🏃➡️ You Can’t Outrun the Burger. As hard as we try, it seems like it’s nearly impossible for us to leave the burger in the dust. We have sampled and written about more than fifty of them. At this point, I guess it’s kind of part of the Sarasota Bites identity.
🛑 A Street, A Name. There’s a four-way stop in the Rosemary District that has been memorialized. In February of 2024, a restaurant opened at the corner of Boulevard of the Arts and Central Avenue. Either as a tip of the hat to the location or in an attempt to make it easy to find, Arts & Central was born!
And as a way of acknowledging the artiness of their new neighborhood, the restaurant showcases local artists alongside a menu featuring globally inspired contemporary American cuisine.
In short, this is not the type of place where I’d expect to be writing about the burger. Maybe the Pear & Burrata Salad or the “Dirty Rotten” Fruit Basket, but certainly not the burger.
On this beautiful sunny Sarasota Tuesday, I had a few dining pals. No, I didn’t entice these folks with the prospect of uncovering a possibly delicious local burger find. They wanted to have lunch, and I wanted to sample a burger. Win-win.
🗣️ Industry Chatter. My tablemates are all hospitality industry folks. And if you’ve ever eaten with anyone in “the business,” you know just how interesting and rabbit-hole-like these food discussions can get.
At times, I felt just a touch of concern for our server, Tom. There was a little bit of an interrogation vibe to our interactions with him. Seemed like he definitely could have thought we were “secret shoppers” sent in to observe and report back on how the restaurant was performing. Not the case!
Before we get to what you’re all here for, the burger, let’s take a spin through the restaurant and a couple of other dishes.
This place is open concept, that much is for sure.
A roomy and comfortable dining room is connected to a good-sized bar area.
They call themselves “A Backyard Restaurant,” so they need to deliver a great outdoor experience. And they do!
👀 Let’s See Some of that Food! Yep, we are here for the food, after all. Let’s have a peek…
The Whipped Feta (Ricotta & Goat Cheese, Fermented Honey, Candied Fruit, House-Made Pita) had just the right amount of honey to complement the saltiness of the cheese.
📝 This was Jacqui’s call. I think she has ordered whatever “whipped cheese” dish was on the menu every time we’ve dined together. A definite trend is developing…
How about a little color for the table? This Loaded Hummus Plate (Beetroot, Green Pea, Artichoke, Olive, Baby Tomato, Sesame, House Pita) combines flavor with a rainbow of culinary color! Since Taylor didn’t seem like she was going to be “burgering” it today, she picked something that was at the opposite end of the food spectrum, and it was perfect.
What in the world?! My friend Joe likes to walk a little on the wild side. He’s a master mixologist on Siesta Key, so he absolutely could not resist the Shrek Juice (Arugula, Mint, Blueberries, Ginger, Peaches, Black Pepper, Turmeric, Coconut Water). What this non-alcoholic beverage lacks in “eye appeal,” it makes up for in flavor. It is also known as Alligator Elixir. OH – It’s also gluten-free if that matters to you!
🍔 Burger Time! Hummus, feta, and non-see-through beverages are great and all, but it’s time for me to do my thing. And that thing today is the Backyard Smash Burger.
RESTAURANT: ARTS & CENTRAL (611 Central Ave.) | 941-306-2356
DATE OF VISIT: MAY 7, 2026
BURGER STOP #: 56
BURGER TASTED: BACKYARD SMASH BURGER
📒 OUR TASTING NOTES
🍔 This burger is described on the menu as: Toasted Bun, Caramelized Onion Aioli, Smoked Gouda, Tobacco Onion, Lettuce, Tomato ($20)
• Right off the bat, I wondered about the Tobacco Onions. I was guessing that these would be “smoked” like they sometimes do with a smoke gun and whiskey. I was wrong. These onions get their “tobacco” flavor from a spice mix. They were tasty, but the real burger asset here was their crunchy texture. A great contrast from the other toppings.
• The smash burger style is MY style. This one was perfectly “smashed.”
• The Smoked Gouda cheese is the real hero on this burger. It does most of the heavy lifting flavor-wise. And it really makes this burger sing! 🎶
• This is a BIG burger. If you’re ordering this for lunch, you may just need a post-meal nap. Or maybe like me, only eat half. If I had one suggestion here, it would be to offer a single patty option. 📝 I learned later that this was available. It needs to be printed on the menu so that folks actually know!
• The Fries. OK, here we go! I’ll just come out and say it. I wasn’t a fan of these. For a burger this good, it was a letdown to get a cup of very average, “food service” fries served alongside it. Upgrading the fries would be a BIG plus here. 🍟
Let’s check out how all of this looked when I ordered it.
🍔 Burger Takeaways. For twenty bucks, this is a hell of a burger. It’s a smash, but it feels more “gourmet” than that. The flavor of the cheese really holds everything together. If you can sit outside, DO IT! They have a fantastic outdoor dining setup.
~ LH
📝 END NOTES –
(a) The thing with the fries was really stuck in my head. I mentioned it to my friend and local musician Dean Johanesen. He told me the Poolside Tots (Brisket, Aioli, Scallions, Sweet Soy Glaze) were out of this world. Next time, I’ll skip the fries and grab an order of tots for the table. Thanks, Dean, I owe you one!
(b) Arts & Central is really invested in the local art community. And they feature artists and poets each month. You can check out who’s on the featured list by CLICKING HERE!
(c). If you’re new to the newsletter or haven’t read our other A Burger A Week pieces, here’s a link to the archive: A BURGER A WEEK ARCHIVE! 🍔
🗓️ SARASOTA FOOD INFO🗓️
Here is some local food information that we think you might find interesting. We’ve provided you with a link to more info.
📖 BUY A COPY OF OUR 2026 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖
📋 MENU OF THE MONTH!! – Stella’s Greek Cuisine – MENU HERE!
🧑🌾 FARMER’S MARKET INFO 🌾
EVERY SUNDAY – Siesta Key Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – Farmer’s Market at Lakewood Ranch – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – The Meadows Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY WEDNESDAY – The Phillippi Farmhouse Market (Oct-Apr) – DETAILS
EVERY THURSDAY – Englewood Farmer’s Market (Oct-May) – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Sarasota Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Downtown Bradenton Public Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Venice Florida Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
THIRD THURSDAY EVERY MONTH – UTC Night Market – DETAILS
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