Sarasota Food News
The latest restaurant openings, closings, development, permits and industry updates in Sarasota and across Florida.
Whole Foods announces November opening for Bradenton location
Whole Foods Market will open its first Manatee County store on November 5 in east Bradenton. The store will feature fresh pizza, sushi, and hundreds of Florida products.
Why it matters: The arrival of Whole Foods in Bradenton expands quality grocery and prepared food options for Sarasota-Manatee area residents.
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune • Read full story →
Smoke & Fire BBQ relocates with expansion plans
Smoke & Fire BBQ, praised as one of Sarasota's best new restaurants, is moving to a new location with a bigger kitchen and new menu plans. The popular barbecue joint is relocating to Brew Life Brewing.
Why it matters: A beloved local barbecue destination is expanding, signaling confidence in Sarasota's dining scene and promising enhanced offerings for customers.
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune • Read full story →
Market on Whitney opens at Longboat Key with specialty goods
Samantha Spontak, former cheesemonger at Sarasota's Artisan Cheese Company, opened Market on Whitney at Longboat Key's north end. The shop features specialty groceries, small-batch baked goods, and specialty cakes with a general store vibe.
Why it matters: Artisan food lovers will welcome this new specialty food shop bringing curated gourmet offerings back to Longboat Key.
Source: Your Observer • Read full story →
Fire breaks out in downtown Sarasota restaurant at Comida
A restaurant-oven fire was reported at Comida on State Street at 7:53 a.m. and brought under control by 8:08 a.m. A dozen fire-rescue units responded to the scene. All employees were accounted for with no injuries reported.
Why it matters: Downtown Sarasota diners need to know about this incident at a notable restaurant and whether operations have resumed.
Source: Your Observer • Read full story →
Cock & Bull returns to Sarasota with live music, barbecue
Cock & Bull, a Sarasota bar with decades of history, is making a comeback with live music, barbecue, and burgers. The venue is planning an October opening celebration.
Why it matters: A historic Sarasota dining and entertainment destination is reopening with a renewed food and music focus.
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune • Read full story →
New Restaurants Open in Venice South County Area
The Breakfast Company opens its fifth location in Venice near I-75 and Jacaranda Boulevard, featuring the chain's first drive-through. Grain & Berry also plans an October opening at Wellen Park Boulevard.
Why it matters: South County diners gain expanded breakfast and dining options with convenient drive-through access and new concepts arriving this month.
Source: Sarasota Magazine • Read full story →
Starbucks closing 250 North American locations, including 9 in Florida
Starbucks announced plans to close 250 stores across North America, with nine closures reported in Florida. The closures are part of a broader company restructuring.
Why it matters: Sarasota-area Starbucks locations may be affected by this national closure announcement.
Source: Sarasota Patch • Read full story →
Hawkers Asian Street Food opens at UTC in former JPAN space
Hawkers Asian Street Food, a Florida-born chain specializing in Asian street food fusion from Malaysia, Hong Kong and Vietnam, will open at UTC's West District on Cattlemen Road. The fast-casual restaurant will feature roti, Korean fried chicken, dim sum, stir-fried noodles and a street food sweet shop.
Why it matters: Sarasota dining gains a new casual Asian concept with regional popularity and a diverse menu of shareable small plates and street food specialties.
Source: Sarasota Magazine • Read full story →
1818 Grill closes as Legends Sports Pub expands
The 1818 Grill at 1818 S. Osprey Ave. in Sarasota's Southside Village will close after its final service Saturday, Sept. 26. The neighboring Legends Sports Pub plans to expand into the vacated space.
Why it matters: Sarasota diners will see a shift in Southside Village's restaurant landscape as a longstanding establishment makes way for a neighboring bar's expansion.
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune • Read full story →
Hawkers Asian Street Food Opening at UTC
Hawkers Asian Street Food, an Orlando-based chain with 16 locations across the Southeast, is opening at University Town Center's West District. The 5,054-square-foot location will feature the brand's signature pad Thai, Korean twice-fried chicken wings, and Malaysian roti, plus its first street food sweet shop concept.
Why it matters: This major Asian restaurant expansion brings a proven regional chain with diverse menu options to UTC, enhancing dining variety for Sarasota customers.
Source: Business Observer FL • Read full story →
Three new Sarasota County restaurants coming soon
Sarasota County's dining scene is expanding with several new concepts in development, including a French-inspired daytime cafe and a Uruguayan bakery and coffee shop. The additions continue the area's restaurant growth.
Why it matters: Local diners can expect fresh dining options and diverse cuisines arriving in Sarasota County.
Source: Business Debut • Read full story →
Chicken Salad Chick Opens Sarasota Location September 29
Chicken Salad Chick, a Southern-style fast-casual eatery, is opening at 6650 Fruitville Road in the Fruitville Farms shopping center on September 29. The 2,600-square-foot location will seat 52 and offer dine-in, patio, takeout, delivery and catering. The menu features over a dozen made-from-scratch chicken salad varieties, side salads, soups, sandwiches and desserts.
Why it matters: This is Sarasota County's first Chicken Salad Chick location, bringing a popular Southern franchise to local diners seeking casual dining options.
Source: Your Observer • Read full story →
Popular Sarasota pizza restaurant Tralia opens second location
Tralia, a Sarasota pizza restaurant that grew from a pop-up into a top dining destination, is expanding with a second location. The expansion reflects the restaurant's success in the local dining market.
Why it matters: Sarasota residents will gain easier access to one of the county's most sought-after dining experiences with an additional location.
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune • Read full story →
Artisan Cheese Company Closes After 14.5 Years
Artisan Cheese Company closed its Rosemary District location at 550 Central Ave. after operating for 14.5 years. The specialty shop cited declining sales, down 40% this year with particularly weak summer performance. The closure reflects broader challenges facing Sarasota's independent retail food businesses amid rising costs.
Why it matters: Another closure in Sarasota's retail food scene signals ongoing economic pressures affecting local specialty shops and independent businesses.
Source: Your Observer • Read full story →
Beloved Sarasota Cheese Shop Closing After Landlord Dispute
A well-known Sarasota cheese shop is closing after the landlord approved a restaurant tenant instead. The cheese shop's efforts to remain in its current location were unsuccessful.
Why it matters: Local food retailers and specialty shops are part of Sarasota's dining ecosystem, and this closure signals ongoing commercial real estate pressures in the area.
Source: Patch • Read full story →