Cafe Normandie in Naples, FL

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We heard about an older French restaurant in Naples that had recently changed hands. The new owners are a young couple from Nice, France. The chef/husband has done time in some of the very good kitchens that I have visited and so we decided to check out Cafe Normandie in North Naples.

We initially went a couple of weeks ago with our friends Ken and B. They had been there a few times with their son who loved the chicken dish. I honestly forgot to photograph the first few dishes. Big mistake. My Country Pate was outstanding and a very generous portion. Ken’s French onion soup starter was beautiful and he really enjoyed it. The ladies had apps that they liked as well, but I took no pix and don’t recall exactly which ones they had. I have inserted photos of a Sweetbread entree that made me cry and Barb’s Frogs Legs that got her jumpin with pleasure.

We returned this past week to celebrate the nuptials of our friends, Mike and Heidi. We brought a nice Pinot Noir from Oregon to accompany our meal. The $25 corkage was reasonable considering our wine had a $50 retail price..

This is Sal. He’s a NY guy with a big personality and is very pleasant as well as entertaining. He checked on us often and described all the specials with
panache.
Barb started with a small salad and Dijon Vinaigrette. She enjoyed it and felt it was just the right portion.
Heidi and I both enjoyed our Fois Gras special appetizer that was sautéed and served with a brioche toast and fruity compote.
Mike enjoyed his Escargort with a classic French prep and presentation.
These were the Sweetbreads from my first visit. Beautifully prepared and tasty as hell.
Barb’s Frogs Legs from the first visit. Another generous portion.
Three of us enjoyed the Duck with orange sauce. Each portion included two Confits and we eached asked for diffefeent sides. The chef was very accommodating, giving Heidi this side of befgggies while I got Potatoes au Gratin.

Barb had the Branzino with a gorgeous veggie sauce. She was thrilled with her dish.
The apple tart was delicious and made inhouse.
The Chocolate Lava cake looked great. Mike attacked it with Gusto and declared it “yummy”.
The ”newlyweds” on a subsequent evening.


The restaurant offers a very well thought out cheese course. It includes several of my favorite ”Fromages”. When I grow up, I’ll leave room to enjoy some.

The chef often comes out to shmooze and be sure that everyone is happy. His wife is an excellent host and keeps everything running smoothly. We really enjoy Cafe Normandie and recommend it as a very nice option when you get a craving for French food.

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