December 8, 2025

---

The LIST -December 2025

2025 is winding down! This is your last LIST of the year!

🙋‍♂️ Welcome to a special Monday edition of Sarasota Bites! Sorry we’re tardy. 🙃

❄️ Yes, it’s “winter.” I doubt it will be a white Sarasota Christmas (or Hanukkah), but December means the year is winding down fast!

🗓️ Something to Celebrate!

🍸 December 11th – National Have a Bagel Day (Jersey Girls & Bagels & Brews)

🍜 December 12th – National Pho Day (Pho Cali & Little Saigon Bistro)

🕎 December 14th –22nd – Hanukkah

🐟 December 24th – Feast of the Seven Fishes (Mattison’s Forty-One)

🎄 December 25th – Christmas

🍾 December 31st – National Champagne Day! (AKA New Year’s Eve!)

One new entry into the dS database for this past month. (Yes, we know we’re a touch behind on adding places. Expect a flurry soon!)

Claudie’s (21 S. Beneva Rd. | 941- 413-5288) is cooking up some delicious dishes in their new home at the corner of Beneva and Fruitville.

This is the former Nellie’s Deli space. And just like Nellie’s, Claudie’s offers catering services too. I know there are tons of holiday parties that are in the final planning stages. It might be the perfect time to give them a spin. – MENU HERE!

OK – Here we go…

This is an interesting little LIST. It has some old school mixed in with some new kids on the block.

The old – Pho Cali, Patrick, and Boca. They’re sitting right alongside the new, Eighty Three Tavern (we wrote about their pizza – READ THAT HERE) and Ringside. It’s nice to see the youngsters and seniors playing so well together. 😄

Every month The Shebeen Irish Pub always falls somewhere in the Top 25. If you don’t already know, they’re moving locations in the very near future. They’re setting up shop in the old Sarasota Brewing Company space in Gulf Gate!

Want to see who else made our last list of the year?

📃 HERE’S THE COMPLETE LIST OF THE TOP 25 FOR DECEMBER 2025!

📝 Yes, I realize that our publication schedule has been a bit wonky the past month or so. But I’m happy to report that the 2026 edition of the Little Sarasota DINING Book will be available in a couple of days. We’ll post something on our FB page as soon as you can order one.

Right after JAN 1st, you can once again expect our Sarasota Bites newsletter in your inbox every Friday morning. We’ll probably toss in one more before we close out 2025.

~ LH

📌 ODDS & ENDS

💵 Dining Deals Ahead! Everybody loves a deal. I mean, why not? You get something that you can use and don’t have to pay full freight for it. Definitely a win for you.

On Thursday, DEC 11th, the Sarasota-Manatee Originals will be holding a pre-holiday dining certificate sale. These 30% off coupons make the perfect gift for anyone on your list. OR, maybe, stash a couple away for your own personal use in 2026! – HERE’S A LINK TO GRAB YOURS!

🥪 A Rave-able Reuben. Let’s face it. Sometimes you find the most unexpected things in the most unexpected places. This is one of those things.

The Duo – Döner & Deli out on Siesta Key has delicious Eastern European street food. But I never expected a Reuben sandwich that could easily go toe-to-toe with any Jewish deli.

Yes, I know they have “deli” in their name. But I was floored at how good this sandwich was. If you’re a fan of pastrami, you’ll need to add it to your 2026 culinary to-do list. You will not be disappointed! 📝 If you go, please report back!

🧀 Say Cheese! This might not be on your radar, but it’s certainly on mine. I LOVE cheese! It’s a love that’s been developed over so many years of cheese-eating.

Last month, the annual Cheesemaker Awards were held in Bern, Switzerland, and it was a back-to-back win for the 18-month Gruyère AOP Vorderfultigen Spezial! That’s right, two years in a row, this outstanding cheese produced by Bergkäserei Vorderfultigen was named the Best Cheese in the World!

One of the great things about this particular cheese is that you can actually purchase it locally. It’s not hard to find. Check out Morton’s Gourmet Market or The Artisan Cheese Company. They should be able to set you up for your own best in the world cheese tasting! – HERE’S MORE INFO ON THE WINNER!

---

🗓️ 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 2025 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖 

---

🧑‍🌾 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 

🌟 SHARE, FOLLOW, LIKE 🌟 

📱 Yes, we’re on social media! Our Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads  and Bluesky 

Get information on 350+ Sarasota restaurants on the dineSarasota.com website 

Did you miss a story? Here are some of our past Bites – SB ARCHIVE 

Do you love our A Burger A Week pieces? – HERE’S THE FULL ARCHIVE 🍔 

Check out all of our Videos on our YouTube channel! 

Refer a friend to Sarasota Bites. That would make us super happy CLICK HERE! 

Email us a question, comment, or suggest a story. SEND EMAIL 

From time to time, our articles may include links to purchase items. If you click on a link and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. These small commissions help pay for the cost of creating the content we love bringing you. For more information on our editorial policy, CLICK HERE.   

👀 JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED SOMETHING…