We’ve had bunches of new places open up over the past six months or so. These new Sarasota restaurants have been making a big showing on The LIST.

Even with all of these new places to dine around town, some old Sarasota favorites make this months rundown of the most searched for restaurants on dineSarasota.com. The December list showcases some of Sarasota’s best restaurants.

Here’s the rest of the ten for the month of June 2010

6 – Wild Hog BBQ
7 – The Old Salty Dog
8 – 62 Bistrot
9 – Moroccan Restaurant
10- Cafe Gabbiano

If you’re wanting more, here’s a link to December’s complete list.

COMING NEXT: Our BIG 2010 Year End List. Watch for it!

Our list of the most popular restaurants on dineSarasota.com is out for September 2010. It seems like Sarasota has developed a taste for New Orleans fare. Two of our creole/Cajun inspired restaurants have made this months list. And one of them, the newly opened Voocaray, comes in at number 3. A huge surge towards the top.

Here’s a look at what Sarasota locals and visitors are checking out on dineSarasota.com

The top ten for September 2010

1. Munchies 420 Cafe
2. The Old Salty Dog
3. Voocaray
4. Yoder’s
5. Owen’s Fish Camp
6. Morocco Restaurant
7. Solorzano’s
8. 62 Bistrot
9. First Street Chop House
10. Sand Dollar Rooftop Restaurant

If you’re wanting more, here’s a link to September’s complete list.

We’ve had bunches of new places open up over the past six months or so. These new Sarasota restaurants have been making a big showing on The LIST.

Even with all of these new places to dine around town, some old Sarasota favorites make this months rundown of the most searched for restaurants on dineSarasota.com. June 2010 is a fantastic mix of the old and the new.

Here’s the top ten for the month of June 2010

1. Munchies 420 Cafe
2. Owen’s Fish Camp
3. The Old Salty Dog
4. Yoder’s
5. Trader Vic’ Island Grill
6. Morocco Restaurant
7. Cafe Gabbiano
8. Solorzano’s
9. Wild Hob BBQ
10. Shakespeare’s Pub

If you’re wanting more, here’s a link to June’s complete list.

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I had hopes that this summer season would be different than summer seasons just past. Then the emails came.

The first showed up on May 26th in the form of a post from Creative Loafing Food Writer, Brian Ries. Two downtown Sarasota restaurants were shutting their doors.

The newly opened Urban Reef and the newly re-branded Main Street Oyster Bar (formerly Zoria). I guess they just didn’t catch on.

The next notice arrived on May 27th, this one more surprising than the first. The two story, St Armands eatery Cork, was calling it quits too. That one will leave a big hole on the circle.

What’s going on in our local Sarasota restaurant community?

Way back when (in the summer of 2008), there was a pretty big wave of restaurant closings. But, since the initial burst it seemed like things were leveling off a bit. Back in 2008, everyone was jumping on the “we have to save our local restaurants” band wagon. What about now? Does anybody really care or have we become so used to the headlines in the local press that we don’t really see them anymore?

One of the things that comes into play, at least in my mind, are the choices. Yes, choices. We have tons. By some counts there are more than 300 locally owned and operated restaurant in the Sarasota area. That’s a lot of choices. Especially, when you consider that these numbers do not include one single Olive Garden, Chili’s or Applebee’s. And, as hard as it may seem for some people to believe, an occasional Steakburger or Grand Slam Breakfast is eaten by more than a few of us. So the real number of Sarasota restaurants in much higher than 300.

When you have 300 plus places to dine the loss of a few seems inconsequential (unless it’s your favorite place). It’s just a part of the natural selection process, right? The strong survive and the weak get weeded out from a crowded field. Shouldn’t be a bad thing and in theory it should make the rest of the dining community that much stronger. Then why does it feel so bad when a place you’ve know for years shuts down?

Maybe we feel a little guilty that we didn’t do more to support our favorites while we had the chance. It’s like a death in the family. “Gee, I only wish I would have told Uncle Frank how much I loved his accordion playing”, then BAM, it’s too late. No more favorite sandwich, say goodbye to that salad I used to order and so long prix fixe pricing. You should have said it while they were alive.

