March 27, 2026

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Issue: 247

🤔 I’m not all that skeptical by nature. I’m not all “Pollyanna” either. I probably fall somewhere in the middle. Maybe like most people?

I’ve been writing about Sarasota restaurants, food, and hospitality for twenty-five-plus years. And honestly, I’ve seen (and eaten) a LOT! Some good, some not-so-good.

Everything in life seems like a competition right now. The best this, the greatest that, the most something else. It can be super confusing and, at times, a little maddening.

It really begs the question: what does it really take to be The Greatest!?

🆕 Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop Opens Its Doors. Back in 1976, the brother-and-sister team of Lois and Alan Margolet decided they could make a better sandwich than what was locally available in Wilmington, Delaware. Seems like a noble goal.

Little did they know that their Aunt Bobbie’s combination of roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo would become the signature offering of this fledgling sandwich shop.

🏆 The Greatest Sandwich in America! Yes, I actually typed that. It is a boast that screams to be validated. At least I think so. The greatest of “anything” in America is a big, bold claim. But like I said at the top, things these days lean heavily on embellishment.

🥪 The Bobbie is Born! The concept of “Thanksgiving on a Bun” is a tasty one. I LOVE Thanksgiving and all the foods of that day. The idea of turning all of that into a handheld is one I can certainly get behind.

Normally, this newsletter tends to focus more on locally owned, independent restaurants rather than on chains. But faced with the prospect that this sandwich could possibly be the greatest one I’d ever eaten, I decided the upside really outweighed the downside. 😁

📝 This is the point in this article where my average skepticism comes into play. I am fairly certain this sandwich will be good, but…

🗣️ Let’s Talk About The Bobbie. My all-star lineup of Thanksgiving foods runs something like this:

1️⃣ Stuffing

2️⃣ Turkey (prepared any way you’d like)

3️⃣ Party Potatoes (secret family recipe – I’d be happy to share it!)

4️⃣ Green vegetables (green bean casserole comes in at #1)

Coming in at number five—and a distant number five—is…

5️⃣ Cranberries

I never really ate them as a kid, so I’m attributing my indifference to that. It’s just like sweet potatoes for me. There’s no experience in my past to trigger those comforting childhood taste memories.

Now, the turkey and the dressing, I am solidly behind! But with cranberries being one of the three main ingredients, I was fairly certain this would NOT be my thing.

By now, you’re probably wondering what the Greatest Sandwich in America tastes like. It’s time to put “The Bobbie” to the test…

Here’s the first decision you’ll have to make: What size would you like your Bobbie? This sandwich (like all of Capriotti’s sandwiches) comes in four sizes. Yes, FOUR sizes (Mini = 4″, Small = 8″, Medium = 10″, and Large = 18″)!

I decided that for this tasting, a small would do the trick.

Next decision: hot Bobbie or cold Bobbie? This one was a puzzler. I figured I’d ask an expert. Travis was taking my order that day—he was now my expert. He told me the hot version was the most popular. I went for that.

Order entered, now we wait…

They wrap these sandwiches up nicely, whether you’re eating there or taking them to go. I decided to dine in the day I stopped by. They’ve got plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.

Let’s dig into this thing and see how it goes.

Even the small is a big sandwich. And for $12.49, it’s a pretty good deal.

📝 The small sandwich is enough for two people with normal-sized appetites. It also reheats great for dinner or the next day’s lunch.

📒 OUR TASTING NOTES

• The bread is super soft. All of the ingredients inside are soft, too, so there’s not a ton of texture variation. (Your typical Thanksgiving dinner plate doesn’t have much texture variation either, so this makes total sense.)

• The dressing was fantastic. Very “sagey.” I loved the flavor!

• The cranberries were not too sweet. They tasted perfect with the rest of the toppings. Surprise!

• I needed more turkey. Turkey is pretty bland to begin with, and when you add it in with the flavor-filled dressing and the cranberries, it gets a little lost.

⭐ I Loved This Sandwich! That’s really the bottom line. I was all prepared to pooh-pooh this, but I can see why it’s one of their best-selling items. Is it the “greatest” sandwich I’ve ever eaten? No. Is it one I would order again? 100% Absolutely!

Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop Info:

🗺️ Address: 6320 S. Tamiami Trl.

☎️ Phone: 941-315-7702

📋 VIEW THEIR MENU HERE

🌐 CAPRIOTTI’S WEBSITE

~ LH

📝 END NOTES –

(a) Back in 2009, AOL.com ran a poll. The final result of that polling was that Capriotti’s “The Bobbie” was named The Greatest Sandwich in America. That’s not very scientific, but hey, it’s still something to be proud of!

(b) This is a counter-line ordering system. It generally moves pretty quickly. But the day I was there, a few large lunchtime orders clogged up the process. I’m guessing things normally move at a pace similar to Jersey Mike’s or Jimmy John’s.

(c) This place was super clean. I know it’s new and all, but it sparkles.

(d) Capriotti’s is located in a little plaza on the west side of Tamiami Trail, just north of Stickney Point Road. Getting into this plaza if you’re traveling north on the trail can be a challenge.

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📌 ODDS & ENDS

🚚 Put Your Rally Caps On. If you love food trucks and locally brewed craft beer, you’ll need to mark your calendar for Sat, Apr 4. That’s the date for the Big Top Brewing Food Truck Rally! How can this not be a good time? – MORE INFO

🧑‍🍳 The Chefs of the Future. Do you have a budding Jacques Pépin, Anthony Bourdain, or Julia Child running around your house, wooden spoon in hand? If you can see the culinary talent bubbling in your child—or just want them to have something fun to do this summer—then a trip to Mattison’s Summer Chef Camp might be the perfect recipe! Two sessions—one in June, the other in July – MORE INFO AND SIGN UP HERE!

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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 2026 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖 

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

🧑‍🌾 FARMER’S MARKET INFO ‍🌾 

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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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