Collier’s Reserve Country Club opens Boathouse Restaurant
The brand-new Boathouse Restaurant at Collier’s Reserve Country Club is officially open. The nearly 12,000-square-foot waterfront dining venue carries a relaxed, informal feel with variety and new dine-in and carry-out options that give members the kind of casual-yet-exciting atmosphere they’ve been asking for.
“The past several years has seen significant milestones for Collier’s Reserve Country Club with the construction of our state-of-the-art Sports and Fitness Center, new tennis and pickleball courts, renovation of the Golf Operations Building and now a beautiful new Boathouse. These items, together with our premier golf course, have elevated the profile of Collier’s Reserve in the community and have driven increased membership and enthusiasm. It is all due to the financial and overall support of our membership in making Collier’s Reserve the finest club in Southwestern Florida,” Club President Stephen Guillard said.
The spacious Boathouse sits on the banks of the Cocohatchee River, providing spectacular views. The restaurant features four distinct dining areas, with the Dry Dock Bar serving as perhaps the pièce de résistance. The unique wooden bar fixture was manufactured by John Jewell Cabinetry to look like a boat, with an intricate glass bar top that gives the appearance of water flowing over river rocks.
“The Boathouse sets us apart from other clubs. Our relaxed informal dining venue along the river here in Naples has quickly turned out to be the favorite social gathering place amongst our members and their guests,” Collier’s Reserve General Manager Nick von Hofen said.
Between the waterside placement, modern yet comfortable design, and the upscale but not-fussy menu, Collier’s Reserve has indeed distinguished itself.
The River Room is the main dining space within the restaurant, and it’s equipped to become an indoor-outdoor room on mild Florida winter days. The Audubon Room, so named because Collier’s Reserve was the first Audubon International Signature Sanctuary community in the world, provides a more intimate setting. The Mangrove Room is tailor-made for private events of up to 24 people, perfect for birthday parties, anniversaries and other celebrations.
The eclectic menu from Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Director Brian Lord includes selections as exotic as the Norwegian Salmon Oscar and as comfortable and familiar as the Chicken Parmesan Sandwich. The lunch menu is stocked with customizable and specialty sandwiches and salads, with a selection of pizzas and flatbreads that can be made gluten-free and taken to go.
Adorning one of the walls is a steering wheel that is one of the lone vestiges from the building that previously stood on the site. It’s a tip of the cap to the original structure, which housed a small café that became a social hub for many of the members, but otherwise, the design represents a clean break from the past.
“It’s really a great time to be at Collier’s Reserve,” von Hofen said. “With the addition of the Boathouse Restaurant, members have no need to leave the community, even for pizza.”
Naples-based David Humphrey and Randy Rosal were the primary architects for the restaurant, with EnviroStruct from Bonita Springs serving as the builder. Josh Evans of J.R. Engineering in Estero provided civil engineering for the project, and the interior design came from the Noller Design Group of Bonita Springs.
The opening of the Boathouse, celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and special gathering on Oct. 18, is the latest phase of a master plan that began in 2015 with the debut of the club’s new sports center, complete with tennis courts, pickleball and bocce ball. The next phase will involve renovation and modernization of the clubhouse.
Collier’s Reserve offers limited social memberships that provide admission to the restaurant and some amenities. Full club memberships are also available. Call 239-254-2842 or visit colliersreserve.com for details.
