Sizzle Dining sells more than 87K restaurant meals

Southwest Florida’s Sizzle Dining restaurant fundraising event this fall sold a record-breaking 87,483 meals.   

Executive Director Guy Clarke said this year’s Sizzle Dining event was the biggest and best one ever with the participation of 127 restaurants in Collier and Lee counties. The Sept. 3-30 event was extended to four weeks for the first time. 

“We sold the most number of Sizzle meals yet. We had the most restaurants on board ever. It was just a win-win for everybody,” he said. “I think the community really came out and rallied around the event.” 

The Sizzle squad celebrated its success with a restaurant crawl wrap-up party Oct. 14 on Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples. The celebration started at Pazzo, progressed to Chops City Grill and ended at Keewaydin’s on Fifth with a $87,483 check presentation to the Southwest Florida chapter of Blessings in a Backpack. A dollar from every meal sold benefits the nonprofit organization that helps feed schoolchildren in need. 

The annual event came at a tough period of year and an unprecedented time when local restaurants truly needed it, Clarke said. 

“I think it was the toughest because of the overall economy and the way that things are happening,” he said. “The price of goods are so astronomically high for the restaurants, so for them to have to discount the meals. People aren’t going out to eat as much anymore, as well, so I think this brought people out when the restaurants needed it the most.” 

This year’s event produced some notable data: 

Estia, a Greek restaurant that opened earlier this year in North Naples, was the top-selling restaurant with 3,242 meals sold. 

Bone Hook Brewery & Craft Kitchen in North Naples matched the $1 donated for each meal and donated an additional $506. 

Phelan Family Brands had six restaurants in the Top 20 for the number of meals sold, making it the top donating restaurant group for the second consecutive year. The Phelan restaurants making the list are The Bay House, Chops City Grill Naples, Hogfish Harry’s, Pazzo! Cucina Italiana, Chops City Grill Bonita and Deep Lagoon Seafood. 

Six first-time Sizzle participants – Estia, Blackbird Modern Asian, Hogfish Harry’s, M Waterfront Grille, Tap 42 Craft Kitchen + Bar Naples and Alice Sweetwater's Bar & Grille – were among the Top 20 restaurants for meals sold. 

Clarke was personally sidelined during the final week of the event because he was hospitalized with high blood pressure. “I found out that my arteries were clogged,” he said. “Long story short, next year we’re going to do some heart-healthy Sizzle options because I think it’s a good thing.” 

For the 2026 event, Clarke plans to expand Sizzle Dining to include the entire month of September.