35 new restaurants to try in Sarasota, Bradenton, and Venice that opened in 2024
Earlier this month, I unveiled my picks for the six best restaurants that opened this year in Sarasota and Manatee counties .
I noted that over the past 12 months, I visited — unannounced — most of the restaurant openings my colleague Jimmy Geurts and I reported on during 2024 , which totaled 35, counting a couple of multiple hotel restaurant openings as one each.
While I love to highlight my personal favorites, we also wanted to share the full list of three dozen or so new restaurants we deemed worthy of coverage this year.
We're presenting the lengthy list roughly in chronological order, beginning with places that opened near the turn of the new year and concluding with a couple of spots that began welcoming guests in November and December.
Of course, we expect to report on more new restaurant openings in the near future, so continue checking back with us at heraldtribune.com/entertainment/dining .
6 best restaurants in Sarasota area, from fancy to casual, that opened this year
Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news and reviews plus info on things to do every Friday
Acqua Pazza Coastal Italian
19750 Wellen Park Blvd., Unit #D, Venice; 941-244-5147; acquapazzaitalian.com
Acqua Pazza Coastal Italian technically opened last December — just late enough to miss our 2023 restaurant openings list — but most customers didn't get to visit the restaurant in Sarasota County master-planned community Wellen Park's downtown until 2024. It's the latest concept by D&D Restaurants, which also operates fellow Downtown Wellen eateries The Banyan House and Claw & Co.; Bocca Lupo Coal Fired Pizza, which has a Wellen Park location; Prime Serious Steak in Venice and Port Charlotte; and Donato's Italian Restaurant in Port Charlotte. — Jimmy Geurts
New restaurant inspired by coastal Italy opens in Sarasota County
Five-O Donut Co. Ellenton
Five-O Donut Co. was at 3800 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. Multiple other Five-O locations currently remain open. Read the story.
2211 60th Ave. E., Ellenton; 941-722-9800; fiveodonutco.com
Also debuting last December just after our 2023 restaurant openings list ran, but welcoming most customers in 2024, was the latest location for the Sarasota-founded Five-O Donut Co., by Ellenton Premium Outlets. The Ellenton shop features the same traditional "simple" and inventive "fancy" doughnuts as Five-O's other locations — which currently include its original Ringling Boulevard shop, The Shops at Siesta Row, University Town Center, and Bradenton's El Conquistador Village Plaza — but introduced a self-order kiosk system and a new beverage program. — JG
Sarasota doughnut shop opens new Bradenton area location, closes two stores
Pie on Main
1507 Main St., Sarasota; 941-217-6370; pieonmain.com
Just a few days into the New Year, Pie on Main began welcoming guests to its prime location on Main Street in downtown Sarasota. Similar to its predecessor, Pizza N' Brew, the new restaurant offers beer, wine, and cocktails alongside pizza, sandwiches, and wings. Pie on Main is part of Watershed Hospitality Concepts, a locally owned restaurant group that also includes the similar 3.14 Pi Pizza and Blase Martini Bar in Siesta Key Village, as well as Cask & Ale, located nearby in downtown Sarasota. — Wade Tatangelo
New restaurant opens in downtown Sarasota on Main St. specializing in pizza, cocktails
Tsunami Sushi Lakewood Ranch
11627 State Road 70 E., Lakewood Ranch ; 941-909-8288; tsunami-sarasota.com
Long-time downtown Sarasota dining favorite Tsunami Sushi opened a second location in January at The Green at Lakewood Ranch shopping center. The Lakewood Ranch Tsunami has a menu largely similar to the one in downtown Sarasota, offering both seafood and vegan sushi rolls, as well as hibachi grill dishes and other popular Asian entrees such as General Tso's chicken, but the new location spans two floors and features an increased bar presence. — JG
Downtown Sarasota restaurant opening a new, two-floor Lakewood Ranch location
Ed's Tavern Bradenton
Lakewood Ranch restaurant and sports bar Ed's Tavern opened a second location at 1305 108th St. E. in Bradenton, off of State Road 64, in 2024.
