DINING: Take a tour of tucked-away eateries
Don’t judge a book by its cover. It’s an adage that every mother instills in her children, but it’s hard to follow when it comes to dining out. After all, outward appearances say a lot, right? Not so for these five area restaurants which, at first glance, appear out-of-place, questionable or otherwise unappealing. One taste of their traditional cooking could change your mind, however, if you’re willing to try.
Full Story El Tapatio is a great out-of-the-way Mexican restaurant.
11157 U.S. 41 E., 793-1211
Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; closed Wednesdays |
On the outside, El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant, in East Naples, looks like an old motel. It’s a conclusion that holds some truth; the building did once serve as one. Nowadays, customers will discover a land of authentic Mexican dishes, clean tables and a pleasant atmosphere. And the food’s good, too.
Despite the south-of-the-border attitude, you won’t need a translator to eat here. The menu has descriptions written in English and the wait staff does as well. They may not be fluent, but pointing is always a default way to communicate.
For a Jamaican fix, try Del-Mel.
4961 Rattlesnake-Hammock Road (U.S. 41 East)
(239) 687-3434 or (239) 200-8968, naplesjamaicanrestaurant.com
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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If it weren’t for a man frantically waving a yellow-and-green sign inscribed with Del-Mel on U.S. 41 East, this small, unknown restaurant would blend into the background. His antics were so outlandish that I had to stop.
Inside was an exceptionally clean establishment decorated in Caribbean flair, with the sounds of Bob Marley echoing throughout. The owner, Pauline, greeted customers as if she were inviting them into her home. She recited the evening’s specials: jerk pork, curry chicken, curry goat and oxtail. I ordered the curry goat and jerk pork ($10/small or $12/large).
Stop by Marcos for a mouthwatering Cuban sandwich.
4110 Enterprise Ave., in Naples (in the industrial park,
239) 435-1961, marcoscubancafe.com
Hours: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday
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Those who work near the Industrial Park in Naples can attest that Marcos Cuban Café is a hidden treasure. The small establishment is located in an unassuming strip mall and looks like a converted storage unit on the outside. But an A-frame sign exposes the restaurant’s mission: It reads, “Best Cuban food in Naples.”
Although I can’t confirm it’s the best, it is a good one. Among a wide selection of Cuban delicacies, the menu’s staple, the Cuban sandwich ($5.99), stood out. It has the typical ingredients with pork, ham, Swiss cheese and pickles. And it has super-soft bread with crust that was crispy but not so much that the roof of your mouth is sore from eating it. The meat was juicy and thin, but not paper-thin.
Jimmy P’s Butcher Shop and Deli
1833 Tamiami Trail North, Naples
(across from Coastland Center Mall)
643-6328, jimmypsbutchershop.com
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday-Sunday, 9a.m. to 4 p.m.
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On a tour of tucked-away eateries, Jimmy P’s Butcher Shop and Deli is a gem. While I was familiar with the butcher shop, I had never eaten from their deli. Blown away is the best description of the impact.
The establishment is half deli, half butcher shop inside a tightly crammed space, with everything bottlenecked at the entrance. Squeeze inside and you’ll see a huge market with rows of meat cases displaying Kobe beef, Kurobuta pork, poultry and others as well as sauces, seasonings and marinades.
Eat a sandwich and take home a steak from Jimmy P’s for a dinner twofer.
Pei Wei
2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, in Naples, 596-5515, www.peiwei.com
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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On my last stop I sought out a Chinese restaurant, albeit a wallet-friendly one, and discovered Pei Wei, a casual and faster version of its parent company, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, with all dishes less than $10.
While it is may be the most well known of the restaurants on this tour, it is, certainly tucked away in the Collections at Vanderbilt. Unless you peruse the parking lot, it is doubtful you’ve stumbled upon it.
Pei Wei serves most of the same selections as P.F. Chang’s but at a more affordable price. The Pei Wei spicy ($7.95, chicken) is about $5 less than Chang’s spicy chicken ($13.50), but is just as tasty. A favorite Chinese dish, the Pei Wei spicy (with chicken) is a sweet, spicy sauce with scallions, garlic, snap peas and carrots. Ask for extra sauce.
Save some greenbacks and enjoy good Chinese at Pei Wei.
Treasures of the Atocha:
Florida’s sunken treasure ship.
FRIDAYJUL23DescriptionTreasures of the Atocha: Florida’s sunken treasure ship. Friday, July 23 at 10:00 a.m. Join a park ranger for an exciting overview of the discovery of the sunken Spanish galleon, Nuestra Senora de Atocha. Learn about the ship’s history and sinking and see some actual treasure recovered from the wreck. Reservations required, call (239) 463-4588.
Programs are included in park admission fees of: $4.00 for vehicles with one individual. $8.00 for vehicles with two to eight individuals. $2.00 per pedestrian or cyclist.
All programs will take place at Lovers Key State Park and registration is required. The park offers many recreational opportunities to visitors with disabilities.
For assistance or to register, contact the park office at (239) 463-4588.
Fifth: Business owners, city leaders out to make downtown Naples family-friendly, affordable.
If you haven’t been to Fifth Avenue South lately, then you haven’t been to Fifth Avenue. That’s the prevailing opinion of many city leaders, as well as merchants, restaurateurs and shoppers, when they describe the changes taking place on downtown Naples’ main street as they bring the world famous avenue back to its authentic and historic roots.
Like all things, Fifth Avenue has evolved over the years to suit the changing needs, trends and economic conditions of the times. During the most recent boom, when housing prices soared and business was roaring, the street grew increasingly exclusive, featuring high-end restaurants and merchants and offering few modestly priced venues for shopping or dining.
City Council will sponsor more CityFest family festivals including on-street dining, live bands and dancing, in addition to the popular art festivals, concerts in the park and holiday events that families have always enjoyed, Price said.
“This is our main street and a big part of our history. It’s the heart of Naples and it always will be.” — Naples Mayor Bill Barnett“Together, these things are creating a stronger sense of community,” he said. “Overall the changes are extremely positive.”
The fact Fifth Avenue is once again family friendly and affordable is a message the Downtown Naples Association wants people to hear, as well. Full Story
Best of Naples
Things are looking up around Southwest Florida.
OK, so the winter was pretty lousy(where's that global warming, anyway?), but houses are selling, business in general is picking up and everyone seems to have a bit more bounce in their step.
After all, the sun still shines almost every day,and the best beaches and fishing holes are still just minutes away.The sun still sets over the Gulf every night, and the local political theater-of-the-absurd still keeps us entertained.
And of course there's always something new to check out: restaurants, shops and stores,festivals and fundraisers, entertainers and service providers.
To keep up on what makes Naples and all of Collier County so special, Florida Weekly went on the hunt for the Best of... well, everything.
Best place to stop before and after the beach? We got it. Best summer reading list? Check it out.Best use of taxpayers' money? Yep. Best sports fans? We've got the 411. It's all here in our Bests. Have fun. We sure did. Full Story
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