Must Do Sarasota Visitor Guide Winter/Spring 2018

LARRY HOFFMAN
By: Larry Hoffman
The New Kids In Town
Here we go! You have picked the exact perfect time to be in Sarasota.
Especially, if you’re looking for a fantastic and delicious dining
experience. In just the past twelve months, our local restaurant scene has gone from great, to off the charts! We’re not
talking about adding a few more choices to our already flush food community. But, a full blown tidal wave of new places.
And, yes, there’s even more good news. These new stops on our Sarasota restaurant journey hit every part of town and span
the culinary spectrum from street food to oysters to BBQ and just about everything in between. OK, time to grab your knife
and fork and get to it.
We’re Talking Italian
Italian style food is popular. It’s by no means just limited to Sarasota. Nope, this comforting cuisine is a hit all across the country.
Sarasota is no different. We have a flurry of new dining choices in that space. Here’s a couple to add to your “to-do” list.
ITALIAN TRADITION | 481 N. Orange Avenue | 941.706.1677 This is higher end Italian fare. They feature homemade
pasta (as you would expect from an upscale Italian eatery). Their desserts are also pretty top notch. Make sure and save some
room for a piece of biscotto con gelato and an espresso after you’ve indulged in your main meal.
CAFÉ BARBOSSO | 5501 Palmer Crossing | 941.922.7999 Chef Joe DiMaggio Jr. knows his Italian food. That much is
for certain. This is more than just another Italian meal. This is a dining experience! There’s a whole lot of NYC thrown into this
restaurants atmosphere. If you like that kind of higher energy feel, then you’re going to go crazy for this place. There’s pasta
for sure (lots of it). But, the real find here is the pizza. There is a load of creative combinations. Take advantage of that. Also,
don’t miss the chance for a delicious, homemade meatball!
Something A Little Closer To Home
All the international cuisine that our dining scene has is fantastic. But, sometimes you just want a little touch of home cooking. So,
depending on where you call “home,” we’ve got some options for you.
BRICKS SMOKED MEATS | 1528 State Street | 941.993.1435 The REAL deal BBQ. I am serious about that too. Pitmaster
Mark Gabrick, knows his way around a fire. You can tell that from the minute you walk in the door and take that first good
whiff. The brisket is the star here. We are talking about USDA Prime brisket that has been carefully smoked for fourteen
hours! You can taste the brisket love in every juicy bite. They also feature delicious side dishes. Don’t miss the State Street
corn or the pimento mac ‘n cheese.
BUTTERMILK HANDCRAFTED FOOD | 5520 Palmer Blvd. | 941.487.8949 This is more of a bakery/café than a full-blown
restaurant. As a matter of fact, they do not even consider themselves to be a restaurant. Rather a “place to come with friends
and enjoy delicious treats and coffee.” And, I will say, their treats are delicious. Super delicious in fact. Limited seating
completes the non-restaurant effect. They do serve coffee from Perk. One of Sarasota’s best coffee houses. A hyper local
place to be sure. One that’s usually not on a visitor’s radar. But now it’s on yours! You’re welcome.
Steak Makes Everything Better
Sarasota’s
Food Scene
Let’s just start off by saying, “what is going on here?” SO MANY steakhouses have opened in Sarasota during the past year
or so. I’m beginning to think something is up that we don’t know about. I mean there are a lot of options. Not to worry, our
traditional, dependable, steak places are still here. I’m talking about Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, Ruth’s Chris, Hyde Park,
and The Capital Grille. Now, a whole host of new players have entered that culinary space alongside them. Good news for
us. AND, they span the gamut of price
and stuffiness. I’m going to run the
new choices down for you with an eye
towards brevity. Ready?
CANNON’S STEAKHOUSE
6540 Superior Avenue | 941.924.7171
A little less pricey. A little more casual.
22oz. King cut prime rib. Get that!
PRIME SERIOUS STEAK
8201 S. Tamiami Trail | 941.921.6161
Casual dining. Steaks $20-$30. Large
bar/lounge area.
CONNOR’S STEAK AND SEAFOOD
3501 S. Tamiami Trail | 941.260.3232
Steaks low $20’s – mid $30’s. Valet
parking. Casual dining room.
ELEMENT
1413 Main Street | 941-724-8585
Upscale steakhouse. Steaks mid $30’s
to $50’s. Large wine list.
RODIZIO BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE
5911 Fruitville Road | 941.260.8445
Brazilian Churrascaria. Tableside
gauchos. Great for groups. Lively
dining experience.
But wait there’s more! A brand-new
entry into the steakhouse scene opens
on Siesta Key in early 2018. Boy, that’s
a lot of meat!!
As you can tell, we’ve been busy here
in Sarasota welcoming a lot of new
restaurants to town. Each of them have
their own unique style. They also have
their own sense of what the local dining
audience wants in a place to gather,
eat, drink and enjoy. Make sure you
get around the city and make a few
new dining discoveries for yourself!
Larry Hoffman is the
Publisher of dineSarasota.
Since 2002 dineSarasota
has been keeping locals
and visitors up to date
on the Sarasota dining
scene. Both in print
with their annual dining
guide, The Little Sarasota
DINING Book or on
the web at dineSarasota.com.
“First we eat,
then we do everything else. ”
- M.F.K. Fisher
Eat well with the Little Sarasota Dining Book as your guide.
• Features 200 restaurants in every imaginable cuisine category •
• Interesting articles written by local chefs •
• Delicious recipes from some of Sarasota’s best-known restaurants •
Be sure to sign up for a free subscription to dineSarasota’s
newsletter “Feast” when you visit online.
Pick up your copy of Sarasota’s dining resource.
Available at Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and
other local retailers and online at dineSarasota.com
and amazon.com.
40 WINTER | SPRING 2018 MustDo.com