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Friends and Neighbors,

Temperatures are still blazing here in Naples as local kids get back to the rhythms of school. Soon the Summer Dining Menus will begin disappearing as the Naples dining scene gets set for the last swan song of locals-aimed dining specials: Sizzle Dining.  

Sizzle Dining kicked off last Thursday, September 5^th with a record 116 restaurants participating in Lee and Collier Counties. From now until September 25^th, Sizzle Menu diners can enjoy two-course lunches for $19 or $29 and three-course dinners for $29, $39, or $49. 

Not all Sizzle Dining menus are created equal, and for this issue we looked at each participating restaurant’s Sizzle Dining lunch and dinner menus and compared them to their normal restaurant prices and other ongoing deals (restaurants with summer dining specials until October, restaurants with Happy Hour pricing, etc.) to arrive at a list of the Top 5 Sizzle Dining Menus to Try. We also have included two notable runners-up, so scroll on down to read all about it!

The last Aurelio’s Pizza location will be closing permanently this weekend on September 15^th. Aurelio’s has been serving their signature pizza to locals for 4 decades, so hurry on over to their Coastland Mall location for one last slice. We’ve included a link to Wink News’ coverage of the closure. 

We need your help! What is your favorite Naples Hidden Gem? We can’t wait to hear your feedback and try some new favorites! In next week’s issue we’ll also be launching a regular feature called “Naples Hidden Gems” that will regularly feature a local restaurant or business that is often overlooked or underrated. In our next issue, we’ll take a look at one of Naples’ best breakfasts: The Coffee Shop at the Cove Inn. 

To make sure we don’t overlook your favorite spot, email: [email protected] and use the subject line “My Hidden Gem.”

Also, don’t forget to vote for the Best Sushi in Naples in this week's poll, and email any favorites that we missed to [email protected]. We will be covering the Best Sushi in Naples in an upcoming newsletter.

Thanks,

📰 Upcoming in this issue

• The Best of Sizzle Dining; The Top 5 Menus We Can’t Wait to Try and 2 Runners-Up 🍽️

• Farewell, Aurelio’s! 👋

• Help Us By Taking Our Poll: Who has the best Sushi in Naples? 🍜

The Best of Sizzle Dining; The Top 5 Menus We Can’t Wait to Try and 2 Runners-Up 🍽️

The three-week Sizzle Dining event marks a unique point in time each year: the kids are back in school, traffic is beginning to ramp up, summer dining specials are fading one by one, and it’s the last chance for locals to enjoy restaurants around town before the deluge of visitors in season. Usually the deals are pretty good, too. 

Diners can enjoy two-course lunches for $19 or $29 and three-course dinners for $29, $39, or $49, and participating restaurants will donate $1.00 to support feeding food-insecure elementary school children in Southwest Florida.

Not all Sizzle Menus are created equal, and some of the participating restaurants (including some really great picks) are lazy their selection of menu items. For example, The Bevy’s $39 3-course dinner menu is extremely limited and you can piece together Del Mar’s $29 one-day-only Sizzle Brunch Special this weekend (for example, the Mixed Greens Salad ($15) plus the Jerusalem Bagel ($16)) on any given Sunday for nearly the same price.

At The Naples Florida Review, we’ve clicked all the links and done the math for you, and we’re excited to try our Top 5 Sizzle Dining Menus along with our close runners-up. 

Lunch Menus

The Claw Bar

What to Try: The Oyster Po’ Boy and Signature Beignets for $19

Why: With unbeatable ambiance and incredibly fresh seafood, the Claw Bar’s $19 lunch special is hard to beat. I lived in New Orleans during law school and have looked all over Naples for a quality Oyster Po’ Boy to no avail. The Claw Bar’s Oyster Po’ Boy does not appear on their regular menu, but I’ve tried their excellent fried oyster appetizer (lunch price $22) and their beignets ($14 regular menu) are delicious. Another Sizzle Menu highlight? Swap out the Po’ Boy for the limited-time Flounder Frites to try something unique. 

U.S.S. Nemo

What to Try: The Hot & Crunchy Grouper Appetizer and the Nemo Miso Sea Bass for $34 (Sea Bass is an additional $5). 

