Copyright Vanessa Rogers Photography 2015
culinary_concepts_food-2798
Updated July 15, 2016
When it comes to food, no one benefits more than Naples year-rounders who can take advantage of the off-season steals. Here’s a short list of where you can ring in the quieter months (yippee!).
By the way, people, this is a reminder to please, please, please tip your servers based on what your meal should have cost. A big part of why restaurants offer these insanely good deals is to keep guests coming so employees can stay employed (a tip-based salary with little to no tips doesn’t bode well in the job security department). A nifty trick if you’re short on cash: You can ask the restaurant to charge a penny on your credit card and leave a tip that way.
Barbatella has rolled out a few promos, including $5 bar bites from 3-7 p.m.; a sunset menu (like big sister Sea Salt above) daily for $21.50; buy-one-get-one pizzas on Mondays; and half-off wine bottles on Sundays. It also has continued its culture nights on Wednesdays.
Bha! Bha! Persian Bistro has launched a series of Silk Road wine dinners. The $39 deal on Monday nights features an appetizer and entrée paired with glasses of wine and a dessert. (Check the restaurant’s Facebook for details on each week’s menu.)
Bleu Provence is championing a “Summer Foodie Fest.” A weekly $35 prix-fixe dinner from Thursday to Sunday includes an appetizer, entrée and dessert is posted to its Facebook page and can include creative dishes like grilled octopus with cauliflower couscous or more traditional plates like roasted lamb with panisse Marseillaise.
Angelina’s Ristorante is doing it again—theirs is probably the most well-known and anticipated deal on the Gulfshore. All wines under $175 from its award-winning cellar (really, an amazing vertical glass tower in the center of the restaurant) are half off, plus they introduced a summer prix-fixe for couples. The new steal, oops, deal, is $99 for two people, four courses and includes a $25 credit toward any bottle of wine.
Café Lurcat has created one of the better prix-fixes in town. On Monday night, the $35 menu has ample selections, a mix of old favorites (pot roast) and newer specials (Texas brisket and corn).
The Continental, one of Naples’ most luxe (i.e., expensive) steakhouses, is offering date night on a dime Sundays for $50 per couple for a three-course dinner. There’s also half off wine under $100 on Thursdays, which makes the steeply-priced cuts easier to swallow.
D’Amico & Sons is always a year-round draw for their bottomless wine steal ($9.79 per person for unlimited house refills); this summer they’ve added bottomless bubbles for Sunday brunch for $10.99. By the way, kids also eat free with adults on Sundays.
Note: All restaurants in the D’Amico family—Campiello, Café Lurcat, Masa, The Continental and D’Amico & Sons—have a “pick two” lunch combo deal (for either $12 or $14) and early dining menus (ranging from $19.59 to $29.95). For a FULL run-down of deals, from progressive pours of Perrier-Jouët at Campiello to happy hour at Masa, click here.
Zen Asian BBQ is letting you raise a glass and enjoy a three-course Thai prix-fixe every Tuesday: Start with a Singha brew (or wine) and end with chef Koko’s special mango sticky rice for just $19.95. Don’t forget their killer happy hour and late-night happy hour that last all year, too.
Inn on Fifth is tempting you to have a staycation by putting together a “Super Sunday” package for $246 that includes a night in a king room and a three-course Prime Rib dinner.
Ridgway Bar & Grill, in addition to having a comprehensive weekly calendar that you can pick up at the restaurant (or click here for an abridged version) that has something for everyone, from a free beer with a burger (Wednesdays) to complimentary ice cream sundaes at dinner (Sundays), the restaurant just announced they’re doing 50 percent off all drinks (excluding wine bottles) all day every day. They’re also offering a three-course $35 prix-fixe every night for dinner as well.
Sea Salt created a “sunset menu” so people can dine early and then walk a few blocks to the pier to catch the gorgeous orange skyfall each night. It’s $29.95 for a basic three-course prixfixe from 5-7 p.m. They also have other deals, such as $5 bloody marys all day Sunday and half off wine under $100 on Tuesday.
Bar Tulia brought back its Wine Wednesdays, which means 50 percent off ALL bottles—cheers!
Felipe’s, the quick-serve taqueria with a full bar, is doing happy hour with $5 margaritas till 6 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and the tiki bar is staying open until midnight Wednesday through Saturday.
Lamoraga, an ultra-contemporary high-end tapas restaurant, has also started a new happy hour till 6 p.m. daily. A selection of the shareable plates have slashed prices ($6-8), along with $5 beers, $6 wines and $7 cocktails.
Pazzo! is keeping its new “10 under $20” menu that can be ordered any night at any time until the end of August; featured dishes include a scampi tagliolini and braised lamb with fava beans and mint.
Yabba Island Grill, newly renovated with a sleeker feel, is capitalizing on its status and offering all-night happy hour at its bar.
Note: Culinary Concepts, the local restaurant company that owns Pazzo! and Yabba, is also running “10 under $20” menus at Chops City Grill in Bonita Springs and Blue Water Bistro. They are also offering killer early dining specials at most of their restaurants, such as dinner for two with a bottle of wine before 6 p.m. (from $14.90 to $18.90 per person depending on the restaurant).
Read Hot Dish every Wednesday and Friday online and every month in Gulfshore Life.