And, onward we go. Last week we revealed ninety of the 100 top Sarasota restaurants on dineSarasota.com for 2011. Now it’s time to get to the next five. I feel a little like Casey Kasem here, no long distance dedications please…

Yume Sushi has been serving some of Sarasota’s best sushi for years now. What was once a newcomer to the downtown dining scene, is now a mainstay. Yume has some incredibly creative dishes that their expert sushi chefs prepare using only the freshest ingredients. One trip to the Main Street hotspot and you’ll be a regular.

9 – Café Gabbiano

Located on Siesta Key, Café Gabbiano offers a unique and charming place to have a romantic Italian dinner. Gabbiano’s also sport’s one of the most extensive wines lists on the island.

8 – Nancy’s Bar-B-Que
301 South Pineapple
Sarasota, Florida 34236
941-955-3400 | Visit the Website

The opening of Nancy’s this past year was one of the most widely anticipated culinary events in Sarasota. OK, that may be a bit strong, but, people were drooling waiting for her fantastic BBQ. Every day the barbeque experts at Nancy’s slow smoke some of Sarasota’s best Q. I’m only glad my office isn’t within wafting distance. That would be hard to resist on a daily basis.

7 – Pegasus Greek Family Restaurant
2833 Bee Ridge Road
Sarasota, FL 34239
941-926-4461 | Visit the Facebook Page

This Bee Ridge Road eatery offers a menu filled with traditional Greek fare. From appetizers through desserts you will be delighted with the homemade quality. Make no mistake, this isn’t fine dining, but, the casual, family atmosphere is easy to get used to.

6 – Trader Vic’s Island Bar & Grill
341 N. Cattlemen Rd.
Sarasota, FL 34232
941-378-3900 | Visit the Website

The casual, little brother of the original home of the Mai Tai. Trader Vic’s delivers great island style food in a location that happens to be nowhere near the water. Not a problem. You get the same great island feel without the craziness of Siesta, Lido or Longboat during season. A lot of days that can be a huge plus.

What to do on a rainy Sunday afternoon? Here are some choices. I could (A) just sit around the house, watch a little college basketball, do lots of nothing or I could (B) shop for bathroom fixtures.

Hhhmm… That could be a tough choice. I know that every guy is just dying to shop for faucets and sinks. We’re just really great at keeping those feelings bottled up inside. You know how guys can be.

So, it was decided (or, shall I say suggested), basketball out, shower heads in. But, what fact finding mission couldn’t benefit from a stop at a local restaurant for a little fueling up. I “eagerly” agree to go with the understanding that I get to scout out a new Sarasota restaurant after the porcelain showroom tour.

There have been bunches of new places opening around town the past several months, so there were lots of options. My choice for today’s outing, Trader Vic’s Island Bar and Grill. Legend has it that they invented the Mai Tai way back in 1944.

Located off of Fruitville and Cattlemen Roads, Trader Vic’s has taken up residence in what was formerly R.J. Gator’s and Leverock’s. It may have even been several other things at some point. Newly remodeled and ready for prime time, the building has taken on a comfortable, relaxed, island atmosphere. Now, it’s not “islandy” like SKOB, O’Leary’s or the Casey Key Fish House, but, it’s about the best you can do twenty minutes from the nearest large body of water or beach.

A rainy Sunday afternoon is not the busiest time for Trader Vic’s, so we had no problem getting the table of our choosing. Hey, I could even see the TV’s in the bar area, so, I got to check out a little basketball from a far. Hostess pleasant, server nice. Great start.

Vic’s has a pretty large menu with lots of choices. Today we decided to try out some of the appetizers. With over a dozen options, we figured we could get a good sampling by choosing the Signature Island-Tizer. It says “enough to share” right on the menu! It seemed like a good choice. It was highlighted in green and had a picture of a palm tree next to it, so, it screamed “TRY ME”!

This is what the Island-Tizer has in store for you. Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Coconut Chicken Fingers, Ragin Cajun Shrimp and Veggie Pot Stickers. We added a Bucket of Fries and of course I had to have some soup. I went with the Barbados Chicken Soup on my servers suggestion.

