Some new eateries on Fifth Avenue South have created more approachable spots to get a quality meal without reservations and white tablecloths. They offer counter service instead of full service, but they are owned and operated by seasoned hospitality professionals who bring a lot to the table.
Until recently, most of the more casual eateries on Fifth have been coffee shops or dessert-focused spots such as Gelato & Co., Grace & Shelly’s Cupcakes and Kilwins ice cream, chocolate and fudge. Recent additions hark back to the days of Cheeburger Cheeburger and quick comfort food that catered to the avenue’s walkability.
On the south side of the avenue, Bontà Bakery launched two years ago at 824 Fifth Ave. S., and Slice Shop pizzeria opened last year at 720 Fifth Ave. S. This February, Barrio Taqueria and All Too Well Gourmet Sandwiches opened on the north side of the avenue.
“We wanted to do something a little bit more approachable on Fifth Avenue, so that you’re not spending $50 to $60 on a meal,” said Barrio owner Sal Muñoz. “But we also wanted to make sure we kept the quality and the high-end techniques to match Fifth Avenue. We love what we do, so I think you’ll taste it in the food in the first couple of bites.”
We’re seeing the thoughtful evolution of Naples’ iconic Fifth Avenue South, known for its elegance and world-class hospitality, said Meg Stepanian, executive director of the Fifth Avenue South Business Improvement District.
“The addition of more accessible and affordable options alongside its high-end offerings strengthens the district’s appeal, whether you’re celebrating a milestone dinner, grabbing coffee with friends or making a quick lunch stop,” Stepanian said. “This creates a more resilient business environment. It’s not about replacing luxury; it’s about complementing it. A balanced mix of experiences ensures that Fifth Avenue remains relevant, dynamic and economically strong for years to come. Naples is at its best when we create spaces that invite more people to participate in our economy while preserving the quality and charm that define us.”
Chicken-and-poblano empanadas and birria tacos are two of the most popular menu items at the new Barrio Taqueria in downtown Naples.
Barrio
The new taqueria on Fifth is the second local restaurant for Muñoz, who has more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Two years ago, he launched Unidos, a Latin fusion dining spot at U.S. 41 and Central Avenue in downtown Naples that was a spinoff of his former Unidad in Chicagoland.
Barrio, 539 Fifth Ave. S., is next to Grace & Shelly’s in a retail unit that was a longtime real estate office, but most recently was Pack & Post.
Esquites street corn, empanadas and agua fresca are among the Mexican culinary creations at the new Barrio Taqueria in downtown Naples.
The opening menu for the Mexican restaurant features a small selection of tacos and empanadas, as well as a quesadilla, side dishes and the Barrio Caesar salad topped with Cotija cheese and charred corn. Taco options include chicken, shrimp, steak and birria, which features slow-cooked beef, melted Chihuahua cheese, red onion, cilantro, lime and a house green sauce in a corn tortilla accompanied by a cup of consommé for dipping. The three empanada options offer a variety of taste profiles created by combining interesting ingredients: chicken and poblano; beef, olives, golden raisins and sofrito; and spinach, guava and goat cheese.
“It’s the one my wife said yes to marry me,” Muñoz said about the guava-sweetened empanada. “Sweet and savory — best of both worlds.”
Barrio’s hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, but future times may be expanded.
All Too Well Gourmet Sandwiches launched Feb. 12 on the corner of Fifth Avenue South and Eighth Street South in downtown Naples.
All Too Well sandwich shop also has Chicago roots. It was born in 2022 in Lincoln Park, and a second location opened a few miles away in The Chicago Loop downtown business district. Chef Mitchell Jamra, the owner of the gourmet sandwich concept, hails from a family of butchers, so sandwiches start with curated meats, except for one veggie option.“My family has owned delis, butcher shops and neighborhood markets for decades. We know this business all too well,” Jamra said, stressing the business name inspired by the title of a TaylorSwift song.
He offers 11 varieties of gourmet sandwiches at 795 Fifth Ave. S., a retail unit that used to be the Toad Hall extension of the adjacent Wind in the Willows boutique and a longtime art and antique store. The shop fronts Eighth Street South in a downtown building on the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue and Eighth.
Bombay Chulet with turkey and prosciutto; and Sebastian with smoked turkey and ham are two of the 11 varieties of sandwiches offered by the new All Too Well gourmet sandwich shop in downtown Naples.“The sandwich menu is simply takes on classic sandwiches I grew up with, or have grown to love, and I put my culinary experience on them,” Jamra said. “I just make them the way I like them through my culinary cultural upbringings.”
Crafted on schiacciata — a traditional Tuscan flatbread similar to focaccia but thinner — the sandwiches are made to be enjoyed as they were created by the chef without modifications to ingredients unless for dietary or religious reasons. “We want you to experience the sandwiches as we intend them,” Jamra said.
To give his sandwiches even more of a personal stamp, the chef named each creation after someone, something or somewhere special to him, including his wife, his friends, his dog and childhood sports heroes.
The menu includes a reimagined Italian beef layered with shaved ribeye, cheddar cheese, aioli, tabouli and au jus dipping sauce. A shredded pork sandwich includes whipped goat cheese, Carolina barbecue sauce, pickles, gouda and fried onions. A smoked turkey option features stracciatella cheese, fig jam, pomegranate, mustard seeds and beet mayo. A spicy Buffalo chicken number has purple cabbage slaw, hot honey mayo, gouda and jalapeño kettle chips. Other separate offerings build on capicola, prosciutto, salami and tuna salad.
All Too Well is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, but closed Mondays.
The Tim Aten Knows weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at Tim.Aten@NaplesPress.com.