Friends and neighbors,

Have you ever gotten into a full-blown debate over donuts? After seeing too many arguments, I had to settle the score between two local legends: Airport and Trackside.

On the sushi front, I covered Mimoto, the new omakase spot off 5th Avenue South. Minimalist, thoughtful, and completely devoted to the fish. It suits a solo lunch as much as a date night.

Now it’s your turn: what’s your favorite sushi in Naples? Take the poll and let your taste buds do the talking. Thank you for being here.

Bon App,

Have a tip? Email me at [email protected]

If you’ve been in Naples long enough, you know donuts are a blood sport. Mention “Airport” or “Trackside” in a Facebook thread and you’ll get bombarded in minutes and inevitably, the comments will have to close due to decorum issues. I figured I would stack them side by side:

Airport Donuts
1480 Airport-Pulling Rd, Naples, FL 34104
airportdonuts.com

Airport is routinely loved. Fluffy, from scratch donuts made with organic King Arthur Flour, with no artificial dyes, and fried in beef tallow. While I couldn’t care less about avoiding seed oils, I feel like you can taste the difference – the donuts don’t feel greasy or leave you with a bad aftertaste.

The menu has the gamut of options, with cronuts, yeast and cake donuts, and stuffed donuts. They make a great chocolate cake donut (hard to do), and their filled donuts are stuffed to the brim with jelly. While they might run out of popular flavors in the morning, you can roll in and still find a good spread. Convenience and flavor reign supreme.

What to Get:

Trackside Donuts & Café (Bonita)
28001 Old 41 Rd #6843, Bonita Springs
tracksidedonutsfl.com

Trackside has its own thing going and is often recommended. The donuts are huge, fritters bigger than your hand, thick chocolate icing, peanut butter & jelly stuffed like a lunchbox fever dream. Indulgence turned up to eleven.

But here’s the thing: Trackside is super, super popular. You must be an early bird to indulge. They often sell out by 9 a.m. If you want something specific, call the day before and they’ll box it up, no problem. Wait too long and you’ll find the “Sold Out” sign hanging on the door.

Order these at Trackside:

The Verdict

Weekday donut run? Go Airport. No rush, clean flavors, wide menu. Weekend splurge? Trackside, but only if you set the alarm. Fritters are gone fast.

Really, it’s not a competition, and if you need any motivation to get out of bed one morning this week, I’ve given you at least nine tantalizing reasons.

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Naples just got a new jewel in its sushi crown, and it’s called Mimoto. Off the Fifth Ave South bustle, near Unidos Restaurant, this new Japanese restaurant is not your ramen-and-rolls joint. Open since late June, Mimoto is the brainchild of June Dispongsa and Somi Teamtanong, the same culinary duo behind Ichi Togarashi, Tong Yin, and Sendo De Café (which we’ve covered here). If you’ve dined at any of their other spots, you know their rep, but they’ve taken it to a new level at Mimoto.

The restaurant is austere, with a small four-seat sushi bar and a handful of tables. The minimalism is intentional and reflects their menu and ethos. No flash or fuss, just the freshest fish possible paired with delicate flavors that let its main ingredient shine. Their menu is primarily sushi, but they also have a selection of appetizers, salads, soups, and udon noodles that are as good as the fish.

They’ve put out a new preset menu that is $39 for five pieces. Go for the chef’s selection or choose your own path. The former will take you on a journey of ikura (salmon roe) nigiri, salmon nigiri, and a few hand rolls, as well as miso soup and a salad. Some fish is sourced locally while most is flown in daily from Japan. Either way, it’s treated with meticulous ceremony. If you’re choosing your own adventure, be sure to try the hamachi or scallop in addition to the salmon. 

What else to try:

-   CHIRASHI SUSHI (pictured): sliced sashimi over sushi rice.
-   HOKKAIDO HOTATE: scallop hand roll.
-   OSAKA SPICY CRAB: blue crab, spicy, rich sauce.
-   ABURI SALMON TIRADITO: torched salmon with spicy gravy.

Mimoto doesn’t pander and doesn’t need to. The fish is fresh and treated with the dignity it deserves. It’s a great solo lunch spot, but it is also very worthy of a date night (and it’s quiet enough to hear your date!). For the raw fish lovers of Naples, it’s a must-try.

Mimoto
71 Ninth St. S., Naples
Tuesday-Thursday, 12:00-3 p.m., 5-8:30 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, 12:00-3 p.m., 5-9:30 p.m.
mimotonaples.com
239.247.6498

Last week’s poll asked: Which sports bar are you hitting up for NFL Sundays?

Here’s where you landed:

“Bonehook Brewery. Has great beer, the football package and 29 TV's. I can always find my game ” – B. T.

“Off the Rock” -D. H.

No clear winner this time! Bonehook is a fantastic option and nearly made my list. Other favorites you recommended included Tavern on the Bay, The Yard House, and South Street. Thank you for sharing!

Why It Matters

Local debates are fun, but they also help you decide breakfast and dinner without guessing. Airport vs. Trackside tells you when to go and what to order. Mimoto gives you a quiet, high quality sushi option when you want something special.

Your votes shape what we cover next, so the spots you love get the spotlight.

Until next time,

Elizabeth Bellotti
Editor-In-Chief
Naples, Florida
The Naples Florida Review

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