An Eater’s Guide to The Landings
IT’S A SOUTH TRAIL EAT STREET! 💫
WORD COUNT: 1180 – READING TIME: 4.5 MINUTES
I can’t think of a more dramatic retail turnaround than The Landings. Yes, it’s now owned and operated by Benderson Development. And, yes, they do get banged around a little. But you cannot argue with the success that they have brought to The Landings.
From near ghost town to bustling “Eat Street.” The Landings isn’t quite a Food Hall on the scale of Tampa’s Armature Works. But it sure does pack a lot of delicious options into one defined space.
📌 A little something for everyone! Yes, we all know that pleasing all the people all the time borders somewhere between impossible and challenging. A stop by The Landings runs the culinary alphabet from Apollonia to Vampire.
🏃🏻♂️ Are you ready to hit the ground running? Even if you’re not, we’re doing it anyway, so get it together! Here we go…
⭐ AN EATER’S GUIDE TO THE LANDINGS ⭐
🌴 If it’s casual dining that you’re looking for. Relax. This is going to be a less stressful situation.
The Breakfast Company (4832 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 706-4225)
📃 MENU
WHY SHOULD YOU GO? ➡️ The fresh baked goods are out of this world!
We wrote a FIRST LOOK about The Breakfast Company right after they opened. You can READ THAT HERE. It’s breakfast (like the name says) AND lunch. It’s a nice place for a lunchtime meetup with a friend.
Corkscrew Deli (4982 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 925-3955)
📃 MENU
WHY SHOULD YOU GO? ➡️ The Saturday Cuban Sandwich special for $5.49!
It’s been around since 1994. So, you have to believe that they’re doing something right. Lunch and early dinner (they close at 5PM). They feature great daily sandwich specials! 📝 They use Boar’s Head products for their sandwiches.
Florence & The Spice Boys (4990 S. Tamiami Trl.)
📃 MENU
WHY SHOULD YOU GO? ➡️ If I don’t have the Chicken Shawarma Salad every month or so, I start to crave it. Get that!
Bringing Israeli-influenced cuisine to Sarasota. This place is always busy and super popular. And rightfully so. Delicious cuisine that you really can’t find any other place around town. They have an easy online ordering interface via Toast.
We’ve got WAY More Florence Info ⭐
Origin Pizza (4944 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 922-1190)
📃 MENU
WHY SHOULD YOU GO? ➡️ Get the Baked Wings! (All flats, please 😄)
Pizza and more. The original Origin Pizza is in Southside Village. But this outpost in The Landings is just as good. And there is a BIG parking lot here. They feature some excellent local craft beer selections at that bar above. OH, the Siesta Sands pie is worth a whirl!
🤵🏻 A more upscale experience awaits. No tux required. But you’ll still feel special.
Apollonia Grill (4956 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 927-2270)
📃 MENU
WHY SHOULD YOU GO? ➡️ Get a flaming Saganaki. That alone is worth the trip. 🔥
They slice their gyro meat from the authentic spinning cone of lamb! Always moist and delicious. The lunchtime soup and salad combo is my usual “go-to.” Plus, you can get that savory Avgolemono Soup (LOVE that soup!). The rest of the menu is loaded with authentic Greek dishes of all kinds. ➕ Happy Hour Specials!
DaRuMa (4910 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 552-9465)
WHY SHOULD YOU GO? ➡️ The best Teppan Style (tableside) cooking in town! 🧑🏻🍳
Whether you’re thinking sushi or maybe just that Shrimp and Filet Teppan combo, you’re going to be happy. This is the perfect place for a special occasion dinner or group outing of almost any size.
Tripletail Seafood & Spirits (4870 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 529-0555)
WHY SHOULD YOU GO? ➡️ They’ve got a fantastic outdoor dining space.
Upscale seafood and a nice craft cocktail program are the order of the day at Tripletail. Opened 2021, formerly Gecko’s in The Landings. Same ownership group but a complete remodel inside and out. A great place to meet up for an after-work drink. 🍸
🍧 You can eat dessert first. OR last. Face it. Any time is a good time.
