The Siesta Key Farmers Market is in full swing each and every Sunday. You really should head on down to the Davidson’s Plaza in the heart of Siesta Village for a cup of coffee, socializing or just to pick out some fresh fruits and veggies for the week.

Looks great, right?

Now things are moving at a pretty good clip. All the way up to #8. It’s out to beautiful Siesta Key for our third and so far highest ranked Italian restaurant on the Best Of 2010 list.

#8 Cafe Gabbiano

Located right on busy Ocean Boulevard, Cafe Gabbiano has been serving homemade Italian specialties since 2003. A large amount of covered outdoor seating allows you to enjoy a great meal and a great Florida evening.

They offer one of Siesta Key’s largest and most diverse wine lists. So, you can always find that perfect accompaniment to your meal.

Cafe Gabbiano
5104 Ocean Boulevard
Sarasota, FL 34242
941-349-1423

Previous Best of 2010 Restaurants
#20 - Oh Mamma Mia!
#19 - Broccolini’s Restaurant & Catering
#18 - Sangria Tapas Bar
#17 - Blu Smoke Island Grill
#16 - Kumo Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar
#15 - Pegasus Greek Restaurant
#14 - Braza Brazilian Steakhouse
#13 - Voocaray
#12 - Shakespeare’s English Pub
#11 - Wild Hog Barbecue
#10 - Sand Dollar Rooftop Restaurant
#9 –   First Street Chop House

Out to Siesta Key we go. OK, when you think Siesta Key the first thing that comes to mind isn’t necessarily barbecue. I’m I right? Well, that may be changing. There’s a fantastic BBQ place right in the heart of Siesta Village.

#17 – Blu Smoke Island Grill

Tired of seafood? Sometimes we all feel like we’re growing gills with the abundance of great fresh seafood available here year round. Want to change it up a little? Blu Smoke Island Grill has an amazing menu of barbecue favorites. Ribs, check. Brisket, got it. Smoked chicken, yes. And, of course Pulled Pork.

A menu full of traditional BBQ, steaks, seafood and lots more. Daily specials and great drinks round out the Blu Smoke experience. If you’re out on the key, you really should give it a try.

Blu Smoke Island Grill
149 Avenida Messina
Sarasota, Florida 34342
941-346-0738

Previous Best of 2011 Restaurants
#20 – Oh Mamma Mia!
#19 – Broccolini’s Restaurant & Catering
#18 - Sangria Tapas Bar

Usually I reserve this space for some kind of snappy, somewhat food related banter. Not so today. Today’s edition of the dSDISH is going to be a little different and something I’m thinking about doing from time to time. It’s not quite a photo essay, but, it’s not a food/restaurant review either. I think it’s maybe more like a photo show and tell.

So, if you’re ready let’s get started.

I was at the Siesta Key Oyster Bar (SKOB) recently and noticed that they had a few new items on their menu. I asked their Chef, Geoff Carroll, if I could take a few shots to show all of you. Not surprisingly, he agreed. Here’s a look at a few of the new offerings at one of Siesta Key’s hot spots.

OK, if you own a place that has “Oyster” in the name you’ve got to have some great ones, and SKOB does. Above is their Oysters Rockefeller. As you can see they are loaded! Of course, you can still pick up a dozen on the half shell or steamed. They also have rolled out an oyster menu with about a half dozen new oyster variations.

Soft shell crab. It’s not quite as popular as some other types, namely snow and king, but, just as tasty. There was a time when you could only get this delicate tasting crustacean at certain times of the year. Not anymore. Lucky for us advances in aquaculture have made these crabs available practically year round.

SKOB’s version is lightly battered and fried. It’s then topped with a great Chipotle Aioli. As you can see the crab is sharing the plate with a nice assortment of mixed veggies. If you’ve never tried a soft shell crab, this is your big opportunity.