But, wait, there’s still hope. We have tons of great restaurants still left that are ready, willing and able to roll out the red carpet for you. And, to make your life just a little easier here a list of some new ones that have opened that you can show a little love.

Oh, Mamma Mia!
Blu Smoke Island Grill
Pineapple Avenue Panini Press
Andrea’s
First Street Chop House
The Box Social
Two Chef’s Casual Dining
Trader Vic’s
The Breakfast House
Michelle’s Brown Bag Cafe

And on…

The Sarasota-Manatee Originals have been promoting our locally owned and operated restaurants for years. Here’s a link to their website for some more great dining ideas.

So, let’s not wait around for the next restaurant to fall. Let’s support the ones that are here now and ready to serve you. Remember Uncle Frank. Don’t starting whining after the accordion playing stops.

(OK, I’m putting my soapbox away now)

UPDATE:
There are 4 spots left for Saturday’s big Sarasota Chili Cook-off. If you think you have what it takes to compete with the best chili cooks in the region, then this is your opportunity. Click here for all of the signup info.

Do you think you’ve got what it takes it put out the best “bowl of red” in all of Sarasota? Do your friends and family constantly pump up your culinary ego by telling you “Dude, you should really enter this stuff in a contest”? Well, you’re in luck!

On Saturday, April 10th the Sarasota Fairgrounds will play host to the Sarasota Chili Cook Off. This is no ordinary competition, this is the first chili cook off in Sarasota to be officially sanctioned by the International Chili Society (ICS).

Our best local chili masters will be competing with contestants from all over Florida for over $2000 in prize money and big time bragging rights. The first place winner of the event will be eligible to compete at the 2010 International Chili Society World Championships.

What, you say you’re not a chili cook, but would still like to check out the action. There will be plenty to do that afternoon when your not sampling. There will be music, kid’s activities and corn toss. Everyone in attendance can vote for the People’s Choice Chili.

Admission for the cook off is $10 for adults (children under 13 are free). All proceeds from the day will benefit the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, Inc’s Student Emergency Fund.

There is still time to register if you would like to put your recipe up against the best in the area. The cost to register a non-ICS chili team is $90 which includes entry for a team of up to four people. For more registration information you can click here.

UPDATE: A name has finally been chosen for the newest Siesta Key destination: The Cottage. The official address is, 153 Avenida Messina.

This past weekend Siesta Village was crowded with vacation families, locals enjoying one of the first warm days in months and college Spring Breakers. Something else happened in the village this weekend that was a little more under the radar. The very soft, soft opening of what I’ve been calling the “No Name” Oyster Bar.

Wedged in between The Hub Baja Grill and Blu Smoke Island Grill is a new addition to the local Siesta dining and drinking scene. The building was most recently the rental office for the Tropical Breeze Resort. It was just transformed into a great casual place to meet for a drink.

Ultimately, it will be more bar than restaurant. When it’s fully up and running, they plan on serving a limited raw bar menu. That should include fresh oysters and clams as well as some steamed items. The details on their menu will be coming soon.

In the meantime, you can stop by for an ice cold beer and check out Siesta Village’s newest place to soak up some island lifestyle. The “No Name” Oyster Bar (I’m calling it that until something better comes along), should be a hit with locals and visitors alike. Oh, if you would like to suggest a “real” name, leave a comment here or drop us an email.

What’s six feet long, four feet wide, three feet tall and contains 6,000 delicious pieces? The answer is a gingerbread mansion that you have to see to believe.

The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota Pastry Team headed by Pastry Artist Mae Cavazos have constructed an edible masterpiece. A replica of one of Sarasota’s most famous and recognized historic sites, John and Mable Ringling’s Ca d’Zan mansion.

Just in time for holiday viewing this amazing reproduction is a sight to behold. The structure contains more than 200 golden sunflowers, 75 sea dragons and shell plaquettes, 60 starflowers, 130 scroll and leaf panels and 50 minute flower panels.

The detail is unbelievable. Every little element seems like it has been accounted for. “I feel like I’ve assembled a giant 6,000-piece, 3-D puzzle,” said Cavazos, “I can only imagine how the real architects must have felt back in 1924 trying to piece together all the glorious details and Venetian-Gothic architecture that make this mansion so magnificent.”

