Quick Bites: Something’s Brewing in Sarasota
The LIST has a new No. 1, Sun King is making moves, and October brings plenty of restaurant comings, goings, and everything in between.
📆 What We’re Celebrating This Month
🍕 October is National Pizza Month (Tralia & Mister O1)
🌮 October 4 – National Taco Day (Reyna’s & The Hub)
🍲 October 12 – National Gumbo Day (Lucky 8 & Owen’s Fish Camp)
🫓 October 15 – National Shawarma Day (Florence & The Spice Boys & Olive Eats)
🥩 October 18 – Meatloaf Appreciation Day (Yoder’s & Dutch Valley)
📋 The LIST – OCTOBER 2026
We don’t need to waste a lot of time here. You all know the drill by now! Let’s get right to this, shall we!?
Five Nine Grill and Tavern didn’t take long to find the top spot. After making its LIST debut at No. 3 last month, Five Nine jumps two more spots and lands at No. 1 in just its second appearance.
Mouthole Smashburgers returns to The LIST in a big way at No. 3. You can’t keep this great burger spot out of the Top 10 for long! Hot Diggity Dog climbs up five spots to No. 6.
But the big mover this month is Yoder’s. They rocket from No. 23 all the way to No. 8, a 15-spot jump! People must be getting their Thanksgiving pie radar tuned up a little early. 🥧
Viva La Vida and SaraSocial also make their first appearances in our current LIST records, debuting at No. 7 and No. 9.
And Connors Steak & Seafood? Apparently, No. 10 suits them just fine. That’s exactly where they were last month, too.
➡️ SEE THE ENTIRE TOP 25 HERE!
🍺 Something’s Brewing! The craft brew biz can be highly unpredictable. There are just SO many factors that go into keeping your head above water in this super-competitive business. Everything needs to go just right to produce the perfect brew.
We’re lucky here in Sarasota to have some great locally produced options. One of those is Sun King Brewing. And there are some BIG things brewing there.
In October, the brewery will begin moving its brew operation from its home on Mango Avenue to the Sun Lab Brewery in Bradenton. Sun Lab will be a “co-manufacturing” partner.
Local Sarasota wood-fired pizza truck operator, Dan Apizz’ Man, is planning to install a small brewing system and work alongside Brew Life, 3 Car Garage, and 3 Bridges Brewing to create the new Brewer’s Collaborative Tap House at the current Mango Avenue tasting room.
And then, as if that’s not enough… later this fall, the new Sun King Taproom at Captain Curt’s Village will be christened! They’ll be serving some Captain Curt’s favorites right alongside the Sun King beers. That should be a delicious pairing!
🎯 A Shot in the Dark. Are you a sharpshooter? Do your friends keep telling you just how great your aim is? If either of those two things is true (or even if they’re not), mark your calendar for Sunday, October 25. That’s the date of the Blasé Martini Bar’s Good Darts, Great Cause fundraiser. If you have a regular dart team, bring ’em. If you don’t, just grab a few friends and come on out to Siesta Key to toss for a great cause.
Yes, there will be prizes for the winners. Yes, there will be raffles. And, yes, there will be drink specials! More importantly, this event supports Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation Breast Health Grants. This crucial program offers a range of health services to low-income and uninsured Sarasota residents. This is a WIN-WIN. You support them, they support the people who need it most. Aim. Throw. Give Back! – MORE INFO HERE!
💡 LIGHT BITES: We usually wrap these Quick Bites pieces up with a little lightning round. Tying up all of the loose ends is what this is really all about!
1️⃣ Remember Pizza Month at the top of the post? Well, October 22 happens to be Tavern Style Pizza Day! This Chicago-centric way of cutting a pie (my fav) gets honored with its very own day. You can get a pizza cut tavern style at any Origin Pizza location or at Eighty Three Tavern.
2️⃣ We’re expanding our culinary horizons here in Sarasota. The new Tastes of the Philippines, which recently opened on Ringling Boulevard, is getting some great early reviews. We haven’t made it there quite yet. But do not fear. It is on the list!
3️⃣ We sadly wave goodbye to Southside Village’s 1818 Grill. This spot was Knick’s Tavern & Grill for over twenty years. It changed hands in 2024. There is good news. Legends Sports Pub, right next door, will be expanding into the space and serving food!
4️⃣ The charming little cottage that housed Indigenous for fifteen years will not be quiet for long. Alma de España will be moving from its Osprey Avenue location to a new home in Towles Court. Same delicious tapas, new cozy location.
5️⃣ The Shebeen Irish Pub will be opening its new Gulf Gate location. The trouble is that we have NO idea when. This guessing game has been going on since they closed up shop at their old home on Siesta Key. Hopefully, the wait will end soon… 🍀
6️⃣ Kolucan was closed one day. Then reopened a few days later under the same name but with new management. That was SO quick. My head is still spinning from all of this. It is still serving customers under the original name but will soon be renamed Garibaldi Bar & Grill. I am really confused by all of this. If anyone has any more detailed info, bring it on!
7️⃣ Coming this month. We’ve got another burger for you. We’ll be diving into a “melt.” That is my second favorite burger style after the smash. Looking forward to that! We’re also doing a little something with HelloFresh and a look at a new spot up in LWR. Phew… That October calendar sure filled up fast!
OK – That’s it. Hope you had a good time. I sure did! See ya next Friday.
~ LH
🗓️ 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 📖
📰 ALL THE LATEST SARASOTA FOOD NEWS! – OUR NEWS PAGE!
📋 MENU OF THE MONTH!! – Michael’s On East – SPAIN!!
🧑🌾 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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