dineSarasota Pot Luck » restaurants

The LIST – December 2010 (#73)

admin — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 20:19:41 +0000

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!

Ragin’ Cajun

Larry — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:14:17 +0000

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

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

Munchies 420 Cafe Hits The Top Of The LIST

Larry — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:00:55 +0000

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

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

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Sarasota Area Restaurants Closing, But, Does Anyone Care?

Larry — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:14:01 +0000

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)

Our 2010 Dining Guide Hits The Streets!

Larry — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:58:08 +0000

It’s arrived! Our 2010 Little Sarasota DINING Book is now available around town.

This year we are celebrating our 5th year in print! It doesn’t even seem possible that this is our 5th annual edition, but it is. Time sure does fly.

Just like in previous years, the 2010 guide is filled with up to date information on 200 of Sarasota’s best restaurants. There have been a lot of new additions to this years book, so, even if you have a 2009 edition you’ll want to pick up a new one.

Every year we include recipes from a number of Sarasota restaurants. This year is no exception. We’re happy to be bringing you dishes from. the Siesta Key Oyster Bar, MacAllisters, Mattison’s, Hemingway’s Retreat, Javier’s, The Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar, The Village Cafe and The Broken Egg. They’re not a substitute for enjoying a nice meal out at the restaurant, but, now you can have a crack at making these delicious recipes in your own home.

You can pick up a free copy of the 2010 Little Sarasota DINING Book at restaurants around Sarasota. The Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce always has a supply. If you’re not currently in town, you can purchase a guide online by clicking here.

Blu Smoke, Urban Reef and Sangria Make THE LIST

Larry — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:15:57 +0000

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:

Cafe Gabbiano
Munchies 420 Cafe
Solorzano’s
Sand Dollar Restaurant
The Old Salty Dog
Yoder’s
Wild Hog BBQ
Pei Wei Asian Diner
First St. Chop House
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.

Update: Sarasota Restaurants Flock to Twitter

Larry — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:30:30 +0000

Back in June we ran a piece about Sarasota restaurants that are using Twitter to help spread the word about their businesses. That post has turned out to be one of the most popular pieces on Pot Luck.

At that time 18 area restaurants were using the service. Each eatery is using Twitter in a little different way. Tweeting specials, live entertainment schedules and events seems to be the most popular topics.

Here are the latest 11 to join our Sarasota Twitter universe. We always have an up to date list of our local restaurant Tweeters in our right sidebar.

Remember to check back frequently to see if we have new additions to the list. Following a Sarasota restaurant on Twitter is a great way to keep on top of what’s happening in our local dining scene. Oh, don’t forget, you can follow dineSarasota by clicking here.

Some Local Favorites Close Their Doors

Larry — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:44:34 +0000

As has been widely reported, Sarasota has lost some great restaurants in the past several weeks. The closings of Canvas Cafe, 5 One 6 Burns, Sierra Station and Sangria will be felt by everyone who lives and visits Sarasota. Each of those places had their niche in our dining scene. Each also had with a loyal band of followers. They will be missed.

Here are some links to the news accounts.

Creative Loafing

The Observer

On a brighter note, Station 400 hopes to open their doors in the old Sierra Station space sometime in August. We don’t have all the details yet, but, we’ll bring them to you as soon as we do. Also in August, Alex Amaro from Sangria is opening his new venture, a club called Ivory. They will be occupying the old Grape on Main Street.

dineSarasota Menu Monday: Deli Lane

Larry — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:30:24 +0000

Our Menu Monday feature this week takes us over to the Southgate neighborhood. Deli Lane, located on Siesta Drive just across from the Westfield Southgate Mall, features a menu that has great breakfast and lunch fare. Along with traditional favorites, your sure to find some new and delicious dishes to satisfy your taste buds.

Click on the menu to see the full size, printable version.

If you would like to suggest a restaurant for Menu Monday, drop us a line.

Deli Lane
2157 Siesta Drive
Sarasota, FL 34239
941-366-5554

Follow Lots of Sarasota Restaurants on Twitter

Larry — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:46:12 +0000

Seems like everywhere you look people are talking about or using Twitter. Our Sarasota restaurant community is no exception. Many of our local restaurants have started using the popular social networking tool as a way to promote their business. And, judging by the number of followers some places are picking up, it seems to be working. Getting started on Twitter can be tough. It takes some patience, persistence and time. Time is mostly what local restaurant operators don’t have, so I thought I would give them a helping hand by letting people know they are out there on Twitter.

Below is a list of some Sarasota Restaurants that are currently using Twitter. If you are using the service or thinking about getting started the list below can help you follow some people right away. One of the things that can be challenging about Twitter as a user, is finding people to follow that meet your interests. Like Sarasota Restaurants. We’ve done the work for you. Just click on the link and then click the follow button on the restaurant Twitter page. You’re all set. Soon you’ll be getting all kinds of great tidbits from our local dining scene.

If we’re missing a restaurant, please email us or add a comment to this post. We’ll be more than happy to add them. We will be keeping a running permanent list of Sarasota restaurant Twitter pages right here on our side bar. So, check back often to see if there’s someone else to follow.