Steakhouse on the Water? Bonita Springs Delivers with James Beard-winning Chef
Perhaps all the financiers of the SWFL area got together and decided to go all in on steakhouses, because in addition to the three new steakhouses in Naples, Bonita Springs just got one more to add to the mix. Not many, however, are perched on the water with a serious culinary pedigree behind it.
Acqua Bistecca, the newest addition to the Saltleaf Marina on Estero Bay, has both.
The restaurant is the first Southwest Florida outpost of Michael Mina and his MINA Group. Mina is a Michelin-starred, James Beard Award–winning chef with restaurants across the country. But instead of importing a concept that feels out of place here, Acqua Bistecca settles easily into its coastal surroundings.
The name literally translates to “water and steak,” and that is reflected in the menu. This isn’t a traditional, dark-wood steakhouse built solely around beef. It’s a coastal Italian-inspired restaurant where prime cuts and seafood share equal footing, helped by the wide views of the marina. Outdoor seating opens directly onto the water, prime real estate for sunset reservations. The decor leans into natural wood and contemporary starkness, like we see more in refined high-end dining of late.
Start with their house-made focaccia and choose from a selection of toppings, like tapenade and pistachio pesto. If you’re going all out, get their caviar cannoli. The steaks are, as expected, the anchor. Oak-fired and deeply caramelized, they arrive properly rested and confidently seasoned. Steak snobs will be impressed by their Prime Delmonico, while seafood lovers can still order an impeccable Branzino over an orange saffron fregola. Just expect fine-dining pricing. Several cuts are finished with a red Lambrusco butter, a nod to Northern Italy that adds richness without overwhelming the meat.
But what makes Acqua Bistecca unique in our market is how seriously it takes the “acqua” side of the equation. The raw bar features local stone crab claws in season and oysters brightened with limoncello mignonette. Crudos and seafood starters are light but well-dressed. House-made pastas, including a favorite with Florida clams and nduja, bring depth without being too heavy. They also have a signature spiral lasagna with spicy sausage ragu if you want to move away from seafood. You could build an entire meal here without ordering steak and still feel like you experienced the restaurant fully.
What Acqua Bistecca ultimately delivers is balance. It’s upscale and carries national-chef credibility without feeling corporate. In a region where many steakhouses feel interchangeable, this one stands apart, not just because of the name attached to it, but because it genuinely offers a menu on a different level. Waterfront dining with real culinary ambition doesn’t happen often in Bonita Springs. This time, it does.
Acqua Bistecca — Bonita Springs, FL
Address: 5500 Coconut Rd, Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Hours: Dinner Daily 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
(239) 319-2301
Website
New Steakhouses in Naples
Aufieri & Martinez — Naples, FL
Address: 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Rd, Ste 200, Naples, FL 34109
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM; Friday–Saturday 4:00 PM – 12:00 AM
(239) 591-5845
https://aufierimartinez.com/
Connors Steak & Seafood — Naples, FL
Address: 950 Immokalee Rd, Naples, FL 34110
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM; Friday–Saturday 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM
(239) 467-2120
https://www.connorsrestaurant.com/naples-fl-steakhouse.html
Tulia Italian Steak — Naples, FL
Address: 365 5th Ave S, Naples, FL 34102
Hours: Daily 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM
(239) 315-4019
https://tuliaitaliansteak.com/
Originally published in
The Naples Florida Review.
Read the full edition
here.