Tonight marks the grand opening of Keewaydin’s, the latest restaurant concept from Phelan Family Brands, and we were there for the soft opening last night to preview it for you!
Affectionately named for Keewaydin Island, a favorite spot for locals that’s accessible only by boat, the location of the new restaurant can’t be beat if you want to explore 5th Avenue and downtown Naples. You can find the new restaurant in the middle of 5th Avenue next to the Inn on Fifth, Ocean Prime and the Naples Players theatre – a perfect spot to sip, dine and watch bustling downtown Naples.
In keeping with the island theme, the interior has been decorated to reflect a sort of upscale island-life theme. The ceiling is brushed tin, mimicking a Key West vibe and paintings of beaches grace the walls. We were fortunate to be seated on the patio, which looks out onto all the lights and sounds of season in downtown Naples. An ample bar area separates the dining room from the outdoor seating area, and it looked like a great spot to drop in and enjoy a drink and a quick bite - even if you don’t have a reservation.
The servers and kitchen staff were practicing their timing for the grand opening tonight, so service was brisk and excellent. Our waiter was clearly well acquainted with the menu and offered many spot-on recommendations to our table of four. In the spirit of giving as many dishes a try as we could, we ended up sharing five appetizers, two main courses and three desserts.
We started off with a dozen oysters – six from the west coast and six from PEI. They were medium sized, well chilled, and served with cocktail and mignonette. We also tried the Holy Aioli Tempura Shrimp, Crispy Calamari (a recommendation from our server), Sweet and Sticky Port Ribs and Wedge Salad. I thought the best of the bunch was the tempura shrimp, which were perfectly crispy and not over-battered. I also thought that their wedge salad was a great presentation of a classic. While the menu leans towards seafood lovers, the sticky ribs were also noteworthy for their sweet and savory sauce and texture.
For the main course, we tried the Macadamia Crusted Sea Bass with tamarind glaze, caulilini & broccolini, sweet corn puree and chili-lime butter along with the Thai Mango Noodle with sliced Denver steak, avocado, heirloom tomatoes and mint. Both dishes were well presented and seasoned and the meat lover amongst us was not disappointed with the steak.
Since you can’t forget dessert, we tried La Tierrita, which featured layers of decadent chocolate mousse and chocolate cookie crumble along with the Pineapple Upside Down Cake and the Passion Fruit Cheesecake. Out of the three, I really enjoyed their take on the classic Pineapple Upside Down Cake.
If the success of the soft opening last night is any indication, I think that Keewaydin’s will be a 5th Avenue Staple for seasons to come. As always, when you stay in one of our luxury Naples, Florida rentals, we are here to help you discover the latest Naples hot spots and provide personalized recommendations. Click here to book now.
Interested in learning how you can experience this restaurant’s namesake, Keewaydin Island? Check out our blog here.