I’m both heartbroken and inspired by what I’m seeing from our local restaurant community a week after Hurricane Helene devastated large swaths of coastal Sarasota and Manatee counties.
The damage caused by the storm surge to local homes and businesses is terrible. However, witnessing the community come together to support one another — especially the members of the local restaurant scene, whom I’ve had the pleasure of covering for the better part of two decades — has been truly uplifting.
I had the privilege of witnessing this firsthand this past weekend while helping out in the historic commercial fishing village of Cortez — where landmark restaurants such as Swordfish Grill, overlooking north Sarasota Bay, have already reopened, and others like Tide Tables on the Intracoastal Waterway should be back serving fresh grouper any day now.
Open or closed? Sarasota and Bradenton area waterfront and island restaurants after Hurricane Helene
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Star Fish Company remains temporarily closed following significant damage, but that hasn’t stopped them from providing free pulled pork sandwiches with chips to those impacted by Hurricane Helene, as well as ice for anyone in need. This past Sunday, I saw boats arriving, likely from Anna Maria Island, to fill multiple coolers with free ice supplied by Swordfish Grill, whose owner and managers also went around the village providing aid and handing out free pizzas.
Heartwarming stories like these are unfolding across Sarasota and Manatee counties, particularly in hard-hit places such as Siesta Key, St. Armands Circle, Longboat Key, and Anna Maria Island.
Since Friday morning (Sept. 26), my colleague, Jimmy Geurts, and I have been compiling and regularly updating a list of local waterfront and island restaurants, noting whether they are open or closed. Here are snapshots of several of these places, located across our beloved Sarasota-Manatee barrier islands, which we hope to see thriving again as soon as possible.
Siesta Key restaurants are reopening
While the storm surge sent feet of water across Siesta Key and its world-famous Siesta Beach, many of the restaurants located in nearby Siesta Key Village are already reopening. On Monday, Sept. 30, I received an email from the spokesperson for Summer House Steak & Seafood, and its newly opened sister restaurant, Siesta Poke, both reopening the next day.
On Wednesday, Oct. 2, Siesta Key Oyster Bar, located in the heart of the village, announced they were open for outside seating only as they continued to rebuild the inside. “We are staying strong and positive!” the restaurant posted to social media. “So much loss and devastation, and we are here to help the community! It seriously takes a village!”
Columbia Restaurant, open since 1959 on St. Armands Circle, works to reopen
The morning after storm surge water inundated St. Armands Circle, the Tampa-based 1905 Family of Restaurants posted a message to social media noting that “Columbia Restaurant on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota and Cha Cha Coconuts next door are closed indefinitely.” Fortunately, later that same morning, their spokesperson clarified that Columbia Restaurant, a Sarasota icon open since 1959, was “closed temporarily.”
The 1905 Family of Restaurants announced on Thursday, Oct. 3: “Repair work to reopen the Columbia Restaurant on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota continues, as well as at sibling neighbor Cha Cha Coconuts, both of which are temporarily closed. Great progress is being made, but no date has yet been set for reopening.”
The social media post noted that they needed to deep-clean the entire restaurant and that extensive work is being done to replace drywall and nearly every cooking machine in the kitchen, along with new electronics being installed.
“What isn’t new,” the post continues, “The ever-present smiles of team members working hard to reopen Sarasota’s beloved restaurants.”
St. Regis Longboat Key Resort sets reopening date for hotel and restaurants
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, overlooking a private white sand beach and the Gulf of Mexico, hosted an unveiling ceremony on Aug. 16, complete with flutes of champagne, Instagrammable hors d’oeuvres, and an aerialist performance as an homage to Sarasota’s Ringling Circus heritage.
Less than two months after opening, The St. Regis joined numerous other local businesses in temporarily closing due to the effects of Hurricane Helene, which struck on Sept. 26.
The luxury hotel, with a total construction value estimated at $331.2 million and featuring multiple restaurants and a spa open to the public, has announced a reopening date. The St. Regis has also informed the Herald-Tribune that all its animals on site, including the fish in the saltwater lagoon and the tortoises, Jack and Rose, are safe.
