Dining Bayfront
Waterfront living, shopping and dining is what Bayfront promises, and it’s definitely delivering on the dining side. The very colorful, European-inspired complex at the corner of 41 and Goodlette Frank offers six full-service restaurants and an outdoor bar.
Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner or cocktails, Bayfront has you covered. Here is a look at your options.
The Cabana
This outdoor bar sits directly on top of the water offering great views, good music and a lively crowd. During the day you are bound to share the bar with locals and visitors alike, many in beach, boat or fishing gear. When evening rolls around, the pre-dinner crowd arrives to catch the glow of the sunset while having a cocktail or two. Once the lights illuminate Bayfront and make the water sparkle, the waterside party continues!
EJ’s Café
We have written about EJ’s before, as it’s one of our favorite places for breakfast and lunch. It’s bright and inviting with indoor and outdoor seating along with a fantastic staff. The menu is enormous with benedicts, scrambles, skillets, pancakes, French toast, salads, sandwiches, burgers, soups and more.
If you pop in for breakfast, the Southwest Skillet (home fries, blackened chicken, onions, red peppers, jalapenos, tomatoes and eggs), and the biscuits and gravy are both worth your consideration. For lunch, the Buffalo chicken salad, burgers and paninis are all great. Truth be told, we’ve never had a disappointing dish at EJ’s.
Tavern on the Bay
This sports bar and grill has been named Naples “Best Sports Bar” six times by Naples Illustrated, and we agree. Super casual with televisions everywhere, Tavern consistently delivers quality food and drinks. They have happy hour Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. with half-priced pizzas, $2 off drafts and house wines and $5 Absolut and Captain Morgan cocktails. Sunday brunch features $7 Mimosas and Bloody Marys.
Tavern’s traditional bar foods, such as nachos, chips, pizza and burgers are all delicious and generous in portion size. The salads, including the avocado shrimp chopped, the Mediterranean and the Ahi poke bowl are fantastic. We haven’t had any of the entrées but hear good things, and the rack of ribs looks and smells great!
K-Rico Mexican Grill
If you’re looking for a fun, festive and funky Mexican-cuisine experience, K-Rico is a place for you. You’ll likely want to start off with one of their scratch margaritas; just be careful, as one just might not be enough. From there, it’s on to the extensive menu of tasty options including starters such as queso fundido, jalapeno cornbread, grilled octopus and ceviche. K-Rico also offers an array of salads, handhelds (burritos, quesadillas, Cuban sandwich) house specials (chicken enchiladas, carne asada, grouper, carnitas) and of course tacos!
Industry Beer & Barbecue
The name includes two of our favorite things and tells you almost all you need to know. This super low-key joint decorated with hip artwork has 65 local brews on tap, more than any other Naples bar. Then there’s the BBQ, which is the real deal. They smoke it daily, but when they’re out they’re out. Platters include a half pound of meat per person, along with garlic “buttah” Texas toast and house pickles. You can also order by the pound or get a sandwich. Just don’t forget to get some sides and snacks, such as the mac and cheese, Frito pie or pineapple slaw.
The menu suggests the following steps for eating and drinking at Industry: 1) grab a pint of cold local craft beer, 2) pick a platter for you and your pals, and 3) tuck in. Easy enough in our book.
Southern Kitchen & Raw Bar
This huge bar/restaurant is serving up great “Southern food with an attitude” seven nights a week, during brunch on Saturday and Sunday and at happy hour every day 3-6 p.m. Like the restaurant itself, the menu is big! Appetizers are a Southern food lover's dream with pecan cornbread, fried pickles, deviled eggs, chicken pot pies, fried green tomatoes and Creole crab dip. Then there are perfectly messy handhelds, creative pizzas and the raw bar. Next is the “Southern Comfort Food” section of the menu with fried chicken dinners, grilled pork chops, meatloaf, chicken and waffles, and more. Other entrées include fish and chips, shrimp and grits, gumbo and grilled fish.
If you go for brunch, which we recommend, go very hungry! The options are amazing and will stick to your ribs for a long time. Plus, the brunch cocktails are great and they offer $18 bottomless Mimosas and $24 Bloody Marys.
Stoney’s Steakhouse
Stoney’s is the only place in Bayfront we haven’t been to yet. Peeking inside, the newly opened restaurant looks like a classic steakhouse with its dark wood paneling and white tablecloths. A look at the menu and you learn it is indeed a classic with offerings such as oysters Rockefeller, shrimp cocktail, wedge salad, five cuts of beef, duck, fish, baked potatoes and creamed spinach.
