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Editor's Note: Every year as part of our Best of the Gulfshore issue, Food and Wine Editor Dorothea Hunter Sönne cultivates an All-Star team, so to say, of the Southwest Florida restaurants that consistently offer the best dining experiences. Here is her list for 2018.
7th Avenue Social: Florida-inspired, inventive menu with craft cocktails in a lounge-like setting off Fifth Avenue South.
21 Spices by Chef Asif: This isn't your average curry house (although you can get great chicken tikka masala and garlic naan)—expect soaring ceilings, sleek decor and a full bar.
Angelina’s Ristorante: Fine dining in plush banquettes with an award-winning wine list.
Azure: Delectable French cuisine offering everything from filet mignon to quail.
The Bay House: Located in a quiet mangrove-filled setting with a Southern-influenced menu.
Bha! Bha! Persian Bistro: Exquisite Persian cuisine offering a wide variety of creative dishes.
Bleu Provence: Take a tour of southern France in the heart of Old Naples at Bleu Provence with its amazing food and a stunning wine list.
Campiello: Traditional Italian with a contemporary interpretation at a favorite hot spot.
The Continental: Top-quality cuts of steak from around the globe are enhanced by modern decor, private cabanas and a cocktail lab.
Fish Tale Grill: Starting with fresh fish from an adjacent market, many popular items here, like coconut shrimp, seared ahi and blackened mahi mahi, earn descriptions like “the best I ever ate” from diners who voyage to this understated spot on the Cape.
Fuse Global Cuisine: Chef Greg Scarlatos blends cuisines from around the world into a cohesive menu. In 2018, he expanded the restaurant and added a barbecue-themed lunch service.
HobNob Kitchen & Bar: Updated takes on classic cuisine in a cool, contemporary setting unlike anything else on Fifth Avenue South.
Jimmy P’s Charred: Naples' favorite butcher debuted this intimate, casually elegant steakhouse next door specializing in signature cuts of the finest wagyu.
The Local: Fresh, healthy cuisine locally sourced from farm and sea.
M Waterfront Grille: Tapas, organic meats and produce. Features a full-service bar and terrace.
Mad Hatter: Whimsical, exquisite fine dining from amuse bouche to sweet ending. Arrive early for a glass of wine on the sand (no outdoor seats).
Osteria Tulia: Enjoy Sicilian-inspired dishes in a farmhouse Italian setting or the Bar Tulia gastropub.
Ridgway Bar & Grill: A quintessential Old Naples restaurant with creative American fare.
Sea Salt: Organic produce and naturally raised ingredients. Dedicated to seafood and its accompaniments.
Sweet Melissa’s: Dine on watermelon salad with mozzarella or the big-eye tuna tartare.
A Table Apart: International cuisine ranging from Pan-Asian to Pacific Rim.
USS Nemo: Seafood, ethnic specialties, sashimi and chicken tandoori from a classically trained chef who is among the best in Southwest Florida.
The Veranda: Dine on filet mignon and veal while surrounded by lush foliage.
Veranda E: Courtyard setting and menu with both Asian and French influences.
Wyld’s Café: Three chefs join forces for a modern American fine-dining experience at a reasonable price.
Zen Asian BBQ: Try this trendy noodle bar and Korean barbecue joint for pairings like spicy tuna with creme fraiche and a bulgogi ramen nacho.