Eugene E.
Yelp
DISCLAIMER: Four star review is an average of our three visits to this restaurant over the past year. Overall impression is either they're trying to get back up to speed after Hurricane Ian and having some growing pains, or that the quality is simply going downhill and the restaurant is not what it used to be. I hope it's the former. I suspect it's the latter.
First visit: February-ish 2022. They weren't super busy that night, and we sat outside. The server was pleasant, attentive, gave off the impression of trying to provide a luxurious experience without being overbearing. We got word that perhaps Michelin would be in the neighborhood sometime soon (spoiler alert: Michelin never came to the West Coast, reportedly), and that they were at the top of their game. Options then were either a prix fixe of three (larger) dishes or four (smaller) dishes, or a tasting menu. My wife and I took some time to come up with eight separate dishes for us to share, and it was an awesome experience. Courses were brought out and spaced appropriately, with a logical progression of temperatures, flavors, and sumptuousness. I can still taste the mushroom sauce that came with the wagyu. The drinks were excellent. I sang this place's praises to friends and family, and promised to return soon. FIVE STARS!
Second visit: Return we did, in the wake of a generational hurricane that decimated parts of Southwest Florida. We were finally able to get out to eat, and decided to have a little celebration by indulging at this very expensive but worthy place. Sitting outside wasn't an option as there were still clouds of sand, dust, debris hanging over this part of Naples, so we agreed to dine inside. We were seated at the edge of the first indoor space and quickly had a sinking feeling that our first experience here wouldn't be repeated. The service felt lackluster, uninspired, and, honestly bored...like he was over being a server. Drinks were still good. Food seemed to come out haphazardly, often 2 or 3 dishes in rapid succession, without any nuance to the timing or combinations. Whatever was recently cooked was coming out. It felt like they were just checking the boxes to get us out the door. Four stars.
Last visit: High season, now with my in-laws brought along for a special occasion. We sat inside again, this time placed in the second of their indoor spaces. Right next to the kitchen. Right next to the servers' path. So we had foot traffic inches away from us all night long, smoke in our faces, heat all over our bodies, and deafening noise of a busy kitchen that forced us to yell all night just to be heard. By this visit, they also did away with their previous menu options. No more do you have a more expanded menu to order numerous options for a prix fixe. You pick three. This gives you larger portions, but less variety. Between the four of us we still got to sample a bunch. My feeling was that the mains are now the focus, as these were very decent. Still having the first and second courses on their menu seemed almost perfunctory--sure, they were there and you can order them, but they were more superficial in flavor and execution now. Bland. Almost sad. The La Croix flavor versions of what they had once been. On top of the food declining, the cocktails also seemed to have taken several steps back. My martini was all vermouth, as was my dinnermate's Manhattan. The twist on my martini was a lemon wedge on the rim. I almost laughed when it came out. On top of the clunky food and drinks NOT being worthy of their hefty pricetags, our service left much to be desired. Server had to be called over multiple times, and several incorrect dishes were brought. A side came out with our first course. We were comped, reassuringly, but I'd rather just have the food we ordered show up, instead of having to uncomfortably, repeatedly, politely point out their mistakes. 2.5 stars. Sadface emoji.
My gut tells me that the executive chef and manager may have lost their way. Perhaps they're phoning it in until Michelin comes back to the area, at which point they'll up their game. Are they not capable of maintaining service on a busy night? Maybe good help is becoming progressively more hard to find? Hopefully they're not just giving up and resting on their laurels, letting their reputation fill their seats instead of their product. Every subsequent visit was increasingly disappointing, and I don't think I'll be back for awhile...if at all.
