Estia — Restaurant in Bonita Springs

Last night, I had the pleasure of being of the first to experience Estia Naples. Already infamous in Philly, I have been anticipating this opening for many months. The wait was well worth it. I have no doubt that Estia will quickly establish itself as the best fine dining restaurant in Naples. The restaurant is beautifully crafted with modern elegant floral light fixtures and textures. They offer dining inside, outside, or they also have a couple of private rooms. Stop and view all the fresh whole fish, shrimp, and lobsters displayed by the kitchen. Several of the fish are brought in from Greece. Let's talk about the apps. Growing up on the Chesapeake Bay, I am super critical of crabcakes but the jumbo crabcake is phenomenal. I could easily be happy eating 2 of these as my meal. The Estia chips are a must have starter as well as the octopodi. The octopus was soft and buttery, grilled to perfection. Next visit, I a, told to try the spanakopita manti which is apparently more like a dumpling rather than the traditional spinach cheese pie. The whole fish is the way to go for good clean eating. The Lavraki is a branzino or you could go with Tsipoura which is a popular Greek favorite. For a heartier white fish, go with the Fagri Snapper or Dover Sole. The whole fish are grilled with lemon, butter, capers, oregano...delicious simplicity. A good alternative to the whole fish is the lobster linguini. Large chunks of fresh lobster with a thin red sauce. For those of you concerned it contains Calabrian chili, the spice level was minimal and even my 6 year old chose it as his favorite dish of the night...I am grooming him as a future foodie. For dessert, I recommend the Greek cheesecake which is also feels nice and light, topped with honey and kataifi shreds. Bravo Estia. Just what Naples needed. See...

Estia transports me right back to our visit to Greece, capturing the spirit of Mediterranean hospitality and the vibrant, fresh flavors we discovered there. The restaurant itself is elegant and warm, with stylish coastal décor that echoes the sun-drenched charm of the Greek islands.

On my first visit, a few girlfriends and I dined on their lovely outdoor terrace. We ordered several small plates—or “Mezedes” as they’re traditionally called—including the octopus, shrimp, and ceviche. Each dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. We also shared a traditional Horiatiki salad and one of their whole fish selections, which was perfectly grilled and finished tableside. I was thrilled to see they serve Assyrtiko, a crisp white wine I fell in love with while in Santorini; just one of many thoughtful touches that make the experience feel truly authentic.

On my second visit, Jeff and I went together and found ourselves ordering many of the same favorites; the octopus and Horiatiki salad again, but this time we added the spanakopita. Let me just say: the spanakopita is incredible, honestly better than what I had in Greece. It’s flaky, rich, and deeply flavorful. Trust me this is a must-order item. We shared a couple of main courses as well. Truly, it doesn’t matter what you order at Estia; everything is exceptional. We were both so impressed, we’ve already reserved a table for our family’s New Year’s Eve dinner.

Estia is more than just a meal, it’s a culinary journey, and I’m already looking forward to my...

Finally made it here tonight. The restaurant is beautiful with plenty of inside and outside seating (outside is covered so no worries about sun and rain). There are two large bars in both areas. Service was excellent. Our server, Jessie, was knowledgeable about the menu and oh so personable! She seemed genuinely happy to work here. Food was awesome. We moved from the NYC area last year and have missed Avra and Milos in the city. Estia stacks up! We had the prix fix menu that included apps, main and dessert. They start with a delish complimentary bread and hummus….yum! We had the octopus (up charge and worth it!) and three spreads with pita. Both were wonderful! The octopus was so tender and served on a bed of delish puréed Favia beans. My husband had the lamb chops (upcharge) that were cooked perfectly medium rare with yummy potatoes. I had the fish of the day - dorado cooked to perfection, accompanied by the best spinach rice I have ever had. Time for dessert. Choice of baklava or yogurt. I suggested two yogurts as I really dislike baklava. My husband overruled and I am so glad he did. I realize I dislike baklava as it is typically soaked in honey, (I do not like anything too sweet). The baklava was amazing! I now love baklava, ( their baklava!). Yogurt was amazing. Can’t wait to return to try their zucchini chips and...