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Friends and Neighbors,

When new visitors arrive in Naples, one of the first questions they ask is: “where can I go and sit with my feet in the sand and enjoy cocktails and dinner?” For a “foodie” town with some of the most beautiful beaches in the country, the answer is a disappointing “not many.” Come to think of it, in – and around – Naples, there are very few places where you can literally take your shoes off and run your feet through the sand while you enjoy dinner and drinks. The most notable and newsworthy of these hard-to-find gems, however, is the newly-reopened Turtle Club. 

When the Turtle Club reopened in May I was very excited to check it out. Hurricane Ian devastated many familiar landmarks in Naples in September of 2022, and - unconsciously or not – the state of the Turtle Club became a personal barometer of how much the area had actually recovered since then. So, as places like Baleen and Docs Fish House began opening their doors, I kept my ear to the ground to see when the locally-loved Turtle Club would reopen. It would be one more sign that Hurricane Ian was behind us. 

But I had some reservations. Was the long wait for reservations and pricey food really worth it? Had the Turtle Club changed with its post Hurricane Ian repairs? Was the initial, ridiculous wait for reservations in summer a sign that things had changed? Are you overpaying for the rare opportunity to have your toes in the sand and a drink in your hand…or is the experience really worth it? After 22 years, I returned to the Turtle Club to find out. 

Want to find out for yourself? Click this link to subscribe and automatically be entered to win a $200 gift certificate to the Turtle Club. The winner will be announced in the next issue. 

Looking to beat the heat? This issue also features a list of five great ice cream places to cool off this summer. The list includes new-comers like Fernweh and 16 Handles alongside familiar Naples classics like Royal Scoop. 

Also included in this issue is the latest update on the Naples Pier Rebuild. It seems like the city isn’t too keen on a concession stand on the new Naples Pier. Check out the link from Gulfshore Business below. 

Also a big thanks to the thousands of readers who responded to last issue’s poll! It seems that readers’ top Naples cuisine is Asian, closely followed by Italian. I’ll be sure to keep those preferences in mind in future issues! 

Thanks,

P.S. Questions? Comments? Please feel free to email me at [email protected] to let me know what you want to hear more about!

📰 Upcoming in this issue

• Feet in the Sand and Drink in Your Hand: Return to the Turtle Club 

• Sweet Escapes in Naples 🍦

• Council Rejects Naples Pier Concession Stand 🍿

Feet in the Sand and Drink in Your Hand: Return to the Turtle Club 

More than two decades after my last visit, I returned to the Turtle Club last week to see how the Naples legend was faring after its grand reopening. The last time I visited, I was a junior at Bowdoin College in Maine, George H.W. Bush was president and I was visiting my dad at his condo in the Horizon House building. In 2002, the Turtle Club was a relative newcomer to the Naples dining scene, having only opened in 1998. Since then, a lot has changed for the Turtle Club and me. Most recently, and notably, I moved to Naples full-time and started a family. Meanwhile, just as the kids finally got old enough for my husband and I to get a babysitter and go out to a nice dinner, the Turtle Club suffered terrible damage from Hurricane Ian and closed its doors for 19 months for repairs.  

After a viral online campaign for reopening reservations, the Turtle Club finally reopened this past May. As you might remember from the first issue, I was not lucky enough to win the Turtle Club reservation lottery. I am, however, very lucky to have a very persistent friend who managed to score a reservation for four in the front row of tables on the beach for sunset. I’d had the date on my calendar for over a month (in fact the babysitter mistakenly thought it was for June 27^th instead on July 27^th and nearly showed up a month early). How much had two small children close together shattered my memory? Would it be anything like I remembered?

Luckily for me, the Vanderbilt Beach Resort and accompanying Turtle Club looked nearly identical 22 years later. The valet service was quick and professional, and we were promptly brought out to our incredible table by a very friendly hostess. Our friends were already seated, and we had about an hour until sunset. A cotton rope separated our table from the rest of the beach, and I glanced around to see if I could remember where I sat during my first and last trip here more than two decades ago. Still a little fuzzy – but I figured appetizers might help. 

The server promptly arrived at our table and took our drink order as we pursued the menu. The Oysters Turtlefeller sounded familiar (my dad has always liked baked oysters, so that made sense), as well as the Gulf Grouper and Lump Crab. I started recounting my last trip to the Turtle Club, until the sun cleared some overhanging clouds in its decent, and I froze. Not froze, really, because I was actually melting. Naples, in late July, can take on a similar quality as the surface of the sun.  Midstory I stopped to concentrate on not appearing to be roasting. Looking around the table, I wasn’t alone. 