There’s something a little different coming out of the SKOB kitchen. Every Saturday and Sunday the Siesta Key Oyster Bar is serving brunch. They have all of the traditional things you might expect from a brunch menu. But, they’ve also thrown in a few surprises. One is the Crab Cake Benedict. A perfectly cooked crab cake, topped with a poached egg and finished with key lime hollandaise sauce. Some lightly grilled asparagus spears round out this nice brunch plate. It’s a great variation on the theme and makes for a satisfying entrée.

Looks like SKOB’s kitchen has really got it going! Now you can think of them for more than just great wings, live music and a laid back island atmosphere. There’s new food, dig in!

Siesta Key Oyster Bar
5238 Ocean Boulevard
Sarasota, FL 34242
941-346-5443

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.

The new year always brings us some great new Sarasota dining options. And, this year is no exception.

Every Saturday and Sunday, from 9am to Noon, the Siesta Key Oyster Bar (SKOB). Will be offering local diners a fantastic breakfast menu. This special collection of items is sure to get your weekend off on the right foot.

The offerings include some new twists on classic breakfast dishes. How about starting your day with a delicious Crab Cake Benedict topped with a tangy Key Lime Hollandaise sauce like the one above? Of course the menu boasts some traditional items too.

Let’s see, how can the Wake Up Call Breakfast be even better? How about two complimentary mimosa’s, Bloody Mary’s or screwdrivers? That’s better!

Here’s a look at the complete SKOB Wake Up Call Breakfast menu.

Click on the image below to view the full menu.

Siesta Key Oyster Bar
5238 Ocean Blvd.
Sarasota, FL 34242
941-346-5443

Let’s say you’re walking around Siesta Village and you’re dying for a great breakfast or lunch. What to do? I’ve got a great idea for you. How about the Village Cafe. They have a fantastic breakfast and lunch menu and great service to match. Lots of locals (and visitors) make this a regular stop.

Click the menu image below for the full menu.

Wondering what your Village Cafe breakfast or lunch might look like? Well, here are a few things to get your taste buds ready.

Village Cafe
5133 Ocean Blvd.
Sarasota, FL 34242
941-349-2822

Every year my family and 20 or so friends get together to cook a real New England clam bake. This is the kind that you cook right in the sand. It’s a great time but involves some real work. I’m talking about digging a pit, hauling rocks, building a fire and prepping all of the great food that will be cooked. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could have that delicious end result without all the hard work? Well now lucky Sarasota diners can do just that.

Here’s the deal. The Lobster Pot on Siesta Key offers their version of a New England clam bake right in their restaurant. For $26.99 you get, a Maine lobster, steamer clams, mussels, red potatoes and corn on the cob. Talk about a feast! And, no work involved for you. Oh, I guess you’ll have to tackle that platter of awesome food, but that’s hardly real work. The staff at The Lobster Pot has done all the tough stuff for you.

So, if you’re in the mood for some authentic New England style seafood cooking and don’t want to go to all of the hassle that doing your own clam bake entails, The Lobster Pot is the place for you. Give it a try and let us know what you think. Oh, don’t forget the bib!

The much anticipated Siesta Key Farmers Market has officially opened its doors. This past Sunday the Davidson’s Plaza parking lot in Siesta Village was alive with the sounds, sights and smells of what will hopefully be the start of a new tradition. It was a great opening day.

The market features a wide variety of vendors. There is a nice assortment of local Siesta Key restaurants including The Village Café, Broken Egg, Sun Garden Café and The Café Patisserie all selling some delicious prepared food. There are organic fruit and vegetable vendors and a few selling non-food related items like candles and soaps. You can get a mini massage and listen to some music too.

If you want to take home some fresh local seafood, the folks at Walt’s Fish Market are there to help. Looking for authentic Wisconsin cheese curds, and who isn’t? Greenleaf Wisconsin Cheese is offering a wide variety available to take home for some Sunday snacking.

There were a few little bumps in the road, but all in all a fantastic first day. If you didn’t have the chance to make it out to Siesta Key this Sunday, don’t worry. The market is open every Sunday rain or shine from 7am to noon. Put it on your “To Do” list for next weekend, you’ll be happy you did.