One of Sarasota, Bradenton's most popular waterfront restaurants is temporarily closing

I recently shared a list of 10 iconic restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton to visit now that Florida's tourist season is (finally) over, allowing us to enjoy these popular places without feeling as if we were dining in Times Square.

While I enjoy exploring newly opened restaurants in Sarasota and Manatee counties, I find that late spring and summer are the ideal times to frequent our region's many landmark dining destinations. These establishments have been serving our community quality food and drinks for decades, typically in a fun, often waterfront setting.

However, one of my favorites will be temporarily closed beginning later this month.

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Popular local waterfront restaurant Pier 22 in downtown Bradenton temporarily closing

Pier 22, which is located in downtown Bradenton on the Manatee River, has announced that its spacious covered patio and outside bar will undergo a significant remodel, "designed to enhance your dining experience with a beautifully upgraded outdoor space and new bar," according to a press release issued May 31.

Seating under the covered patio will be closed starting Monday, June 3. The entire Pier 22 restaurant will also be temporarily closed for enhancements from Sunday, June 9 until June 22. "We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding as we make these enhancements," Pier 22 said in a statement.

Pier 22's sister restaurant, Grove, which is in Lakewood Ranch at 10670 Boardwalk Loop, will remain open.

Please be assured that our 4th of July event will still take place — stay tuned for further details," reads the statement by Pier 22, which is among the top spots in the region for watching fireworks on Independence Day. "We can't wait to welcome you back and showcase the beautiful improvements soon!"

Pier 22 is one of Sarasota and Bradenton's oldest and most famous restaurants

Downtown Bradenton's oldest and most famous restaurant, Pier 22 places guests right on the Manatee River with indoor seating and offers a more casual dining experience on the covered patio, where you can enjoy a front-row seat to spectacular Gulf of Mexico sunsets, pelicans, and perhaps even some frolicking dolphins. Highlights from the extensive lunch and dinner menu include the burger, fried chicken sandwich, steaks, and the popular prime rib dinner served Fridays and Saturdays.

Pier 22 also serves commendable breakfast and brunch on weekends. However, the restaurant's most popular attraction is its exceptional happy hour, featuring deals on drinks and small plates daily from 3 to 6 p.m. Must-try items include the nicely loaded house-made potato chips, the poutine featuring hand-cut fries and local cheese curds, and the chicken flatbread covered in Pier 22's highly addictive molasses barbecue sauce.

Pier 22 in Bradenton boasts nearly a century of history

Pier 22’s majestic, Mediterranean-style, three-story building overlooking the Manatee River was built in 1928 on what would become known as the Memorial Pier after it was dedicated to World War I veterans in 1930. Over the years, The Pier has been home to the South Florida Museum and Snooty, the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce, and Manatee County’s first radio station, which began broadcasting shortly after World War II. For the past four decades, the historic structure has served as one of the most popular waterfront restaurants in the region.

Pier 22’s current incarnation began in 1976 when Don Miller Jr. inked a lease with the City of Bradenton for the original building and surrounding 50-slip marina. Construction and expansion then commenced for the creation of The Pier restaurant. In 1993, Don Miller Jr.’s son, Hugh Miller, took over operations. Then in 1996, The Pier changed names to Twin Dolphin Marina Grill, and the following year the marina had a major renovation and the dockmaster building was constructed with the expansion of the marina, which ultimately grew to 225 slips. It’s still called the Twin Dolphin Marina.

In 2006, Miller entered a co-branding arrangement with Sarasota-based restaurateur Paul Mattison and changed the name to Mattison’s Riverside (Mattison now has the nearby Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille, which opened in 2016). The Pier is on mile marker 22, and in September of 2011 Miller ended the arrangement with Mattison and changed the name of the restaurant to Pier 22. Hugh Miller hired Greg Campbell, who is the executive chef and director of operations, and they’re the same team behind Grove, which opened in Lakewood Ranch in 2018.

If you go

Pier 22, which will be closed June 9-22, is at 1200 First Ave. W., Bradenton. For more information on Pier 22, call 941-748-8087 or visit pier22.com. Grove, which will remain open for regular hours, is at 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch. For more information on Grove, call 941-893-4321 or visit grovelwr.com.

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: A top Sarasota-Bradenton waterfront restaurant is temporarily closing