Friends and neighbors,
September in Naples always feels like a reset, and one of the best local traditions rolls back around: Sizzle Dining.
Not only does it raise money to feed hungry kids in Collier County, but it also supports our restaurants during a time when they need it most. Last year, diners raised over $62,000 just by going out to eat. This week’s newsletter has the full scoop on Sizzle Dining, plus a local roundup of the best grocery stores in town and what each does best.
As always, if you try a Sizzle menu and love it, write me back—I’d love to share your favorites in an upcoming issue.
Until next time,
Have a tip? Email me at [email protected]
Table of Contents
Sizzle Dining is Back: A Month of Deals, Dinners, and Doing Good
It’s that time of year again! Sizzle Dining begins tomorrow in Naples. Now expanded to four full weeks (Sept 3–30), more than 125 restaurants across Naples, Marco Island, and beyond are rolling out special prix-fixe menus.
Nearly all the menus are at least 20% off what you’d pay any other week, and it’s a perfect excuse to pop by an otherwise “date night” spot on a casual Tuesday. You’ll be supporting local restaurants and giving back to the community in more ways than one. Every meal means $1 goes to Blessings in a Backpack, a local nonprofit that makes sure kids have food to eat over the weekend. Every Friday during the school year, they send home packs with two meals and two snacks to food-insecure kids, filling an important gap. Last year alone, diners raised over $62,000!
The Spots I’m Eyeing
There are too many menus to name, but here are a few that caught my attention:
Tap 42 – A great lunch plan at a laid-back spot. 2 courses for $19. Start with a calamari tower or street corn, and then pick between juicy smash burgers, a blackened mahi-mahi sandwich, or a chopped chicken Caesar wrap (and more). A steal.
USS Nemo – One of the Naples institutions I’ll make my way back to when they have deals. They have $29 two-course lunch or $49 three-course dinner. A sample meal: seafood ceviche and grilled branzino finished with their chocolate decadence dessert.
Blackbird Asian Bistro – A newcomer this year. Complex Asian fusion flavors in a chic setting. Start with burrata and Japanese eggplant, then try Bangkok street noodles with smoked brisket or Char Siu Pork with Veggie Fried Rice, and then a unique dessert option (Banana Brownie Spring roll, anyone?).
Estia – Another fresh face in the lineup, and a great excuse to try a new restaurant if you haven’t been. This is authentic Greek food you can’t find anywhere else in Naples. Spanakopita, wine-braised lamb shank, and baklava for $39 is right up my alley.
Amber Cove – Only a few months old, you can check out a 3-course meal for $49. Heirloom beet salad, Faroe Islands salmon, or 32-hour short rib, and a difficult choice between seven-layer carrot cake and cheesecake “a la baklava.”
You can use the Sizzle deals to explore places you’ve been meaning to try, support your favorite restaurants during a slower season (I’m thinking Old Vines, Limoncello, and The Boathouse on Naples Bay), and give back to the community in the process.
If you end up trying a new spot (or find a dish worth raving about), let me know! See every menu and make reservations at sizzledining.org.
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A Guide to Naples’ Grocery Stores (And What They’re Best At)
For everyday bargains, you can’t beat Costco, Aldi’s, or Trader Joe’s. But if you’re after something a little more unique—and the freshest, most standout produce—these spots should be on your radar.
Seed to Table (Oakes Farms)
4835 Immokalee Rd
This Oakes Farms grocery store venture is a spectacle (in a good way). Farm fresh produce, dozens of prepared-food stations, live music some nights, and well-organized aisles that you’ll enjoy. It’s open later than anywhere else, and doubles as a lazy dinner night plan.
What it does best: sheer variety + prepared foods you can eat there.
Insider tip: go early if you want the bakery and hot bars at their freshest; go late if you want to drink and listen to a live band before finishing your errands. Open until 10pm Sun–Thu and until midnight Fri–Sat.
Wood-fired pizzas and a sushi bar.
Local farm produce straight from Oakes Farms, fresher than most places in town.
Live music nights make for a night out.
The Fresh Market (two convenience stores)
4129 Tamiami Trail N
12628 Tamiami Trail E
Quieter, boutique feel with a strong bakery, butcher, and meal kits for “I want dinner to feel nicer with zero effort.”
What it does best: polished prepared foods and a great meat/seafood counter.
Insider tip: their weekly deals are worth timing your shop around, especially for premium meat.
Weekly “Little Big Meal” kits (entrée, sides, and dessert bundled at a good price).
European-style bakery with fruit tarts and rustic breads that feel more patisserie than grocery.
Marinated meats are ready to throw straight on the grill (especially their steak kabobs).
Food & Thought
2132 Tamiami Trail N
7941 Airport-Pulling Rd N
This grocery store has a unique, 100% organic policy. It helps that they source produce from their own local farm in Naples. Plus, their new second location has an incredible outdoor bar that routinely hosts events.
What it does best: truly organic groceries plus a cafe that works for breakfast or a clean, simple lunch.
Insider tip: check the cold case for farm greens and herbs; turnover is high, which is what you want. Head to the Airport Pulling location if you want more space and selection. Evenings are especially calmer.
Farm-grown microgreens & herbs that turn over quickly—always fresh.
Organic café smoothies with no weird fillers, just fruit and greens.
Hard-to-find organic pantry staples like sprouted flours, biodynamic wines, and grass-fed dairy.
Sprouts Farmers Market
2224 Logan Blvd N
Friendly prices on produce, lots of natural/organic pantry items, and this specific store has a smoothie bar inside.
What it does best: produce value + bulk bins.
Insider tip: shop mid-week morning for the best produce restocks and an unhurried bulk-bin scoop session.
Smoothie bar (unique to this Naples location).
Bulk bin spices and snacks—buy as much or as little as you want.
Seasonal produce deals (like crates of mangos or cherries priced lower than anywhere else).
Poll Results: Wine Dinners?
Last week’s poll asked: If you could attend a themed wine dinner here in Naples, which one would you be most excited about?
Here’s where you landed:
🧀 Cheese & Charcuterie Feast — global wine pairings with boards to match (23.1%)
🦞 Coastal Pairing — crisp whites and rosé with fresh seafood (18.9%)
🥩 Steakhouse Classics — bold reds alongside prime cuts (18.9%)
🥗 Farm-to-Table Natural Wines — small producers, local ingredients (15.7%)
🍝 Tuscan Night — Chianti, Brunello, and rustic Italian dishes (14.7%)
🥂 Bubbles & Small Plates — Champagne and sparkling wines with bites (8.4%)
Looks like our readers love the classics, with cheese and charcuterie taking the majority vote. I might venture to say our readers want the focus to be on the wine rather than a heavy dinner.
Did you know Naples has wine groups like “The Extraordinary League of Gentlemen Wine Snobs” and “The Irrefutable Dames of Wine Snobbery? You can check out their events and more wine dinners here.
This Week’s Poll: Lunch Favorites?
I want to know: It’s lunchtime in Naples—what’s hitting your plate?
Why It Matters
Your nights out keep local kitchens busy and help feed kids on weekends, while a smarter grocery list stretches the rest of the week. Pick a menu, plan a shop, and enjoy the long weekend rhythm.
Elizabeth Bellotti
Editor-In-Chief
Naples, Florida
The Naples Florida Review
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