Sarasota-Manatee restaurants offer signature dishes for Original Eats

After spotlighting local restaurants and their cocktails for a Set the Bar week in October, the Sarasota-Manatee Originals will soon hold a similar days-long celebration for their food dishes.
The organization comprising more than 60 independently owned area restaurants will hold the inaugural Original Eats from Friday to Jan. 31, with Sarasota-based, national deli company Boar’s Head serving as sponsor. The event is set to feature more than 30 restaurants highlighting signature dishes, with several offering discounts and/or dish pairings.
Sarasota-Manatee Originals shifted Set the Bar from a cocktail competition night to a weeklong event at several restaurants last year due to the pandemic. The organization also presents the annual Forks & Corks Food and Wine Festival, which was moved to April and May this year as it determines the best way to hold events.
Here are the participating restaurants and dishes for Original Eats (subject to change.)
1592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails
1592 Main St., Sarasota; 941-365-2234; 1592srq.com
The downtown Sarasota restaurant located at the namesake Main Street address features a braised lamb shank ($17.50) with rice, green peas and Marsala wine.
Beach House
200 Gulf Dr. N., Bradenton Beach; 941-779-2222; beachhousedining.com
The waterfront Anna Maria Island restaurant offers local middle neck clams ($10, normally $14), with middle neck clams from Tampa Bay steamed in white wine, chicken stock, garlic butter and thyme, and served with housemade focaccia, garlic butter and Parmesan.
Bijou Cafe
1287 First St., Sarasota; 941-366-8111; bijoucafe.net
The downtown Sarasota restaurant with a menu inspired by owner/chef Jean-Pierre Knaggs’ French and South African heritage will showcase its shrimp piri piri ($15.99, normally $19), Florida gulf shrimp sautéed in a spicy moçambique pepper and garlic sauce with butter and lemon.
Birdrock Taco Shack
1004 10th Ave. W., Bradenton; 941-545-9966; birdrocktacoshack.com
The Baja-style dining destination in the Village of the Arts owned by chef David Shiplett, who also recently opened Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen in the same Bradenton neighborhood, features a barbecue chicken Frito pie ($4, normally $5), with beans, queso and salsa fresca.
Cafe Gabbiano
5104 Ocean Boulevard, Siesta Key; 941-349-1423; cafegabbiano.com
The Italian eatery in Siesta Key offers a charcuterie for two ($19.95, normally $24.95) featuring bruschetta paired with mozzarella atop tomatoes and basil, sliced aged Parmesan Reggiano, cured Italian prosciutto and assorted marinated Italian olives, with honey truffle and fresh made pesto.
Cassariano Italian Eatery
243 N. Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; 941-355-8615; cassariano.com
The restaurant’s University Town Center location will feature antipasti di mare ($16), a seafood salad with shrimp, octopus, calamari and mussels, served cold over greens and fresh tomatoes in lemon sauce.
The Crow’s Nest
1968 Tarpon Center Dr., Venice; 941-484-9551; crowsnest-venice.com
Overlooking the South Jetty, the waterfront Venice restaurant will offer a hot oyster sampler ($15) featuring two oysters Rockefeller with spinach and hollandaise, two oysters with breadcrumbs and bacon and two oysters with cheddar cheese, bacon and red onion.
Duval’s Fresh. Local. Seafood.
1435 Main St., Sarasota; 941-312-4001; duvalsfreshlocalseafood.com
The downtown Sarasota seafood restaurant will pair its Siesta Key Calamari, spice-rubbed and fried with cucumber, banana and bell peppers, pineapple and ginger beer gastrique, with Floribbean Flo’s Key Lime Pie ($20, normally $23.25.)
Element: Steak. Seafood. Pasta.
1413 Main St., Sarasota; 941-724-8585; elementsrq.com
Specializing in its three namesake dishes, Element: Steak. Seafood. Pasta. in downtown Sarasota will offer its steak tartare ($20) with capers, salted egg yolk, shallot and horseradish mustard aioli.
El Melvin Cocina Mexicana
1355 Main Street, Sarasota, 941-366-1618; elmelvin.com
The Mexican restaurant in downtown Sarasota will pair two red snapper tacos with green chili marinade, jalapeno tartar sauce, lettuce, salsa and radish with an El Melvin Margarita made with Altos Tequila, fresh-squeezed lime juice and organic agave nectar ($20, normally $27.)
Euphemia Haye
5540 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key; 941-383-3633; euphemiahaye.com
The Longboat Key fine-dining restaurant that recently celebrated its 40th anniversary will showcase its sweet and spicy shrimp ($17.75), jumbo gulf shrimp seasoned with Cajun dust, char-grilled and served with a honey mustard sauce.
Fins at Sharky’s
1600 Harbor Dr. S., Venice; 941-999-3467; finsatsharkys.com
Overlooking Venice Fishing Pier and the Gulf of Mexico, the upscale sister restaurant of popular beach spot Sharky’s on the Pier will feature Josper Oven-grilled octopus ($19), cork-braised Spanish octopus with marsala reduction, spinach, shallot, fresh apple and lemon caper aioli.
Harry’s Continental Kitchens
525 St. Judes Drive, Longboat Key; 941-383-0777; harryskitchen.com
Another long-running Longboat Key dining destination, Harry’s Continental Kitchens will offer oysters Rockefeller ($16, normally $20), topped with spinach, candied bacon, fresh Parmesan and Pernod.
