Naked Fish Bar & Grill celebrates two decades of operation in the CNMI this week.
NAKED Fish Bar & Grill celebrates two decades of operation in the CNMI this week and, according to its owner, Joe Guerrero, the Garapan hot spot is looking to honor its longstanding goal of providing “good food, with good friends, coming together to have a good time.”
That’s one whole week of festivities at Naked Fish that will see the bar and grill’s customers front and center of weeklong events that promise to be the talk of the town. Last Monday, December 2, Naked Fish Bar & Grill hosted its “Chill-ebration Kickoff” with beer and appetizer specials. The next day, December 3, Naked Fish played host to an Early Millennium-themed Bar Karaoke night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., with cocktails and shooter specials .
December 4 was “Wine-Down Wednesday” with live music provided by South Trio, and of course, wine and sangria specials alongside a petite cheese tapas plate pairing special.
Fans of the local favorite band, Marianas Project, were treated to a show on Thursday as they took the stage for “Throwback Thirsts,” with Budweiser, Bud Light, wine, Naked Fish signature cocktails, Corona Extra, and Asahi Draft specials available.
Naked Fish Bar & Grill staff.
The good times are rolling into good deeds for Naked Fish this weekend, because they’re honoring their 20 years of operation by fundraising for the newly established CHCC Foundation, a separate but affiliated non-profit, charitable foundation, organized to support CNMI healthcare through the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp, or CHCC.
“We always strive to not just be good but be good for something, which is why Eleanor and I always encourage our team to partner with worthwhile causes,” said Guerrero. “What is Naked Fish without its customers? Without its community?”
At the December 6 “Beats ‘n Booze” 21+ years’ event, a $25 entry fee comes with a free drink and will help cover costs of the guest band and assist the foundation.
Smiles Davis, a band based out of Guam featuring Shiabe Pangelinan, son of the late Frank “Bokkongo” Pangelinan, will be among the special guest performers.
Food and beverage promos will also be available. Raffle tickets will be on sale for a chance to win great prizes, made possible by generous sponsors including MarPac, Joeten Enterprises, TSL Foundation, Tan Holdings Corp., Bridge Capital, Hertz Car Rental, Triple J Five Star Wholesale, PHI Pharmacy, TurnKey Solutions, Marianas Variety, Western Sales Trading Co., Pacifica Insurance, Joeten Superstore, All Star Sporting Goods, Joeten Motors, The Athlete’s Foot Saipan, and Boarderline.
The 20th anniversary celebrations end on Saturday, December 7, with “Humor on the Rocks!,” a comedy show featuring Santi Sablan, Chinaman, Netty Cee, and Mr. Good Morning Marianas himself, Brad Ruszala, as the opening act. $50 gets you through the doors with two free drinks, and food and beverages will also be on promo. Raffle tickets to win great prizes from sponsors will also be on sale.
Aside from event and raffle ticket sales supporting the CHCC Foundation, a portion of all food and beverage sales throughout the entire anniversary week will also support the new nonprofit.
A band performs at Naked Fish Bar & Grill.
Balanced vibe
Speaking to Guerrero and the restaurant’s staff, it’s clear that Naked Fish is a lively, energetic place that offers a welcoming vibe to anyone stepping through its doors.
Guerrero says his aim is to be “balanced” as a bar and grill, and to meet the needs of the community looking to enjoy a night out on Saipan: offering a comfortable, welcoming establishment with unique menu and drink items, while still being neither a fine dining establishment nor a “hole in the wall.”
“I think getting it right—where we’re both a restaurant and a bar—is what has made Naked Fish last long, because we provide food but we also provide drinks,” Guerrero said. “What we also provide is an experience that balances everything. I think it’s the niche that we have…what we provide and what we stand for.”
By making sure the restaurant sits right in the sweet spot of casual dining, Guerrero says Naked Fish might be the island’s first popular “starter bar.” According to him, that’s a place where customers begin their night out, usually gathering friends around for a meal and some drinks.
Some of the products available at Naked Fish Bar & Grill.
‘Intimate crowd’
Naked Fish was established along Beach Road back in 2004, at the site where the current YCO Hardware sits. Opened by Jesse and Francis Yumul alongside their sons, the family used to catch up with each other during happy hours after work, and one day decided to venture into the industry with their own establishment.
Back then, Naked Fish was a much more intimate location, and the crowd was made up mostly of professionals. Guerrero describes it as a place where regulars knew the owners, and the owners knew their customers.
A few years later, the Yumuls sold the business to Butch Sigua, who expanded the bar’s physical space by relocating Naked Fish to Susupe, just north of the Saipan World Resort.
In September 2014, Guerrero and his business partner and spouse, Eleanor Cabrera, purchased Naked Fish from Sigua, operated it in Susupe for four years, and after incurring significant building damage due to two typhoons, Naked Fish relocated to its current location in Garapan, the heart of the island’s tourist district.
A different offering
Upon taking over Naked Fish, Guerrero knew he had to ensure it retained its character as a place where customers could relax and feel like they’re being taken care of and are always welcomed.
“We’re very particular about a lot of things, even what we put on the YouTube screen,” Guerrero tells Marianas Variety. “It’s the Naked Fish standard and style of service. It’s what we offer that’s different. It makes us a place that [customers] want to go to, even with less money in their pocket due to [the] challenging CNMI economic conditions. It’s the service. It’s our team.”
As measure of continuity, Naked Fish offers three original menu items that have been with the restaurant for all 20 years—Naked Garlic Fish (which is where the bar’s name comes from), Naked Poké, and Naked Garlic Octopus.
Guerrero believes Naked Fish might be the island’s oldest bar and grill. While there might be restaurants that are significantly older, they aren’t simultaneously a bar. Also, while there are bars that are pillars of Saipan’s nightlife, Naked Fish is still older than many of them.
‘Keeping It Fresh’
Even as Naked Fish holds on to what makes it great, it is also constantly evolving, he said.
“Our motto in the kitchen is ‘Keeping It Fresh,’” Guerrero says. “We have it posted up top in the kitchen. In other words, in addition to our kitchen space and ingredients, we aim to keep recipes and ideas fresh, so that we are constantly ready to provide that.”
A feature of their menu is their “off menu” items, which are dishes the kitchen is experimenting with. To order off the menu, Guerrero says customers need only ask their server or bartender what the kitchen is working on or scan the QR code provided.
Past items “off the menu” that have gone on to become staples include Birria Tacos and the Mågas Burger.
“Any week that you come in here, you’ll probably find something that you’ve not tried before,” Guerrero says.
The Dining and Bar team also works by the same motto of “Keeping It Fresh.” Off menu items apply to drinks and Naked Fish offers all kinds of drink mix-ins when fruits are in season.
Eyes on the future
Moving into the next few years, Guerrero says they’ll be working hard to keep Naked Fish one of the island’s top attractions. It’s already popular with visitors from Guam, Hawaii, and the U.S. mainland traveling through the CNMI for pleasure, business, or military activities.
“Long-term [the goal is] to continue to improve and be that place where you’re top of mind,” Guerrero said. “We don’t take it for granted. When people say ‘Where do you want to go to in Saipan?’ We always hope you say Naked Fish. Just like saying ‘I want to go to Mañagaha or I want to go to Grotto,’ I want tourists/visitors and, of course, our CNMI people to think ‘Oh, you have to stop by Naked Fish for a meal and a drink. Always good vibes there.”
