:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/faw-chef-tyler-florence-attends-a-culinary-demonstration-tout-f85ee6045e5c4b2699be5991f5c5b0cd.jpg "Chef Tyler Florence’s Most-Recommended Steak Tools, From $6 at Amazon")
September found us recommending our picks for the best sports bars in Sarasota and Manatee counties, followed by suggestions for 10 favorite local restaurants and what to order there. Dishes ranged from smoked pork potato skins and stuffed hot banana peppers to a grouper sandwich and steak and eggs.
In addition, we had a bunch of exciting local restaurant openings announced in September. These include a second location for one of the best sports bars, and another should appeal to fans of poke bowls, just to name a couple. Unfortunately, we also have one of our favorite local restaurants preparing to permanently close, but not before throwing a big, free farewell party with live music later in October.
Here are the biggest restaurant openings — and closings — we reported on during September in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
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Siesta Poke opens on Siesta Key
Above the Bar Hospitality Group, which comprises several Sarasota County dining and drinking spots, recently added another business to its roster when it opened Siesta Poke at 5206 Ocean Blvd in Siesta Key Village. Above the Bar also operates other Siesta Key restaurants and bars such as Beach Club, The Hub Baja Grill, The Cottage, Summer House Steak & Seafood, and MVP — My Village Pub (which is in the same plaza as Siesta Poke), as well as Joe’s in downtown Sarasota and Mad Moe’s in Osprey.
Like many other poke bowl restaurants, Siesta Poke offers both signature or build-your-own bowls, with protein options including ahi tuna, salmon or grilled chicken; bases such as white or brown rice, quinoa, or field greens; a wide variety of toppings; and an array of housemade, international-inspired sauces such as ceviche, Mumbai and truffle sauces. Siesta Poke also offers açaí bowls, as well as healthy snacks such as protein bars. For drinks, it doesn’t plan to serve alcohol, but does plan to offer fresh smoothies, kombucha and other beverages.
More: Beach Club owners open new restaurant nearby on Siesta Key
4 new restaurants, 1 brewery opening at Sarasota Bradenton Airport
By January 2025, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport should be home to new locations of the popular area restaurants Mattison’s, Patrick’s 1481, and Anna Maria Oyster Bar, as well as Motorworks Brewery and Rise Up Cafe (formerly Rise & Nye’s), a coffee and ice cream shop.
Rick Piccolo, the longtime president and CEO of SRQ Airport, announced this development in a Herald-Tribune guest column, noting that “the airport is pleased that several local well-regarded restaurants will be part of the choices going forward.”
More: 4 new restaurants, 1 brewery will be a welcome addition to Sarasota Bradenton Airport
The Toasted Yolk Cafe opens in Bradenton
Houston-based breakfast and lunch restaurant The Toasted Yolk Cafe recently expanded its footprint locally when it opened a new location at 5502 Cortez Road W. in Bradenton. The restaurant made its debut in the Sarasota area last year with a location in the former space of Irish 31, and still plans to open a third spot in Lakewood Ranch, which co-owner Kelly Milton anticipates will open around November. Milton said the Bradenton location has a special meaning for her husband, Toasted Yolk Cafe co-founder/CEO Chris Milton, who grew up nearby on Cortez Road and 75th Street.
The restaurant’s breakfast menu features a variety of egg-centric dishes, including the namesake The Toasted Yolk — two sourdough slices grilled with an egg in the middle of each, served with a choice of breakfast meat — omelets, and their takes on eggs Benedict, dubbed Arnolds. The menu also offers pancakes, French toast, brunch bowls, and appetizers. For lunch, the restaurant provides numerous sandwiches (including burgers), salads, soups, and starters. Its drink menu features a variety of specialty cocktails, including multiple mimosa flavors, as well as beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks such as coffee or juice.
More: National brunch restaurant opening second Sarasota area location
Jaxx Wing Co. opens in downtown Bradenton
Jaxx Sports Bar & Grill in Palmetto now has a sister business — Jaxx Wing Co. — operating in downtown Bradenton at 316 Old Main St., in the spot formerly occupied by Mr. Fajitas Mexican Grill. While the Jaxx in Palmetto occupies a larger space with numerous TVs and a full-liquor bar, the new spot in downtown Bradenton still serves all their most famous food items — wings, burgers, and hand-cut fries — while offering cozy tables in a bright, clean setting. It features an intimate bar with about a dozen stools, serving beer and wine, with TVs above showing the big games.