JPAN Sushi & Grill
3800 S. Tamiami Trail #3, Sarasota; 941-954-5726; 229 N. Cattlemen Road #61, Sarasota; 941-960-3997; jpanrestaurant.com
The Japanese restaurant with locations in Siesta Row and University Town Center will showcase an American Wagyu Ishiyaki ($20, normally $28), stone-grilled Wagyu beef from Snake River Farm.
Made Restaurant
1990 Main St., Sarasota; 941-953-2900; maderestaurant.com
The downtown Sarasota restaurant, whose name is an acronym for Modern American Delicious Eats, will highlight its Double Dipped Fried Chicken ($20), buttermilk and Boyland Sauce Co. brined with a hot-n-honey crust, crisp herbs, buttermilk biscuit, bacon and beer-braised collard greens.
Mar Vista Dockside
760 Broadway St., Longboat Key; 941-383-2391; marvistadining.com
The waterfront restaurant on the northern Manatee County side of Longboat Key will offer Brian Lacey’s fresh caught mackerel tacos ($17, normally $23), featuring slow-roasted mackerel with spices, roasted pineapple, corn tortillas, pickled papaya and purslane quinoa salad.
Mattison’s
Mattison’s City Grille; 1 N. Lemon Ave., Sarasota; 941-330-0440; Mattison’s Forty-One, 7275 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-921-3400; Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille; 101 Riverfront Blvd #120, Bradenton; 941-896-9660; mattisons.com
Owner/chef Paul Mattison’s three namesake restaurants will all participate, each featuring different dishes. Mattison’s City Grille in downtown Sarasota will showcase its Main Street Burger ($15 lunch, $18 dinner) with Niman Ranch beef, choice of melted cheese and cherry wood smoked bacon on a brioche bun. Mattison’s Forty-One will highlight its pork belly rice bowl ($14) with Niman Ranch ginger beer-braised teriyaki pork belly, jasmine rice and Granny Smith slaw. And Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille in downtown Bradenton will feature its River Roll ($16) with shrimp, crab salad, avocado, scallions, cucumber, togarashi and masago.
Michael’s on East
1212 S. East Ave., Sarasota; 941-366-0007; bestfood.com
The fine-dining Sarasota mainstay will showcase its Bananas Foster à la Arnaud’s dessert ($17), bananas sautéed in butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, dark rum, banana liqueur and homemade vanilla bean ice cream, flambéed tableside.
Miguel’s
6631 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key; 941-349-4024; miguelsrestaurant.net
The Siesta Key restaurant specializing in French and Continental cuisine will feature its Spanish garlic soup ($6.95), prepared au gratin style in a manner similar to French onion soup.
Oasis Cafe & Bakery
3542 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota; 941-957-1214; theoasiscafe.net
The Sarasota breakfast and lunch spot will showcase the Siesta Sister Wrap ($10.25), with chicken, pesto mayo, roasted red peppers, bacon and mozzarella, wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla and grilled.
Overture Restaurant & Gallery Lounge
1255 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota; 941-316-0808; artovationhotel.com/dining
Located in downtown Sarasota’s Art Ovation Hotel, Overture pays tribute to the Cuban artists currently featured in its lobby with a menu of Cuban cuisine including an El Cubano sandwich ($15) with ham, pork, sweet pickles, Swiss cheese and Dijon mustard.
Paradise Grill
1097 N. Tamiami Trail, Nokomis; 941-786-1524; paradisegrillfl.com
The Nokomis eatery features the Paradise Grill Swordfish ($20), swordfish steak sautéed in white wine, garlic and olive oil on a bed of sautéed cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, capers and green olives.
Pop’s Sunset Grill
112 Circuit Road, Nokomis; 941-488-3177; popssunsetgrill.com
Another popular Nokomis dining and drinking destination, Pop’s Sunset Grill will feature its Floridian take on a Reuben, a grouper Reuben sandwich ($16.50) with fried grouper filet, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing on rye, served with a choice of side.
Primo! Ristorante
8076 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-359-3690; primo-ristorante.com
The Italian restaurant located on the North Trail features beef short ribs ($18), slowly roasted in a wood-burning oven, then topped with a demi glace and laid atop creamy risotto.
Sage
1216 First St., Sarasota; 941-445-5600; sagesrq.com
Housed in the historic Sarasota Times building downtown, the restaurant and rooftop bar Sage features a beef Bourgogne ($18), topped with a red wine-basted puff pastry.
The Sandbar
100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria; 941-778-0444; sandbardining.com
Located on the beach of Anna Maria Island overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, The Sandbar will offer lightly fried Tampa Bay mullet ($20, normally $26), featuring a radish puree from Parrish’s Gamble Creek Farms, served with fried plantains and roasted red pepper coulis.
Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi Grill
100 Central Ave. #1022, Sarasota; 941-366-1033; tsunami-sarasota.com
The sushi and Asian fusion restaurant in downtown Sarasota will feature an avocado boat appetizer ($15), with lobster, tuna, salmon, European cucumber, mango, wasabi tobiko and roasted sesame seeds, with Japanese roasted sesame kewpie dressing.
Other participating restaurants (dish information not available by press time):
Drunken Poet: 1572 Main St., Sarasota; 941-955-8404; drunkenpoetcafesrq.com
State Street Eating House + Cocktails: 1533 State St., Sarasota; 941-951-1533; statestreetsrq.com
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at [email protected].