Naples restaurant named among top brunch spots in Florida: What to know

Dave Osborn, Naples Daily News
·3 min read

A popular online review and restaurant reservation service has announced what Neapolitans have known for a few years: Sails Restaurant has a pretty outstanding brunch.

And with Mother's Day this Sunday, here's some brunches to check out in Naples.

OpenTable last week shared its annual list of Top 100 Brunch Restaurants in America for 2024.

What did OpenTable, reviewers say about Sails

Sous Chef Radan Popovic prepares a plate of food for family meal time at Sails Restaurant on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021 in Naples, Fla. The Sails Restaurant staff prepare a family meal for each other every day before opening the restaurant to customers.
Sous Chef Radan Popovic prepares a plate of food for family meal time at Sails Restaurant on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021 in Naples, Fla. The Sails Restaurant staff prepare a family meal for each other every day before opening the restaurant to customers.

Sails, 301 Fifth Ave. S., Naples, received 4.9 of 5 stars from those who have reviewed the restaurant on OpenTable.

Many of the five-star reviews raved about Sails' food and staff:

  • "This was one of THE BEST dining experiences of my life! It was excellent in every way."

  • "Beautiful night for a celebration! Staff is so professional and friendly. One feature that I have never see. At a restaurant before was a little hammock table for a women’s purse so there was no need to set it on the floor.! Food was delicious and uniquely prepared. Would definitely return for another special occasion."

  • "An exquisite dinner from start to finish!"

  • "Fantastic experience sitting at the bar with world class service, great cocktails and tremendously prepared food. We thoroughly enjoyed our entire experience at Sails and would recommend it to anyone visiting the area as a must go to for top notch dining."

Marinated chicken on the grill at Sails Restaurant on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021 in Naples, Fla. The Sails Restaurant staff prepare a family meal for each other every day before opening the restaurant to customers.
Marinated chicken on the grill at Sails Restaurant on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021 in Naples, Fla. The Sails Restaurant staff prepare a family meal for each other every day before opening the restaurant to customers.

The overwhelming majority of the top reviews in recent months were five-stars.

A one-star reviewer from London in 2018 wrote after the restaurant opened: "Over an hour to get first drink and bread ... VERY expensive — they need to work out the bugs."

What OpenTable says about Sails

Just beneath the headline for Sails, OpenTable's website says, in part: "Steps from Gulf Coast sunsets, Sails recalls the finest coastal flavors of France, Italy and Greece in each bite. Pairing the freshest food with exceptional five-star service amid beachy-chic décor, relaxed sophistication prevails at Sails, with a nod to the gracious manners of traditional fine dining, ever-so-slightly modernized."

OpenTable on its list of Top 100 Brunch Restaurants said it was compiled by analyzing more than 14 million diner reviews and metrics, including diner ratings. It also included the percentage of restaurant reviews diners tagged as "brunch."

What other Florida restaurants made the OpenTable list

In addition to Sails, other Florida restaurants that made the list were Raglan Road Irish Pub and Wine Bar George in Orlando; Latitudes in Key West; and Columbia Restaurant in Tampa.

The 2024 list includes restaurants from 29 states and Washington, D.C.

Former executive Sous Chef Sebastian Cole adds brown butter as a final touch to roasted vegetables for the Sails Restaurant's family meal on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021 in Naples, Fla. The Sails Restaurant staff prepare a family meal for each other every day before opening the restaurant to customers.
Former executive Sous Chef Sebastian Cole adds brown butter as a final touch to roasted vegetables for the Sails Restaurant's family meal on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021 in Naples, Fla. The Sails Restaurant staff prepare a family meal for each other every day before opening the restaurant to customers.

What else to know about Sails Restaurant

The U.S. Department of Labor earlier this year accused Sails of violating several labor and wage laws. The investigation that followed resulted in penalties for the local establishment.

The restaurant paid the U.S. Department of Labor more than $53,000 in civil money penalties and more than $184,000 in back wages and liquidated damages to 56 employees after the department's investigation.

Corinne Ryan, Sails restaurant director of operations, responded to the allegations in a Naples Daily News story in February.

Veljko Pavicevic and Corinne Ryan co-own Sails. Their auction lot donation of dinner for 40 twosomes at the soon-to-open Butcher Private nabbed $1 million for NWWF's live auction.
Veljko Pavicevic and Corinne Ryan co-own Sails. Their auction lot donation of dinner for 40 twosomes at the soon-to-open Butcher Private nabbed $1 million for NWWF's live auction.

Ryan at that time said the Department of Labor news release was "very misleading and unjust"; and that the investigation was closed two years ago and, at that time, Sails "lacked some procedures and record keeping, which we have since rectified."

Top chef: Meet the Bishop Verot grad leading the culinary team at Naples' most glamorous restaurant

"We decided not to seek further review of the investigator’s findings due to the distraction and costs associated with the protracted process," Ryan told Naples Daily News the February story. "Taking this to court would again double the costs to our small family business."

Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and News-Press. Follow him on Instagram and Threads @lacrossewriter and on X (formerly Twitter) @NDN_dosborn.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: What is best brunch restaurant in Naples? Sails makes OpenTable list

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