New downtown Naples: Modern American cuisine shares stage with culture, luxe spirits & wines
The Collective, the mecca for artists and design vendors in the Naples Design District, is getting its first and only restaurant.
Its name? Warren Naples, the second location to a sister restaurant in Delray Beach which opened in 2021. Both share the tagline “American whiskey kitchen.”
And who is Warren?
He’s the namesake arts and whiskey aficionado who happens to be partners/brothers Jeffrey and Jarred John’s paternal uncle. Scott Dietz is the third partner and together they helm Damn Good Hospitality, a restaurant group based on Florida’s east coast.
With a planned November opening, why is Naples next?
“It's a great market. We're Chicago people. Naples and much of Florida’s west coast is very Midwestern making Naples a perfect market for us to expand our concept,” said Jeffrey John.
On the menu
We visited while Executive Chef David A. Schiraldo, who’s worked at the Delray outpost for a year, was receiving his gleaming new kitchen equipment. His sous chef is Josue Montolio, Schiraldo's colleague of four years.
Schiraldo previously worked for Constellation Hospitality Group as their executive chef in West Palm Beach at the Norton Museum’s restaurant.
Before moving to Florida, he was top toque at the residential restaurant within New York City’s ultra-exclusive 15 Central Park West, dubbed the world’s most powerful address where a quick Google search reveals homeowners have included top corporate titans and recognizable figures including Jeff Gordon, Alex Rodriguez, Bob Costas, Sting and Denzel Washington.
Schiraldo is a pro with discerning guests and said, “The amount of care and hands-on detail for the food is extravagant and evident on the plate.”
The menu’s emphasis is Modern American featuring a well-edited selection of premium steaks and fish, all butchered in-house. Several signature dishes from Delray will be carried over including the popular burger, wild-caught Scottish salmon and Gloria’s KFC, an elegant riff on Korean fried chicken.
Lunch and dinner will be served daily plus weekend brunch. Warren’s famous Sunday Gravy suppers will be introduced after opening. The average entrée price at dinner ranges from $50 to $60.
Whiskey, wine and more
Kentucky is the epicenter of spirits integral to Warren Naples' beverage program but there are also international selections. The restaurant will feature more than 1,000 Bourbons (John buys 30 to 40 barrels annually), Scotches and ryes from hand-picked distilleries across the globe.
There will also be a retail liquor component as there is in Delray.
One difference between the locations: Naples will feature a greater emphasis on wine given our town’s well-earned reputation for oenophile celebrations.
Seating options abound
More than a restaurant, consider it an enormous temple of dining options.
For the public, that includes the 4,600 square foot ground floor main dining room encompassing the bar plus ample outdoor seating in the courtyard.
A mezzanine-level private dining room overlooks the action below and seats up to 20.
For whiskey connoisseurs, there's Warren’s Cocktail Club, a dedicated 1,500-square-foot space housed in The Library, adorned with liquor lockers and luxe Americana furnishings. Its separate, exclusive entrance is across the way from the dining room.
As they say, membership has its privileges: $7,500 grants access to exclusive tastings, travel and educational events hosted by distillers, owners and brand ambassadors.
“It's a fun experience that most people would never be able to access on their own,” said John. “Our job is to educate guests and members and we bring people together and forge relationships. We tailor experiences for our guests.”
Parking should be easy with 180 spaces plus valet options.
Culture meets cuisine
So why The Collective?
“We want to be part of the fabric of the community, driving the arts district initiative. We believe in it very much.”
John’s philosophy is that music, food and beverage "is all art and each component enhances the quality of his product."
IDDI design group is tasked with the project.
In addition to rotating artworks throughout the venue, Robert Polimeni, the multi-media artist best known as Dain, is also featured. According to his website, he combines “the visual language of graffiti with collaged old portraits of Hollywood glamour stars.”
Nodding to Uncle Warren's favorite actor, the partners commissioned Dain with two Humphrey Bogart portraits for display behind the bar and in The Library. Both will incorporate the artist's “circle and drip” trademark around the subject’s eye.
And it’s not just the visual arts: A partnership with the soon-to-be neighboring Gulfshore Playhouse is in the works with discounted tickets to shows, events and access to the annual fundraising gala.
Related: Gulfshore Playhouse's new Naples home with 'magic balcony' taking shape
As the neighborhood continues to grow with new residential and hospitality venues, the location is certainly one to watch.
“We want to be part of the thriving community.”
Food & restaurant reporter Diana Biederman wishes she wore a hard hat to this interview. Send scoops, deals and news for editorial consideration by Friday at 5 p.m. to dbiederman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: The Collective Naples is getting a restaurant
