A Naples Local Secret: The Most Creative Restaurant in Naples, FL
Have Naples locals been keeping a secret?
If you're vacationing to Naples, make sure FUSE Global Cuisine on your radar, a restaurant with inventive menu offerings like none you'll find around. We're talking dishes from kangaroo to bao buns to octopus, finished off with beignets and a chocolate martini. Yes, it's an eclectic journey, but one you cannot miss. While locals have been keeping this one under wraps, The Naples Florida Review gave us the full inside scoop on this one-of-a-kind restaurant.
Founded by husband-and-wife team Chef Gregory Scarlatos and Monica Czechowska, FUSE delivers bold flavors inspired by global cuisines. Chef Gregory works his magic in the kitchen, while Monica crafts inventive drinks at the bar. Guests rave about entrees like the smoked pork belly and scallops with plantains, or grilled octopus and pork belly with sun-dried tomato coulis and yuzu aioli. Chef Gregory has a unique talent for balancing unexpected flavors and ingredients, creating a surprising and delightful experience for your senses.
While many Naples restaurants serve familiar fare, FUSE dares to be different, making it a restaurant you can't miss while in Naples. For the details, check out The Naples Florida Review’s full write-up below!
Photo Credit: The Naples Florida Review
Whenever I’ve mentioned covering FUSE Gastrobar in The Naples Florida Review, I’m usually met with the same long, lingering stares from my fellow year-round local food lovers. The look says it all:
“Shhhhhhh.”
Or more bluntly:
“Just don’t.”
Well… sorry, friends. That silence ends this week because I finally made it to FUSE for dinner, and it’s an experience I have to share—even if it draws some local ire. This isn’t just another “off Fifth” dining spot. It’s a wild culinary ride unlike anything else in Naples.
FUSE is owned by Chef Gregory Scarlatos and his wife—and expert bartender—Monika Czechowska. When they opened in 2013, they were engaged. Ten years later, they’re still in business and still together—which tells you everything you need to know about their shared vision (and probably their patience).
FUSE started as a dinner-only global cuisine restaurant, but in 2018, they opened FUSE BBQ next door. Eventually, the two concepts merged, and now you can enjoy a barbecue-forward lunch (Tues–Sat, 11–2) and a globally inventive dinner (Tues-Sat, 5–9) that feels like something out of a travel show hosted by a culinary mad scientist. Read the complete review at The Naples Florida Review.