Where Locals Eat Now 🐟 | Anniversary Vibes 🎉 | Reader Drama in the Polls 🗳 | Mother's Day To-Dos 🌸

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Friends & Neighbors,

Almost exactly a year ago — on May 26, 2024 — the first issue of The Naples Florida Review landed in inboxes. I didn’t know then how much joy this newsletter would bring me, or how deeply I’d come to care about the people who read it each week.

What started as a way to share a few local events and restaurant tips has grown into something I truly love doing: exploring our community, writing in my own voice, and connecting with readers who genuinely care about where they live. It means the world to me that so many of you open this each week, vote in the polls, send thoughtful replies, and recommend your favorite hidden gems.

If you’re new here, there’s something you should know: I only recommend places I’ve actually been — no comped meals, no marketing fluff, just honest, thoughtful reviews from a real person who lives here, eats here, and chases her kids around here. This newsletter is personal because I believe that’s what makes it worth reading.

Thanks for being part of this with me. I’m always looking forward — but I’m also very proud of how far this has come in just one year.

Thank you for reading.

P.S. You can always catch up on past issues at naplesfloridareview.beehiiv.com. And please — email me anytime at [email protected] with tips, questions, or just to vent about your favorite (or most overrated) Naples spots. 

The snowbirds are nearly done flocking north, and that means it’s finally our turn to enjoy dining out without the crowds (and the valet chaos). This is the time of year when local favorites roll out deals just for us — and some of them are too good to pass up.

I haven’t made it to Trail Café & Grill yet, but with discounts hitting 50%, that might change this week.

Here are a few standout offseason specials already in play:

1. 3-Course Prix Fixe Dinner at C Level ($29.99)

📍 4450 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs, FL
🕓 Every day, starting this week | 4:30–6:00 PM
🌐 c-levelbar.com
📞 (239) 221-7046

A favorite of mine and a great excuse to go back: C Level’s early dining special includes three full courses starting at just $29.99, available daily.

✨ Expect upscale dishes at relaxed prices — fresh seafood, seasonal vegetables, and entrées that feel indulgent but approachable.
👉 Don’t miss the French onion soup — it arrives wrapped in baked cheese, and they bring scissors to cut through it.

2. $10 Off $50 at Brooks Gourmet Grill & Tavern

📍 Three Naples locations — Downtown, North Naples & Logan Landings
🗓️ Valid through June 15, 2025 (dine-in only)
🌐 brooksgourmetandtavern.com

Brooks is already known for its burgers, but this deal gives you even more reason to dive in. Get $10 off your dine-in check of $50 or more through June 15.

While my favorite is still the Downtown Naples location, this deal is good at all three spots — and yes, the donut burger is available wherever you go.
🍔 Also on deck: crispy tots, cheesy onion rings, great cocktails, and TVs everywhere.

3. $5 Off $25 + Live Music at Island House

📍 3801 Bonita Beach Rd SW, Bonita Springs, FL
🗓️ Valid through June 15, 2025 (dine-in only)
🌐 facebook.com/islandhousebonita
📞 (239) 498-6900

A true locals' hangout — and proud of it. Right now, get $5 off your dine-in check of $25 or more, plus nightly reasons to stay:

🎶 Live Music: Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sun (6–9 PM)
🎤 Karaoke Wednesdays (5:30–8:30 PM)
🎧 Music Bingo Mondays (7–8:30 PM) – moving to Thursdays in June
🏍️ Bike Night Tuesdays with food & drink specials (6–9 PM)
🍻 Happy Hour: Mon–Fri (3–6 PM)
🍺 Bonus: Cold beers are literally served out of a kayak full of ice.

4. Up to 50% Off + New Summer Menu at Trail Café & Grill

📍 12820 Tamiami Trail N, Naples, FL
🗓️ Valid through June 15, 2025 (dine-in only, some exclusions apply)
🌐 trailcafenaples.com
📞 (239) 598-2480

Trail Café is going big this summer with a brand-new dinner menu and some serious offseason markdowns:

🍽️ Summer Dinner Menu (Mon–Sat, 5–9 PM):

💥 Offseason Discounts:

5. Kids Eat Free at Texas Tony’s Rib & Brewhouse

📍 4519 Tamiami Trail E, Naples, FL 34112
🗓️ Ongoing Promotion
🌐 texastonys.com
📞 (239) 732-8392

Texas Tony’s just made your summer a little sweeter: Kids now eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée ($14+).

It’s a big step up from their previous discounted kids’ meals and now aligns with Phelan Family Brands’ other popular family restaurants, like Pinchers.

We went last week to check it out, and I really enjoyed the Cajun cheese curds – please note this is because of my baseline love of poutine (honestly, some of the best I’ve had down here is shockingly at an Everblades game at Hertz Arena).

If your crew loves BBQ, this one’s a win. The updated kids’ menu makes it one of the best family values of the season.

