Prominent French-Vietnamese restaurant sets Naples opening date

Le Colonial, a French-Vietnamese restaurant that debuted in New York City in 1993 and Chicago in 1996, is scheduled to open in Naples on Dec. 14. 

The restaurant is at 457 Fifth Ave. S., according to a statement. The owners are Rick Wahlstedt and Joe King, while design and decor is a collaboration between architectural and design firm Knauer Inc. of Chicago, artist and painter Jonas Wickman of Stockholm, Sweden and DF Creative Designs of Connecticut. 

“We are delighted to be opening on one of the most beautiful streets in Florida and believe Le Colonial will be an exciting addition to the dining scene,” Wahlstedt says in the release. “We look forward to meeting everyone in Naples and having them experience the romantic interiors and Vietnamese cuisine.” 

The atmosphere is designed to evoke 1920s Saigon. The 74-seat dining room features muted cream wall panels, antique baked mirrors, slow-moving fans, hand-painted periodic photographs, a pewter bar top, lush plants, silk and brass custom-made hanging light fixtures from Paris, and elegant leather banquettes. There’s also a 64-seat al-fresco dining patio.

The menu has been developed under the leadership of acclaimed Vietnamese chef and cookbook author Nicole Routhier and National Culinary Director Hassan Obaye, with input and execution by Chef Moosah Reaume, who will serve as Naples executive chef. 

Prior to joining Le Colonial, Reaume, the release states, was head of food and beverage at the Mandarin Oriental Boca Raton, executive chef at Public Chicago Hotel and Pump Room Restaurant by Jean Georges Vongerichten. He also worked for Vongerichten in New York City at The Mark restaurant and other concepts.

In addition to New York and Chicago, the Naples location joins other Le Colonial restaurants in Houston; the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta; the Chicago suburb of Lake Forest; and Delray Beach, which opened earlier this year. 

Dinner is served in the main dining room 4-10 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays and 4-11 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. The lounge will be open 3-11 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays and 3 p.m. to midnight Thursdays to Saturdays. The lounge is walk-in only, offering a full lounge menu until an hour before it closes. Lunch will launch on Jan. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be available Saturday and Sunday.