The LIST – April 2023
Here’s our monthly roundup of some of the most popular places on our website!
Spring has definitely sprung! 🌻
Baseball spring training is fading quickly in the rear-view window. The big crush of season is mostly behind us. And it’s warming up fast! 🌞
April is a BIG food month in Sarasota. The Florida Winefest and Auction returned in full this month. Nearly every restaurant in town has some type of Easter meal planned. AND it’s the Sarasota-Manatee Originals’ time to shine. Forks and Corks will help close out the month in culinary style! 📝 We’ll have a couple of pieces to share with you about all of the F & C happenings later this month. You won’t want to miss that!
This is usually the spot in this LIST article where we roll out a few new restaurants we’ve added to the database. Unfortunately, it was a little hectic this past month, so…
The database stands at 371 Sarasota area restaurants. We’ll make sure you get some new ones by this time next month!
I guess that means we can get right to this. So, let’s not waste another word. Here’s our Top 5 for April 2023!
#5 Faicco’s Italian Hero’s & Grill (3590 Webber St. (941) 960-1395)
BIG Italian hero sandwiches. These are the kind of gigantic sandwiches that you can easily split with someone else OR maybe have lunch twice for yourself! The Spicy Italian! 🥪
#4 Azul Steak & Sushi Lounge (1296 1st St. (941) 343-2122)
Sushi and more in downtown Sarasota. This used to be Flirt Sushi. They’ve changed the name and updated the menu. They do serve a “later night” menu. This location on First Street has always been the home to some interesting places.
#3 Florence and the Spice Boys (4990 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 405-3890)
Israeli-influenced cuisine. Not sure what that exactly means? Here’s a clue: lots of deliciousness. That’s a BIG hint! The Brown Butter Hummus is super unique and tasty. + You can order ahead for easy pickup. 📱
#2 The Chateau Sarasota (2001 Siesta Dr. (941) 706-4093)
This place is a bit of a mystery. Bunches of you have been searching for info about this new Southgate restaurant on our site. But to be honest, there hasn’t been a ton of chatter around town. Our Sarasota food community is usually pretty talky when it comes to new spots. If you’ve been, please leave a comment to let us (and everyone else) know about your experience! ✅
#1 The Shebeen Irish Pub & Kitchen (6641 Midnight Pass Rd., (941) 952-3070)
Have you recovered from St. Patty’s Day? The folks at this Siesta Key Irish pub keep it rolling along. I’m sure they still have a Guinness or two left around the place. I plan on stopping down for one soon! 🍀
Here’s a look at the whole Top 10…
Rounding out things out for the month, Ibis Pub & Grill (South Trail), GROVE Restaurant (LWR), Seasons 52 (it has been a LONG time since they were on here!), Mattisons Forty-One and Michael’s On East (I’m guessing this has a little something to do with the upcoming Easter Holiday! 🐰).
HERE’S THE COMPLETE LIST OF THE TOP 25 FOR APRIL 2023!
As usual, we have a few odds and ends to wind things up for this month. These little tidbits should get you all caught up on some of the restaurant, food, and dining happenings that may have slipped through the cracks.
📢 If you’ve got something you’d like to have included next month, please, by all means, SEND US AN EMAIL! – Thanks!
⭐ QUICK BITES: Café Gabbiano is now serving a Smoked Old Fashioned! • Fleming’s Steakhouse has 3-Course Sundays. Three-course Surf & Turf menu for $75 • Did you know that Ortygia (Village of the Arts, Bradenton) has a new menu every week?! • A Beach Bistro-esque restaurant slated for the new BLVD Condo development has been scrapped • HEY, how about an updated map of St. Armands shops & restaurants! (MAP HERE) • Turmeric Indian Bar & Grill now has a lunch buffet! • GROVE Restaurant has weekly yoga & meditation classes • Happy 9th Anniversary to Big Top Brewing 🎉• Kacey’s Seafood & More has reopened! • Sandra Frank is stepping down after 11 years as the CEO of All Faiths Food Bank. Congrats, Sandra! • Order an Easter Basket from Tropical Shore Popcorn! 🍿 • Tikka Indian Cuisine named one of Yelp’s Top 100 Restaurants
📰 IN THE NEWS…: Downtown Sarasota gets a Banditos Tacos & Tequila (The Observer) • Chef Darwin to Open New Brewery, Restaurant, and Distillery (Sarasota H-T) • Jo-To on North Tamiami Trail Closes its Doors (Sarasota H-T) • Former Owner of Pazzo and Owner of Origin Pizza Combine to Open Osteria Southside (Sarasota H-T) • The Great Publix Subs Debate (Sarasota Magazine) • How to Food Truck (SRQ Magazine) • Wings and Weenies closes after almost 40 years! (Sarasota H-T) • St. Armands fav, Blu Kouzina, to open near UTC (Bradenton Herald) • Yard House Opens April 2nd (Sarasota H-T) • Chef Andrea Bozzolo’s new Malmosto Opens Next Door to Andrea’s (Sarasota Magazine)
🗓️ SARASOTA FOOD EVENTS 🗓️
Here are some upcoming local food events that we think you might find interesting. All you need to do is make that reservation. We’ve provided you with a link to more info. (If you have an event, send us the details! (EMAIL IT)
ALL APRIL – Epicurean Menu, Israel – Michael’s On East
WEEKLY POP-UP KITCHEN EVENTS – 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop
FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH – Cheese & Wine – Mademoiselle Paris (Downtown)
APR 8 – 35th Annual Easter Egg Hunt – Sandbar Seafood & Spirits
APR 9 – Easter Brunch – Tzeva
APR 9 – Easter Brunch – Michael’s On East
APR 9 – Easter Buffet Brunch – GROVE Restaurant
APR 9 – Easter Buffet Brunch – Mattison’s Forty-One
APR 9 – Easter Brunch – Duval’s, Fresh, Local, Seafood
APR 9 – Easter Brunch – Element – Reservations
APR 9 – Easter Brunch – Harry’s Continental Kitchens
APR 12 – SEAsonal Tasting at Nathan Benderson Park – INFORMATION
APR 12 – Social Club Wine Tasting – Michael’s Wine Cellar
APR 13 – Stag’s Leap Wine Dinner – GROVE Restaurant
APR 15 – Food Trucks, Tunes, & Brews 5 – INFORMATION
APR 22 – Saturday Wine Tasting – Michael’s Wine Cellar
APR 20 TO 24 – Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival – INFORMATION
MAY 10 – Walking Progressive Dinner – Taste Magazine
🧑🌾 FARMER’S MARKET INFO 🧑🌾
EVERY SUNDAY – Siesta Key Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – Farmer’s Market at Lakewood Ranch – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – The Meadows Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY WEDNESDAY – The Phillippi Farmhouse Market (Oct-Apr) – DETAILS
THIRD THURSDAY NIGHT – RADD Night Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Sarasota Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Downtown Bradenton Public Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Venice Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
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