10 essential new Sarasota restaurants that live up to the hype

Wade Tatangelo Sarasota Herald-Tribune | USA TODAY NETWORK

We launched our essential Sarasota restaurants series last week with my picks for 10 best everyday dining destinations — satisfying spots that won’t wreck your budget. ● Now, let’s turn our attention to the buzzy newcomers. ● This list features 10 of the best new restaurants in Sarasota — and a couple worth the drive to Manatee County — from small independent gems to big-deal openings, including one backed by a celebrity chef and another by a national hospitality group with strong local ties. Some have been quietly excelling since debuting in late 2024, while others are fresh on the scene — but already making noise for all the right reasons.

They’re not necessarily cheap, but they’re absolutely worth it — whether you’re craving next-level Latin flavors, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, masterful barbecue, or one of the most amazing roast beef po’ boys found this side of Lake Pontchartrain. If you’re hungry for what’s new and notable, this is your summer cheat sheet.

Comida

Details: 1534 State St., Sarasota; 941-324-5985; comidasrq.com Downtown Sarasota recently received a muchneeded injection of brilliant Latin American flavors courtesy of Comida. Offering an intimate, open-air dining room and bar with additional sidewalk seating,

Comida has transformed the former A Sprig of Thyme spot on State Street into a fun setting where a panoply of traditional Pan-Latin dishes are given innovative twists.

From vibrant guacamole and tostadas made on fresh corn tortillas, to a grass-fed New York strip from Fort Mc-Coy Ranch seasoned with an ancho and chile lime rub and brightened by chimichurri and green onion, and a succulent seared scallop dish accented by roasted corn and radish pico de gallo, Comida should definitely be on your short list of new places to discover.

And if you’ve got a sweet tooth, don’t miss the churro doughnut holes — cinnamon-

Details: 1551 Main St., Sarasota; 941330-9200; trattoriabellanapoli.com Owned by ebullient Chef Cesare Di Iorio, formerly of Osteria 500, and his wife Diana Mattera, who warmly welcomes guests at the door, Bella Napoli on Main Street in downtown Sarasota blends Neapolitan tradition with cozy charm. The trattoria features an open kitchen, sidewalk seating, and a menu stacked with traditional comfort classics from their native Italy.

Standout dishes include the zuppa di fagioli, savory meatballs, and the crocchettone — a giant golden potato croquette topped with ham and melted cheese. Another must-try starter is the insalata caprese with straccetti pizza: cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil served on crispy fried pizza dough.

The pollo alla cacciatora, with bonein thighs simmered in rustic broth, is pure comfort. And no visit is complete without the chef’s wood-fired margherita made with imported 00 flour, fresh mozzarella, and basil — or any of Di Iorio’s acclaimed pizzas, including the capricciosa I adore, that truly live up to the hype.

Details: 1812 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota; 941-444-0155; lucky8srq.com Chef and co-owner Mark Majorie’s Lucky 8 — which opened late last year as a gourmand’s love letter to the Cajun comfort food of his native New Orleans — just keeps getting better. Located in Sarasota’s Southside Village near Veronica Fish & Oyster, the restaurant Majorie formerly helmed, Lucky 8 recently introduced cornmeal-fried Gulf oysters served in a pool of celery root remoulade, laced with sweet Italian Jimmy Nardello peppers and finished with paper- thin shavings of Grana Padano.

Also new: the chef’s bold twist on the classic Louisiana dish cochon de lait (“suckling pig”). Reimagined with Asian flavors, it features nuoc cham, cashewsesame crunch, Thai basil, and coriander, arriving as a vibrant, herb-packed salad stacked high atop crisp-edged, golden pork — sweet, spicy, crunchy, and fresh in every bite.

Of course, you can’t visit Lucky 8 without noshing on one of the chef’s classics, such as the smash burger and fries combo that rivals any in town, the Central Grocery-worthy muffuletta, or the roast beef po’ boy — a thing of beauty and flavor.

It features tender, deeply savory braised beef piled onto pillowy Gambino’s French bread and dressed the Crescent City way with mayo, shredded lettuce, tomato, and pickle. It’s one of the juiciest, most dynamic roast beef sandwiches I’ve ever had, with the kind of meaty richness that drips down your hand — in the best possible way.

