A Very Pleasant Lunch at Ridgway Bar and Grill

Tony Ridgway, Proprietor, Ridgway Bar and Grill

Tony Ridgway is a progenitor of modern Naples, FL cuisine, truly a Naples culinary vanguard. He opened his first restaurant here in 1972 after being influenced by European cuisine while traveling. One of his present restaurant concepts in his Old Naples location, Ridgway Bar and Grill (Ridgway), opened in 2001.

Ridgway is part of Naples Originals, a group of about 40 local restaurants that promote themselves as local and independent, two very good qualities in my mind for an eating establishment. Quarterly, Naples Originals members offer dining certificates as a promotional event giving a thirty percent discount off their certificates face value. This is a win-win for both patron and restaurateur.

Having never documented a meal here and also having a fifty dollar dining certificate purchased at a thirty percent discount, I could not think of two better reasons to revisit Ridgway.

The restaurant has one of the most pleasant dining areas in Naples, offering both indoor and patio seating. As it was a very nice day out and not being too crowded as it was still “off season”, my dining companion and I decided on patio seating.

Patio seating, Ridgway Bar and Grill

We decided on a few Lunch Menu offerings, the first being a lovely version of mussels marinara topped with focaccia bread.

Mussels marinara

This dish was a knockout, with garlic, clam juice, tomato, basil, lemon and olive oil among other ingredients melding together to produce a wonderful start to our meal. The delicious in house made garlic focaccia bread was great for dipping. Not given spoons however, using the empty mussel shells to scoop up all this this goodness added to the wonderful je ne sais quoi of this dish. Unequivocally recommended!

I am a big fan of fish tacos and decided to try Ridgway’s offerings.

Fish tacos with mango salsa. 

My dining companion, being from San Diego, a city which embraced fish tacos as the concept migrated up from the Baja peninsula, cautioned me on fish tacos served on flour tortillas. As a purest, corn tortillas are considered the ultimate vehicle. These were good however, with nice portions of mahi mahi, red pepper and cabbage slaw finally topped with beet among other micro greens. 

After recently being on a whirlwind culinary tour of the Iberian Peninsula and wanting lighter fare, my dining companion ordered a bowl of gazpacho.

Although very much liked by my dining companion, I thought it was just ok. I prefer a version of this classic dish that is light and “fruity”. Tomato juice was added here, making much too much of an acidic tomato note for me, one that almost seemed canned. It’s all a matter of taste though, isn’t it?

I thought the food, as always at Ridgway, good to great, served in one of the most aesthetically pleasing restaurant environments in Naples. With the menu here being on some of the upper price points in Naples, our Naples Originals discounted dining certificate was a very good value. Would I come back? Of course, I always do.

It’s a wrap for another post on Forks.

Ridgway Bar and Grill

254 Thirteenth Avenue S.

Naples, FL 34102

(239)262-5500

Ridgway Bar and Grill Website

OpenMonday-Friday:1130-2130;Saturday-Sunday: 1000-2130; All major credit cards accepted; Self parking; Kid’s meals on request.

Indoor dining area

Gazpacho