If you look, you can usually find delicious things hidden in the strangest places.
Just drive down Tamiami Trail and try and count them. On second thought you had better keep your eyes on the trail. What you’re counting (I mean, not counting) is the number of nondescript, unremarkable strip malls that populate “the trail”.
These retail centers house any number of businesses. And, it seems most of these tenants are pretty much interchangeable between addresses. Usually, each of these places houses at least one restaurant/coffee shop/cafe. And, there are a ton of culinary gems hidden in the midst of the fishing supply stores, nail salons and souvenir shops.
Just off Tamiami Trail. wedged in between Hollywood Boulevard and Southwood Street is one of these “strips”. As luck would have it, it house one of these previously mentioned culinary gems. Sardinia. As you can easily see from the logo above they boast “Traditional Italian Cuisine“. And, in a refreshing change of pace, that is EXACTLY what they deliver.
Sardinia’s Chef Dino Carta knows his traditional Italian cuisine. He’s taken a spin in some of Sarsaota’s best Italian restaurant kitchens. So, it should come as no surprise to anyone that knows his work that Sardinia delivers. And in a BIG way.
Sardinia is a dinner only place. So, our work today is a half of our usual load. But, we must get to it. Let’s have a look at what Chef Carta has cooked up for Savor Sarasota.
Dinner First Course (Choice of one)
Octopus Carpaccio
With arugula and homemade bottarga
Brick Oven-Roasted Tomato
Stuffed with eggplant and mozzarella
Sardinian Pecorino Cheese
Brick oven-roasted over homemade carassau bread
Dinner Second Course (Choice of one)
Homemade Tagliolini
With salmon, zucchini and homemade bottarga
Homemade Veal Ravioli
With butter, sage and walnuts
Homemade Potato Gnocchi
Dinner Third Course (Choice of one)
Mixed Seafood Ciopino
In tomato-based lobster reduction
Mediterranean Seabass Fillet
With Sardinian fregola salad
Brick Oven-Roasted Sausage
With roasted fingerling potatoes and eggplant
First off, I will make one observation. Not being that much of a dessert person I will gladly take a third course consisting of more dinner food then a dessert any day. Now try not to wrinkle your nose at that. I like a fresh baked pie or a dish of homemade ice cream as much as the next person. But, If I had a choice, it would be cheese plate for me every time.
With that said, let’s eat! First course, gotta have the Octopus Carpaccio. Not only do I really like that dish. But, opportunities are not around every corner to enjoy it. Second, Homemade Veal Ravioli, the butter, sage, walnut combo is pretty killer. And, now for my “dessert”, third course. Mixed Seafood Ciopino. That was a tough call. I had to really watch that I didn’t blurt out, Brick Oven-Roasted Sausage without even knowing it. (That does happen sometimes).
So, what have we learned from our Savor Sarasota menu today? I’ll recap for you. When driving Tamiami Trail it would pay delicious dividends to have a hidden gem spotter assisting you on your hunt for great food. (remember you can’t do this yourself, you need an accomplice). Good luck and keep your eyes on the important stuff.
SARDINIA
5770 S. Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, Florida 34231
941-702-8582
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