Pull up a Chair

Where Naples living meets unforgettable dining

After more than 35 years selling Naples real estate, we’ve learned that helping clients find the perfect home is only part of what we love to do. Just as much fun is introducing them to the restaurants, hidden gems, and local favorites that make Naples feel like home. One question we hear all the time is, “Where do the locals go?” Our answer depends on the day, but one restaurant has never left the conversation: USS Nemo.

For more than a quarter of a century, USS Nemo has quietly built one of the most loyal followings in Naples. In a town where restaurants are constantly opening, reinventing themselves, or fading away, that’s no easy accomplishment. Every time we walk through the doors, we’re reminded why it’s become such a local institution. The experience is consistently outstanding, and that’s something we never take for granted.

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The first thing you’ll notice is that this isn’t your typical seafood restaurant. That’s part of its charm. While Asian flavors run through much of the menu, you’ll also find French influences, poutine, foie gras, and seafood prepared in creative ways you simply won’t find anywhere else in Naples. Somehow it all works. The menu is eclectic, adventurous, and surprisingly approachable all at once.

Over the years, we’ve collected a few favorites, although choosing just a handful is nearly impossible. The macadamia nut-crusted mahi-mahi deserves every bit of its legendary reputation, while the Volcano Snapper has become just as iconic with its bold, unforgettable flavors. Then there’s the famous miso-broiled entrees. Whether you order the sea bass or the salmon, it’s easy to see why guests come back for it time and time again.

And that’s only scratching the surface. From various preparations of steamed clams and fresh poke bowls to beautifully prepared branzino, a wide variety of tempura, and premium tuna prepared East, West, or Indian style (you have to try all three!), every page of the menu offers something different. It’s one of those rare menus you’ll catch yourself reading a second and third time, because you’re already planning what to order on your next visit.

One of the things we appreciate most is that USS Nemo never becomes predictable. We often walk in fully intending to order one of our longtime favorites, only to change our minds after spotting something we haven’t tried before. Not many restaurants can keep surprising you after 25-plus years, but somehow USS Nemo still does.

Another recent highlight? USS Nemo was recognized in Wine Spectator’s 2026 Restaurant Awards for its outstanding wine program. It’s a well-deserved honor and another example of the attention to detail that has helped make this restaurant one of Naples’ best.

In real estate, we often say that timeless homes never go out of style. We’d say the same thing about USS Nemo. Great restaurants don’t stay great by accident - they earn it one guest, one meal, and one memorable evening at a time.

If you haven’t experienced USS Nemo during Sizzle Dining each September, be sure to check out the feature elsewhere in this issue of Old Naples News. It’s the perfect excuse to visit - or revisit - one of Naples’ true dining classics.

Until next time, pull up a chair… you never know what Naples will serve next.

— Elle & Mitch