The made to scale gingerbread likeness is on display through the holidays at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. The hotel is decked out in all of it’s holiday splendor and the Ca d’Zan is the icing on the cake, so to speak.

The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive
Sarasota, Florida 34236

Lots of changes in our monthly tabulation of Sarasota’s most searched for restaurants. There are five new entries, a swap at the top and some big downtown representation.

Four brand new places and one old Sarasota favorite make THE LIST this month. The re-opened Sangria Tapas Bar starts it’s climb back up the charts at number 15. While the First Street Chop House, Braza, Blu Smoke and Urban Reef make their dineSarasota LIST debut.

A change at the top in December as Cafe Gabbiano re-takes the number one spot dropping last months favorite Munchies 420 Cafe down to number two.

Downtown Sarasota was well represented in this months tally with seven restaurants making the cut. That makes for a great opportunity to get a little holiday shopping done and have a nice downtown meal all in one trip!

Here’s this month’s top ten:

1. Cafe Gabbiano
2. Munchies 420 Cafe
3. Solorzano’s
4. Sand Dollar Restaurant
5. The Old Salty Dog
6. Yoder’s
7. Wild Hog BBQ
8. Pei Wei Asian Diner
9. First St. Chop House
10. Braza Brazilian Steakhouse

You can click the links below for the full online or printable version of this months list.

THE LIST Online Version

THE LIST Printable Version

If you visit any of the restaurants that made this months list, be sure and leave a comment or post a review on dineSarasota.com so others can benefit from your dining experiences.

Just in case your wondering where you can get that mouth watering Penne alla Puttanesca shown above, it’s from Oh Mamma Mia! which has newly opened in Gulf Gate. You can see more delicious images from the restaurant by clicking here.

Who has the best sushi, best hamburger or best pizza in town? You’re about to find out.

Sarasota weekly, Creative Loafing is out with their Best Of The Suncoast issue and we have a list of the winners from the all important Food & Drink category. This years winners run the gamut from new places to old standards. They represent the latest Sarasota hot spots and a few local secrets.

Have a look at some of the highlights:

BEST NEW RESTAURANT
MoZaic

BEST CHEF
Rick Monroe, Sun Garden Café

BEST SUSHI
Yume Sushi

BEST LUNCH
Simon’s Coffee House

BEST DESSERT
Yoder’s Restaurant

BEST LOUNGE
Ivory Lounge

Creative Loafing will be hosting a Best of the Suncoast awards party Friday, October 23rd at the Rustic Grill. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. The event is scheduled from 8pm to 1am and is sure to be a fantastic time. It’s your chance to run elbows with some of the best of Sarasota’s culinary scene.

For a full list of the 2009 Best of the Suncoast, Food & Drink awards winner CLICK HERE.

If Asian style cuisine is your thing, then circle Monday September 28th on your calendar. That’s the day that Sarasota gets their first taste of the new Pei Wei Asian Diner that is set to open in University Park.

For years there had been rumors swirling around the Sarasota dining scene that the legendary P.F. Chang China Bistro chain would open a restaurant here. Well, as it turns out that was sort of right. Pei Wei is owned and operated by P.F. Chang and like their parent company they also serve fantastic food.

They will be offering their customary high quality Asian cuisine in a comfortable, quick and casual dine-in or take-out environment. Their menu pulls from five Asian countries: China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

“We are excited to offer Sarasota a taste of our contemporary Asian-inspired cuisine,” said Jesse Mehaffie, local operating partner for Pei Wei Asian Diner.  “We look forward to serving local residents and being part of their great community.”

Operating hours will be: Sunday through Thursday from 11am to 9pm. Friday through Sunday 11am to 10pm.

They currently are running a Ramen Recipe Face Off. You can participate by visiting the Pei Wei Facebook fan page. That sounds like a delicious contest worth entering.

Pei Wei is going to make a great addition to our already vibrant Sarasota restaurant and dining scene. Why don’t you head on over for lunch or dinner then let us know what you think.

Pei Wei Asian Diner
8511 Cooper Creek
University Park, FL 34201
941-359-8570