1. 🎶 Nattali Rize – Free Outdoor Concert at Sugarshack Downtown

📍 Sugarshack Downtown, Bonita Springs
📅 Tuesday, May 6 | 🕕 Doors open at 6:00 PM
🎤 Live reggae from international artist Nattali Rize, with special guests Nostaljah and Ashley Larue. This is an all ages, high-energy outdoor show — and it’s totally FREE.
➤ No ticket required | Event Info »

2. 🎭 The Hallelujah Girls

📍 The Naples Players – Kizzie Theater
📅 May 7–25 | 🕢 Showtimes vary
📌 701 5th Avenue South, Naples, FL 34102
📞 (239) 263-7990
😂 A heartwarming Southern comedy about a group of women in Eden Falls, Georgia, who decide to shake up their lives by transforming an old church into a day spa. Friendship, resilience, and the pursuit of joy will leave you shouting “Hallelujah!”
➤ Event Details »

3. 🎨 Wildlife and Wild Places in SWFL – Art Reception

📍 Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center
📅 Thursday, May 8 | 🕠 5:30–7:00 PM
📌 300 Tower Road, Naples, FL 34113
📞 (239) 530-5972
🎨 Explore a collaborative exhibition featuring original photographs and sculptures by Florida Gulf Coast University students, inspired by Southwest Florida’s diverse ecosystems. The reception is free, but registration is requested. The exhibition runs through August 1.
➤ Event Details »

4. 🎷 Evening on Fifth: Powered by Porsche Naples

📍 Fifth Avenue South, Naples
📅 Thursday, May 8 | 🕡 6:30–9:30 PM
🎶 Enjoy live musical performances along the sidewalks, plus dining, shopping, and more.
➤ Event Info »

5. 🎶 Kevin on the Rocks – Live at Bone Hook Brewing

📍 Bone Hook Brewing Company, Creekside Plaza, Naples
📅 Friday, May 9 | 🕖 7:00–10:00 PM
🍻 Enjoy a lively evening of music with Kevin on the Rocks at Bone Hook Brewing Company. Savor over 20 craft beers on tap and a full menu in a relaxed atmosphere.
📌 1514 Immokalee Road, Suite 106, Naples, FL 34110
📞 (239) 631-8522
➤ Event Details »

6. 💐 Bouquets & Bubbly for Mom

📍 Central Piazza, Mercato, Naples
📅 Friday–Saturday, May 9–10 | 🕔 5:00–8:00 PM
📅 Sunday, May 11 | 🕚 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
🥂 Celebrate Mother's Day weekend with a complimentary glass of prosecco from a vintage Italian Piaggio mobile bar, personalized bouquets from Dottie Jean’s Flower Truck, permanent jewelry by Summie Jewelry, and live music by Wendell Ray.
➤ Event Details »

7. 🌹 Mother’s Day Dinner at Tigress Cantonese Chophouse

📍 Naples
📅 Sunday, May 11
🥂 Complimentary champagne, strawberries, and roses for every mom. Reservations via OpenTable.
➤ Book a Table »

📊 What Does Naples Nightlife Need Most?

We asked what kind of place would actually get you to go out at night. With 108 votes in, here’s what rose to the top:

🥇 Top pick: 🍻 A casual outdoor bar with picnic tables, cold beer, and no dress code — 26%
🥈 Runners-up: 🎯 Real dive bars and 🌇 More rooftops (tied)

But, as always, the best part was the comments:

“Bring Back Breaktime.” – K.C.
“An outdoor bar that's family friendly and pet-friendly would not be considered ‘night-life’ in my opinion however I like the idea. Dive bars are the BEST! It's where REAL people go to hang and be themselves.” – C.W.
“What we DESPERATELY need is some low-key, casual, on the BEACH bars 😢” – M.B.
“Limon Rooftop is fine for a bar/restaurant – but it did NOT get the rooftop part right... Someone needs to take a hint from Spruzzo's or Treetop in West Palm Beach.” – S.M.
“Sugarshack in Bonita has lines out the door nearly every time of the day... Somewhere you can turn up straight from the beach and have a relaxed meal.” – M.T.
“Beach side open air tiki bar with cornhole etc. Now that we need.” – J.O.
“We don't need more ‘fancy, dress-coded, UNAFFORDABLE’ anything... Maybe a Coke and a smile and book, alone. Please – a place that normal, middle-class, non-wealthy people can enjoy!” – T.L.

If there’s a future where a barefoot beach bar meets a real rooftop dive with cold drinks and zero dress code, Naples is ready.

Are you a restaurant owner — or just a restaurant lover?
If you know about a great summer deal (or want yours featured), email me at [email protected]. Now that it’s mostly us locals, let’s help each other out!

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Why It Matters

As we dive into the warm days of summer, it's the perfect time to savor these unbeatable dining deals while avoiding the crowds. Whether you're craving fresh seafood, a juicy burger, or a family-friendly night out, Southwest Florida has something delicious waiting for you. And don't forget — there’s always something new to discover, from cozy local hangouts to exciting events around town.

Enjoy the season, make some memories, and of course, keep eating local!

Until next time,

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

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