Sarasota Food News
The latest restaurant openings, closings, development, permits and industry updates in Sarasota and across Florida.
There’s a Lot on the Menu This September!
The LIST gets a shakeup, MasĹŤ plans a feast, football meets bingo, and Taste of the Bay returns.
Why it matters: September brings plenty of reasons to get out and eat. This month’s Sarasota Bites rounds up the latest LIST shakeup, an ambitious 10-course dinner at Masō, Taste of the Bay’s return, football-season fun, and a handful of food holidays worth celebrating along the way.
Source: dineSarasota • Read full story →
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria Expanding to Southwest Florida
Grimaldi's Pizzeria, known for coal-fired brick-oven pizza, is expanding into Southwest Florida with five new restaurants across Sarasota, Lee, and Collier counties. The New York-based chain has entered a development agreement to bring its upscale casual concept to the region.
Why it matters: Sarasota diners will gain access to a nationally recognized pizza chain bringing award-winning brick-oven pizzas and an upscale casual dining experience to the area.
Source: Patch.com (Sarasota) • Read full story →
NY Coal-Fired Pizza Chain Expanding to Sarasota
A New York-based brick-oven pizza chain known for coal-fired pies is expanding into Southwest Florida with five new locations across Sarasota, Lee, and Collier counties. The expansion marks the chain's entry into the Sarasota dining market.
Why it matters: Sarasota diners will soon have access to an established New York pizza concept with a regional footprint across Southwest Florida.
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (may require subscription) • Read full story →
Sarasota restaurant scene sees several openings, closings in August
The Sarasota area experienced multiple restaurant openings, closures, and reopenings during August 2026. Several establishments closed temporarily for renovations while others launched new concepts or expanded operations.
Why it matters: Understanding the region's restaurant landscape changes helps diners discover new venues and track the health of the local dining market.
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (may require subscription) • Read full story →
Exclusive club seeks late Planning Board approval
1000 North proposes to occupy two of three designated commercial unit spaces for a 13,025-square-foot facility on two levels for its fine dining concept in a development seeking Planning Board approval. This signals a new upscale fine dining destination coming to Sarasota.
Why it matters: This represents an expansion of the premium dining market in the Sarasota area.
Source: Your Observer • Read full story →
Just Salad Opens at UTC with Sept. 9-12 Grand Opening
Just Salad, a New York City-based health-focused salad chain, opened at The Market at UTC Sarasota. The quick-casual restaurant will celebrate its grand opening September 9-12 at 5231 University Parkway in Bradenton.
Why it matters: Sarasota-area diners gain a fresh quick-casual option offering customizable healthy salads at a prime UTC location during the back-to-school season.
Source: Patch.com (Sarasota) • Read full story →
Five Nine Grill & Tavern soft-opens at Blackburn location
Five Nine Grill & Tavern, a restaurant known for comfort food classics, has soft-opened its first Sarasota County location on August 10 at Blackburn. The opening marks the restaurant's debut in the local market.
Why it matters: A new comfort food destination gives Sarasota diners additional casual dining options in the county.
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (may require subscription) • Read full story →
Clementines Bradenton Juice Bar Celebrates Two-Year Anniversary
Clementines, a juice bar and açai bowl spot in Bradenton, marked its two-year anniversary on August 27 with a morning show appearance featuring the owner preparing specialty menu items. The celebration highlights the growing health-focused casual dining segment in the Manatee County area.
Why it matters: The success and visibility of Clementines reflects the Sarasota-Manatee region's expanding appetite for fresh juice bars and healthy dining options.
Source: MySuncoast • Read full story →
A Right Proper Local on Main Street
Delany's Public House, owned by Tory Delany and co-proprietor Darren Shore, brings an authentically Irish experience to downtown Sarasota. The venue seats 250 guests with hand-carved wooden settles and button-tufted banquettes flanking a grand hearth, with furnishings sourced directly from Ireland.
Why it matters: Sarasota diners now have a genuinely authentic Irish bar and dining experience on Main Street downtown, not just an Irish-themed restaurant.
Source: SRQ Magazine • Read full story →
JPan Sushi at UTC Closing After 10 Years
JPan Sushi, a longtime fixture at UTC in Sarasota, will close after 10 years of operation. The restaurant will serve its final service on September 13, with a new tenant expected to take over the space.
Why it matters: Long-time customers of JPan Sushi should note the restaurant's final service date before the closure.
Source: Sarasota Magazine • Read full story →
Dominick’s Family Pizza Coming Soon to Sarasota
Dominick's Family Pizza, a family-run New York-style pizzeria rooted in a multigenerational restaurant legacy, is targeting a soft opening in Sarasota. The pizzeria represents a new entry in the local pizza market.
Why it matters: Sarasota pizza enthusiasts will soon have access to a family-operated New York-style pizzeria with established culinary roots.
Source: Business Debut • Read full story →
Sarasota Diners Are Prioritizing the Digital-First Approach
Local Restaurants Embrace Online Reservation Systems
Why it matters: The dining experience now begins long before you walk through the restaurant door. From online reservations and digital menus to reviews, specials, and mobile ordering, Sarasota diners increasingly expect restaurant information to be available instantly, making a strong digital presence nearly as important to restaurants as what happens inside the dining room.
Source: Sarasota Magazine • Read full story →
BrickTop’s opens first Tampa Bay location in Sarasota
Nashville-based restaurant chain BrickTop's is opening its first Tampa Bay area location at University Town Center in Sarasota this spring. The opening represents the chain's expansion into the local market.
Why it matters: Sarasota diners will have access to a new upscale dining concept arriving in the region.
Source: The Business Journals • Read full story →
Sugar Champagne Bar eliminates $150 minimum cover charge
Sugar Champagne Bar, a downtown Sarasota lounge and dining destination, has removed its $150 minimum spending requirement. Owner Ronnie Shugar made the change to make the venue more accessible to patrons.
Why it matters: This policy change lowers the barrier to entry for Sarasota residents and visitors interested in the upscale dining and cocktail experience downtown.
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (may require subscription) • Read full story →
Popular Sarasota sushi restaurant closes UTC location
A well-established sushi restaurant in Sarasota is closing its University Town Center location after a decade of operation. The restaurant will maintain its other location in the area.
Why it matters: Sarasota diners should know about changes to popular local dining destinations that may affect their dining habits.
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (may require subscription) • Read full story →