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Friends and Neighbors,

It might be the slow summer season, but there’s plenty going on around town! In this issue, we take a look at the recent drama surrounding the $100 million dollar rebuild of the Port Royal Club, alongside a tour of the best sandwiches in Naples and a selection of the best wine dinners. 

I’m excited to share that - due to popular demand (and a rapidly expanding subscriber base) – The Naples Florida Review will now be published on a weekly basis on Tuesdays. To catch up on issues that you may have missed, be sure to check out the publication’s main page and be sure to subscribe! 

Last week’s poll of your favorite 5^th Avenue restaurant is complete, and it looks like I’ve finally got an excuse to visit Le Colonial, which beat out Del Mar by a narrow margin. Third place belongs to The French, another great choice. A big thank you to the thousands of locals and visitors alike that voted and provided feedback! 

I’ve really enjoyed hearing from readers and getting some great ideas for future reviews. If you’ve got a favorite place that should be covered, please feel free to email me at [email protected]. 

Best,

📰 Upcoming in this issue

• Champagne Problems: Drama Among the .1%

• Six Best Sandwiches to Try in Naples 🥪

• The Best Wine Dinners in Naples 🍷

Champagne Problems: Drama Among the .1%

“Before I built a wall I’d ask to know

What I was walling in or walling out,

And to whom I was like to give offense.

Something there is that doesn't love a wall”

• Mending Wall, Robert Frost

What do you get when you combine a devastating hurricane, an exclusive ultra-rich enclave, multiple planning committees and one very unhappy neighbor? A years-long slog through planning and permitting that has finally concluded – for now. 

After nearly two years of planning and meetings - capped by two very lengthy days of hearings - The Port Royal Club in Naples has received approval from the Naples City Council to proceed with a $100 million reconstruction project after its original clubhouse was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in September of 2022. 

The new clubhouse will feature a larger, three-level design with indoor and outdoor dining areas, a new pool and deck, a two-story garage, and enhanced landscaping and lighting. The design by the renowned architectural firm Hart Howerton is inspired by West Indies architecture and aims to meet the latest hurricane standards while preserving the club’s charm (read this as “Old Florida”). 

Sounds great, right? Apparently not if you live next door. The last major hurdle for the club’s rebuild came from the club’s closest neighbor to the south – a Port Royal Club member in their own right - Terry Mullen. Mullen and his wife Nicola purchased the property in July of 2021 for $31 million, just a little more than a year before Hurricane Ian struck. At the time the Mullen’s purchased the property, the adjacent Port Royal Club had been operating as a gathering place for the Port Royal community for 65 years.

During the planning process and Naples City Council meetings, Mullen expressed many concerns, chiefly pertaining to noise. In response, the club made significant concessions, totaling over $2 million in mitigation efforts, including moving the pool further away from Mullen's property and agreeing to build an 11-foot wall between the properties, despite Mullen’s request for a 20-foot wall. The wall will be fully landscaped and will not have any signs, speakers, or lights. Additional restrictions include enclosing certain balconies, limiting pool hours, and removing a private beach access pathway next to Mullen’s property that has been the primary beach access for many members (who might prefer to go directly through the beach instead of through the clubhouse) over the years. Fortunately, the club’s neighbor to the North has allowed the foot path to be relocated to the north side and provided support for the plan. 

Will the Mullens be content with the 11-foot wall? Only time will tell, but the drama is likely far from over. Another concession that was adopted by the City Council was a three-strike rule that requires the club to appear before the City Council if there are three confirmed noise violations within 12 months. I’d wager that both the Mullens and the Port Royal Club will be investing in the latest in greatest in noise monitors in anticipation of going head to head in the future. 

At any rate, it’s nice to see some movement in the rebuilding process. My wedding reception was held at the Port Royal Club in December of 2017, less than three months after Hurricane Irma hit Naples. I was shocked by how little damage Irma did to the club. In fact, when I visited the club the day immediately after Irma, I was already imagining alternate wedding plans as we fought our way past fallen trees onto the property. The biggest issue then was a pool full of sand, and the fact that sand had been washed into the screened dining porch areas. 

Returning to the Port Royal Club the day after Hurricane Ian was very different. Champagne flutes and broken bottles littered the parking lot and the pavers looked like little plastic toys that had been flung around by an angry toddler. A couch had flown halfway through a hallway wall and the dining area was strewn with debris, lawn chairs and countertops. Many of the surrounding properties – including the Mullens’ – had sustained significant damage. It looked like a bomb went off.

Six Best Sandwiches to Try in Naples 🥪

Whether you’re headed to the beach or just looking to pick up a quick lunch, Naples is full of restaurants that serve up an awesome sandwich. From healthy picks to subs piled high with cold cuts, this list has it all. Know of a delicious sandwich we missed? Let us know in the comments! 

