I love summers in Naples. The tourists are gone, giving full-time residents a chance to savor the local restaurants without having to make reservations years in advance.
The Isles of Capri has several casual dining options, but when we want something unusual, something to test the parameters of the palate, Osteria Capri is where we go. Each time has been a magical experience. With 20% off for returning customers, we couldn’t resist.
Osteria Capri features authentic Italian cuisine with a modern flair. Set in a bistro-style setting, the ambiance is augmented with expansive views of the water, and if you’re lucky, live music on the patio.
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Inside, you’ll see an impressive array of original oil paintings, along with a bustling kitchen where the flair of chef/owner, AJ Black creates his magic.
“Fresh ingredients, simplicity, and love are the recipe for a treasured dining experience.” He is true to his word.
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Having grown up in Sicily and Rome, Black departed Italy in 1986 to study at Le Cordon Bleu Paris and eventually found his way to New York City, where he was invited to contribute an Italian menu to the iconic French cuisine of Le Cirque restaurant.
Black has now been a longtime veteran of the Southwest Florida dining scene, having spent over ten years at Il Tesoro Ristorante on Sanibel Island.
Heading to the restaurant, the weather threatened to put a damper on our dining, but we weren’t daunted. We pulled in and were ushered to our seats. Life was good as we ordered two glasses of Valpolicella.
We began with two appetizers, the beautifully plated Grilled Octopus, served over a colorful bed of organic mixed greens. I always order octopus when it’s available because it’s not featured at many restaurants.
Hard to resist was AJ’s Carpaccio di Carne, featuring fresh slices of cured filet mignon over a bed of arugula, topped with shaved parmigiana, olive oil, and capers.
Portions were abundant, with us devouring the carpaccio easily and saving about half of the octopus for later. Even the thunder outside clapped in appreciation.
It was hard to decide on our main courses, and although AJ told us that his pizzas are rumored to be some of the best in the area, we decided to go for something more robust.
For lighter diners, the Spaghetti Frutti de Mare hits the spot, stuffed with tons of seafood, and laced with a light white wine sauce with a hint of tomato, giving it a nice zing.
For more daring decadence, the Pappardelle Bolognese is a must. Our diets went out the window, but we didn’t care. Both entrées were huge, and we took about half of both of them home.
Our waiter Nick suggested two desserts, the Chocolate Cake, and the Limoncello Cake. Although my dining companion is a sucker for chocolate, we decided to take most of that home and focus on the limoncello, its succulent bites seeming like you were eating a cloud.
Even though we're in the slower summer season, this place still gets busy. Two large parties were set to come in later, so I’m glad we got there early so we could get a table overlooking the water and enjoy the orchestra of the storm.
I’m sure as the evening swelled at Osteria Capri, that a good time was had by all.
Osteria Capri
387 Capri Blvd.
