As Sarasota’s seemingly endless summer finally gives way to fall, another season is nearly upon us: tourist season.
That means now is the ideal time to visit some of my favorite restaurants before snowbirds and vacationers fill dining rooms, patios and parking lots across the area.
This year’s list mixes longtime local institutions with newer favorites, including Sarasota’s only Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, Florida-famous tacos, wood-fired pizza, fresh grouper served on the water, prime steaks, Vietnamese comfort food and barbecue with a brand-new permanent home.
I’ve visited every place on this list, many repeatedly and several in recent weeks, to recommend not only where to eat before season gets crazy, but what to order when you get there.
Lucky 8
Details: 1812 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota; 941-444-0155; lucky8srq.com
Lucky 8 became Sarasota’s only Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant this year, and after eating there repeatedly during the past 18 months, I’m not surprised. Chef and co-owner Mark Majorie draws on his New Orleans upbringing while applying fine-dining technique to an accessible menu of po-boys, burgers and other comfort-food favorites.
His muffuletta rivals the one served at New Orleans icon Central Grocery, while the Vietnamese-inspired cochon de lait remains probably my favorite dish in all of Sarasota. Sweet, spicy, crunchy and fresh in every bite, it combines crisp-edged pork with nuoc cham, sesame crunch and fresh herbs. I’m convinced it’s the dish that won over the Michelin inspectors.
Owen's Fish Camp
Details: 516 Burns Lane, Sarasota; 941-951-6936; owensfishcamp.com
While all the buzz is about the new home of the Caragiulos brothers’ namesake Italian American restaurant, now is an ideal time to revisit their delightfully funky Owen’s Fish Camp, nestled away in downtown Sarasota’s Burns Court District.
I recommend any of the daily catches, with highlights from my most recent visit including the blackened scamp finished with lemon-caper butter and the tripletail with rich brown butter hollandaise, plus those next-level deviled eggs topped with Redneck Caviar. Save room for the Bourbon Pecan Pie.
Owen’s does not accept reservations, and that’s part of its charm, forcing guests to kill some time out back listening to local music while sipping a cold beer and noshing on grilled oysters, shrimp skewers or fish spread.
Alpine Steakhouse
Details: 4520 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-921-3798; alpinesteak.com
For those of us who adore Alpine Steakhouse, the time to visit is now. The family-run restaurant and meat market has been serving Sarasota since 1975 and shot to fame when Guy Fieri featured its turducken on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” in 2007. A Food Network crew returned in April to film “Triple D Nation,” with an air date expected soon.
Alpine excels at steaks and burgers, but don’t overlook the sandwiches. The house-made corned beef results in what just might be Sarasota’s best Reuben, while the French dip features remarkably tender sliced prime rib with melted provolone and rosemary au jus. And definitely get the addictive twice-baked potato.
Casa Masa
Details: Three locations in Sarasota including one on Siesta Key;casamasa-srq.com
With three locations in Sarasota County, including one on Siesta Key, locally owned Casa Masa recently earned a spot on the USA TODAY Network’s list of best taco destinations in Florida thanks to its signature blue corn tortillas. Made from scratch daily, they provide a superb foundation for a Mexican menu emphasizing Oaxacan cuisine and billed as “untraditionally traditional.”
The birria taco is an essential order, featuring tender, slow-braised lamb paired with gently melted Oaxacan quesillo, red onion and micro cilantro. A deeply savory consommé served alongside adds warmth, richness and another layer of indulgence with each dip.
Pork belly tacos also belong on the must-try list, thanks to tender nuggets of beautifully seasoned meat with crisp exteriors. Guacamole, pickled jalapeños, red onion and micro cilantro complement the pork, while chicharrones add a satisfying crunch to each bite.
Tralia Pizza
Details: 6566 Gateway Ave., Sarasota; Tralia Pizza
Before Michelin-recognized Tralia Pizza opens its much larger second location in downtown Sarasota’s Rosemary District, now is a great time to visit the original Gulf Gate restaurant. The menu is anchored by outstanding sourdough pizzas, including Detroit-style pies and the MVP, a combination of marinara, vodka, pesto and Parmigiano-Reggiano highlighted by Michelin. The polenta wings are another major seller, while it feels like every table gets a Caesar salad, which, yes, I also enjoy. Tralia routinely draws crowds, and I witnessed a line stretching out the door even on a Monday night in August.
Bella Napoli
Details: 1551 Main St., Sarasota; 941-330-9200; Bella Napoli website
Chef and owner Cesare Di Iorio has been drawing crowds to Sarasota’s Main Street with wood-fired pizzas rooted in the traditions of his native Naples, Italy. My new favorite, the Vesuvio, was even better on my most recent visit than I remembered: a sweet-heat wonder built on a margherita base with sausage, spicy soppressata, hot honey and ricotta.
I also discovered a new favorite starter, the beef carpaccio, featuring thin slices of raw beef with arugula, shaved Parmesan, walnuts and truffle oil. A squeeze of fresh lemon brightens the rich beef and truffle oil beautifully. Bella Napoli was already among Sarasota’s best pizzerias. My latest visit only reinforced that opinion.
Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse
Details: 35 S. Lemon Ave., Sarasota; 941-366-7788; hydeparkrestaurants.com/location/sarasota
A downtown Sarasota gem since 2008, Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse remains one of my favorite places for a splurge-worthy steak or an excellent happy hour. The standard ribeye and filet mignon are outstanding, and the petite twin filets make for a satisfying steak dinner, especially with crispy onion straws, Béarnaise and an up-charge-worthy side of creamy horseradish sauce.
The HP Burger is another favorite, featuring a juicy 9-ounce patty with American cheese, shredded lettuce and HP Sauce. Don’t overlook the sides, either, particularly the Millionaires stuffed baked potato twins topped with aged white cheddar and black truffle.
Columbia Restaurant
Details: 411 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota; 941-388-3987; columbiarestaurant.com
While Columbia’s original Tampa location is Florida’s oldest restaurant, I’m partial to its equally alluring, more casual St. Armands Circle outpost. The Sarasota landmark, dating to 1959, is essential for Spanish-Cuban favorites such as the Original “1905” Salad, Cuban sandwich and Scallops “Casimiro.”
On my latest visit, though, a bartender steered me toward the New York Strip Sirloin “The Bambino,” a 14-ounce steak brushed with Original “1905” dressing sauce and served with stuffed mushrooms and yellow rice. Named for Babe Ruth, who frequented Columbia during his playing days, it proved impossible for this longtime Bambino fan to resist. Good call, bartender.
Dry Dock Waterfront Grill
Details: 412 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key; 941-383-0102; drydockwaterfrontgrill.com
If you’re craving fresh grouper served as everything from crispy bites and tacos to a gourmand-worthy entree at one of Sarasota County’s most gorgeous waterfront settings, Dry Dock Waterfront Grill remains a No. 1 destination, especially now before tourists and snowbirds return en force. Overlooking Sarasota Bay, the restaurant pairs its fresh seafood with a view that often includes pelicans and playful dolphins.
Grouper bites served with sweet chili sauce make a great starter, while the fried grouper tacos are another favorite. For an entree, I’m still partial to the Citrus Grouper. Add the waterfront tables, cold beers, tropical cocktails and other boat drinks, plus consistently excellent service, and it’s easy to understand those lines out the door once season arrives.
Brewster’s Gastropub
Details: 1454 Main St., Sarasota; 941-343-2380; brewstersfl.com
One of my favorite downtown Sarasota destinations, Brewster’s pairs some of the best servers in town with a long bar ideal for watching a game over an ice-cold beer or cocktail. The gastropub greatest hits include burgers, tacos and sandwiches, but I’m particularly partial to the ale wings, brined, slow-baked and flash-fried before being tossed in house Buffalo sauce.
Don’t overlook the Carnita-Dilla, either, stuffed with house-braised carnitas, a custom cheese blend and pico de gallo, then drizzled with chipotle crema and served with tequila-cilantro slaw, sour cream and fire-roasted salsa. It’s exactly the kind of elevated pub grub Brewster’s does so well, and why the place gets so packed during tourist season.
Pho Cali
Details: 1578 Main St., Sarasota; 941-955-2683; phocalisarasotafl.com
Family-owned and one of downtown Sarasota’s most reliable restaurants for the better part of two decades, Pho Cali continues to serve some of the area’s most authentic Vietnamese cuisine from its longtime Main Street home.
And yeah, the must-order dish remains a beautiful, aromatic bowl of pho, with my go-to being the rare steak version, aka 48C. But the sleeper hit might be the chicken fried rice, piled high with juicy, golden-brown pieces of chicken and especially delicious when we substitute brown rice for a small upcharge. The egg noodles with tofu, best ordered medium spicy, are another favorite of mine and my wife, Kristin.
Locals love Pho Cali, but so do snowbirds and informed tourists, who can make the small, no-frills dining room feel pretty cramped during season.
Smokin’ Momma Lora’s Kitchen at Cock & Bull
Details: 975 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 941-906-7493; cockandbullsrq.com; facebook.com/smokinmommaLorasBBQ
Although not technically a restaurant, Smokin’ Momma Lora’s Kitchen has a new permanent home ideal for anyone who loves excellent barbecue in a fun setting. Lora Miller’s popular food truck now operates what she calls a “permanent kitchen on wheels” at the recently reopened Cock & Bull, pairing slow-smoked barbecue with cold drinks and live music.
Her pulled pork is the star, especially topped with both the regular red barbecue sauce and tangy yellow Carolina-style sauce, as Miller recommended to me on opening night. Also excellent are the Pulled Pork Truffle Parmesan Fries, a gloriously indulgent pile of crispy fries, house-made truffle sauce, smoked pork and shaved Parmesan.
Wade Tatangelo is the executive editor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Florida dining and entertainment editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 12 best Sarasota restaurants to visit before tourist season hits
