Mercato HOT! AZN gets rave reviews
While many restaurants struggled in season the Mercato is… and will be a hot property in coming months. People have been flocking to this upscale marketplace on US 41 just north of Vanderbilt Drive, and with the opening of four more new eateries, hospitality employees are getting shifts that have full sections that are filled with happy faces.
The hottest of them all may be AZN. It’s a prototype upscale hip Asian Steak and Seafood restaurant that is being introduced in Naples by Raymond and Ana Hsu, the award winning owners of the Silk restaurant group based in Atlanta. AZN has great maki sushi but is more of an epicurean experience with Pan-Asian dining and freshest grades of cooked and raw delicacies. Organic salads, a versatile lunch, happy hour and late night selections meet at a lively bar that caters to a professional clientele.
Piola describes itself as ‘rigorously Italian’ . This hip euro-latin chain began in Italy in 1986 and has locations throughout Brazil, Argentina and Chile. Piola is known for their thin crust brick oven pizzas and warm atmosphere and recent expansion to the US includes New York, Atlanta, Washington D.C and Miami Beach.
The Pub is a neighborhood gathering place with an authentic British theme, a classic corner pub feel along with some outdoor seating. Featuring draft beer, traditional pub dishes and hearty sandwiches along with with live entertainment. The Pub is the creation of Cincinnati restaurateur Nick Sanders and currently operates in Ohio, Kentucky and Florida.
The Stage Deli is a family owned, upscale and authentic Jewish Delicatessen. Based in Michigan and first opened in 1962, Steve Goldberg worked next to his father as a young boybefore returning to the expand the family business. The Stage offers fresh soups, salads and sandwiches.
The Mercato project is a joint venture between two legendary names in Naples area development, the Lutgert Companies and the Barron Collier Company of Naples. Whole Foods Market, Books-A-Million and Joe Muggs opened there in 2008 and the property also has The Capitol Grille and McCormick & Schmick’s Restaurant groups. Bravo Cucina Italiano! and Chipolte will be the next to open and The Blue Martini, is scheduled to open summer ’09.
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