Details: 4571 Clark Road, Sarasota; 941-413-3500 Smoke & Fire BBQ may only be open Friday through Sunday, but it’s already delivering some of the most satisfying barbecue in Sarasota. The brisket — served Saturdays and Sundays only — is totally legit in a town largely bereft of such a thing: juicy, tender, with a deep smoke ring and smartly seasoned bark. But don’t overlook the spare ribs I keep thinking about, the pulled pork, or the chicken — especially the pulled chicken sandwich with its addictive “special sauce,” a sweet and tangy house blend that riffs on Chick-fil-A’s.

All the sides are made from scratch and shine in their own right, especially the 12-hour bourbon baked beans (made with real Four Roses), collard greens, and creamy potato salad. Friday specials rotate and have included tomahawk ribeye, dino beef ribs, beef cheeks, pork chops, and a houseground brisket burger I can’t wait to try. Finish with the bread pudding drenched in whiskey sauce — or grab a $1.50 chocolate cookie that absolutely bangs.

Details: 428 N. Lemon Ave., Sarasota; 941-954-8688; leftysoysterseafood-.com After a rather inconsistent start, Lefty’s seems to have hit its groove, serving up fresh, well-executed seafood dishes in a lovely, laid-back setting. Yes, Lefty’s opened to much fanfare in January thanks to its high-profile local ownership group, Watershed Hospitality Concepts — whose popular dining and drinking destinations include the near-

by Cask & Ale and Pie on Main (both on Main Street), as well as Pi Pizza 3.14 and Blasé Martini Bar in Siesta Key Village.

Lefty’s also created a buzz with its alluring, nautical-meets-tropical buildout — featuring covered outdoor seating, along with an indoor dining area and a long, inviting bar — in the former Mandeville Beer Garden space in the Rosemary District on Lemon Avenue, just a five-minute walk from Main Street.

Lefty’s lives up to its oyster bar name with a chalkboard of raw selections from various waters around the country, and offers a dish I keep returning to called the Pearls & Parm — oysters baked with Parmesan breadcrumbs, garlic butter, bacon, and a judicious cayenne kick. The fried grouper bites have also been consistently on point, especially with Lefty’s above-average tartar sauce. The scallops — pan-seared with white wine, lemon, and shallots — have been reliably good, aside from one visit when they tasted like they were plucked from the Great Salt Lake and reminded me that, yes, there is such a thing as too salty, something I didn’t think my palate believed in.

On a brighter note, the fresh catch selections at Lefty’s have been routinely impressive, including my most recent visit earlier this month, when I enjoyed a perfectly seared filet of red snapper that put me firmly back on Team Lefty’s.

Details: 501 Quay Commons, Sarasota; 941-404-1024; ocean-prime.com By far the biggest local restaurant arrival of the past 12 months, the nationally acclaimed Ocean Prime — part of Ohio-based Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (Mitchell also has a home on Siesta Key) — brought its sleek, two-story seafood and steak destination to Sarasota’s new Quay waterfront district in late December. While the view — a channel connecting the Quay to The Ritz-Carlton and The Hyatt — isn’t the most jaw-dropping among waterfront restaurants in town, Ocean Prime’s food outshines many beloved local spots that boast better scenery.

During my visits to the upstairs bar, everything hit the mark — from the perfectly salted, medium-rare filet mignon to the spicy tuna roll, scallops with braised short rib, jalapeño au gratin, and smoked goat cheese tater tots. The cocktails deliver, too, especially the Prime Manhattan, which boldly reimagines the classic and finishes with one — or more, if you ask nicely — of those boozy Italian black cherries. And don’t say I didn’t warn you: the complimentary truffle popcorn is seriously addictive.

Details: 1920 Hillview St., Sarasota; 941-444-7692; adelinesrq.com Southside Village restaurant Meliora — the biggest local restaurant opening of 2022 — rebranded as Adeline late last year for dinner service, while also launching a daytime lunch and sandwich concept called Little A, operating out of the same location at 1920 Hillview St. Although Little A has since shuttered (I was told it was simply too much work for the staff), Meliora co-founding chef and co-owner Drew Adams continues to helm Adeline. His brilliant New American cuisine, praised by yours truly, the Tampa Bay Times, and even the New York Times, makes Adeline an essential Sarasota dining destination. The restaurant remains open for dinner at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with an ever-changing menu that rewards repeat visits.

