May 15, 2026

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⏰ The Clock on the Wall Says… We made it to the checkered flag! Season in Sarasota unofficially ends on the Monday after Mother’s Day. I completely realize that others may have a different endpoint. But after twenty-five plus years of watching, this is mine.

The past few months have been chock-full of events and eating opportunities. From Forks and Corks in January to the recent Mother’s Day meal, there has been no shortage of chances to sample some of Sarasota’s best dishes.

But the end of “season” doesn’t necessarily have to mean the end of dining options. 📝 We’ve got a cool little Savor Sarasota tidbit at the end of this article. Make sure and check that out! 🥃

Judging from the number of offerings, I can definitively state that Sarasotans (and visitors) love that breakfast/lunch combo. And there are a lot of different ways to experience it.

Some folks like brunch off the menu. Others like to graze through a line of food options that cannot possibly all be sampled in one outing. And, then there is a magical hybrid of the two…

⬆️ Brunching at a Higher Level!

At The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is Riva. Normally, this upscale but casual restaurant features “Coastal Italian” cuisine. But for a few hours each Sunday, it transforms itself into a Brunchers’ dream.

Whether you like your brunching from a menu or checking out the buffet, you’ll love Riva’s Mezzogiorno Brunch setup. This is really the best of both possible brunching worlds. But let’s back up a minute…

Before you are even escorted to your table, consider a mimosa from the Vespa mimosa cart. It’s the perfect way to get this luxe brunch started. And it is included with your meal.

If you love dining al fresco when it’s comfortable, Riva has a beautiful outdoor setup that has a view of the water.

Remember I said this was a “hybrid”? Yes, easy buffet crowd, they do have a food line set up.

What’s different about this food lineup from a traditional buffet? You won’t need to stand in line. Your server (in our case, Liviu) will assemble your selections and bring them to your table.

See what I mean? Hybrid! 📝 I think we have just created a special brunch category. Well, maybe the St. Regis has created it. But I take some credit for naming it! 😁

Now that you’ve warmed up with your Vespa Mimosa, it’s time to get down to business. 📝 If mimosas aren’t your thing, they have handcrafted Bloody Marys that are prepared tableside!

OK – Let’s get to it. We’re here for the food, and we know that you are too!

We kicked things off with the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus (smooth and creamy, served with farm-fresh vegetables). Super refreshing and a great starter.

This Creamy Herbed Ricotta Spread (roasted stone fruit, radicchio, caramelized nuts, saba, grissini) was a great companion for the hummus.

Together, they got us started on the right foot.

Next up was a seasonal selection. I LOVE Stone Crab. So a Stone Crab Benedict (hollandaise, Cortez bottarga) was just about impossible to resist. And I’m SO glad I didn’t! 😋

A pretty traditional Gulf Shrimp Cocktail (limoncello cocktail sauce) seemed like a must for this springtime brunch.

On to something a touch more “meaty.”

This Lambrusco Short Rib (Calabrian honey potato hash, wilted greens, fried egg) really had a nice balance of flavors. The fried egg made it very “brunchy.”

There’s not much room left in the tank. So, we wrapped things up with a light and delicious Torta Al Limoncello (lemon curd, limoncello cake, mascarpone, micro meringue, and a graham crust).

This is a relaxing, leisurely midday meal. Two hours passed without even a thought of what else was on the schedule for the day. That’s hard to do in this fast-paced world. Slowing it down a little is a welcome change.

Let’s wrap this up into a neat little brunch box. The brunch at Riva inside the St. Regis is a delight. At $95 per person, it won’t be something that most people can or will even want to do weekly. But it is the perfect special occasion brunch. And it is also the ideal way to show off in “staycation” style. Try it – You’ll love it!

⭐ The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort is located at 1601 Gulf of Mexico Drive. You can contact the restaurant at: 941-233-9036. Or, make a brunch reservation HERE. Brunch is served on Sunday only. Hours: 12PM to 2PM.

~ LH

📝 END NOTES –

(a) The St. Regis is not inexpensive. But they do offer a very discounted valet parking rate for Riva diners. That helps a little.

(b) There is also a roaming caviar server and a tableside cannoli maker. A couple of really nice, luxury touches that make this brunch extra special!

(c) Back in January of 2025, we wrote a piece about the St. Regis’ outdoor bar, Oshen. If you haven’t read it, it’s worth a look. It remains one of the most popular pieces that we’ve published.

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📌 ODDS & ENDS

🥃 Doctor’s Orders. A little bit of a Savor Sarasota preview for you. This is not exactly about the $25 lunches or $45 dinners. We will get to those in due time. This is about a cocktail creation that is so unique that I could not pass it up.

Yes, your eyes do not deceive you. That is a “Make-Your-Own” Florida Old Fashioned. It’s a pre-measured amount of all the liquid ingredients in a bottle! In this case, Don Q. Reserva 7-Year rum, Munyon’s Paw-Paw Citrus, Herbal Liqueur, and Cointreau. Add an ice block to a rocks glass. Pour the contents of the medicine bottle over ice. Garnish with a Filthy Cherry and an orange slice!

📝 If you read the tiny print at the bottom of the bottle, it says, “not a medication”! I think that may be open to interpretation. 😁

This was too great not to clue you in on. It’s available at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar (all locations). You can enjoy it with their Seafood Gumbo for Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week.

You’re welcome. Cheers!

👀 Last, Last. If you noticed something different at the top of today’s newsletter, give yourself an awareness award! We’ve updated our Sarasota Bites header to help freshen things up a bit. We hope you like it. We may even do it again in another three years! 😀

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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!! – Stella’s Greek Cuisine – 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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