Jerk chicken and curried goat at an Italian restaurant? In Leesburg, yes.

Cindy Peterson
·2 min read

Growing up in Jamaica, Jacqueline Barrett of GG & Barrett Enterprise Corp. loved working with her parents in their family restaurant. That love stayed with her when she came to the United States in 1989, landing in New York. There, she picked up that love of quality Italian dishes that she now proudly serves as the new owner of Naples Italian Restaurant in Leesburg.

“Originally I was just going to be an absentee owner, as the previous owner was still going to run the restaurant,” Barrett said. “But I found out that it was the previous owner who was doing everything — the cooking, cleaning and managing — so I moved from New York to help.”

Owner Jacqueline Barrett of GG & Barrett Enterprise Corp., moved from New York to run Naples Italian Restaurant in Leesburg.
Owner Jacqueline Barrett of GG & Barrett Enterprise Corp., moved from New York to run Naples Italian Restaurant in Leesburg.

The previous owner has since moved on and left things in Barrett’s hands, but not before giving her the restaurant’s authentic recipes and specials.

“The Italian cuisine is going to remain the same,” Barrett said. “Nothing will change. This restaurant has been here around 30 years and we still want people to know they can still come here for their favorite Italian entrees.”

However, Barrett will be adding a few new dishes to the menu to fuse her Jamaican roots with the Italian fare. These will include jerk chicken, curried goat, snapper fish and oxtail.

Snapper fish over veggies is one of the Jamaican fusion dishes offer at Naples Italian Restaurant in Leesburg.
Snapper fish over veggies is one of the Jamaican fusion dishes offer at Naples Italian Restaurant in Leesburg.

“I think it gives people something different to try,” Barrett said. “We are aiming to align my culture with Italian food, creating something that you’ll have to try for yourself.”

These specials will be in addition to the restaurant’s already extensive menu of appetizers, soups, fresh salads, pizzas, pastas, seafood, subs, gyros and desserts.

Their famous garlic knots aren’t going anywhere either.

What's on the menu at Naples Italian Restaurant in Leesburg?

Some of the popular entrees include chicken marsala, Italian stuffed meatloaf, seafood lasagna, shrimp scampi, baked ziti, eggplant parmesan, chicken broccoli alfredo and spaghetti carbonara.

Naples Italian Restaurant in Leesburg serves authentic Italian dishes including pizzas and pastas.
Naples Italian Restaurant in Leesburg serves authentic Italian dishes including pizzas and pastas.

Pizzas are another big seller, with build-your-own or specialty options like the Bianca, buffalo chicken, BBQ chicken, Vesuvio, meat lovers, Margherita, pesto chicken, deluxe and veggie. They also offer calzones, stromboli and pizza by the slice.

Don’t forget about their famous desserts as well, like chocolate mousse cake, Italian rum cake, tiramisu, NY style cheesecake, limoncello mascarpone, cannoli and zeppole.

Naples Italian Restaurant, 1107 W. North Blvd., Leesburg, is open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, 3 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Naples Italian Restaurant, 1107 W. North Blvd., Leesburg, is open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, 3 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Aside from dining in, they offer carryout, delivery and event catering.

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Naples Italian Restaurant, 1107 W. North Blvd., Leesburg, is open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 3 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/NaplesLeesburg.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: New owner adds Jamaican fusion at Naples Italian Restaurant in Leesburg