Jerry S.
Google
I just left Naples Flatbread and I was genuinely impressed.
I was greeted with a warm smile behind the bar by Gabby. She has been here for five years, which, in the transient Florida restaurant market, immediately caught my attention. To me, that is always a sign of a place that takes care of its people. The rest of the staff also seemed genuinely happy to be there, something you do not see often. Trust me, I spend a lot of time in restaurants for work.
As I always say, you only get one first impression, and both the hostess and Gabby nailed it. Gabby answered a few questions about the menu, which is very smartly put together. I asked if I was crazy for ordering a burger instead of a flatbread on my first visit. She jokingly pointed out that the name is Naples Flatbread, not Naples Burgers, but reassured me that I could not go wrong either way.
Before committing to the main event, I ordered the Roasted Beet Tartare appetizer, and I am very glad I did. The dish was smart, beautifully presented, and much larger than I expected. Easily a two person, or more, appetizer, unless you are me and refuse to be defeated. The beets were perfectly cooked, and the balsamic glaze worked incredibly well with the goat cheese and pecans. Highly recommended.
I ultimately went with the Texas Burger, minus the caramelized onions, because onions are not my thing. The burger arrived wrapped in flatbread, a unique presentation that fit the concept perfectly. I had been told ahead of time that the temperature can be tricky to nail with the flatbread encasing, and while it did come out more cooked than my usual medium or medium rare, it honestly did not matter. The melted cheddar beer cheese, pulled pork, bacon, and barbecue sauce made every bite incredibly flavorful.
I stuck with an unsweetened iced tea, which was brewed perfectly. That alone deserves a shoutout, because far too many places overlook good iced tea. I was tempted to order the affogato for dessert, but after everything I had eaten, I simply hit my limit. Now that I am typing this, I slightly regret not pushing through, but you have to know your limits, right?
What a great spot. If this were a local place for me, I would absolutely be a regular, to the point where they might have my name on a chair. And once again, a huge thank you to Gabby. Do yourself a favor and grab a seat at the bar. She was fantastic.