Why: U.S.S. Nemo is one of the most-loved seafood restaurants in Naples and it boasts one of the most lauded dishes in town: the Nemo Miso Sea Bass. You can try their famous, flaky, sea bass ($28.95 on regular lunch menu) alongside their delicious Hot & Crunchy Grouper Appetizer ($11.95 on the regular lunch menu) for just $34 until September 25^th. If you haven’t tried U.S.S. Nemo yet, their Sizzle Menu is very seafood-focused and fresh. 

Dinner Menus

Cibao Grille

What to Try: Escargot A La Bourguignonne, Short Ribs of Beef and Homemade Crème Brûlée for $39.

Why: Cibao is an often-overlooked Naples classic that is nestled in the Neapolitan Plaza strip mall. The Cibao menu focuses on simple, fresh, global cuisine and the restaurant is well known for its daily specials. During Sizzle Dining, you can try their Tuesday Beef Short Rib Special ($39), Escargot (limited time menu item) and homemade crème brûlée for the great price of $39. 

Bha! Bha!

What to Try: Spicy New Zealand Green-Shell Mussels, Apricot Tamarind Lamb and Baklava for $49

Why: The $49 Bha! Bha! Sizzle Dining Menu is the priciest on this list, but the great selection and new options make this a limited menu to check out. Neither the Green-Shell Mussels nor the Apricot Tamarind Lamb appear on the regular menu, so this is a perfect time to stop by this 5^th Avenue spot during September. I’ve tried several of the lamb options at Bha! Bha! and they’ve never disappointed. For a robust three course meal on 5^th Avenue, it’s hard to beat $49. 

Latitude 26

What to Try: Pork Belly Tacos, Skirt Steak Churrasco and Dulce de Leche Cake for $39

Why: Latitude 26 is an underrated restaurant with a talented local chef who’s happy to serve you up quality food any day of the week. The restaurant is tucked away inside the Hyatt House near Tin City, and for Sizzle Dining they are offering completely new options at great prices. Park in the hotel garage and give them a try! 

Runners-Up

Brooks Burgers

What to Try: Brook’s Chips and the Donut Burger for $19

Why: The two-course lunchtime Sizzle Menu is a great deal at the classic downtown Brooks Burgers location. The Brooks Chips ($13.99 on regular downtown menu) and the Donut Burger ($16.50 on regular downtown menu) are two excellent choices, but you can pair a nice selection of apps with any of their 20 burgers for the great price of $19. Brooks is a local classic, so stop by and enjoy this lunchtime deal while it lasts. 

The Continental

What to Try: The Heirloom Tomato Carpaccio, 6oz Creekstone Filet Mignon and Warm Cinnamon Sugar Donuts for $49. 

Why: The Continental is a quality 3^rd Street South restaurant that is as well known to locals for its very pricey menu as it is for the restaurant’s undeniable ambiance. The cost of their $49 Sizzle Dining Menu is less than the cost of just one of the featured items: the Creekstone 6oz Filet Mignon is $52 on their regular menu. For just $49, you get to try an expensive filet alongside the Heirloom Tomato Carpaccio ($19 on regular dinner menu), and their warm cinnamon sugar donuts. 

Farewell, Aurelio’s! 👋

For more than 40 years, Aurelio’s Chicago-style pizza locations have been a go-to in Naples. I fondly remember frequenting the 590 Tamiami Trail North location as a kid (now home to Liki Tiki BBQ), and I’m sad to see that the final location in the Coastland Mall will be closing this weekend. 

Take one final chance to bid farewell to a Naples classic this week and check out Wink News’ coverage below:

https://winknews.com/2024/09/05/aurelios-pizza-closing-naples/

Help Us By Taking Our Poll:

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Why It Matters

Sizzle Dining offers more than just great deals—it’s a unique opportunity for locals to savor some of Naples’ finest restaurants before the busy season kicks in. With every meal, you’re not only treating yourself to exceptional food but also contributing to a meaningful cause by helping feed food-insecure children in our community. Plus, saying goodbye to a beloved local staple like Aurelio’s reminds us of the cherished dining spots that shape our city’s culinary landscape.

Don’t miss your chance to enjoy these last bites, discover new gems, and make a difference—all in one go! 💎

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

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