Chef Drew’s greatest hits — dishes you won’t soon forget — include the raw scallop with cream and basil, best enjoyed with his impossibly fluffy Japanese milk bread slathered in cultured butter. Other favorites include the spicy cold noodle with scallion, Szechuan peppercorn, and dark soy; and the ridiculously light and delicious gnocchi with Parmesan cream and brown butter. Considering dessert? Save room for the Ritz Cracker Ice Cream with apple and Cabot Clothbound Cheddar — it’s even better than it sounds.

Fun fact: Edward Zaki — co-owner of 1592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails in downtown Sarasota — is also a partner at Adeline and its Southside Village neighbor Lucky 8. What can I say? The man has great taste — and I’m a big fan of all three.

52 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota; 941-2103830; wafflemonkey.net Fast-casual restaurants don’t usually stop me in my tracks — especially a breakfast-and-lunch chain with a silly name on Palm Avenue, better known for fine dining and art galleries. But after a couple of visits to Waffle Monkey, I’m rethinking everything.

Opened in June by London-born Pete Collins and his wife, Kathryn, their Sarasota cafe serves chicken and waffles so good, you’ll happily abandon calorie counting for the day. The chicken is marinated in-house for 24 hours, the waffles are Belgian-style beauties, and the sriracha maple syrup? Dangerously good. The menu also features sweet waffle creations, breakfast and lunch sandwiches (get the fried chicken with mayo and pickles), and sausage rolls I highly recommend dunking in that syr-

up.

Oh, and the coffee — single-origin Costa Rican — is another reason to visit this growing chain, which started about nine years ago when a small beachside cafe in Costa Rica needed a name to stand out. Surrounded by monkeys, the owners went with Waffle Monkey — and a delicious idea was born.

Details: 5239 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton; 941-289-1299; enrichbistro.com After closing in 2020, Bradenton gem enRich Bistro reemerged nearby in the Friendly City in May 2024 — bigger and better than ever. Chef and owner Rich Knowles revived favorites such as the calamari salad with wasabi vinaigrette and buttermilk fried chicken with honey truffle butter, while also introducing exceptional new dishes. Personal favorites include the prime pork ribeye with a chipotle cherry cider glaze and the New York strip, dry-aged in-house for 28 days to develop its remarkable umami flavor.

Yes, enRich has reclaimed its place as a premier dining and drinking destination worth the drive to Bradenton, making it an ideal spot for a date night or daytime date, with a full bar offering expert craft cocktails during dinner or lunch.

Oh, and don’t sleep on their happy hour deals. Available at the bar area only and offered Monday through Saturday from 2:30 to 6 p.m. and then 9 to close, they include great options such as Nashville hot chicken sliders for $4.50 and a deftly mixed Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned for $10 — the kind of deals that might make a Sarasotan consider trading zip codes for a little more square footage in Bradenton.

Details: 1301 Sixth Ave. W., Bradenton; 941-357-7772; tavernatoscana.com Downtown Bradenton’s most dazzling new restaurant of 2024, Taverna Toscana is a project from celebrity chef and restaurateur Fabio Viviani — and another prime reason to head north for a special night out in the Friendly City. The chic space serves classic Italian fare and also doubles as a legit steakhouse. While the white-tablecloth dining room sets a classy tone, I prefer grabbing a seat at the handsome bar — either inside or on the large covered patio — and sipping a glass of wine or perhaps a crafty cocktail.

Start with the Pecorino Parker Rolls and be sure to drag each morsel through the salted honey butter. Don’t skip apps like the smoked Moroccan chili wings or the grilled octopus — as pretty on the plate as it is pleasing on the palate. For entrées, the wagyu short rib Bolognese is an elevated take on a pasta classic, but the 10-ounce filet mignon — made with 28-day wet-aged Linz Heritage Black Angus — is among the best I’ve had in Sarasota-Manatee. Like Ocean Prime with their filet, Taverna hits that delicate ledge where just enough salt flirts with too much — and nails it.

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 Facebook, Instagram, and X. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.