FRIDAY FIVE: Hidden Gems
Let’s save time by skipping an intro so that you can get straight to what you came here for…the hidden gems!
1 Pelican Bend
Pelican Bend is located on Isle of Capri, a tiny island tucked away between Naples and Marco Island, and has a national reputation for serving the best sauteed grouper! We’ve been dining at Pelican Bend for years and always take out of town visitors here for dinner! The wait for a table can be long especially on the weekends but while you’re waiting you can order a drink from their outdoor Chickee Bar, enjoy an appetizer or two, and watch the fishing boats come in with their catch of they day!
WHAT TO ORDER: Wedge Salad with Garlic Dressing, Sauteed Grouper, and Peanut Butter Pie!
2 The Crazy Flamingo
Another long time favorite, The Crazy Flamingo is located on Marco Island and is the perfect place to stop for dinner after a long day at the beach! The Crazy Flamingo is known for their wings and measure heat levels in mild, hot, 1 leg, 2 leg, and bald eagle! We always order a variety of heat levels and enjoy with a couple of cold beers! Oh, and while you’re waiting for your wings, try your luck at the ring game!
WHAT TO ORDER: Wings!
INSIDER TIP: There is no table service so place your order at the bar!
3 Taqueria San Julian
We stumbled upon this house converted to taco joint while searching for a non chain restaurant to eat at for Cinco de Mayo and now this is our go to for take out! Taqueria San Julian has an extensive menu with more taco and quesadilla options than we’ve been able to get through and everything is really well priced! The restaurant is small so seating is pretty limited which is why we usually take it to go but we always enjoy a margarita while we wait for our order to be made!
INSIDER TIP: You usually have to order at the counter but they’ll bring the food to your table!
4 Paradise Found
We came across Paradise Found while on the hunt for a lunch spot before heading to Marco Island for an afternoon of fishing. If you’re familiar with Naples, you know that waterfront dining is scarce so we were SO excited when we stumbled upon this casual restaurant with tables right on the water! We ordered shrimp scampi and shrimp tacos and I’m not exaggerating when I say they were both THE BEST we’ve ever had…seriously.
INSIDER TIP: Restaurants on Goodland can be accessed by land or water! Also, we’ve included another Goodland gem below!
5 Taqueria at Benson’s Grocery
This taco joint is an off shoot of the Grand Taco Loco food truck and is simply a tiny kitchen attached to the backside of Benson’s Grocery in downtown Bonita Springs. The food is authentic and at $2/taco, I suggest ordering one of each! While you’re waiting for your order, you can stock up at their salsa bar where they offer limes, salsas, and the best jalapeno pineapple pico de gallo! I don’t venture outside of Naples often but this taqueria is worth the drive to Bonita Springs!
INSIDER TIP: While there are a couple of picnic tables in the parking lot, this taqueria is more of a to go spot. Oh, and on weekends they are open 24 hours!
BONUS HIDDEN GEMS
6 Buffalo Chips
Another Bonita Springs spot, Buffalo Chips has THE BEST wings and homemade blue cheese. I stumbled upon this place when looking for a lunch spot with a couple of friends and all 3 of us have become addicted to stopping here for lunch or happy hour! On Mondays, wings are .75 and they sell their famous wing sauce by the jar!
WHAT TO ORDER: Fried Green Tomatoes, Buffalo Chips, and Wings!
7 Stan’s Idle Bar
Another Goodland spot, it is hard to believe that so many have never heard of Stan’s Idle Bar because it is THE PLACE to Sunday Funday in Naples. With all day drink specials, live music on their full size stage, classic bar food, and beautiful water views, it is the perfect way to end a weekend in Naples.
If you have a hidden gem, please share! Oh, and yes, I did just notice the wings and tacos theme but it makes sense because if I could I would eat just wings and tacos for the rest of my life!
Cheers!
Matt & Megan