New Italian restaurant opening in Lakewood Ranch
An Italian restaurant, originating from out of state, will soon join the growing number of businesses in a Lakewood Ranch development.
Bar Italia plans to open to the public Monday, July 15, at 6568 University Parkway in Center Point, the Lakewood Ranch development of real estate organization Casto, which has offices in Sarasota as well as Ohio and North Carolina. Center Point is also home to the second location of downtown Sarasota seafood restaurant Owen's Fish Camp and steakhouse chain Ruth's Chris Steak House.
Lakewood Ranch will be the second Florida location for Bar Italia, which also has restaurants in Winter Park near Orlando, and in Lakewood and Beachwood, Ohio. Bar Italia is part of the Cleveland-based Next Cool Restaurants (NCR) Ventures, which operates multiple other restaurants in Ohio.
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“Due to previous relationships with some of the developers in Florida here at Casto, we signed two leases in Florida as of right now," NCR Ventures managing partner Jason Weathers said. "We opened in Winter Park last year in March, and the second lease was here at Center Point in Lakewood Ranch.”
Weathers said the Lakewood Ranch Bar Italia's menu will be very similar to their other locations, which offer a variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, other entrees, sides and desserts. The Lakewood Ranch location will also have a full-liquor drink menu and 3-6 p.m. weekday happy hour.
The restaurant will seat about 268 indoors and around 75 outdoors, with garage doors that can be opened in good weather for the bar area. The interior will feature private rooms and décor including hand-painted artwork, while olive trees will be part of the outdoor landscaping.
Bar Italia initially plans to be open for dinner 3-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and for lunch and dinner 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 863-354-1479 or visit baritalia.com.
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New Italian restaurant Bar Italia opening in Lakewood Ranch
