Top wine spots: 16 Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice restaurants among best in world
An annual list of the best restaurants for wine around the globe recently released this year's edition, with multiple Sarasota-Manatee establishments making the cut.
The magazine Wine Spectator announced the recipients of its 2024 Restaurant Awards, which "recognize restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers." Sixteen Sarasota-Manatee restaurants were included from more than 3,700 winners around the world.
Among the Sarasota restaurants acknowledged were Michael's on East, Cafe L'Europe, Alpine Steakhouse, and Marcello Ristorante Italiano (whose recent customers include rock stars Slash and Sarasota resident Brian Johnson.) In downtown Sarasota, seafood spot Duval's Fresh. Local. Seafood. on Main Street and restaurant/rooftop bar Sage in the historic Sarasota Times building were included as well.
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Other Sarasota County restaurants on the list include waterfront establishment The Crow's Nest in Venice, Summer House Steak & Seafood and Cafe Gabbiano on Siesta Key, French fine-dining staple Maison Blanche on Longboat Key, and upscale dining chains The Capital Grille and Seasons 52 in University Town Center.
In Manatee County, downtown Bradenton establishments O'Bricks Irish Pub & Martini Bar and the recently renovated Pier 22 both made the list. Pier 22's sister restaurant Grove in Lakewood Ranch was included as well, along with the recently opened Italian eatery Osteria 500 in Lakewood Ranch's Sarasota County development Waterside Place.
Wine Spectator's Restaurant Awards are divided into three categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence, and Grand Award. Marcello Ristorante Italiano, Michael's on East and The Capital Grille earned Best of Award of Excellence. Four new restaurants were named Grand Award winners this year, bringing the total to 96, with the closest to Sarasota-Manatee being Bern's Steak House in Tampa and Bleu Provence in Naples.
16 Sarasota and Manatee County restaurants make Wine Spectator's list
Listed in alphabetical order:
Alpine Steakhouse
Cafe Gabbiano
Cafe L’Europe
The Capital Grille
The Crow’s Nest
Duval’s Fresh. Local. Seafood.
Grove
Maison Blanche
Marcello Ristorante Italiano
Michael’s on East
O’Bricks Irish Pub & Martini Bar
Osteria 500
Pier 22
Sage
Seasons 52
Summer House Steak & Seafood
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice restaurants named top wine spots in world