If March 31 is just another Sunday for anyone not observing Easter, several everyday restaurants are good bets for scoring a table.
Nodding to the NCAA, our Easter halftime report: A quick peek at the online reservation websites OpenTable and Resy reveals ample availability at many Naples restaurants if you’re flexible with times. Marco remains slammed and Kim Chi Grill, one of my favorite Bonita spots, is closed for the holiday.
But if you want to do something different, the recommended restaurants below are family-friendly and won’t break the bank.
One even has TVs if you don’t want to miss a minute of the basketball tournament Sunday.
We have you covered around the clock: The topper includes the best available times to dine at each restaurant if you’re making plans.
Fogg Café for breakfast and lunch
5030 Bayshore Drive, Naples; 239-530-1777; naplesgarden.org
How gorgeous is Naples this time of year? According to AccuWeather’s current Sunday forecast, it should be a glorious day. Why not head to Naples Botanical Gardens for a stroll? Its Fogg Café is also open and does terrific breakfast and lunch items. Sit outside under a shaded covering or take in the art displayed inside.
The only caveats? Counter-service and tickets to the garden are required, priced $25 for adults and $10 for kids.
I like the smashed avocado toast topped with an egg and the breakfast sandwich. The salads and elote dip are also quite good.
With a menu heavy on local, sustainable and seasonable ingredients, prices at breakfast range $6 for fresh-baked scones to $18 for smoked salmon flatbread. At lunch, the menu tops out at $21 for a bacon cheeseburger. Refreshing herbal iced teas on tap; wine and beer if you're so inclined.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Survey Café for brunch
10530 Wilson St., Bonita Springs; 239-992-2233; surveycafedowntown.com
If you like breakfast wraps, home-smoked salmon and Reubens with a side of history, this gem at the heart of downtown Bonita Springs is for you.
Once upon a time, Bonita Springs was named Survey, after the surveyors who camped there in the 1870s. Survey Café, a 1940s-era-cottage-turned-magical eatery, has been charming customers since opening in 2009.
Most days, breakfast and lunch are served on the outdoor patio under Spanish-moss draped live oaks and surrounded by palms. But Sunday is for brunch, our favorite day at this sweet and savory café with French flavor.
Think French crepes, quiche Lorraine and not-so-French toast (bread pudding with berry sauce and whipped cream). We’ll see you there.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
TheSen Asian Noodle Bar for lunch and dinner
6821 Collier Blvd., Naples; 239-304-9652; visit TheSen’s Facebook page
Don’t just take my word for it, but one of the best-known restaurateurs in town, who was an international banker for years in Hong Kong before she moved to Naples, loves it too. I’ve sent many Capri neighbors there, and they keep going back.
Why?
This bright, airy space with lively sculptural accents and fun pops of color is helmed by seasoned hospitality pros who gleaned much of their 40 years combined experience working at the ultra-luxe Mandarin Oriental in Thailand's capital of Bangkok, among the city’s tippy-top hotels per Conde Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure magazines.
As JLB reported in 2022, TheSen’s genius for matching stellar service with equally outstanding food shows itself in every. single. detail. For the first time in seven years dining around East Naples, our server asked about food allergies and sensitivities because TheSen's entrees are custom-prepared.
Chilled beer mugs? Delivered without asking. Sharing plates and extra utensils? They read my mind. And the food? Exhilarating and exemplified by large-ish main courses designed for sharing — which is perfect. Once you see your tablemate’s plate, you’ll want in.
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Bicyclette Cookshop for lunch or early dinner
819 Vanderbilt Beach Road, North Naples; 239-514-3333; bicyclettecookshop.com
It is one of the best and most original restaurant concepts ever to open in Naples. I’ve eaten there seven times now. When presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dine with a renowned (and now retired) Chicago restaurant critic, this was the place I suggested because it dares to be different.
In a good way.
Even as a solo diner, there’s always something on the menu I want to eat again or try anew.
It’s casual, fun, and quite possibly, the least pretentious place in town, though it has every right to be given executive chef Kayla Pfeiffer’s clever riffs on traditional and fast-food items.
Oh, I forgot to mention she’s a recent Food Network “Chopped” champ.
Sure, she’ll have spring specials like lamb and zucchini blossoms on Sunday. But the daily menu items are delish and fun too.
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner:Naples chef Kayla Pfeiffer competed Tuesday on Food Network's 'Chopped.'
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Uncle Julio’s for dinner
2096 Ninth St. N.; 239-306-5106; unclejulios.com
Yes it’s a chain, and JLB doesn’t care. It’s spacious, pretty, and clean, with good food, terrific margaritas (blood orange is the special du jour), and friendly service.
Its proximity to Coastland Center mall means ample parking. JLB loves that.
For our 2023 Cinco de Mayo story, I needed to please a vegan, omnivore, pescatarian and gluten-free vegetarian.
A lot to ask, but this Tex-Mex spot was a hit with each picky eater. The from-scratch food is good and portions are enormous for the price.
And this is the one with two TVs at the bar.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Naples food and restaurant writer Diana Biederman wrote this week's JLB. Connect via diana.biederman@naplesnews.com.
Fort Myers food and restaurant writer Robyn George contributed to this story.
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