Tasting Our Way Through the Newest Restaurants in Sarasota

It seems as though a new restaurant opens every week here in the Sarasota area. Laurie and I absolutely love all of the dining options here – it’s one of the reasons we chose Sarasota and more specifically, Lakewood Ranch as our retirement hometown. So, we make sure to try out each of these new restaurants when they open for business. Here’s what we found at a few of the restaurants that have recently opened in the Sarasota area.

Lakewood Ranch Main Street

Laurie and I are true foodies! We love all kinds of cuisines, and truly enjoy going out to eat on a regular basis. We definitely have our favorites that we frequent over and over again, but the thing we enjoy most is trying new restaurants and expanding our horizons. And there is no better place to do that than right here in the Sarasota area!

Fantastic restaurants are everywhere down here, and new ones are opening every week.

As a result, Laurie and I feel it’s our duty as residents here to support these restaurants by frequenting them as they open! I decided it would be fun to occasionally share our experiences at these new restaurants to help you all decide which ones are worth trying and which you might want to avoid (regardless of whether you live here or are just planning to visit us soon!). So, without further ado, here’s what we have discovered by tasting our way through some of the newest restaurants in the Sarasota area!

Beso

Beso bar, Picanha, and red sangria

One of the newest additions to the Sarasota restaurant scene, this modern Spanish tapas restaurant located in the heart of downtown Sarasota is both casual and sophisticated, with fantastic food and drinks. The dining room is open concept with high ceilings and well-spaced tables. They have a nice selection of delicious sangrias, and an extensive menu that focuses on small plates as well as a variety of Paella options. The small plates cover everything from bread and cheese dishes to vegetarian dishes, to meat and seafood/fish dishes. Some of our favorites include the Patatas Bravas (fried potatoes with paprika aioli), Picanha (perfectly grilled steak with red chimichurri and mojo verde), Croquetas, and Gambas Ajillo (shrimp with garlic, onions, sherry and chili flake). The service is friendly and well-paced. Beso is a great gathering place for a fun night out with friends and family.

Overall Rating: Excellent; Food: Excellent; Ambiance: Excellent; Service: Excellent; Cost: Expensive

Owen’s Fish Camp

Owen’s Fish Camp dining room, grilled naked fish, and seared scallops with braised pork belly

The original Owen’s Fish Camp in downtown Sarasota has achieved legendary status for its fresh seafood and funky casual beach vibe and old Florida charm. A second location just opened recently at Center Point in Lakewood Ranch off University Avenue. The restaurant tries to replicate the spirit of the original but in an updated, fresh way. The large outdoor screened-in porch is available for drinks and al fresco dining, along with plenty of indoor dining options as well. The menu does double duty as your placemat (yes, it is a very casual restaurant!). The fish and seafood are very good – cooked to perfection and incredibly fresh. The naked fish is a favorite – the catch of the day cooked however you want (grilled, seared, blackened or fried) and served with your sauce of choice and two sides. They have a nice selection of starters as well, with their famous drop cheddar biscuits with pickle butter a must have. The cocktail menu is creative as well. The only downsides of the place include their infuriating “no reservations” policy, which means you need to arrive for dinner at either 4:00 pm when they open in order to avoid at least an hour’s wait for a table, and service that seems somewhat rushed as they try and turn tables as quickly as possible. That said, this place is definitely worth visiting.

Overall Rating: Very Good; Food: Very Good; Ambiance: Very Good; Service: Good; Cost: Moderate

Osteria 500

Osteria 500 dining room, avocado Caeser salad, fettuccine con ragu di vitello & porcini

This modern Italian restaurant is a great addition to the LWR food scene. Located in Waterside town center, it has a funky décor that includes a gelato cart, an outdoor bar built around a car frame, and an indoor bakery. The food is excellent, with a menu that includes a few of the classics, but is mostly dominated by more creative takes on the classics that raise the bar in terms of both flavor and presentation. The homemade pastas are cooked to perfection, while the salads and appetizers are tasty and well-sized. The pizzas also look fantastic (we didn’t try them while we were there, but we have it on good authority from foodie friends here that they are delicious!). The restaurant has a large indoor bar and a large outdoor seating area as well. Again, the only downside of this place is that they don’t take reservations – so get to the restaurant on a weekday before 5:30 pm and you should be fine – otherwise be prepared to wait a long time for a table.

Overall Rating: Excellent; Food: Excellent; Ambiance: Excellent; Service: Very Good; Cost: Moderate

Fuego Comida and Tequila Lounge

Fuego restaurant, birria empanadas, and lobster cigars

This upscale Mexican eatery is one of the newest additions to the Lakewood Ranch restaurant scene, with some of the better Mexican food we have had in the Sarasota area. The dining room is elegant and sophisticated, with a beautiful bar and comfortable seating – there’s a large outdoor seating area as well. They showcase tequila and tequila-based cocktails here, and all the ones we tasted were quite good. The menu is unique in that it has fewer traditional options and more creative and innovative dishes. For example, the starters include lobster cigars which are corn taquitos filled with lobster, cheese, and lime crema served in a cigar box filled with mesquite smoke – delicious! They have tacos and fajitas (the Wagyu fajita flambe was fantastic, but pricy at $50 for the dish), but they also have large land and sea sections of the menu that include Wagyu and prime steak options, along with sea bass, scallops, and lobster enchiladas to name a few. While the kitchen has some kinks to work out, the food was delicious and we will definitely be going back often. Fair warning though – this place isn’t cheap if you hadn’t already figured that out!

Overall Rating: Very Good; Food: Very Good; Ambiance: Excellent; Service: Very good: Cost: Very Expensive

In next week’s blog I’ll review four more new additions to the local restaurant scene. Until then, give one of these new restaurants a try – you won’t be disappointed!