March 13, 2026

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Issue #: 245

😋 Folks Love the Foods That They Grew Up On. It seems like an obvious thing. But when you relocate, sometimes scratching that culinary itch is beyond challenging.

Some examples – I’m from Chicago. Tony’s Chicago Beef and Joey D’s solved the hot dog and Chicago beef sandwich puzzle for me. It took a while for those options to materialize. But the Chicago pizza thing… Well, let’s just say I’m still searching.

Folks from the NYC area have been complaining for years that there was no great “deli” food. We’re talking Jewish deli food, not Anna’s Deli or Corkscrew Deli food (I love both!). Then BAM, we have two great New York-style delis open in town. I’m talking about the Palm Avenue Deli and Wolfie’s.

🥪 Then there is Philly. It seems like the cheesesteak debate is WAY hotter than either of the two above. I’m not sure why that is; it just is.

There are a lot (and I mean a lot) of places around town that have “Authentic” Philly cheesesteaks on their menu. As you would guess, some are better than others. A few have risen to the top of the heap (Fresta’s and South Philly). Others just toil somewhere in the middle of the cheesy pack.

Back last summer, we lost what I considered to be the best version of this East Coast favorite, Gentile’s Cheesesteaks. They had that sandwich really dialed in. Fresh Amoroso’s rolls and Cheez Whiz, all mixed in with a little bit of real Philly swagger. When they shuttered, it left a hole in the Sarasota sandwich scene.

That hole seems to have been plugged! 😁

🌶️ What in the World is Longhot? And, almost as importantly, is it something that you want to name your restaurant after? The answer to the latter is, why not? People name restaurants after all kinds of stuff (places, family, and yes, even peppers!).

This long, thin Italian pepper shows up in all kinds of Philadelphia foods from roast pork to hoagies, and yes, even a cheesesteak. 📝 If you’d like to learn a little more about this mild to medium-hot pepper, here’s a little more INFO!

🗣️ Johnny Longhots Enters the Chat. What a name! I will admit I have had the hardest time with this. For the longest time, I called it Johnny Longshot’s and then Longshot Johnny’s. I think I have finally trained my brain to get this thing right!

The opening of Johnny’s had been pretty widely anticipated in the Sarasota sandwich sphere. When Gentile’s closed, there was a little bit of a void, at least on the South Trail.

Meanwhile, Back in Jersey… There is a string of Johnny Longhots stores (Wildwood, Marlton, and Hainesport). But this isn’t a chain. And this Johnny’s isn’t directly related to the other Johnny’s (boy, that sounds super confusing). It’s more of a name licensing thing than a franchise. Don’t ask me to explain all of the intricate details, just be happy that they are here!

Let’s take a look at the semi brand-new Johnny Longhot’s Sarasota!

It’s a small space. If you were ever at Gentile’s, you already know this. They have about a half dozen tables inside.

They also have a couple of outside picnic-style tables. 📝 I was told they are working on putting additional outdoor seating around the side of the building. Hopefully, they will have umbrellas. You will need one for at least half the year. 😎

The walk-up counter has the menu. And it’s a BIG one. You might want to scope out the menu before you get here (we have it at the bottom). WAY less pressure that way. 😀

They are proud to show off their peppers here at Johnny’s. There were at least four or five varieties.

Peppers are great and all. And they are in the name of the place. But we know what you (and I) are really here for. The Philly cheesesteak!

If you’ve ever been to this type of place, you know that there is an ordering protocol. I go pretty traditional. And that’s “Wit, Whiz.” The translation: with onions and Cheez Whiz (No judging. You order yours the way you like it, I’ll do the same. 😉).

👀 Let’s Take A Look At How Mine Came Out.

🍟 Of course, you’ll need some fries “wit” that! They’ve got crinkle cuts, which is my second favorite style after thin-cut naturals. (YES – You can make these cheese fries with Whiz!)

💵 All of this comes at a fairly reasonable price (at least for 2026!): $14.75 for the sandwich, $5.00 for the fries. Then toss in three bucks for a water. So, $23.75 for lunch.

📝 As you can see, this sandwich is big enough for two meals or two people. To reheat your second half, wrap in foil, place it in a 350° oven for 20-30 minutes, then enjoy. It’ll turn out almost like at the restaurant!

OK – I hate to say it, but our time here is almost up. If you had this for lunch (like I did), leave approx thirty minutes for a post-meal nap. 😴

Johnny Longhots Info:
🗺️ Address: 7523 S. Tamiami Trl.
☎️ Phone: 941-926-0441
📋 VIEW THEIR MENU HERE
🌐 DINESARASOTA PAGE | JOHNNY’S WEBSITE

📝 END NOTES –

(a) The Philly cheesesteak as we know it was invented WAY back in the 1930s by Pat Olivieri. Yes, he is the very same Pat as in Pat’s King of Steaks. Their long-running feud with Geno’s Steaks is the stuff of Philly legend!

(b) The Long Hot Pepper is a hybrid variety. It is a mild to medium heat pepper that usually registers 100 to 1,000 on the Scoville heat scale. For reference, a jalapeño scores between 2,500 and 8,000 Scoville units. 🌡️

(c) The cheese debate rages hard in the Philly cheesesteak community. Cheez Whiz is the traditional topping, but Cooper Sharp cheese has a vocal and loyal following. They are both excellent topping choices.

(d) A little while back, we wrote a piece about the cheesesteak at Fresta’s. You can READ THAT HERE.

~ LH

📌 ODDS & ENDS

*** No Odds or Ends this week. Sorry 🥲 ***

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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. 

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📋 MENU OF THE MONTH!! – Claudie’s – MENU HERE! 

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EVERY SUNDAY – Siesta Key Farmer’s Market – DETAILS 

EVERY SUNDAY – Farmer’s Market at Lakewood Ranch – DETAILS 

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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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