1305 108th St. E., Bradenton; 941-329-1010; edstavernfl.com
A longtime mainstay of Lakewood Ranch's dining and drinking scene, Ed's Tavern opened a second location in January , off of State Road 64 by where Upper Manatee River Road merges into Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. The new Ed's Tavern features a menu identical to its original location, offering a variety of casual cuisine dishes including appetizers, salads, wings, flatbreads, sandwiches, burgers, sliders, wraps, bowls, other entrees, sides and desserts, plus a full-liquor bar. — JG
Popular Lakewood Ranch restaurant and sports bar opens second location
Arts & Central
611 Central Ave., Sarasota; 941-306-2356; artsandcentral.com
Named after the intersection of Boulevard of the Arts and Central Avenue where it's located, Arts & Central opened in Sarasota's Rosemary District in February . The restaurant's menu draws from a variety of cuisines, with shareable plates such as lamb or Seoul chicken sliders, piquillo and goat cheese, and brisket-topped tater tots, as well as entrees including steak frites or filet mignon, grilled salmon, swordfish or trout, and a harvest bowl or linguini with various protein options. — JG
New restaurant concept opening in Sarasota's Rosemary District
The Green Orchid by Michael's on East
1534 Mound St., Sarasota; 941-265-8194; bestfood.com/restaurant/the-green-orchid
Opened in February inside the downtown Sarasota campus of Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and operated by the same local restaurateurs behind the legendary Michael's on East, The Green Orchid runs entirely on solar power and is billed as "the world's first net-positive energy restaurant, generating more energy than it consumes." Most importantly, though, the food is exceptional, with dishes ranging from the salads and salmon entrée to the Brownie Ice Cream Stack earning raves in my best new restaurants article . — WT
6 best restaurants in Sarasota area, from fancy to casual, that opened this year
Agave Bandido
1550 Lakefront Drive, Sarasota; 941-260-8866; agavebandido.com
This South Florida-based Mexican restaurant and tequila bar expanded to Sarasota-Manatee when it opened in March in Lakewood Ranch's Sarasota County development Waterside Place. Inspired by the Latin-American culture of South Florida and offering a "contemporary twist on traditional Mexican cuisine," Agave Bandido is part of Wolverine Management, which also operates multiple locations of the craft beer bar/restaurant chain The Brass Tap that's announced plans to expand to Sarasota-Manatee soon as well. — JG
Restaurant review: Is Sarasota's new waterfront Mexican food spot worth the wait?
Great Heights Creamery
1371 Boulevard of the Arts, Unit 3, Sarasota; 646-285-5024; greatheightscreamery.com
After operating as an ice cream cart at local farmers markets, Great Heights Creamery opened a brick-and-mortar location in April in Sarasota's Rosemary District. Great Heights's ice cream is made from scratch using dairy from Dakin Dairy Farm in Myakka City, with vegan options as well, featuring flavors such as Brownie S'mores (toasted marshmallow ice cream with brownie and graham cracker bites) and Yes, Honey (with honey from Sarasota Honey Co. and honeycomb toffee.) — JG
Local ice cream makers bring creative flavors to new downtown Sarasota area shop
15 South by Napulé
15 S. Boulevard of the Presidents, Sarasota; 941-867-8081; 15south.net
Alessandro di Ferdinando, owner of Napulé, the acclaimed Italian restaurant on South Tamiami Trail in Sarasota, expanded his beloved wood-fired Neapolitan pizza to St. Armands Circle with this two-story restaurant, cocktail bar, and occasional dance venue in April. In addition to the pizza, be sure to consider the handmade pasta — and don't forget to save room for the tiramisu, yet another reason 15 South earned a spot on my list of the best new restaurants of 2024 . — WT
6 best restaurants in Sarasota area, from fancy to casual, that opened this year
Taverna Toscana
1301 Sixth Ave. W., Bradenton; 941-357-7772; tavernatoscana.com
The latest venture by celebrity chef and restaurateur Fabio Viviani, Taverna Toscana occupies a large, standalone structure in front of the SUNZ Insurance Company building in downtown Bradenton. The dinner menu features pasta and pizza, along with seafood and steaks. Recently, Taverna Toscana expanded with a covered outdoor patio to complement its indoor dining room and bar, while also debuting a lunch menu that includes handhelds such as a smash burger, N.Y. steak dip, and Italian grinder. — WT
Celebrity chef's first Sarasota-Manatee restaurant to open next month
enRich Bistro
5239 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton; 941-289-1299; enrichbistro.com
Chef and owner Rich Knowles won over an army of mostly locals, myself included, during a six-year run before closing in July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and strained lease negotiations. Returning like a champ, Knowles reopened enRich this spring at a larger, more attractive location in west Bradenton. Earning a spot on my list of the best new restaurants of 2024 , the menu features smart, creative takes on everything from locally sourced seafood and house-aged steaks to dishes starring quail and rabbit — along with superb craft cocktails and desserts. — WT
