tried it the 1st week it opened. It was good. Since I was there, the NDN rated it with 4 stars (8/20/99)

 Baleen, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, 9891 Gulf Shore Drive, Naples (Vanderbilt Beach). An outstanding restaurant with the finest waterfront/beachfront dining - great sunsets - overlooking the beach. Innovative seafood-centric restaurant. Indoor seating available, many nights with a pianist.

USS Nemo, 3745 Tamiami Trail North, Naples - 239-261-6366. Very good seafood - casual dress. NDN 2 ½ stars (5/19/00). It's much better than 2 ½ stars. Try the Chilean Sea Bass and Eel Salad - The best!

Pazzo - 853 5th Avenue South - 434-8494. A bistro. Very Good. Food is a cut above Terra. NDN originally gave it 2 stars (NDN gave this one a bum rap!) NOTE: Reservations needed even in the off-season! But the paper has been vindicated since the NDN gave it 4 stars on 8/13/99.

 Campiello - 1177 Third Street South - 435-1166. Very nice continental cuisine in an interesting atmosphere. NDN 4 stars (1/29/99) - indoor or outdoor seating (outdoor in front or in the "core" of the restaurant - get the "core" if a nice evening). Very good!Zoë's - 720 Fifth Avenue South - 261-1221. Interesting interior decor - NDN 3 stars (4/30/98) and 3 ½ (8/03/01). 8/99 - We loved it. Definitely going back to this one!

Cloyde's - 4050 Gulf Shore Boulevard North, Naples (Venetian Village). A steakhouse operated by the same people that opened Cork's on 4th Avenue South. It's better than corks in every way - service, ambiance and food! Female guests get a long-stemmed rose upon leaving (though the last time we went we didn't and I forgot to ask). NDN 4 stars (9/24/99)

 McCabe's Irish Public & Grill, 699 5th Avenue South, Naples - 239-403-7170. Popular real Irish pub, right in the heart of downtown Naples - live Irish music, great draught beer and decent "pub" food. Try to get a seat outside and what the scene. NDN 3 ½ (3/15/01)

Bice, 300 Fifth Avenue South, Naples - 239-262-4044 What a feather in our local culinary cap to be anointed by this premier restaurant.  With it's dashing, suave European feel blended with a preponderance of Northern Italian cuisine, Bice stands on its own as a welcome newcomer to the burgeoning sophistication of Naples international gastronomy.

     Blue Water Bistro, #109 Estero, Florida 33928, 239.949.BLUE (2583) Offering a wide variety of seafood, creative bistro fare, steaks and a daily selection of grilled fish, along with an extensive wine list and the coolest cocktails in town! Located in the

AND LAST ONLY DUE TO ITS DISTANCE

Bubble Room, Captiva Island, off Sanibel Island (need to dial a "1" before the number) - 239-472-5558. Kids love this place. It's a bit of a ride (approx 1 - 1 ½ hours and worth it) but a beautiful one at that. Start by going up Bonita Beach Road, through Bonita Beach Road, Lover's Key, Fort Myers Beach to the "end". Most traffic will then make a right onto San Carlos Boulevard (Fl - 865). Continue to Summerlin Road (Fl-869). Make a left onto Summerlin Road and continue passed the toll ($6.00) and when you get to the next stop sign, Periwinkle Way, make a right. You are now on Sanibel Island. Driving north through Sanibel Island, follow signs to Captiva, where the legend has it the pirates kept women captive (and so goes the name). World famous for its most beautiful beaches and the best shelling available on a island that you can get to with a car, enjoy a sunset at the Mucky Duck (the very end of Andy Rose Lane) and then walk 2 blocks (or drive) to the Bubble Room for a nice dinner in a most unusual restaurant. No matter what room you sit in, walk around through the entire restaurant. They are all very different.