Vampire Penguin (4976 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 923-8155)
WHY SHOULD YOU GO? ➡️ Isn’t the name alone enough!? 🧛🏻
Serving “Shaved Snow” and who doesn’t like that!? This makes for the perfect stop on a hot Sarasota afternoon or evening. ➕ They have a really cute mascot! 🐧
Crumbl Cookies (4942 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 259-6673)
WHY SHOULD YOU GO? ➡️ The “NY Cheesecake” & the “Monster” cookies are out of this world! 🌎
What can you possibly say about a soft, impossibly delicious, fresh-baked cookie? How about “Give Me A Box!”? These cookies are a little bit of a splurge pricewise, but they are well worth it. 🍪
Blue Pineapple Ice Cream (4862 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 539-3939)
WHY SHOULD YOU GO? ➡️ A Bubble Waffle cone will make kids of all ages happy. 🍦
They have SpongeBob ice cream! I have absolutely no idea what that would taste like. But just the fact that it exists at all makes me smile. Great for a quick treat while you’re leisurely strolling The Landings. 😊
🛰️ The outer limits. Same parking lot, just not in the strip.
The Olive Garden (4900 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 923-3136)
OK, I’ll grant you that this is a first. In the 20+ years I’ve been writing about Sarasota food, dining, and restaurants, I have never written word one about the Olive Garden. It’s mainly because you already know what it is. It may not be for everybody, but IT IS for somebody.
📖 REMEMBER THE VIRAL REVIEW THAT GOT THE INTERNET BUZZING!?
Anthony Bourdain thought enough of Marilyn’s reviews to help her get a compilation of those writings published. He was even so taken he penned the forward to her book. READ ANTHONY BOURDAIN’S FORWARD
Starbucks (4972 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 924-4027)
Stop by for a latte, an iced coffee, or the specialty drink of your choosing. They love their customers so much that they even call them out by name! 📢
1️⃣ One last thing. This one does not fit neatly into any box…
Publix (4840 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 923-1129)
The newly renovated Publix at The Landings has something that most of its other family members do not: a café! You can’t purchase food there. But you can grab one of their famous deli subs and bring it upstairs to enjoy. It’s obvious that the employees love this new space too!
That’s a wrap! Hope enjoyed our little spin around The Landings. We packed a lot of info into this one. But there was A LOT to write about at this newly reimagined Sarasota dining destination! Check it out for yourself. 🍴
🧑🏻🍳 HEY CHEFS AND RESTAURANT OWNERS! 👩🏻🍳
We want to feature one of your recipes in our popular Make it at Home series. Drop us a line and we’ll give you the details! INFO HERE🌟
🗓️ 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 2023 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖
😋 MICHAEL’S ON EAST – MONTHLY EPICUREAN MENU – SPAIN
🍷 LIBBY’S NEIGHBORHOOD WINE CLUB – DETAILS
⭐ EAT LOCAL WEEK!! 🍊🍈– INFORMATION
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. ⬇️
SEPT 28 – Loire Valley Wine Tasting – Mademoiselle Paris (UTC)
SEPT 29 – Buckhorn Wine Dinner – GROVE Restaurant
SEPT 29 – A Journey of Flavors – Tzeva
OCT 4 – Italian Wine Dinner – Michael’s Wine Cellar
OCT 4 – Taste of France Wine Dinner – Harry’s Continental Kitchens
OCT 12 – Scotchtober: Scotch Tasting – Michael’s Wine Cellar
OCT 13 – Four Roses Roses Pairing Dinner – GROVE Restaurant
OCT 12 TO 14 – EAT LOCAL WEEK! – Transition Sarasota
OCT 15 – Morton’s 23rd Annual Chili Cook Off – INFORMATION
OCT 17 – 2024 Forks & Corks Grand Tasting Ticket ON SALE DATE!
OCT 17 – Codigo Tequila Dinner – Kolucan
OCT 19 – Coppola Wine Dinner – Mattisons Forty-One
OCT 20 – Roaring Good Vines Wine Dinner – Fleming’s
NOV 2 – Celebrity Chef Dinner – Pop’s Sunset Grill
🧑🌾 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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