News From Ridgway, June 2, 2016

Tony’s Off Third: Your Bakery of Choice

The annual Southwest Florida Choice Awards, brought to you by the Naples Daily News, are underway and this year Tony’s Off Third made the decision not to formally throw our hat into the ring. There’s a lot of pressure, even in little old Naples, to get the plaques and media accolades. We’ve participated in these contests in the past, and may well do so again in the future.

But, at the end of the day, we’re happy if you consider us your bakery of choice, regardless of the accumulation of shiny badges we have on display. We’re confident in the quality we deliver, and that, along with our more than 20-year reputation in town, is what keeps our best customers coming back week after week. Thank you for making Tony’s your bakery (and wine shop) destination of choice! And if you felt strongly inclined to pencil us in, so to speak, as a write-in candidate, we’d welcome the vote of confidence.

Summer Updates

In case you didn’t see our recent email or Facebook announcements, we want to make sure you get word that summer dining at Ridgway has just kicked up a couple of very exciting notches.

Our already famous rib dinner, initially offered two Saturdays a month, will now be available every Saturday night through the summer. This includes the outstanding Niman Ranch ribs, as well as our house-made corn pudding, baked beans, and sautéed greens. Depending on your appetite, you can order it in 5- or 10-rib portions, at $24 and $34, respectively. Even walking into the restaurant on a rib night is a sensory experience – you’ll be sold at the door just from the aroma!

We also had a very successful first go at Restaurant Week this May, and have decided to keep that menu, which includes some of our menu favorites, going on a nightly basis as a $35 per person 3-course Prix Fixe. We are absolutely confident you will find this to be a terrific value. Check out our website for the menu!

At The Table With Tony

Dining out is a favorite pastime of mine. One might hope so, given my profession, but I do truly enjoy it. In the summer months, when my schedule is more flexible, I take the chance to visit some of my favorites in and around Naples, as well as to visit new spots that have opened up in recent months. When we travel, a primary objective is always searching out the best local establishments. Where is the most interesting menu, reflective of local tastes and trends? If I can find a fantastic local bakery, all the better!

Hype is a funny thing in restaurants. In a town like Naples, while there are certainly countless more people and restaurants than there were in 1971 when I first went into business, it’s still a small enough community that new restaurants get the early buzz, and can dominate the scene for a few months. Some of them are very deserving of the excitement; others, perhaps less so. A little heavy on the sizzle and flash, a little light on the substance.

The restaurant business is a notoriously fickle one. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been able to do what I love for as long as I have, and have no intention of walking away anytime soon. I accept that our restaurants are no longer, and have not been for a long time now, the “hot new thing.” I’m ok with that because I am confident that what we do deliver is top quality and a comfortable, inviting atmosphere.

Without going into detail, we do have some interesting plans for Ridgway coming down the pike, that we are hopeful will inject a fun, new element to the Ridgway experience. We’ve also recently, and intentionally, become much more proactive in our marketing, which I hope you have noticed and liked! This winter my daughter, Caroline, came on board to help that side of the business, contributing a much-needed, 30-something-year-old perspective. If you don’t already, I’d encourage you to follow Ridgway Bar & Grill on Facebook and Instagram (for Tony’s Off Third social media links, click here and here) for an engaging, day-to-day look. If you like what you see and taste, please leave us a review! Likewise, if there’s something we could be doing better, we’d like to know what it is.

I’m happy to report things are as right as ever with the restaurant and in Tony’s. We’re having fun, cooking some terrific food, and excited to welcome you all to be a part of it. I hope to see you soon!

Your Friend,

Tony

p.s.

Don’t forget Father’s Day is coming up on June 19! Maybe celebrate at Ridgway a night early with our Rib Dinner or the night of with our Prix Fixe?

Ridgway’s Courtyard

It’s summertime and, as the classic song reminds us, the living is easy! The vibe in Naples during the summer is distinctly laidback. When you’re looking for a relaxed and easy spot to enjoy the afternoons and evenings, look no further than Ridgway’s Courtyard Bar. In the evenings, you’re welcome to select from Ridgway’s full dinner menu, but the Courtyard menualso offers a slightly more casual selection of meals and munchies.

Been to the beach? Come as you are, we’re informal. On the lookout for pet-friendly dining? We’ve got water bowls and doggie treats waiting. The broad awning and ceiling fans provide a comfortable setting. Not a bad place, if we do say so ourselves, to pass an hour or two!

A quick note…

This Friday evening, June 3, the main dining room in Ridgway will be closed for a private party. We apologize for the inconvenience, but encourage you to check out our Courtyard, which will be open for dinner, weather permitting. We’ll be back open during our regular hours for all customers the following day!

Thank you for understanding (and if you have an event of your own you’d like to consider hosting at Ridgway, contact Sukie anytime to learn more).

News From Ridgway, June 2, 2016

Ridgway Bar & Grill

Bayside Seafood Grill & Bar

Tony’s Off Third

Sukie’s Wine Shop