July 11, 2025

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FIRST LOOK – Café on St. Armands

Let’s check out what’s going on with one of St. Armands newest spots!

🎲 Roll with the Changes… Pick a city of any reasonable size, and I can almost assure you that it’s littered with restaurant memories. Places that just couldn’t make it work, whose owners or chefs lost interest or were caught in any of this industry’s many pitfalls. This is a tough business. 

We’re lucky here in Sarasota; we’ve got more than a few places that have stood up to time and turnover. Tastes evolve, dining styles change, and people’s careers eventually run out of runway. Again, it’s a tough business. 

Here are some that have successfully eluded Father Time… 

• 1918 – Walt’s Fish Market 

• 1958 – The Main Bar Sandwich Shop 

• 1959 – The Columbia Restaurant 

• 1968 – Marina Jack’s 

• 1975 – Euphemia Haye 

• 1987 – Michael’s On East 

In 1973, Titus Letschert and Norbert Goldner threw open the doors to their vision of what “Continental Cuisine” in Sarasota should look (and taste) like. Café L’Europe was born. 

Almost half a century. That’s a long time by most measures. It’s a hell of a long time in the restaurant business. It’s especially true in today’s disposable society. Everything has a “sell by” date. That includes even this venerable St. Armands anchor. Almost 50 years after its opening, it was sold. 

What’s in a Name? Names mean a lot. They can take on special meanings and significances depending on how they’re employed.  

They can be simple, like Adeline. They can be cryptic, EVOQ. And they can be humorous, ala Doggystyle.  

Names can also be part tribute and part location-specific. Our FIRST LOOK restaurant uses that particular naming formula, Café on St. Armands (431 St. Armands Cir. | 941- 388-4415). 

There are a few restaurant/hospitality types in town who can take on the task of reimagining a Sarasota classic. John and Amanda Horne certainly fit that description.  

Building the Anna Maria Oyster Bar into a successful six-location brand was not an overnight project. Time, effort, and attention to detail all played a role. AMOB is one thing. People know what they’re getting when they walk through the door. This new project will most certainly be different than that! 

⬆️ Defying and Ignoring Expectations. When you take over an icon, there will be a bar (the kind used for measuring, not for drinking 🙂). Like it or not, people will be judging you against their memories. Don’t sweat it, that’s just life. 

That means one of two tracks is usually taken. 

1️⃣ Try to reproduce the previous feeling with a few tweaks to either the menu, the atmosphere, or both. This is the easy road.  

Or… 

2️⃣ Define and design an entirely new experience for diners. Make things different enough so that the comparisons are tough. AKA – be your own person! 

The new Café on St. Armands leans heavily on number two. But doesn’t completely abandon option number one.  

👀 Let’s Take a Look at Café on St. Armands  

🟰 THE BASICS 

• WHAT: Café on St. Armands  

• WHERE: (431 St. Armands Cir. | 941- 388-4415)

• WHEN: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Daily 

• GET MORE INFO: Café on St. Armands Website | dineSarasota Info Page  

🤷 WHAT’S THIS PLACE LIKE? 

They still have that super European outdoor dining space. (I’m glad they kept that pretty much as it was.) 

The inside is a little different situation. The body is the same, but it’s just wearing a new set of clothes. And honestly, a little makeover is a good thing here.  

📝 Before the change in ownership of Café L’Europe, it was going through a facelift. But weather and other factors made it difficult to bring a full renovation all the way home. 

The main dining room gets a light and bright redo. 

This bar area was remodeled before the sale. It’s got lots of room for wining and dining. 

📄 WHAT TO ORDER? 

This menu has a little touch of this and that. The selections are pretty well suited for what they are trying to be. And it seems like that’s upscale enough for its address, but not so high-end where it’s unapproachable to everyday circle-goers. 

🥚 For breakfast, they’ve got a Quiche Lorraine (a nice nod to the old resident) or a “Flight” of three Benedicts. (lobster, mushroom, or traditional). I LOVE the Benedict “tasting” idea! 

📷 PICTURES ARE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS 

The Mushroom Soup ($12) was super rich and silky. (Yes, I know soup is notoriously hard to capture with a pic.) I could eat soup every day. I’m a little weird that way. This would be especially great on a “cold” mid-January day. 😉 

The Charcuterie Salad (Sm. $16/ Lg. $26) was exactly as advertised. It’s a charcuterie board in a bowl. The small size was more than enough for one person for lunch. Especially combined with the soup. 

The Kefta Pita ($24) is a pretty filling mid-day meal. Yes, it’s delicious, but you may need a few laps around The Circle after you’re finished. 

🍟 Yes, you know I LOVE fries. These will not disappoint.  

📝 We wrote about the old Café L’Europe Royale with Cheese. It’s a pretty good read 🍔. There are pics of the old inside decor in the article. You can compare it to the new version. – HERE’S A LINK TO THE STORY 

Want to take a walk through the full menu? We’ve got you covered! 

➡️ HERE’S A LINK TO THE CAFÉ ON ST. ARMANDS MENU 

👀 RANDOM OBSERVATIONS 

• This isn’t the old Café L’Europe. But does that really matter? I don’t think it does. Change here is not a bad thing. 

• You can still get that Euro-Café feel if you sit outside (Maybe wait until the weather cools below the boiling point 🥵). 

• Café on St. Armands is a nice place for either a pre or post-shopping meal. 

• I’m not certain that the gigantic bar will ever be overflowing. They did a nice job on the remodel. It looks welcoming. I’m just not 100% sure there’s a big St. Armands bar scene. Maybe a BIG Happy Hour promo is in order to get things jump-started! 🍺🍹

✅ BOTTOM LINE 

I’m super happy that this great dining space is now under the watchful eye of John and Amanda. They really know the ins and outs of the local restaurant scene. I’m guessing there will be some growing pains. I’m sure that will include small (and medium) changes along the way. I’m hoping the new Café on St. Armands has the same legendary run as its predecessor! 

~ LH 

📌 ODDS & ENDS 

🍷 Wine and Dine. Summer can be the best time to explore some new local Sarasota dining options. This could very well be one of those opportunities. Lucky 8 Luncheonette is hosting a wine tasting dinner. Mark your calendars, WED JULY 23^RD. Delicious Lucky 8 cuisine paired with just the right wine. This is a very limited seating situation. If you’re interested, you’ll need to call for a res (941-444-0155) – HERE’S THE MENU FOR THE NIGHT! 

🥃 Mixology 101. Billed as a “Mixology Masterclass”. It’s Tragos + Amigos at Kolucan! It’ll be a mix of cocktails, community, and culture. That sounds like a combo that you can’t refuse. Four “Tasting Bites” will be paired alongside four specially designed cocktails. It all takes place on FRI JULY 18^TH. This should be a FUN night. – TICKETS + INFO HERE! 

🧹 Housekeeping… Just FYI – We’re not publishing a Sarasota Bites newsletter next Friday (sorry about that 😢). We’re taking a second to catch our breath. Not to worry, we’ll be back in your inbox on July 25^TH! 

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🗓️ 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 2025 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖 

😋 MICHAEL’S ON EAST – MONTHLY EPICUREAN MENU – JAMAICA🌍 

🌦️ DUVAL’S SUMMER RAINY DAY MENU – SEE IT HERE 

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🧑‍🌾 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 Farmer’s Market – DETAILS 

THIRD THURSDAY EVERY MONTH – UTC Night Market – DETAILS 

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