Fresh pasta, homemade cannoli: Here's where to dine out on 5 yummy bargains in Naples

Donning my JLB hat, here are my five food obsessions this week that you must try at two of Naples' newest dining haute spots.

Best of all?

Each item is under $25 and boasts third-party recommendations from friends and folks I meet eating along the way.

Is Naples best pasta at a non-Italian restaurant?

For this reporter, yes.

In 2022, I was obsessed with Daniel Swofford’s spring pea risotto when he was The Cave Bistro & Wine Bar's top toque. Back then, I wrote how it reminded me of New York City's Four Seasons Restaurant (RIP) and its sumptuous spring pea soup, a longtime favorite dish.

His new and fabulous take on this seasonal, vibrant veggie is found at the new Old Vines Naples, where he’s executive chef.

I visited two weeks ago with a few gal pals, and his new spring pea cavatelli ($22) stayed on my mind. A week later, my pal Lauren invited me to dinner, offering up a choice of our usual haunts.

When she mentioned Old Vines, I shared my obsession with a new pasta on the menu. Funny enough, she is too, so we headed there Friday night.

And we're not the only fans: my pal Dolly Lenz's hubby Aaron also likens it to that Four Seasons soup, giving it a "100 out of 10" and calling it "a symphony for the mouth" because each ingredient makes the others shine even brighter.

So what's in it?

The from-scratch noodles are sauced with a sumptuous barigoule, which includes the aforementioned peas, zucchini, asparagus and sausage crumbles topping the dish. The crumbles are added last and are optional for vegetarians.

For the next five weeks or so, it’s on the menu. Go now.

Make it a meal

Swofford’s other two dishes I’m swooning over include sumptuous "Potato Pave Bites," comprised of crispy, thinly stacked layers of potato topped with prime beef tartare. Add a teeny dollop of roasted garlic aioli and a snap of chopped chive for a toothsome two bites per piece, priced $20 for four pieces.

Then there’s the fantastic mushroom sourdough toast topped with garlicky ricotta and pesto at $16 for two pieces.

(9105 Strada Place at Mercato Shops; 239-591-5351; oldvines.net)

Holy cannolis & more at Bontà Bakery

Last month, I mentioned wanting to run to Bontà Bakery, which opened Feb. 21.

For one reason or another, I finally found my way there last Wednesday afternoon after stopping to interview LoLa 41’s team. It's around the corner and where Regina's Ice Cream Pavilion held court for decades.

I wanted to try everything, but a work dinner that night forced restraint, so I couldn’t go too crazy ordering.

Choosing between gorgeous, grandly-sized sandwiches and savory focaccia took a few minutes, but in the end, I opted for the focaccia topped with slivers of zucchini and aromatic olives.

It was divine.

Seeing cups of fresh-squeezed OJ reminded me of an Italian beau from long ago who would make it every morning, so that was a fast yes.

I am in love with Bontà’s desserts, too. The cannoli shells are crispy, and the not-overly-sweet filling is airy perfection. I alternated bites with one end for pistachio and the other for candied orange.

But don’t just take my word for it. I spoke to a few folks sitting outside the bakery, where there are a handful of chairs and tables.

Visiting from Minneapolis, Scott Lutz worked for Proctor & Gamble and was based in Rome. He said Bonta’s “sandwiches here are identical to what I had for lunch every day.”

Next, photographer Amy Vischio and Ashtanga Yoga instructor Tatiana Tholt were finishing lunch.

For Amy, Bontà’s sfogliatella is “the best and most authentic I ever had. The crispiest outside, moist on the inside and not overly sweet. A perfect blend for this particular dessert.”

Her dad is from Sicily, and our circles collided when we discovered we have a mutual good friend in Connecticut.

Tatiana appreciates that everything she’s tried isn’t too sweet, though she noted that the pastries are larger here than abroad.

The way I see it?

More bites to love.

(824 Fifth Ave. S., Naples; 239-234-6631; bontabakery.com)

Diana Biederman is NDN's food & restaurant writer. Connect via [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Restaurant news: 5 delicious best bite bargains in Naples Florida