More: One of best restaurants in Sarasota, Bradenton for wings, burgers opens new location
Birdrock Taco Shack in Bradenton’s Village of Arts is permanently closing
One of Sarasota and Bradenton’s most esteemed chefs — a man whose resume includes working at the former Poseidon fine-dining destination on Longboat Key, opening the upscale West Bradenton restaurant Ezra, and later focusing on more casual eateries in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts — has decided it’s time to permanently close one of his two restaurants and live music venues.
Chef David Shiplett, a Bradenton native who attended the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, opened Birdrock Taco Shack in 2016 at 1004 10th Ave. About five years later, he relocated it within the Village of the Arts to its current, larger space at 1213 13th Ave. W. The establishment has thrived as both a restaurant and live music venue at both locations. However, Shiplett will be serving his final taco at Birdrock Taco Shack.
The plan is for Birdrock to remain open during its current hours — noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday — through Oct. 18, when Shiplett will bid farewell. Expect plenty of gourmet tacos, nachos, beer, and free live music starting at 6:30 p.m. by reggae act Greg Roy and The Pressure Band.
Afterward, Shiplett will focus his attention on Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen, the restaurant and live music venue located nearby on the main drag of the Village of the Arts. However, fans of Birdrock’s Baja-style cuisine will still be able to get their taco fix via Shiplett’s Birdrock Mobile operation, which he plans to launch at Village of the Arts’ Artwalks starting Nov. 1-2. He will be set up outside the Bits & Pieces shop at 1303 13th Ave. W. Birdrock Mobile will also be available for special events.
More: Popular Sarasota, Bradenton restaurant, live music venue is permanently closing
Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar to open in Lakewood Ranch
After revealing last year that it would bring its Marlin Bar concept to Lakewood Ranch’s Center Point at Waterside development, island lifestyle brand Tommy Bahama announced a scheduled opening date of Friday, Oct. 4. Though it will be the first Sarasota area Marlin Bar — a casual dining and drinking concept where orders are placed at the bar, then the food and drinks are delivered by servers to the table — Tommy Bahama has a separate restaurant and retail location on St. Armands Circle.
Marlin Bar will feature a menu with dishes such as coconut shrimp, blackened mahi-mahi or filet mignon tacos, All-American Beef or “Nashville” Hot Chicken sliders, an ahi poke bowl, salads, sandwiches and piña colada cake or Key lime pie for dessert; a full bar with signature cocktails, wine, beer and zero-proof (non-alcoholic) cocktails; and a retail store with an assortment of Tommy Bahama men’s and women’s sportswear, swimwear, accessories and home décor items. Marlin Bar, at 6562 University Parkway, Suite 110, will join such other restaurants at Center Point at Waterside as Owen’s Fish Camp, Bar Italia, and Ruth’s Chris Steak House.
More: National restaurant, bar, retail store announces opening date of Sarasota area location
Pazzo Orange opening in downtown Sarasota’s Rosemary District
Michael Calore, best known as founding owner and chef of Mozzarella Fella, will be running the kitchen of Pazzo Orange, located at 481 N. Orange Ave. in downtown Sarasota’s Rosemary District, in the space where 481 Gourmet restaurant previously operated.
Pazzo Orange is owned by Frank Nocco, who was the manager of Calore’s former restaurant, Pazzo Southside. They expect Pazzo Orange, which will serve lunch and dinner on weekdays and dinner only on Saturday and Sunday, to open on Oct. 15.
The space consists of about 30 seats inside and a full-liquor bar with eight stools and TVs behind it, as well as a patio with a fireplace and room for another 30 seats. In addition, there’s a “party room,” Calore said, bringing the total to about 140 seats.
The menu features many favorites from Calore’s past restaurants — Mozzarella Fella, Pazzo Southside, and Osteria Southside, which was open for about 18 months before recently closing — including his famous sandwiches such as the fresh mozzarella, imported prosciutto with fresh mozzarella, and a classic Italian.
Calore’s regulars will also welcome the eggplant rollatini appetizer, as well as pasta entrees like braised short rib ravioli and, on Sundays, his traditional Sunday sauce with sweet and hot sausage, beef braciole, meatballs, and pork ribs that he cooks for about four hours.
More: New restaurant opening in downtown Sarasota features return of popular chef
Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at [email protected]. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 10 Sarasota area restaurants opening; 1 permanently closing