Organically Twisted – The Avo-Loco Wrap - $14

Let’s start with something on the healthier side, shall we? The Avo-Loco Wrap from Organically Twisted will make even the most ardent meat eater take pause. This funky café on Livingston is packed with vegan and non-vegan options alike, but the Avo-Loco Wrap stands out from the rest. Rolled (in a wrap) or bowl-ed (as a salad), the Avo-Loco contains a delicious combination of fresh greens, black bean salsa, avocado, sweet potato and cilantro sauce. I recommend getting it “spicy” and enjoying it soon after purchase. 

Yacht Club Subs – Yacht Club Club - $17.95 for a 9 inch Sub

Yacht Club Subs is the type of downtown Naples spot that you’ve driven by dozens of times and never seen. It is tucked behind The Bowl on Central Avenue and doesn’t have much seating to speak of. The subs, while a little pricy, are excellent and full of meat and toppings. The Yacht Club Club stands out, with a generous portion of sliced roasted turkey, roast beef, prosciutto, lettuce, tomatoes, provolone cheese and either mayo or their balsamic garlic herb coulis. My favorite part is that they make the sandwich in front of you, freshly slicing meat and toasting bread. 

Publix – The Chicken Tender Sub - $11.99

Before you roll your eyes at me for recommending a sandwich from a chain grocery store, you need to appreciate how ingrained in South Florida culture Publix is – and for good reason. Publix Deli Subs – known locally as “Pub Subs” – are consistently good, and a great pick for a pool or beach day. The Chicken Tender Sub is one of their signature items, and is loaded with fresh white meat chicken tenders (the tenders by themselves are also great), and your choice of cheeses and veggies. I get mine with provolone, lettuce, tomato, garlic pickles, black olives, jalapenos, banana peppers, light mustard and mayo and salt and pepper. 

Dolce & Salato – Chicken & Goat Cheese - $19.95

The Chicken & Goat Cheese Sandwich from Dolce & Salato is worth the price tag. This hole-in-the-wall breakfast and lunch spot is squeezed behind Bice on the corner of 5^th Avenue South and 3^rd Street South. During season I recommend parking on 3^rd Street South on the street in front of The Escalante Hotel. Everything I’ve tried on Dolce & Salato’s menu has been excellent, but the Chicken & Goat Cheese Sandwich is a stand-out. Crusty, fresh French bread (which is what really makes it) is layered with a generous portion of grilled chicken, avocado, goat cheese, lettuce, tomato and olive oil. The sandwich comes with chips and a green salad, and it’s worth every bite.  

North Naples Country Club – Pork Tenderloin Sandwich - $14.99

Want a sandwich that promises to be - at least - two meals? The Pork Tenderloin Sandwich at the North Naples Country Club has you covered! The visual of this sandwich is so striking that I can only describe it this way: imagine a regular sized hamburger bun with a dinner-plate sized slab of perfectly-fried pork nestled in between. The North Naples Country Club is a local hub/ dive bar, and at lunchtime you’ll see a 911 Porsche parked next to a 1990 Toyota. Take my word for it though – they do not joke around with their Pork Tenderloin Sandwich. Looking for a thin-hammered, perfectly-fried pork masterpiece? Check out the North Naples Country Club. 

Sometimes, you just want comfort food done right. Enter Larry's Lunchbox—a Naples staple with two locations that have been serving up hearty sandwiches and homestyle favorites for over twenty years. This place is all about the classics, from a mouthwatering Reuben to their famous fresh-daily soups. It’s a tribute to the traditional kosher deli, with a laid-back vibe that invites you to linger. Add a side of their celebrated potato salad or tangy coleslaw, and you've got yourself a meal that satisfies even the most ravenous appetites. It's comfort food that feels like a warm hug from an old friend.

Larry’s Lunchbox – Rita’s Reuben Ritual - $23

Larry’s Lunchbox is nearly as well known for its charismatic owner Marci (the “soup Nazi of Naples”, like the famous Seinfeld scene you can look up on YouTube) as it is for its Jewish-deli-style sandwiches. Rita’s Reuben Ritual is a crowd pleaser despite its outwardly steep price tag. For $23, you will definitely get two meals out of this sandwich. Rita’s Reuben is a pretty close approximation to the original, with hot corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Russian Dressing. Larry’s is a Naples classic, and you won’t regret stopping in. (Their soups are also excellent.)

The Best Wine Dinners in Naples 🍷

This comprehensive article from Gulfshore Life explores some wine dinner opportunities you might have never heard of! From Old Vines Supper Club to Sea Salt downtown, this article takes a close look at some of the Naples wine powerhouses.  

https://gulfshorelife.com/food-drink/wine/top-swfl-wine-dinners/

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Why It Matters

These stories capture the essence of Naples—a community where tradition meets modernity.

From rebuilding after a hurricane to enjoying the best local sandwiches, understanding these moments helps us appreciate the unique character and challenges of our city.

Carolyn Cervoni
Editor-in-Chief
Naples, Florida
The Naples Florida Review

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