Figs Grille — Restaurant in Bonita Springs

Food vs Customer Service In this Covid world as we know it, our appetites to get out and eat at restaurants have never been more important. Socializing in an environment when you know you and your dining partners have been vaccinated and boosted, wearing a mask to be seated, we were glad to see the waiter staff at Figs Grille were serving wearing mask. We had been to Figs Grille before in the Bonita Commons, so we knew the food was good, however they had just been reviewed and written up in the Naples newspaper as to the owner ( chefs) background and food choices, so we were excited to go back and have dinner. Having made reservations(5:45 pm) we were seated with our friends who had joined us last time while dining here. Our water glasses were filled and our dinner menu’s were handed to us. Looking around the places was filled , along with considerable wait staff to handle a full restaurant. Our waiter came back after ample time and we have decided to all share an appetizer. With myself and our friends being non drinkers, the gentlemen were fine with water, also ice tea , along with a Sangria were placed. Now for the start of Food vs Customer Service. We were given a bread basket along with Tapenade . Our appetizer was to be shared but when it’s was brought to the table it was placed directly in front of me. We needed to ask our waiter for 4 small plates , which he went to the kitchen to get. Having eaten our appetizer we were ready to order our salad and main course. Where O where was our waiter. Oh well , more conversation with our friends. When the waiter came back , he explained about the diner specials and we ordered salad and our entree. While ordering our waiter was apparently fixated on the another table or the surrounds , because my wife and I ordered a shared salad, but when it came to our friends to order, the waiter looked directly over the head of our friend who was trying to order a different salad other than the one we ordered and it took a minute for our waiter to focus on what she was ordering. We also ordered our main entree and off the waiter went. Having been now at the restaurant now for 1 hour, we were served salads which were placed close to my wife and I. We handed the salad that was to be shared by our friends to them and ate. After our salad was done and considerable time pasted, our entrees were delivered by other wait staff. If you think this review is about the taste or value of the food being serviced, it is not. We have no complaints about the food! Back to customer service. I needed to ask a staff member to fill our water glasses and should have asked for more bread and Tapenade. Having finished our entrees, we “always” share a dessert and 3 out of 4 of us drink coffee. Our plates were bussed, but where was our waiter. I saw him conversing with another waiter, behind the bar mixing drinks, and tending to a number of tables. Nothing out of the ordinary for a wait staff person. Having looked at the clock another 1 1/2 hours have gone by. Our conversation had now shifted from our families to our waiter. Finally he came back to the table and we ordered a shared dessert and 3 coffees. When the dessert showed up again the two were placed between my wife and I with 4 spoons. We picked up our friends shared dessert along with 2 spoons and handed it over to them. At least when our waiter came back with the coffee he placed the 3 cups next to those who ordered. After considerable time again had passed we received our bill, however having been done with the coffee, those that were drinking were never asked for a second cup. The bill was about $225.00 and we split it. Considering the time spent in the restaurant the bill tabulated very quickly and was brought back to the table, go figure! Departure time from Figs Grille 9:00 pm. I say enough time for a 6 course meal...

Please be kind and tip generously these days, the pandemic stress continues for our beloved restaurants with procurement and staffing issues. My husband and I celebrated our anniversary a week late tonight due to family-urgent issues that called us from North Carolina to Florida.

We arrived at Figs Grille for our first visit an hour before our reservation and were entertained by the salty bartender until the hostess (we came to learn that she is the gracious the wife of the owner) seated us earlier than expected. The atmosphere was jovial: Snow Birds were dining before returning north and families were gathering for the Easter holiday. The place was busy.

Our server was dressed in a maroon chef jacket, different than the white shirt & tie of the other waiters, so we inquired - at the nudging of the table next to us. Sam is in fact the owner. It is hard to find reliable staff and Sam was waiting tables to ensure outrageous customer satisfaction due to firing incapable staff.

Midway through our meal the skies opened on the outdoor diners (we were seated indoors) and the restaurant attempted to accommodate the relocated guests, a challenge for any busy and short-staffed business. How does a restaurant survive these days?

The lobster lasagna and sea bass special were perfectly prepared and the recommended crème brûlée was to die for. The wine selections were a delight but nothing held a candle to being in a family establishment that has been built over the years with commitment to delivering a satisfying experience. We met the tables of customers on either side of us and while we will likely never meet again, we felt home in Bonita Springs, if just for the night.

Thanks to Sam and his lovely wife and staff for an...

Our group of 14 family members all had a fabulous time at this restaurant. The staff was great, and the food was very delicious. The food was brought out in the perfect amount of time without any issues. They had many gluten free options on the menu that I could pick from. I ordered the Imperial appetizer which had figs, mandarin oranges, and a sweet dressing. In addition, my salmon entree was cooked perfectly and was a large portion. The roasted vegetables were also great. Overall this restaurant was quite frankly perfect on all aspects. If they had a location up in Maryland, then I’m sure I would be a frequent visitor. We plan on coming back at least once more on my trip to Florida.

Update 12/30/2021: We did get to come back again on our trip. We had a great experience for a second time. I’m also very pleased that they provide gluten free crackers as a substitute for bread.

Update 12/26/2023: I was very happy to come back to this restaurant two years later, and to find that it was yet again, excellent. Surprisingly, the waiter remembered my family, and even what I had ordered two years ago. The service was great, food was delicious, and was a fantastic...