The LIST – March 2023
We’ve got your monthly round-up of some of the best places to dine in Sarasota!
🗓️ Welcome to March! Yes, it’s official. You made it to month number three. Congrats!
As I am sure you’re aware, we’re going to have an “elevated” level of activity around here for the next couple of months, so… 🚗🚗🚗
You just know that with all the extra folks in town, the beaches and the barrier islands will be packed. But there are always things to do that don’t include our beautiful white sand.
Getting a seat at almost any of our great Sarasota area restaurants during this time can be a challenge (and a pain). BUT I am here to help you out. No, I don’t have a secret password to help you skip the line at Walt’s or Phillippi, sorry. 😔
But what I do have for you is a great restaurant reservation resource. If you don’t use OpenTable during this time of year, you may need to seek professional help. It is the best way to guarantee you have a seat at 400+ area restaurants. 📝No, this is not a paid advertisement. It is just a community service! You’re welcome. 😃
Yes, you can always make a res at your favorite place weeks ahead. But OT lets you surf through the restaurants that have seating right now! OK, enough said. Here’s a link for you just in case you’d like to save yourself all that additional March Madness – OpenTable, Sarasota – Bradenton.
All right, let’s get to it, shall we? We’ve added some new places since we last were together.
The Hashtag Café (2781 Bee Ridge Rd.) is now serving breakfast and lunch. They’re in the same outparcel as the Island House Taqueria adjacent to the Tuttlebee Shopping Plaza. There’s no phone number at the moment. Guess you’ll just have to stop by if you want info.
Egg In a Hole lovers rejoice! The Toasted Yolk Café (3750 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 444-0049) has you covered. We’ve already dedicated an entire piece to this hot new breakfast and lunch spot. You can read that HERE!
Our last new addition for the past month was WAY up in Holmes Beach (I guess it’s not way up there if you live up there 😃). This one is right in my wheelhouse. Double Deez Chicago Style Hot Dogs (3009 Gulf Dr. N. (941) 251-5595).
Chicago Dogs ✅
Chicago Beefs ✅
Maxwell Street Polish ✅.
That is pretty much all you need to know! 🌭
The total number of restaurants in our dineSarasota.com database sits at 373. WOW, we sure have a lot of choices here!
Time for the main event. Our TOP 5 for the month of March 2023.
#5 Ibis Pub & Grill (8383 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 217-4143)
Ibis is up into the Top 5. Congrats to them. They have some interesting sandwiches and wraps on the menu. And they also have wings AND meatloaf! (Oh, and a taco salad 😲). They are covering ALL the bases at this new South Trail spot.
#4 Faicco’s Italian Hero’s & Grill (3590 Webber St. (941) 960-1395)
Most of you know the story here. Straight from Greenwich Village, NYC, to Sarasota, FL. Yes, they have the GIANT Italian sandwiches that lots of folks around town have been talking about AND standing in line for!
#3 The Chateau Sarasota (2001 Siesta Dr. (941) 706-4093)
Sprung right from your TV. It’s the Foy Family of Food TV’s Summer Rush fame, and they’ve opened up an upscale restaurant in the former Roy’s Restaurant space (next to Fleming’s Steakhouse). Great wine list. The escargot is delicious and unique. It’s a bit on the pricey side. The bar scene has the potential to be a Sarasota favorite! 🍸
#2 Florence and the Spice Boys (4990 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 405-3890)
Florence moves up a rung to number 2. Once you have either the chicken shawarma tacos or salad, it will be all you can think about for days! They have a super slick kiosk and an online ordering system. For a place this new, things are running like they’ve been doing this for years.
#1 The Shebeen Irish Pub & Kitchen (6641 Midnight Pass Rd., (941) 952-3070)
The top spot this month belongs once again to Shebeen. Located just south of the Siesta Key Stickney Point Bridge. They feature some daily special and traditional Irish fare. As you would rightly expect, you can treat yourself to a properly poured Guinness draught (maybe two!). 🍺
Here are the other local restaurants that made this month’s Top 10!
We’ve got Azul Steak & Sushi Lounge (downtown), Bay Leaf Indian Cuisine (they’re in Nokomis), Post Kitchen & Bar comes in at number eight, the brand new Toasted Yolk Café makes its LIST debut at number 9, and rounding things out is Towles Court’s favorite coffee spot and stop, Baby Brie’s. ☕
HERE’S THE COMPLETE LIST OF THE TOP 25 FOR MARCH 2023!
And lastly, we’ve got a few bits and pieces for you. These are the things that don’t fit neatly into some cubby hole. Maybe you missed some (it has been a busy month), or maybe you didn’t and just want to re-live the highlights.
📢 If you’ve got something you’d like to have included next month. Please, by all means, SEND US AN EMAIL! – Thanks!
⭐ QUICK BITES: The Toasted Yolk Café opens on the south trail • Phillippi Creek Oyster bar rolls out some new 3-5:30 Happy Hour offerings! • Café L’Europe is hosting a series of “Legacy Chef Wine Dinners” featuring some iconic Sarasota Chefs • Double Deez starts serving Chicago Dogs up in Holmes Beach • Try the BOGO Taco Tuesday at Circo Taco & Bourbon • Andrea’s is opening a wine shop & wine bar. Also, wood-fired pizza! (Located next to the existing restaurant) • Le Petite Brasserie to open in The Mark • Mixon Fruit Farms closing July 2023 (food truck, maybe??)
📰 IN THE NEWS…: Where you can get some of the best pizza around Sarasota (Sarasota H-T) • Detwiler’s opening its sixth location (Business Observer) • Chateau Sarasota has opened (Sarasota Magazine) • Let Sunset Food Tours show you around! (SRQ Magazine) • Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila opens in the UTC area (The Observer) • Florence & The Spice Boys review (Sarasota Magazine) • Café L’Europe celebrates its 50th anniversary (SRQ Mag) • The Breakfast Company opens in The Landings Shopping Center (Sarasota H-T) • Gecko’s raises money for local 4H (SRQ Mag) • The Latest – JEWISH DELI NEWS (Sarasota H-T) • Tandoor Indian Cuisine – REVIEW (The Observer)
🗓️ 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)
WEEKLY POP-UP KITCHEN EVENTS – 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop
FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH – Cheese & Wine – Mademoiselle Paris (Downtown)
FEB 28 & MAR 1 – Legacy Chef Wine Dinner (Ray Arpke) – Café L’Europe
MAR 1 – Israeli Chef Night w/Chef Lior Lev Sercarz – Michael’s On East
MAR 1 – Hartford Court Wine Luncheon – Harry’s Continental Kitchen’s
MAR 3– Whiskey & War Stories – GROVE Restaurant
MAR 8 – Canard Vineyards Wine Dinner – Sage Restaurant
MAR 11 – Saturday Open House Wine Tasting – Michaels’s Wine Cellar
MAR 16 – Tullamore Dew Whiskey Tasting – Michael’s Wine Cellar
MAR 17 – St. Patrick’s Day Block Party – Shamrock Pub
MAR 21 – DAOU Wine Dinner – Michael’s Wine Cellar
MAR 28 – Masterworks Dinner – Sarasota Orchestra
MAR 31 – SPARCC Runway Fashion Show – INFORMATION
APR 1 – Wine Brunch & Charity Auction – Florida Winefest & Auction
APR 9 – Easter Brunch – Element – Reservations
APR 15 – Food Trucks, Tunes, & Brews 5 – INFORMATION
APR 20 TO 24 – Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival – INFORMATION
🧑🌾 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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