The St. Regis Resort’s four main dining venues are the steakhouse CW Prime, the Northern Italian restaurant Riva, the poolside Latin American spot Aura, and the rooftop lounge serving Asian fusion cuisine, Oshen. There’s also The St. Regis Bar in the main lobby, the open-air Monkey Bar on the beach, and the hotel’s small café, Caroline’s. All of the restaurants and bars are open to the public, except Oshen, which is exclusive to hotel guests and resort members.
“The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort will remain closed until (Oct. 10) due to minimal impact from Hurricane Helene,” a spokesperson said to the Herald-Tribune via email. “We are actively restoring the landscaping to its original splendor and appreciate everyone’s understanding during this time. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and look forward to welcoming guests back soon.”
Anna Maria Island restaurants work to reopen
Of all the barrier islands in Sarasota and Manatee counties, it appears that Anna Maria Island — which consists of the cities Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, and the City of Anna Maria — was hit the hardest, with Bradenton Beach perhaps receiving the worst of the damage.
The Beach House, which was recently purchased by the St. Petersburg-based company Beachside Hospitality from longtime Anna Maria Island resident Ed Chiles, remains temporarily closed.
“Last night brought challenges we never hoped to face,” the Beach House posted to social media. “Our thoughts are with the families and businesses across Anna Maria Island as we all navigate this tough time together. We’ll be closed until further notice, but we truly appreciate your patience and the outpouring of support during this time. Thank you for standing by us.”
The epicenter of Bradenton Beach is Bridge Street, which includes the popular Fish Hole Miniature Golf course, the adjacent Bridge Street Bazaar gift shop, and the upstairs Daiquiri Deck, which has multiple locations in Sarasota and Manatee, including on Siesta Key, St. Armands Circle, and Anna Maria Island.
Troy Syprett, co-owner of the Daiquiri Deck restaurants, informed me earlier this week that they opened the upstairs at St. Armands on Saturday evening (Sept. 28), and on Sunday, “we had the upstairs open, and the downstairs we set up for people working on the Circle to come in, cool off, and watch football.”
Their Lido, South Siesta Key and Siesta Key Village locations are now open. “On Bradenton Beach, our Daiquiri Deck did not sustain damage, so as soon as we get power, we will be opening that location,” Syprett said via email on Oct. 2. “That may happen as soon as today or this week.”
On the north end of the island, in the City of Anna Maria, the Rod and Reel Pier restaurant appears to have sustained major structural damage to the pier itself, which dates back to 1947. Nearby, though, the Anna Maria City Pier, first built more than a century ago and recently renovated, weathered Hurricane Helene with not too much visible structural damage, according to Herald-Tribune news reports. In fact, its City Pier Grill has already reopened and is offering a nice price cut on all of its items, which include one of the area’s best burger and ice-cold beer pairings, especially when combined with a dolphin sighting.
“We are offering a 20% discount for everyone as we all work together to recover from Hurricane Helene!” The City Pier Grill posted to social media on Tuesday. “This will be available for the foreseeable future.”
Swordfish Grill in Cortez inspires with ways to help
Swordfish Grill reopened on Sunday, and managers Lily Banyas and Adam Sears offered guests a sign detailing how they can help. The list, also posted on their Facebook page, offers nine tips. These include things like offering hands-on assistance and helping navigate the complex web of insurance claims.
I had no problem offering some hands-on assistance while in Cortez, but I would be useless trying to help someone file an insurance claim. My favorite item on the Swordfish Grill’s list of ways to help? No. 4: Support Locals by Dining Out.
“Dining at local restaurants helps workers and businesses stay afloat during the recovery,” it reads. “Your meal is more than just food — it’s support for service industry workers facing challenges at home.”
I agree with that statement wholeheartedly and look forward to showing my support as often as possible. Please join me.
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].
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota area island restaurants work to reopen after hurricane damage