Despite the oven-like interlude, we were in no rush to order. Set loose for the night with the support of babysitters, we were going to enjoy this experience at our pace. One of the best things about the Turtle Club is that the servers take the time to pay attention to this. After coming back once to ask if we knew what we wanted (we didn’t), the server flawlessly picked up on our nonverbal cues throughout the night and timed the meal perfectly. Our table was not going to be turned and the focus was on our experience. The Turtle Club’s service is a trip back in time and a world apart from most restaurants in Naples. 

We shared a dozen raw oysters and the Hamachi crudo to start. The oysters arrived and stayed cold despite the impending sunset and the Hamachi crudo was also fresh and delicious. We had barely set down our oyster forks when the sun set over the gulf. 

When you transition from Naples visitor to local, you realize that you’re no longer on vacation. Work, school, and other priorities draw you away from the beaches that attracted you here, until – sometimes – you can’t even remember the last time you made it to the beach. You forget about the sunsets. 

The Turtle Club, however, does not let you forget how gorgeous each sunset is here in Naples. Sunset is center stage in the dining experience, and a hush falls over the crowd as the sun disappears. The ten minutes after sunset are even more beautiful than the sunset itself. This is why we live here, I thought, as the waiter came back to take our dinner order, as if on cue. 

Our table ordered the Miso Marinated Sea Bass, a steak, and a calamari appetizer because I was worried I’d missed out in the last course. The guys enjoyed the steak, the miso sea bass was very good and the calamari was crispy. Honest review of the food? Very good, but I prefer the sea bass at U.S.S. Nemo and the calamari at Hogfish Harry’s. So, the food isn’t earth shattering, but I began to realize that wasn’t the point. 

At some point, after the server cleared the last of the dinner plates, but before the arrival of the bill, I slipped off my sandals and buried my feet in the still-warm sand. Suddenly, I remembered where I was sitting the first and last time I was here. It was a table that was a few rows back and towards the center. I remember talking with my dad about my classes in college, my roommates, and most of all worrying out loud about what would come after graduation. I remember the problems feeling smaller as the sand cooled under my feet. This is what the Turtle Club is selling: good food, top-notch service, but most of all a feeling. The Turtle Club is a piece of paradise and an experience you’ll look back on again and again.  

Sweet Escapes in Naples 🍦 read the full 458-word article here

Article published: July 26, 2024

Looking for a way to beat the heat this summer in Naples? Check out the link above for five great places to get ice cream in Naples. From newcomer Fernweh to tried-and-true Royal Scoop, there's something for everyone on this list.

Fernweh has been getting a lot of buzz around town this past year on account of their unique flavors like "Andy Griffith,'' which has grape nuts and golden raisins. They also serve adult flavors that have a boozy buzz.

Kilwin's and Royal Scoop are serving up more traditional fare, while 16 Handles is a fun new place to get soft serve. So stay cool out there and check out these top places to grab a scoop!

Key Takeaways:

• 🍦 Fernweh Ice Cream: Unique flavors like Andy Griffith ice cream with grape nuts and golden raisins.

• 🍨 Michoacana Ice Cream: Known for its thick, creamy vanilla and refreshing paletas (ice pops).

• 🍫 Kilwin's on Fifth Avenue: Combines delicious ice cream with the charm of strolling down Fifth Avenue.

• 🍧 Royal Scoop: Local favorite for traditional flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and pistachio.

Council Rejects Naples Pier Concession Stand 🍿 read the full 775-word article here

Article published: July 30, 2024

Locals and visitors alike have been watching the headlines for any details on the Naples Pier rebuild. Renderings have been posted online but many of us are eager for more detail about what the new pier will be like.

We got answers to one of the big questions last week: "will the new Naples Pier have a concession stand?" It seems like the answer is no, mostly due to concerns about congregating and foot traffic.

Read the post above for more detail on the rebuild and hold on to your beach cooler - you'll need it when the Naples Pier reopens!

Key Takeaways:

• 📊 Nearly 11,000 residents: Survey showed dining at the pier isn’t a priority, influencing council's decision.

• 🚫 FEMA guidelines: Bar concessions due to risk, altering decades-long tradition since 1946.

• 🔄 Redesign required: Pier's $26.6M plan needs changes; removal of seating, deck, and concession stand.

• 🏗️ Reconstruction timeline: FEMA review could delay start to spring 2025, with 18 months of construction.

Take this edition’s poll:

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Why It Matters

Naples is not just a place, but it is the city that is full of life stories and the extremely mouthwatering tastes and aromas. The reopening of the Turtle Club is a symbol of our strength and the unchanging beauty of our town, but learning about new ice cream parlors gives the simple pleasure of summer. Being aware of council’s decisions concerning Naples Pier contributes to infusing themselves with the changes that take place in their city.

Enjoy reading and happy adventures!

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

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