June 5, 2026

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📆 What We’re Celebrating This Month

🧋 June is National Iced Tea Month (Weather seems right!)

🥚 June 10 – National Egg Roll Day (Taste of Hong Kong & Victoria’s Hong Kong Café)

🍣 June 18 – National Sushi Day (JPan Sushi & Hanami)

👨‍🍼 June 21 – Father’s Day (Hey, maybe you should do the grilling for dad!)

🎣 June 25 – National Catfish Day (Lucky 8 & Owen’s Fish Camp)

🐟 June 28 – National Ceviche Day (Selva & The Cottage)

📋 The LIST – May 2026

😎 Summer – Here we go! One of the best times of year in Sarasota to get a table. Plus, there are some fantastic dining deals we highlighted last week in our Savor Sarasota intro piece. (READ THAT HERE)

You were all busy searching out restaurants last month. May is usually a slower month for dineSarasota.com. But you still somehow managed to rack up 40,000 views! Thanks!

Now for the news you’ve all been anxiously waiting for…

👀 Let’s Make a Few Observations. The Alpine Steakhouse dethrones Masō and takes the top spot for the month. This was a real nail-biter. Could have easily gone into OT. But three in a row for Masō is nothing to sneeze at.

What’s up with the Fat Rabbit? Big move from thirteen last month to the Top 5! They’ve been open in Tampa since 2016. Maybe the Sarasota crowd is starting to catch on?

El Greco Kitchen and Market make their first appearance. I’m certain that there are many more to come!

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📨 The Envelope Please. If you’re at all interested in Sarasota food, restaurants, and dining happenings (and I’m guessing you are because you’re reading this!) AND, if you haven’t been hiding under a rock (or in self-imposed exile) the past week, then you’ve probably already heard the news. But this is such great news for our restaurant community that it bears repeating…

Sarasota now has three Michelin “mentioned” restaurants! This is a BIG deal. And it is just a little ironic that the famed food guide has singled out three of your local places, and yet the James Beard Foundation has failed to honor any of our local chefs with a “Best of” award. Maybe the folks at Michelin are the ones who are really in the know!

Let’s run it down one more time for those of you who haven’t seen it.

Lucky 8 – Michelin Bib Gourmand. The guide defines this award as “a special distinction recognizing restaurants that serve high-quality food at great value.”

📝 This one really makes me smile. Lucky 8 is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. You can catch me there for lunch a couple of times a month! (READ OUR BURGER REVIEW HERE!)

Next up…

Tralia – Michelin Selected. This designation means that the “Chef uses quality ingredients that are well-cooked; simply a good meal.” Or, written another way, “It means that the inspectors have found the food to be above average, but not quite at star or Bib level.” I love their Detroit-style pizza (Don’t tell my Chicago pizza people! 🤫)

Focaccia Sandwich + Bakery – Michelin Selected. This Bee Ridge Road sandwich shop knocked me out when we originally wrote about it back in March of 2024 (READ IT HERE!) This one is really a gem hiding in plain sight. The strip mall location does not do justice to the delicious food they push out of this tiny space!

Congrats to all! Next, maybe a Michelin star? Or, how about finally a James Beard winner!

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🍸 All of the Taste, None of the Buzz. Zero-proof has now officially hit the point of “Market Acceptance.” People are saying yes to the drink, but no to the alcohol. It really has become a thing.

I remember Budweiser O’Doul’s and Miller Sharp’s vividly. I’ll be kind and say these non-alcoholic offerings were, um, not very fulfilling. 😀

Both O’Doul’s and Sharp’s launched in ’89. Fast forward 37 years, and the alcohol-free landscape has changed in ways that you couldn’t possibly have imagined back then.

There are lots of places around town serving “Mocktails” these days, and some of them are super creative. I mean, to the point that you don’t even miss the booze. They are a great way to socialize and still keep your wits about you.

Over at Michael’s On East, they’ve rolled out a brand new Zero Proof Collection. These specially crafted adult beverages will help you “elevate your dining experience” without worrying about having another.

Here’s a little tasting…

SOUTHERN BELLE (Agave Distillate, Honeysuckle, Lime, Sugar Rim)

MIDNIGHT IN MANHATTAN (Oak-Aged American Spirit, Italian-Style Aperitif, Aromatic Bitters)

Or maybe try a:

TEASE TINI (Coffee Liqueur Alternative, Vanilla, Fresh Espresso)

Michael’s is known for their wine selection. And their zero-proof wine choices demonstrate their ability to showcase the best offerings from around the world in the rapidly expanding alcohol-free universe.

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🚋 Time to Trolley Up!

You may or may not remember this from last summer. If you do, this will serve as a little refresher. If not, this will all be new to you, so pay attention.

The Sarasota-Manatee Originals are firing up the Culinary Tour trolley once again this year. And there are just two chances remaining to hop on board.

The Bradenton Tour

Thursday, June 11 | 5pm – 8:30pm

Stops Include:

Mean Deans Local Kitchen, Cottonmouth Southern Soul Food, Taverna Toscana, Mattison’s Riverwalk

OR

The Nokomis/Venice Tour

Thursday, July 2 | 5pm – 8:30pm

Stops Include:

Cassariano, Cafe Venice, Fin’s at Sharky’s, Pop’s Sunset Grill, Paradise Grill

What Can You Expect?

1️⃣ Five dishes + wine pairings

2️⃣ Trolley transportation to all stops

3️⃣ A $20 wine credit at the end of the tour

4️⃣ Tips + gratuities covered

OH – And of course lots of fun and a chance to make some new foodie friends!

Tickets are priced at $155 per person (plus tax). Here’s a ticket purchase link for you:

🎟️ BRADENTON TOUR TICKETS

📝 At press time, tickets for the Nokomis/Venice tour were not yet available.

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🧑‍🍳 Yes, Chef! Over at Lefty’s Oyster & Seafood Bar, they’re trotting out a brand-new chef just in time for Savor Sarasota! Chef Patrick LaFountain now helms the Lefty’s kitchen. Chef Patrick is originally from here in the Sunshine State. But more recently, he honed his craft in the Boston area, working in the kitchen of a James Beard Award-winning Asian restaurant. If you make it over to Lefty’s for Savor, make sure and give him a wave. 👋

That’s it. Out of time. Keep sending stuff for us to try and write about. We LOVE that!

~ LH

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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!! – The Cottage – MENU 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 Florida Farmer’s Market – DETAILS 

THIRD THURSDAY EVERY MONTH – UTC Night Market – DETAILS 

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