The LIST – April 2024
What do you call the Easter Bunny the day after Easter? Tired 🐰
Spring Has Sprung! 🌻
Spring training baseball is in the rear-view mirror. And so is MOST of spring break. This was a busy one for Sarasota. I can’t think of a part of town that wasn’t bulging at the seams.
🗣️ There is a rumor floating around Siesta Key that one day last week was the busiest day EVER at the Siesta Market! And you know what? I believe it! (✅ This has been CONFIRMED!)
💾 Database – The dineSarasota.com database now stands at 390 local area restaurants. I think that’s the most that we have ever had listed in the 22-year history of the site. It’s a lot!
Only one addition this past month. And we even wrote a FIRST LOOK piece about it.
The Green Orchid (1534 Mound St. (941) 265-8194). If you’re at all curious about this super unique restaurant that stands at the entrance to the Selby Botanical Gardens, you can read all about it HERE. It’s a great place to have a relaxing spring lunch!
🙃 What in the World Happened This Past Month?
We think we have an answer. And it all boils down to…
1️⃣ St. Patrick’s Day ☘️
➕
2️⃣ Early Easter Holiday 🐰
Our monthly list has all kinds of new places on it. Not new in the sense that these restaurants have just opened. But new in the sense that we’re seeing these spots in our Top 10 for the first time in a while.
Of the restaurants towards the top of our list, only TWO are carryovers from March. For those out there who want me to do the math for you, that’s EIGHT new places in this month’s Top 10!
🏃 Let’s Run it Down!
🚀 In the past thirty days, we logged over 55,000 page views on dineSarasota.com. It may not sound like a lot to you. But for a “little” single-subject, niche website, it’s a pretty BIG number. Thanks for helping with that. Appreciated!
HERE WE GO!
#5 Seasons 52 (170 University Town Center Dr. (941) 702-9652)
OK, like we said, there are going to be some different types of places this month. Easter brunch and dinner have made a BIG impact here. Seasons 52, yes, it’s a chain. But an upscale one. It’s in the UTC Mall. So maybe some shopping, then munching, and maybe throw in some putt-putt golf for fun! ⛳
#4 GROVE Restaurant (10670 Boardwalk Loop (941) 893-4321)
I can personally attest to the Easter Brunch at GROVE. They put on quite the spread. If you’re looking for a Mother’s Day spot, this one might be worth thinking about. The Easter Bunny won’t be there to greet you at the door (he’ll be recharging from the holiday). But I don’t think Mom will really care.
#3 Capital Grille (180 University Town Center Dr. (941) 256-3647)
I know. But it’s not me who’s searching. It’s you guys! Capital Grille is a nice place for lunch or dinner, regardless of what you think about chains. Yes, there are local independent restaurants that carry that same service forward vibe. And you should go there too. ️ 🍔 CG does serve a great burger!
It was our burger #15 WAY back in December 2022! READ OUR BURGER REVIEW!
#2 Shebeen Irish Pub & Kitchen (6641 Midnight Pass Rd. (941) 271-4714)
Now, we come to the St. Patrick’s Day portion of our program. Shebeen threw one heck of a SPD party. And it’s obvious that bunches of you were looking for info on the big event. Hopefully, you got that Black & Tan you were craving! ☘️🍺
#1 Mattison’s Forty-One (7275 S. Tamiami Trail (941) 921-3400)
And heading up this month’s LIST at #1. Mattison’s Forty-One. Again, the Easter brunch thing gave them a nice leg up on searches last month. I’ll admit we live in a place that does at least the eating part of the Easter holiday right! 🐰
➡️ THE BEST OF THE REST
Carrying right through with our holiday theme, we have Pier 22 at number 6. Beso gets knocked out of the Top 5 to come in at number 7. The Bijou Garden Cafe, Cafe L’Europe, and Duval’s round things out at 8,9 and 10. That’s a whole lotta brunching going on! 🍴
🗒️ HERE’S THE COMPLETE LIST OF THE TOP 25 FOR APRIL 2024!
We’re almost at the end of this month’s LIST. But we have a little bit of housekeeping we need to get to…
📌 WE’VE GOT SOME ODDS AND ENDS FOR YOU!
✏️ Subscribers! We added over 100 new subscribers to our Sarasota Bites newsletter last month. Welcome to our new readers. And thanks for clicking that “Subscribe” button. If you still haven’t done it, or know someone who would like to get our newsletter, HERE A SUBSCRIPTION LINK!
🧹 Clean Up on Aisle 4! In our last newsletter, we highlighted the delicious brunch that The Cottage on Siesta Key now serves on the weekends. And we talked about their sweet, savory, and a little spicy cornbread. Just to set the record straight, the final version of that tasty treat was perfected by Cottage Chef Kurt Vogel. Good job, Chef! 🧑🍳
🏆 We Have a Winner! A couple of weeks back, we wrote a piece about the Milk Street Everything Pan. And we had a contest. The lucky winner of the Milk Street Cookbook is Ann Potenza! Congrats. We’ll get that book right out to you so you can start cooking!
🆕 This Just In! Didn’t have the time for a proper mention (yet). But we thought you’d want to know that our friend Kaye Warr (yes, the same Kaye Warr from Edible Sarasota) is the Managing Partner at the brand new Rose & Ivy (this is the former Azul space). More details to come. But HERE’S THE MENU TO GET YOU STARTED! 📃
🏁 The Finish Line: That’s it! No time (or room) for news this month. We’ll make certain that there are some extra juicy stories next month to make up for it. Have a great April! Keep on supporting our fantastic Sarasota restaurant community!
~ LH
🗓️ 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, we’d like to help you spread the word. Let us know! (EMAIL IT)
📖 BUY A COPY OF OUR 2024 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖
😋 MICHAEL’S ON EAST – MONTHLY EPICUREAN MENU – GREECE
WEEKLY POP-UP KITCHEN EVENTS – 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop
Yes! Things are finally starting to pick up a bit in the local food event department. Our calendar is filling up little by little. ⬇️
APR 6 – Riboli Wine Dinner – Madfish Grill
APR 12 – Porter Winemaker Dinner – Cafe Gabbiano
APR 13 – 5th Anniversary Block Party – 99 Bottles
APR 14 – SET THE BAR COCKTAIL COMPETITION!🍹
APR 16 – Chicken Cock Whiskey Tasting – Element
APR 25 – Caymus Vineyards Wine Dinner – Pier 22
APR 26 – Paul Hobbs Winery Wine Dinner – GROVE Restaurant
MAY 5 – Cinco de Mayo – Kolucan
🧑🌾 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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