Vincenzo’s on the bay: a taste of the Mediterranean
Since taking Vincenzo’s on the Bay over just a couple months ago, Beach resident Liza Borman has certainly spruced up the newly-remodeled and upscale fine dining Italian restaurant on the bay. The historical building comes alive with a warm and inviting mediterranean feel felt throughout the grounds, from the private dining hall to the waterfront seating and outdoor deck, with fabulously intricate detail, from the live orchids and foliage, soothing fountains and a warming fireplace to the romantic candles and fresh flowers at every table.
“This has always been one of the few bayfront Italian restaurants in the area. I wanted to restore it to how it was known back in its heyday,” Liza said. “We’ve done many renovations to the building: a new sign, new carpeting, we rebuilt the dock, stained the deck, redid the bathrooms. We fixed it all.”
Vinzenzos’ menu also received some renovating, with locally known Chef Adrian (Dejong) taking the reigns of the kitchen after moving back down from Michigan to be Liza’s head chef of the restaurant.
The 17-year cooking pro was once in charge of the Mucky Duck and the Morgan House and really enjoys working with Liza.
One of the chef’s signature dishes is his lobster and shrimp bisque, a delicacy Liza swears is like no other.
“I swear it’s the best in Southwest Florida – if not the country,” she said.
Liza is very much into healthy, organic living, and she said everything in Vincenzo’s’ kitchen is homemade and made-to-order, incorporating the hand-picked, homegrown produce and gulfshore catches of the area into every recipe.
“All of our seafood comes from the local fishery, fresh gulf pink shrimp, you name it,” Liza said. “And we order homegrown produce from Immokalee every week. Fresher food tastes so much better, and it’s so much healthier. It’s the little details like that that I think really make a difference.”
The new owner has gone so far as growing herbs and spices from the restaurant’s on-site garden, sprouting healthy batches of fresh basil, parsley, thyme and mint – the perfect addition for a very well-known drink of the restaurant.
“We’re known for our mojitos,” the England native proudly stated.
Serving up an array of popular Italian dishes, Liza’s extended the bayfront restaurant’s menu to include succulent steak and seafood platters.
Some of the restaurant’s signature dishes include veal platters, such as the well-known veal marsala, as well as the Linguini Frutti di Mare (fresh fish, shrimp, scallops and shellfish tossed in pasta with a red or white sauce) and the rack of lamb.
Nightly specials are offered, and a kid’s menu is available for the little ones.
“We love kids,” Liza said, smiling.
With such a wide-spread selection of good eats, it’s no wonder Vincenzo’s on the Bay has picked up numerous awards, including “favorite overall establishment” and “best of Bonita.”
Along with an extensive menu and endless waterside seating, Vincenzo’s also houses a vast half-moon gold-encrusted bar, stocked with wines, wells, calls, brews and top shelf spirits.
Happy hour is held every evening, from 5 to 7 p.m., offering two-for-ones on wells, domestics and house wines. A bar menu is also available to enjoy fun bar food and appetizers for no more than $6.
Liza takes also pride in Vincenzo’s’ wine selection, carrying an extensive list of vineyards from near and far.
“I’m very passionate about wine,” she said. “When I got my own restaurant, I knew I wanted to make sure we had a great wine selection. Most of these wines we have, you can’t get at Total Wine or most of those local stores.”
Liza’s eager to point out the great selection of chianti and that she’s personally met with some of the worldly vineyard owners to assure she has quality in her selection.
“Each category of wine we have has a wide range of prices, so everyone can enjoy a nice glass of wine,” she said.
Live entertainment by Larry Maas can be heard every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m., and when season picks up, live music will be heard all week long.
“I grew up in the restaurant business and worked here at Vincenzo’s for the last three years. When an opportunity came up and the owner asked if I’d like to take it over, I thought, ‘why not?’ And I’m so happy I did. It’s been such a great experience.”
Vincenzo’s on the Bay is at 5370 Bonita Beach Road. Reservations are suggested and parties up to 173 people can – and have – been held at the fine dining bayfront restaurant. Hours are Monday through Sunday, from 5 to 10 p.m. For more information, call 992-1159 or visit VincenzosOnTheBay.com.