Roy's Turns Up The Heat As The Temps Drop

When Roy's Restaurant opened in Bonita Springs, it was the first time famed chef and owner Roy Yamaguchi expanded east of the Mississippi River. Over the years, locals have seen dining establishments come and go but this one has managed to not only stay, but improve upon what it made it great to begin with.

While there is always a core when it comes to Roy's cuisine, chef-partners have flexibility to adapt to their markets.

Specializing in Pacific Rim fusion, the restaurant keeps the menu fresh by many means, including consistently introducing new food and drinks to the Aloha Hour menu, and now a three-course Chef's Fall Tasting Menu ($49).

The drinks are festive, tropical, and sweet, but not over the top. Served in a heavy brass pineapple, the substantial Paradise Found is refreshing with vodka, pineapple juice, Monin almond, Angostura bitters, ginger beer and fresh lime ($15). Tiki drinks are the rage and so is the Polynesian Passion: Appleton 12 Year Rum, coconut rum and passion fruit ($12). The aged rum is deceiving, almost bourbon like in this cocktail.

Paradise Found, Pacific Cooler,  Polynesian Passion

The Pacific Cooler has Deep Eddy Ruby Red Grapefruit vodka, elderflower, and fresh strawberries and oranges ($12). One of my favorites is the Charred Lemon Sour ($13): Irish whiskey, lemon, grilled lemon wheel and rosemary.

As for the new tasting menu, it includes things such as the mouthwatering Szechuan Spiced Pork Ribs with meat that falls off the bone, the new spicy and fresh Auntie Lei's Aloha Roll (spicy tuna, cucumber, yellowtail, salmon, avocado garlic ponzu) and the Rock Shrimp Tempura that has the right amount of spice and crunch.

Be sure to dine with friends so you can order all three selections; I can't suggest just one.

Aloha Roll, Szechuan Ribs, Rock Shrimp Tempura

The second course on the tasting menu offers choices that include Braised Short Ribs of Beef that take more than a day to prepare with treatments that include searing, sous vide and more. Served over the most amazing mashed Yukons (and some broccolini to make you feel healthful) it's a home run.

Roy's may delight in the tropical drinks and white wines that often go so well with the many fish dishes here, however, they also have a nice selection of premium red wines. And thanks to the Coravin system, they can offer many of these by the glass. I picked Don Melchior, a Chilean cabernet, for the beef dish and it was outstanding; a great compliment.

If you're into seafood over beef, try the Jade Pesto Steamed Whitefish that comes with baby bok choy or the Georges Bank sea scallops. Perfectly seared scallops are placed over a hearty scoop of forbidden black rice cooked in lobster stock and coconut, the sauce is nearly drinkable.

Roy's has it's own boat in Georges Bank to harvest the succulent scallops which can be delivered several times a week.

Buttered Seared Georges Bank Sea Scallops

The portions are substantial but you'll still be able to manage room for the third course; dessert. The Pineapple Upside Down Care is delightful but I was all about the chocolate and Roy's famous Melting Hot Chocolate Souffle. It's drizzled in a raspberry coulis and served with rich vanilla bean ice cream.

Remember that premium wine list? The glasses come in both three and six ounces, so I ordered a small pour of the well known Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon with this dessert and it was brilliant!

Chocolate Souffle

It's not just the food and drinks that people come to Roy's for, but also the staff.

Having worked for Roy's for a decade, Naples native Ignacio Ortiz had always wanted to be a chef-partner and in Bonita Springs he is. Ortiz is a happy chef who has built solid connections with Managing Partner Tina Norris, the staff and the many regulars who spend many hours with the Roy's family. Both he and Norris make regular rounds to make sure all is well with their guests making this beautiful restaurant feel homey and comfortable.

Put Roy's on your radar this weekend for Aloha hour or the new Chef's Fall Tasting Menu.

One more thing to consider; give up slaving over a hot stove for Thanksgiving and celebrate Aloha style. Roy's is open and cooking up some extra special items including a three course pre fix for $39.95. Make your reservation soon.