The LIST – October 2023
LET’S DIVE RIGHT INTO FALL 🍁
WORDS: 940 = READING TIME: 3.5 MINUTES
🎃 WELCOME TO OCTOBER – It won’t be long now before trick-or-treaters will be descending upon your neighborhood. In all my years in Sarasota, I never actually had a costume-clad kid show up at my door with a plastic candy-collecting pumpkin. But that does not stop me from buying my sugar delivery vehicle of choice – the Halloween-size bag of Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups!
🆕 WHAT’S NEW!
• We’ve added a few new places. Like most months, we have a few additions to the dineSarasota.com database. It now stands at: 385
NEAT: Bar • Food • Lounge (8383 S. Tamiami Trl. (941) 552-8850) – I think you get the idea from the name. This isn’t brain science. 😄 Burgers, steaks, sliders, and wings dot the menu. Also, about a half dozen craft cocktails, wines by the glass and draft beers. This is located on the South Trail in the same plaza as First Watch (Square South). CHECK OUT THE MENU.
Fuego Comida & Tequila Lounge (11615 FL-70 LWR (941) 751-5252) – This one is a little more complicated. YES, it says tequila in the name. So that part seems easy. They boast “Upscale Mexican Cuisine”. (I think I know what that means, too). DINNER MENU HERE.
Capo Pazzo Pizzeria – Kitchen & Bar (2053 Reynolds St. (941) 487-8677) – Pizza. It’s in the name, so that is what you can expect. Toss in a few pasta dishes, some salads, and a sprinkling of apps, and you’ve got Capo. MENU PREVIEW HERE.
Foodie’s Paradise, that’s what people say about the Sarasota-Bradenton area. Yes, it’s true we have a super high number of independently owned and operated restaurants per capita. Great choices are around every corner!
But we’re also attracting some “mini-chains” and restaurant test market units. We are the perfect-sized community to use as a restaurant laboratory! 🔬
✌🏻Too Many to Count – We’re so good at dining out that we have A LOT of food and wine events, including our very own Sarasota Restaurant Week (Savor Sarasota) AND the spectacular Forks & Corks (tickets on sale for that OCTOBER 17!). 📝 That’s a tough ticket. You’d better have a quick computer finger to score!
📈 THE LIST
It’s what you really came here for (that + all the other interesting stuff 😁).
Here we go. You’ve been searching our site. We’ve been keeping the tally. Let’s see who scored this month…
#5 Bar Hana (1289 N. Palm Ave. (941) 536-9717)
Craft cocktails take center stage at this popular Palm Ave spot. Yes, you can order food, too. But DO NOT pass on one of their creative cocktail creations. 🍹
#4 Shebeen Irish Pub & Kitchen (6641 Midnight Pass Rd. (941) 952-3070)
Siesta Key’s only genuine Irish pub. Grab a Guinness, or maybe have them pour you a Black and Tan. 📝 Owners Ross & Louise Galbraith have recently sold the pub to Eileen Carrigan (seems like it’ll be in good hands). Let’s stop by and say Hi to her! 👋🏻
#3 Osteria Southside (1812 S. Osprey Ave. (941) 361-3200)
Michael Calore is turning out delicious, home-style Italian dishes out of the Osteria kitchen about as fast as people can order and eat them. 📝 Only open for dinner service at the moment.
#2 Palm Avenue Deli (1297 N. Palm Ave. (941) 263-3742)
Give me a Combo (pastrami & corned beef), a Latke, and a bowl of Matzo Ball Soup about any day. Have a peek at that Sandwich!
🗣️ The new Wolfie’s Rascal House is slated to open mid to end of October. That’ll be a 3rd Sarasota option for deli food lovers. ♥️
#1 Beso (30 S. Lemon Ave. (941) 279-2999)
Do you like food? Do you like to share it with friends? Then Beso is calling your name! Tapas dishes to be shared (or not) and enjoyed along with drinks and conversation!
➡️ THE BEST OF THE REST
Florence and the Spice Boys (see guide to The Landings), newcomer Capo Pazzo, Namo Izakaya, The Chateau Sarasota, and Chef Gino Calleja’s new venture Kolucan round out the Top 10 for this month.
🗒️ HERE’S THE COMPLETE LIST OF THE TOP 25 FOR OCTOBER 2023!
👻 More Halloween treats! Just like every year, the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce once again holds its “Safe Treats” event. This year, it’s actually on the BIG day, October 31st (3PM to 6PM). The kids will have a great time, and so will their adult handlers. There is a little something for everyone. >> SAFE TREATS INFO
😢 We’re a little sad. After 12 years, the Fresh Start Cafe has decided to close its doors. Where are folks going to get their Burekas?? They will be missed.
AND THIS ➡️ Mademoiselles Paris has a new menu (Libby’s also has one coming soon!) 🧾
OK, it’s time to wrap this October list thing up! As usual, we’ve got a rundown of some of the restaurant, food, and dining news you may have missed. We have some super-talented writers in town, and we are thrilled to show off their work.
😃 Thanks for reading. Please come again soon!
📰 IN THE NEWS
1️⃣ Miguel’s Restaurant Celebrates 40th Anniversary
2️⃣ Calusa Brewing and Chef Steve Phelps Are Teaming Up, and We’re Stoked
3️⃣ Bread Bandits Is Serving Seriously Good Sourdough at Its New Sarasota Bakery
4️⃣ At Tzeva, Inside Downtown Sarasota’s Art Ovation Hotel, Food Is Art
5️⃣ City Moves Closer to Making Street Dining Permanent
6️⃣ Bijou Garden Café Extends Prix Fixe Menu
7️⃣ 📺 Sarasota Food Bank Changing Lives
8️⃣ Mote Opens Caribbean King Crab Hatchery in an Effort to Save Florida’s Coral Reefs
9️⃣ One Brew at a Time (Darwin Santa Maria is Opening a Brewpub)
🔟 Diners in the U.S. Are Tipping Less—Here’s Why
🧑🏻🍳 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 – OKTOBERFEST
⭐ 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. ⬇️
OCT 4 – Italian Wine Dinner – Michael’s Wine Cellar
OCT 4 – Taste of France Wine Dinner – Harry’s Continental Kitchens
OCT 10 – Código Tequila Dinner – Kolucan
OCT 12 – Scotchtober: Scotch Tasting – Michael’s Wine Cellar
OCT 13 – Four Roses Roses Pairing Dinner – GROVE Restaurant
OCT 13 – Super Tuscan Wine Dinner – Hive Bar
OCT 12 TO 14 – EAT LOCAL WEEK! – Transition Sarasota
OCT 15 – Morton’s 23rd Annual Chili Cook Off – INFORMATION
OCT 15 – Yoga & Rosé For A Cause – GROVE Restaurant
OCT 17 – 2024 Forks & Corks Grand Tasting Ticket ON SALE DATE!
OCT 19 – Coppola Wine Dinner – Mattisons Forty-One
OCT 19 – Bourgogne Wine Tasting – Mademoiselle Paris
OCT 20 – Roaring Good Vines Wine Dinner – Fleming’s
OCT 21 – National Mezcal Day Tasting Event – Kolucan
NOV 2 – Celebrity Chef Dinner – Pop’s Sunset Grill
NOV 11 – Bashert – Some Things Are Meant to Be – Players Center
NOV 17 – Alsace Wine Tasting – Mademoiselle Paris
🧑🌾 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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