Tasting Our Way Through the Newest Restaurants in the Sarasota Area - Part 2

Last week I reviewed four restaurants that recently opened in the Sarasota area. This week I’ll continue where I left off by reviewing four additional restaurants that are new to the restaurant scene here on Florida’s sunny west coast!

Lakewood Ranch Main Street

Eating out at a new restaurant is one of the things Laurie and I look forward to most! A majority of the time they do not disappoint, and we leave looking forward to our next visit. It’s the rare occasion where we try a new restaurant and are truly dissatisfied with the experience to the point where we wouldn’t want to try it again.

For this week’s blog, I’ll provide my take on four more restaurants that have recently opened near us – three in Lakewood Ranch proper and one in downtown Sarasota. They span the range from classic steak house to authentic New York deli, to casual bar food, to the traditional breakfast joint. And all are definitely worth revisiting!

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Ruth’s Chris restaurant, steaks and sides, and wedge salad

Ruth’s Chris Steak House is a national chain that Laurie and I have frequented often over the years, so this isn’t really a new one for us. Still, it’s new to the area and a stone’s throw from our house so we definitely were excited to try it. Everything was familiar when we walked in – the low light and elegant dining room, the classy professional service, and the classic steak house menu. Portions are on the large size (I mean, the petit fillet is 8 ounces!) and all the steaks are served ala cart and finished in a fire hot broiler doused in butter. This restaurant uses USDA prime beef so you know you will always get a top-quality steak, although both of ours came out extremely undercooked (both rare when Laurie’s ordered hers medium and I ordered mine medium rare). That’s easy to fix and they did so quickly, but we were still surprised that it happened at this steak house. The wine list is extensive with reasonable mark ups as well. They also have a large covered outdoor dining space for al fresco dining. This place is about as reliable as they come – you won’t be disappointed although you will leave with a hole in your wallet – definitely not a cheap date night kind of place!

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

Palm Avenue Deli

Palm Avenue Deli dining room, crispy beef kreplach, and the 1871 pastrami Reuben

Who doesn’t love an authentic Jewish New York deli?! And we now have one right in downtown Sarasota. Brought to you by the owners of two of our favorite restaurants (KOJO and Bar Hana), Palm Avenue Deli is next door to both. The décor is bright and modern, with plenty of seating for the breakfast, lunch, and dinner crowds that are sure to arrive daily at this gem. From the bagel & schmear, to the latkes, to the matzo ball soup, to the corned beef and pastrami on rye, to the egg creams, this place has everything you would expect from a NY deli. The Reubens are a highlight – they come with either corned beef, pastrami, or smoked turkey served with crispy fries and a classic deli pickle. They also have a nice selection of homemade baked goods, as well as absolutely delicious versions of classic cocktails like the Moscow Mule and Bloody Mary. Service is efficient and friendly. We will definitely be regulars at this fantastic casual eatery!

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

EggTown

EggTown restaurant, chicken fried steak and eggs, and the veggie omelet

Our old home – Alexandria, VA – had extremely limited breakfast options for some unknown reason which was really annoying to us. But Sarasota has a ton of them, with more on the way! One of the newest is EggTown which recently opened in Lakewood Ranch just off of the 70 and 75 interchange. It’s a great addition to the other breakfast/lunch restaurants in the area. The menu is huge with everything from omelets to benedicts to skillets to breakfast sandwiches to sweet treats like pancakes and waffles. They also have classics like chicken fried steak with southern gravy (I can vouch for this one!) and breakfast burritos. Everything is cooked fresh to order and arrives at the table piping hot. The portions are quite large so make sure you are hungry when you arrive! The staff is friendly and eager to please. The dining room is light and airy as well. I’d say EggTown compares favorably to other breakfast options such as Forked at Waterside, the Granary, and Keke’s Breakfast Café (First Watch is still a cut above all the rest in my humble opinion!). I hear crowds are large on the weekend so either get their early or go during the week!

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

The Peculiar Pub

The Peculiar Pub restaurant, and the Reuben sandwich

Located in the former Craft Growlers to Go space on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch, the Peculiar Pub is a small, homey bar/restaurant that serves “bites and brew” and is the creation of Ed’s Bar and Grill down the street. The décor pays homage to the classic rock era. They serve wine and a solid and rotating selection of beers on tap, along with a couple of ciders as well. The food menu is small but has a nice selection of appetizers (such as soft pretzel rods, nachos, chips and queso) and a small selection of handhelds as well. I had the Reuben when I went there for lunch, and it was good but nothing really special. And speaking of specials, they do have one or two daily specials to keep things interesting. I actually liked the vibe of this place and would recommend it as a nice place to go for a leisurely lunch and a drink. That said, it’s really just a smaller, quieter version of Ed’s with a less extensive menu for lunch, dinner, and drink options so I worry it won’t survive with the always popular Ed’s Bar and Grill just a short 5-minute walk away.

Food: Good; Ambiance: Good; Service: Very Good; Cost: Cheap

The list of restaurants scheduled to open in the next couple of months is quite long, so I’ll see you back here for more local restaurant reviews soon! In the meantime, Bon Appetit!