Sarasota Food News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Longboat Key's Whitney's restaurant is one step closer to expanding after Planning and Zoning Board recommendations. The expansion signals the restaurant's commitment to growth and increased capacity on the island.

Delany's Public House is bringing Irish pub tradition from Belfast to Lakewood Ranch with a full bar and general store component. The opening represents a major new concept in the Lakewood Ranch dining market.

Baldoria, a new restaurant and cocktail bar from the creators of My Mamma Italian Kitchen, opens in downtown Sarasota. The concept features Spanish-style Mediterranean dishes with an Italian twist.

Sorella, a new Italian restaurant featuring chefs from popular local spots, is opening by end of September at 1532 Main Street downtown. The menu focuses on pizza and pasta.

Indigenous, Artisan Cheese, Kolucan, and JPan at UTC have all announced closures within the past two weeks. Multiple closures signal challenging conditions in the local restaurant market.

SaraSocial opens as a restaurant by day and lounge by night in downtown Sarasota, featuring Southern cooking, music, cocktails, and hookah service on front and rear patios. The concept blends daytime dining with late-night entertainment.

Indigenous, the intimate Towles Court restaurant known for responsibly sourced seafood, has closed after 15 years of operation. The restaurant was a perennial presence on Sarasota Magazine's list of the area's best restaurants.

The downtown Sarasota restaurant Lucile Pizza & Wine Bar will serve its final meals under the Lucile name on September 12 before undergoing a remodel. The space will return with a new identity and concept.