GINA'S 7TH AVENUE DWINDLED AND CLOSED. THE SCHOLTENS GAVE IT THEIR BEST AT A TOUGH LOCATION IN TOUGH TIMES. IT COULD NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE SEASON. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY Eric Pate’s Backstreet Bar & Grill.
CHEF MARK PINTO SHALL REMAIN, COOKING SOME OLD AND MANY NEW DISHES. THE PATE FAMILY IS A RESTAURANT DYNASTY IN NAPLES-IF ANY ONE CAN REVIVE A LOCATION, I'D BET ON ERIC. JAN 14, 2010
Gina’s 7th Ave, filled the spot of once-popular Nektar, which slowly lost its following, and closed. Thomas Scholten’s restaurant is a couple blocks walk from popular 5th Ave South.
Nektar opened in 2005, with good looks, and Mediterranean food. It did well, until Mr. Scholten’s other partners, restauranteurs Armand Alikaj and Elton Alikaj, were arrested Sept , 2006 for allegedly skimming ~$80K in restaurant cash "off the top." This left Mr. Scholten, a Naples home builder and silent partner, with his hands full of Nektar, and a dwindling clientele. He and son Adam revamped Nektar into Gina’s, in 2008.Gina’s web site specifically boasts about being “a family restaurant that advertises through word of mouth.” Not so. Anyways, we came to eat, in spite of receiving postcards from Gina's mailing blitz, addressed to “Current Resident.”
Gina's web site visitors might wonder just how often management is “offering organic produce along with other sustainable ingredients when at our disposal.” Is it offered 1%, or even 5% of the time, to attract trendy folks, with "organic" as the bait? A lawyerly “when at our disposal” disclaimer “weasels" Gina's out of any commitment to stocking costlier organic produce.
Nektar’s chef, and now Gina’s chef, Mark Pinto, continues serving tasteful Mediterranean food. He now offers “rustic Italian cuisine”, as well as old favorites. Most Italian spots serve similar comfort food classics. Adding some rustic food dishes can be a welcome plus, or just a marketing gimmick. Our excellent server, Oscar noted, “They serve some dishes just like my grandmother made, ” and piqued our curiosity.
While Nektar’s long dining room had a lighter, cheerful peach interior palette, Gina’s is now darker, not sinister, with the room’s long, darker red wall by the windows. Other walls are lighter. The lighting level is low. Black shutters are tightly shut, hiding all windows and any outside light -this is not for the claustrophobic!
Nektar’s signature “air conditioned” 9-hole light wooden chairs proudly remain. The thin carpet is light tan, and booths are a darker tan. We wanted a Nektar-like quiet romantic dinner, and should have come to Gina's after 9 pm. Acoustics are bright, with a moderate to loud noise level-Unfortunately, we could clearly hear all words from the talkative quartet ~15 feet away. Intimate details, from other tables’ raised voices, are all too clearly heard, if you get my drift. Ugh. The noise level of the "current residents" is at the upper end of “tolerable”. 
If Gina's noise level is not for you, eat later, or bring earplugs- in décor matching dark red or tan.A wide sheet of water resistant white paper tops each table’s cloth-one woman recognized it as “gynecologist’s exam table paper”. Cheap paper table coverings are a disappoinment, at a restaurant of this level.
The paper may have been chosen for toddlers and kids’ crayon coloring; selected for children's food fights, or just picked as a dependable, tantrum-proof covering.Fifth Ave. South's nicer spots just don’t use this paper. Do the right thing, guys. Return the remaining paper rolls to the gynecologist’s office. While the children may miss their paper and crayon scribbling, the women will thank you!
Manager Adam Scholten makes schmoozing table rounds during the evening-a good sign. The bar area is bright and clean,
with a friendly bartender.There’s tables by the parking lot, for your outdoor dining.
Oscar, our server, had solid suggestions and a friendly, professional demeanor. We wanted to sample the specialty-the rustic dishes. The eggplant fritters ($9) are tasty and light, with four hot, small patties of sliced roasted eggplant and onion, topped with melted cheese,
resting on a marinara sauce smear.The meatballs ($6) were a side of two, formed from mildly seasoned beef, pork, and veal, with marinara sauce. Other sides include sautéed spinach, mushrooms, peas or roasted potatoes. There's also Fried Calamari (11), and Bruschetta (8).
The recommended Cavatelli Romano (17) is a big bowlful of 4-6” long narrow pale earthworm- shaped ricotta “dumplings”, with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Relax, we told you this is rustic, and they don’t wiggle much.
The recommended Cavatelli Romano (17) is a big bowlful of 4-6” long narrow pale earthworm- shaped ricotta “dumplings”, with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Relax, we told you this is rustic, and they don’t wiggle much.
Oscar’s grandmother cooked this way-so it must be rustic. It’s mild tasting, with a light, creamy tomato sauce.The Pork Chops Peperonata (24) offers two tender chops with Italian vinegar peppers, garlic and roasted potatoes. This is a man-sized portion,
and a very tasty presentation, with tender pork. We preferred this, for its zingy peppers and bolder seasoning, over the Cavatelli. Chef Pinto’s rustic culinary talents, like Oscar’s grandma's, continue to please. Wine prices range from $19 to 150 per bottle, and $6-12 by glass. I enjoyed my glass of Italian Kris (9), a versatile pinot noir. We commend Gina's reasonable markup, and broad selection of Italian and other wines.Entrée’s range from four simple $15 pasta dishes for the not-so-big spenders, to the $30 lamb chops, and $35 8 oz. filet mignon. There’s over 30 entrees, and daily specials. “Rustic” not for you? Have chicken ($19), or veal (23), served familiar Piccatta, Parmigiano, Francese, and Marsala styles. Try a whole roasted fish, with lemon and herbs, for $29.
Desserts are $6. FYI, Historians note that Tiramisu is not a rustic dessert in origin, it was born in Italy, just in the 1970’s. This tasty, light espresso, cocoa powder and mascarpone creation, is caffeinated enough to keep some up till 1 am. It wasn’t called a “pick me up” in Italian, for nothing! Chef Pinto’s is one of the lightest, and best tiramisu around!
We recommend it, and prefer it over the traditional lemon torte.
A cheese cake, and a sorbet are also offered. Our light meal was over $100 for two, with tip. Figure $150 for two, with drinks or a nice bottle of wine.We wish Gina’s 7th Ave. all the best for success, in competing with lively Fifth Ave's established, upscale Italian restaurants.
Gina's mass mailing now brings in a different, louder crowd of "Current Residents" and eager tourists. While locals may miss Nektar's once quiet, intimate dining, service does remains attentive and professional.
There's good solid food to be had, at midrange prices for Naples.
849 7th Ave S # 101, Naples, FL 239- 435-1882