Here’s how it went down. The Barbados Chicken Soup was out first. It was great. People who know me know that I like soup and this one hit the mark. It actually tasted a lot like chili. Nicely spiced, the dollop of sour cream was a great touch.

Next came the main event. I’ll just start by saying there is no problem with the quantity of food served. There’s more than enough on the platter for two people. Things get a little more complicated from there. The pot stickers were good, not chewy like some of them can be. The filling was nice and they weren’t overcooked. When I saw Ragin’ Cajun Shrimp as one of the items included on the platter I expected something with a little zip to it. Not here, these shrimp were pretty zipless. Fried, not really recognizable as shrimp and bland. Nothing Ragin’ about them.

The last two items were the Coconut Chicken Fingers and the Spinach Artichoke Dip. I can say with a high degree of certainty that I am not a connoisseur of chicken fingers. When it comes to this task, you would probably be better off enlisting the help of an eight year old. They should be well qualified to render a worthwhile opinion. I tried one, they were tasty. A crispy coconut breading and big pieces of chicken. They would probably rate high on the chicken finger scale.

For me, the highlight of the Island-Tizer platter was the Spinach Artichoke dip. Fantastic! Hot, creamy, great full flavor. I probably should have been a little embarrassed about licking the bowl. My server shot me one of those, “are you kidding me” looks. I’m not intimidated, it was good.

The bottom line: The new Trader Vic’s Island Bar & Grill is a nice addition to the Sarasota dining scene. Everyone around us seemed to be enjoying their meals, the friendly service and casual atmosphere. It’s a great place to take a family. There are lots of choices for people of all ages. Kids can order those Coconut Chicken Fingers off the “real” menu and feel like a grown up.

If you’re looking for more Trader Vic’s food photos from that afternoon, you can see some by clicking HERE.

For the week ended March 21, 2010

The newly opened Owen’s Fish Camp, located in the Burns Court neighborhood, makes it to the top of our topSIX list for the week just ended. They have a great menu of fresh seafood. The relaxed, friendly atmosphere make it a winner. No reservations for this popular spot, but, they do have a call ahead system. The Low Country Boil for 2 should not be missed.

You can always view the full breakdown for the month just passed by clicking here.

Click on the image below for more info on each restaurant.

Just about making the cut: Moroccan Restaurant, Yoder’s, Braza Brazilian Steakhouse and Pegasus Greek Restaurant.

For the week ended March 6, 2010

Munchies 420 Cafe regains the top spot in our bi-weekly rundown of the Sarasota restaurants that you’re searching for on dineSarasota.com. The newly opened Owen’s Fish Camp makes a return to our Top SIX, as does comfort food favorite, Yoder’s Amish Home Cooking. You can always view the full breakdown for the month just passed by clicking here.

Click on the image below for more info on each restaurant.

Just about making the cut: The Old Salty Dog, Solorzano’s, Braza Brazilian Steakhouse and Moroccan Restaurant.

For the week ended February 14 2010

Last week saw the newest Kumo Japanese Restaurant location ascend to the top of our Top SIX list. The Sarasota restaurant opened not long ago and is already building a steady and loyal following among area diners. Their other locations are in Cape Coral and Venice. Solorzano’s Italian Restaurant in Southgate makes it’s Top SIX debut this week.

Click on the image below for more info on each restaurant.

Just about making the cut: Yoder’s, Owen’s Fish Camp, First Street Chop House and Sangria Tapas Bar.

For the week ended February 7 2010

Another Super Bowl week is in the books. These days the game is as much about food and commercials, than it is about football. Here’s a look back at what you were searching for on dineSarasota.com last week.  Munchies 420 Cafe heads this past weeks Top SIX.

Click on the image below for more info on each restaurant.

Just about making the cut: Solorzano’s, Owen’s Fish Camp, Braza Brazilian Steakhouse and Cafe Amici.

For the week ended January 31, 2010

There’s a shuffle at the top for last weeks Top SIX. Trader Vic’s new concept restaurant, their Island Bar & Grill heads our lineup. They’ve only been open for a couple of weeks, but, lots of you are searching for information about them on dineSarasota.com. If you go there, please be sure and leave us a comment on your dining experience. Other Sarasota diners are depending on you.

Click on the image below for more info on each restaurant.