Q: What about Warren Whiskey at The Collective on 10th Street? Nothing happening for months there. — Greg Economos, Naples
A: This year’s expected spring or summer launch for Warren Naples was deferred, but the sophisticated whiskey lounge and restaurant are targeted to open this fall to anchor The Collective, a sleek design hub at 111 10th St. S. in Naples Design District.
“We’re confident in saying that we’ll be open by the beginning of November, but we are shooting for October,” said Shannon Bizga, general manager of Warren Naples. “Everything is moving along well.”
Warren Naples is physically split between two distinct parts. The larger main venue in Suite 104 includes a scratch kitchen for the contemporary restaurant with a bar and a semi-private mezzanine overlooking the first-floor dining room. Separated from Warren’s public space by The Collective’s outdoor courtyard will be Warren’s private cocktail club in Suite 106.
“The club should be finished before the restaurant, but we’ll open them in conjunction,” Bizga said.
Warren Naples will be similar in style and menu offerings as its counterpart, Warren Delray, which opened in 2021 in Delray Beach on Florida’s east coast. Warren’s upscale concept is named to honor Warren John, a whiskey lover and art collector who is the uncle of Jeffrey John, CEO of Damn Good Hospitality Group, the Fort Lauderdale company behind the new American whiskey kitchens.
The difference between the two locations will be the beverage program, which will be much larger in Naples, Bizga said. Naples will offer 300 bottles of wine, significantly more than the 80 bottles in Delray. Whiskey, of course, is Warren’s middle name: The new venue boasts 600 bottles in its whiskey collection, including single-barrel bourbons, rare bottled scotches and 30 private barrels for this year, Bizga said.
The separate members-only cocktail club will be limited to 125 memberships with an annual fee. Preregistration for the club began with private invitations, but membership soon will open to the public for the lounge, which will feature soft seating, tableside cocktails and a bevy of benefits for members, Bizga said.
Warren’s ingredient-driven cuisine offers a twist on traditional American dishes by fusing contemporary flavors from around the world. The dinner menu features shareables, salads, seafood towers, handhelds, Wagyu steaks and house specialties, such as smoked prime short rib, bourbon-brined pork chops, spinach-stuffed chicken roulade, diver scallops, pan-seared Chilean sea bass and wild-caught Scottish salmon.
Shareables include Gloria’s KFC (Korean Fried Chicken), frenched lamb chops, charred octopus, Carrara Wagyu beef tenderloin tips, truffle burrata, roasted cauliflower, house-smoked fish dip, PEI mussels, Damn Good lobster mac ‘n cheese and daily inspirational offerings of deviled eggs.
A shorter lunch menu is available daily 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with lighter fare and handhelds, such as a shaved Wagyu steak sandwich, a blackened mahi sandwich, a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, a smoked short rib grilled cheese with roasted tomato soup and Warren’s Damn Good Burger with a signature dry-aged blend, aged gruyere, truffle aioli, a fried egg and bourbon glaze on a brioche bun.
A special menu for brunch also will be available Saturdays and Sundays with items, such as prime short rib hash, bread pudding French toast, chicken fried steak and a smoked salmon platter. Brunch specialties include the Warren Breakfast with two eggs, shaved prosciutto, grilled asparagus, roasted tomato half, avocado and sourdough toast. Wayne’s Hangover Cure features two 4-ounce, dry-aged blend patties, crispy pork belly, hashbrowns, aged cheddar, fried egg, cherry pepper relish and bistro sauce on a brioche bun with hand-cut fries and a 1-ounce pour of Buffalo Trace bourbon. A Champagne brunch with tiers of mix-and-match cocktails is available, as well.
Signature cocktails include concoctions, such as Casa Caliente with Corazon blanco tequila, Los Vecinos mezcal, habañero-infused agave, lime juice and watermelon; 88 Knots with Brugal 1888 rum, Combier Créme de Péche de Vigne peach liqueur, citrus, pineapple, peach puree, bitters and grenadine; and Love Potion with The Macallan 12-year double-cask Scotch whisky, Wheatley vodka, Martini Fiero vermouth, simple syrup, citrus and aquafaba.
Employment opportunities are still available for Warren Naples. “We are doing a job fair for all positions Monday, Sept. 18, 11-6 at The Collective building,” Bizga said.
The “Tim Aten Knows” weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at tim.aten@naplespress.com.