We will go soon and report back.
Until next time, Cheers!
Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner or cocktails, Bayfront has you covered. Here is a look at your options.
The Cabana
This outdoor bar sits directly on top of the water offering great views, good music and a lively crowd. During the day you are bound to share the bar with locals and visitors alike, many in beach, boat or fishing gear. When evening rolls around, the pre-dinner crowd arrives to catch the glow of the sunset while having a cocktail or two. Once the lights illuminate Bayfront and make the water sparkle, the waterside party continues!
EJ’s Café
We have written about EJ’s before, as it’s one of our favorite places for breakfast and lunch. It’s bright and inviting with indoor and outdoor seating along with a fantastic staff. The menu is enormous with benedicts, scrambles, skillets, pancakes, French toast, salads, sandwiches, burgers, soups and more.
If you pop in for breakfast, the Southwest Skillet (home fries, blackened chicken, onions, red peppers, jalapenos, tomatoes and eggs), and the biscuits and gravy are both worth your consideration. For lunch, the Buffalo chicken salad, burgers and paninis are all great. Truth be told, we’ve never had a disappointing dish at EJ’s.
Tavern on the Bay
This sports bar and grill has been named Naples “Best Sports Bar” six times by Naples Illustrated, and we agree. Super casual with televisions everywhere, Tavern consistently delivers quality food and drinks. They have happy hour Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. with half-priced pizzas, $2 off drafts and house wines and $5 Absolut and Captain Morgan cocktails. Sunday brunch features $7 Mimosas and Bloody Marys.
Tavern’s traditional bar foods, such as nachos, chips, pizza and burgers are all delicious and generous in portion size. The salads, including the avocado shrimp chopped, the Mediterranean and the Ahi poke bowl are fantastic. We haven’t had any of the entrées but hear good things, and the rack of ribs looks and smells great!
K-Rico Mexican Grill
If you’re looking for a fun, festive and funky Mexican-cuisine experience, K-Rico is a place for you. You’ll likely want to start off with one of their scratch margaritas; just be careful, as one just might not be enough. From there, it’s on to the extensive menu of tasty options including starters such as queso fundido, jalapeno cornbread, grilled octopus and ceviche. K-Rico also offers an array of salads, handhelds (burritos, quesadillas, Cuban sandwich) house specials (chicken enchiladas, carne asada, grouper, carnitas) and of course tacos!
Industry Beer & Barbecue
The name includes two of our favorite things and tells you almost all you need to know. This super low-key joint decorated with hip artwork has 65 local brews on tap, more than any other Naples bar. Then there’s the BBQ, which is the real deal. They smoke it daily, but when they’re out they’re out. Platters include a half pound of meat per person, along with garlic “buttah” Texas toast and house pickles. You can also order by the pound or get a sandwich. Just don’t forget to get some sides and snacks, such as the mac and cheese, Frito pie or pineapple slaw.
The menu suggests the following steps for eating and drinking at Industry: 1) grab a pint of cold local craft beer, 2) pick a platter for you and your pals, and 3) tuck in. Easy enough in our book.
Southern Kitchen & Raw Bar
This huge bar/restaurant is serving up great “Southern food with an attitude” seven nights a week, during brunch on Saturday and Sunday and at happy hour every day 3-6 p.m. Like the restaurant itself, the menu is big! Appetizers are a Southern food lover's dream with pecan cornbread, fried pickles, deviled eggs, chicken pot pies, fried green tomatoes and Creole crab dip. Then there are perfectly messy handhelds, creative pizzas and the raw bar. Next is the “Southern Comfort Food” section of the menu with fried chicken dinners, grilled pork chops, meatloaf, chicken and waffles, and more. Other entrées include fish and chips, shrimp and grits, gumbo and grilled fish.
If you go for brunch, which we recommend, go very hungry! The options are amazing and will stick to your ribs for a long time. Plus, the brunch cocktails are great and they offer $18 bottomless Mimosas and $24 Bloody Marys.
Stoney’s Steakhouse
Stoney’s is the only place in Bayfront we haven’t been to yet. Peeking inside, the newly opened restaurant looks like a classic steakhouse with its dark wood paneling and white tablecloths. A look at the menu and you learn it is indeed a classic with offerings such as oysters Rockefeller, shrimp cocktail, wedge salad, five cuts of beef, duck, fish, baked potatoes and creamed spinach.
We will go soon and report back.
Until next time, Cheers!
Reminder: We are always looking for ideas on what to tackle in future Two Guys About Town columns, so please send us your ideas to TwoGuysNaples@yahoo.com.