Ticket Editor: 5 exciting new restaurants to revive downtown Sarasota Rosemary District
While many of the best restaurants in Sarasota and Manatee counties are clustered in downtown Sarasota near Main Street, a cadre of exciting eateries has recently opened in the Rosemary District, located just north of Fruitville Road.
Yes, it's a wonderful time to live in the Rosemary District or simply visit on a beautiful weekend, as I did late last month. I frequented four restaurants that have all opened in the past year and explored the location where a highly anticipated new eatery should be fully operational in the next few weeks.
The Rosemary District's dining scene faced significant challenges in 2022 with the closures of The Blue Rooster and The Overton, followed earlier this year by the shuttering of Oasis. However, today, The Rosemary District appears ready to thrive. Here's information on five of the neighborhood's newest and most exciting dining destinations.
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Nancy's Bar-B-Q
1525 Fourth St., Sarasota; 941-999-2390; nancysbarbq.com
The building at 1525 Fourth St. has been one of my favorite restaurant settings ever since gifted chef Darwin Santa Maria operated his namesake eatery there from 2012 to 2015. Occupied by Oasis Restaurant & Bar from 2020 until May of this year, the handsome space is now home to barbecue maven Nancy Krohngold namesake "Bar-B-Q" joint.
While her previous locations in Lakewood Ranch and downtown Sarasota by the Burns Court district had their charms, particularly the one in Sarasota, my favorite is Nancy's new spot in The Rosemary District. It features multiple dining areas, including a mezzanine, a full bar, and plenty of TVs ready to show NFL football and other big games, as well as a stage where I'm told there should be live music when tourist season gets underway.
Read more: Highly anticipated BBQ restaurant opens new downtown Sarasota location
Of course, the main attraction at Nancy's is the barbecue, and during my recent visit, Krohngold's team did not disappoint. The pulled pork and pulled chicken were tender and flavorful, especially when doused with her irresistible chipotle barbecue sauce. The ribs were so expertly seasoned that I couldn't even bring myself to add sauce. As for sides, I've always enjoyed their collard greens, baked beans, and mac n' cheese. Oh, and be sure to consider the smoked whole wings, which, along with the rest of our substantial feast, paired perfectly with a pint of local brewery Motorworks' V Twin lager, all while we enjoyed some football on TV.
Boo's Ice House & Dog Bar
1314 10th St., Sarasota; 941-960-2669; boosdogbar.com
The most adorable new business to open in Sarasota in recent memory, Boo's is equal parts a fabulous indoor/outdoor dog park, a full bar, and a first-rate pizzeria. Opened in May, Boo's features wood-fired pizza by Chef David Grammer, who gained recognition in the area as the owner and operator of the Goodfellas Cafe & Winery on Clark Road for 13 years before it closed in 2022.
During a recent visit with my wife, Kristin, and our dog, Tucker, we ordered the NeoPAWlitan. The pizza arrived with a thin, smartly charred crust topped by fresh mozzarella, fresh tomato chunks, red sauce, and fresh basil leaves. Both healthy and scrumptious, it's the kind of pizza I could see myself enjoying regularly. However, on our next visit to Boo's, I plan to explore some of the other cleverly canine-named pies, such as the Spuds Mackenzie with scalloped potatoes, bacon, caramelized onions, boursin cheese, sliced garlic confit, and arugula.
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Food + Beer
1525 Fourth St., Sarasota; 941-444-1101; eatfooddrinkbeer.com
As I've noted before, some people are impressed by fancy restaurants that do ridiculous things like decorating their outrageously expensive entrees with stones and branches. I'm not one of those people. While I appreciate upscale dining, I prefer places that consistently serve high-quality comfort food in a fun, casual setting. And that's precisely what the Sarasota-based chain Food + Beer has been doing for about five years, including its Rosemary location that opened in January.
Formerly The Blue Rooster, and located right next door to Nancy's, Food + Beer serves its signature burgers, wings, and more in a lively sports bar setting, complete with plenty of large TVs throughout the dining room and above the full-liquor bar. Planning to reserve a special spot to watch the next big game? Consider the cozy loft at Food + Beer.
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Wink Wink Modern Lounge at The Sarasota Modern hotel
1290 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota; 941-906-1290; winkwinkmodernlounge.com
Formerly Rudolph’s, Wink Wink Modern Lounge held its grand opening earlier this year, and when I finally visited in September, it was love at first sight. Located on the first floor of The Sarasota Modern, a charming Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott on Boulevard of the Arts that opened in late 2018, the lounge boasts a positively enchanting 1950s tiki vibe. There are wood-paneled walls and an awesomely lifelike alligator hanging upside down from the ceiling above the horseshoe bar, playfully glowering at the dining room tables. A wall of windows overlooks the tropical courtyard, swimming area, and the Wink Wink Modern Pool Bar.
Yes, both bars are ideal places to savor crafty cocktails with playful, tropical twists and humorous names like "Forgive Me, For I have Ginned," "My Safe Word is Pineapple," and "Old Smoky & Dirty." During my visit, I only managed to try a couple of appetizers, but they were both impressive. I'm already eyeing entrees such as the grilled bison back ribs, crunchy yellowfin tuna steak, and the szechuan-crusted flat iron steak. In fact, after spending about an hour at the lounge and touring the pool area, I would love a staycation in one of the hotel's 89 rooms, offering 14 different room types. It would be the perfect place to spend a weekend fully appreciating everything the Rosemary District's burgeoning dining scene now has to offer.
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The Original Wolfie’s & Rascal House and Wolfie's Box Office
1420 and 1454 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota; 941-312-4072; originalwolfies.com
The Original Wolfie’s & Rascal House, a delicatessen overseen by local chef Sol Shenker known for his beloved brand of "Jewish soul food," is set to open in the next few weeks. It replaces The Overton in a prime spot with a courtyard by Artisan Cheese Company and the Asian restaurant Spice Station, which are both outstanding members of the Rosemary dining scene. For now, check out Wolfie's Box Office, a grab-and-go concept located at 1454 Boulevard of the Arts, just a few doors east of the deli, which has already begun welcoming customers.
I've enjoyed some of my favorite corned beef as well as pastrami sandwiches, matzo ball soup, and cheesecake prepared by Shenker in the past. In addition to the food menu, which Wolfie's recently premiered on Instagram, there will be the Rascal House's full-bar with cocktails and wine by the glass, as well as live entertainment including local musicians "and a popular attraction coming that most New Yorkers will know," Shenker told me.
With his cooking reputation and the strong financial backing of this restaurant, my expectations are quite high for Wolfie's. Along with nearby Nancy's, Food + Beer, Wink Wink, and Boo's, which is also within walking distance, Wolfie's should play a leading role in the revitalization of The Rosemary District's restaurant and nightlife scene.
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Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. Support local journalism by subscribing.??????
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Exciting new restaurants revive downtown Sarasota Rosemary District