6 best restaurants in Sarasota area, from fancy to casual, that opened this year
The Fat Rabbit
1359 Main St., Sarasota; 941-780-1151; fatrabbitpub.com
Following the success of their The Fat Rabbit pub in Tampa Palms, owners John Kuemmel and Shawn Diehl brought their brand to downtown Sarasota, opening in May in a second-floor spot overlooking bustling lower Main Street. The restaurant offers guests an elevated pub experience, with higher-end versions of burgers and wings alongside craft cocktails. — WT
New restaurant serving upscale pub food, cocktails opens today in downtown Sarasota
Big Top Brewing Company (Fruitville Commons)
3045 Fruitville Commons Blvd., Sarasota; 941-225-8438; bigtopbrewing.com
From its fresh and delicious roster of beers to the eclectic menu of remarkable pub grub to the positively fun setting, Big Top Brewing at Fruitville Commons — which opened in June — is easily the best hangout to arrive this year and, yes, one of my favorite new restaurants of 2024. Joe Seidensticker and Joe Guli, best known for their leadership of popular Sarasota and Bradenton restaurants Oak & Stone, Libby's, and Circo, designed the food menu, which excels at everything from gourmet pizza and soft pretzels to creative sandwiches and 24-hour-brined wings — with more than a few inventive twists not typically found on the gastropub greatest-hits list. — WT
6 best restaurants in Sarasota area, from fancy to casual, that opened this year
Inner Compass Brewing Company
10316 Technology Terrace, Bradenton; 941-900-1102; innercompassbrewingcompany.com
Another new addition this year to Sarasota-Manatee's brewery, and restaurant, scene came when Inner Compass Brewing Company, originally from Sanford near Orlando, opened in June in Lakewood Ranch. Along with craft beer, Inner Compass offers a menu that includes pizzas, burgers and other handhelds, salads, chicken wings, appetizers, sides and desserts. — JG
New brewery, restaurant now open in Lakewood Ranch
Naked Farmer
215 N. Cattlemen Road Unit 58, Sarasota; 941-870-9412; eatnakedfarmer.com
A fast-casual concept founded just across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg, Naked Farmer began welcoming guests to its University Town Center location in June 2024, offering what it describes as "locally sourced, farm-fresh food." When I visited in November , I found the food — though not exactly made to order — fast, healthy, and, yes, tasty. — WT
10 best restaurants near Sarasota's Mall at University Town Center for shopping and dining
Cuba 1958
1766 Main St., Sarasota; 941-280-1958; cuba1958.com
An offshoot of Westfield, New Jersey's 1958 Cuban Cuisine, this restaurant opened in June on downtown Sarasota's Main Street in the former space of Flavio's on Main. The restaurant's name and concept come from the final year in Cuba before Fidel Castro assumed power in 1959, with a menu featuring dishes including ropa vieja, lechon asado, bistec de palomilla, and Cuban sandwiches, both a traditional Cuban or a Cuba 1958 version that adds chorizo cantimpalo. — JG
New Cuban restaurant now open in downtown Sarasota
Lenny'z Pizza & Island Bar
6645 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key; 941-260-8879; lennyz.pizza
Lenny'z Pizza & Island Bar opened in late June in the former space of the long-running Siesta Key restaurant City Pizza, which briefly rebranded as Pizza N' Brew in 2020 before permanently closing last year. Owned by the Lennartz family, Lenny'z serves pizza by the slice or the pie, New York or Sicilian-style (with a cauliflower crust option as well), as well as subs, salads, wraps, chicken wings and tenders, appetizers and desserts. — JG
New pizza restaurant opens on Siesta Key
Bar Italia
6568 University Parkway, Lakewood Ranch; 863-354-1479; baritalia.com/sarasota
Originally from Ohio, this Italian restaurant opened its second Florida location in Lakewood Ranch's Center Point development in mid-July, after opening another restaurant in the Orlando area in March 2023. Bar Italia's menu features fresh house pastas, wood-fired pizzas and other entrees as well as a variety of appetizers, salads, sides and desserts, with a lunch menu that also includes sandwiches and a happy hour featuring deals on bar bites and drinks. — JG
New Italian restaurant opening in Lakewood Ranch
Oyster River and The Social at Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa
600 U.S. 41, Palmetto; 941-304-3115; marriott.com
Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa , offering views of the mile-wide Manatee River where it meets the Gulf of Mexico, opened in July and features two restaurants. Oyster River provides guests with stunning views of the Manatee River from its perch eight stories high, while The Social restaurant and bar is adjacent to the lobby. Oyster River's rooftop dining experience boasts a coastal-inspired menu highlighting fresh Florida fare with a Mediterranean twist. On the ground floor, The Social invites guests to enjoy dishes ranging from tacos to steak, along with crafted cocktails, in a casual, coastal setting. — WT
Manatee County's newest resort, rooftop restaurant opening
A Sprig of Thyme
1534 State St., Sarasota; 941-330-8890; asprigofthymesrq.com
After opening five years ago in Sarasota's Southside Village, A Sprig of Thyme left that neighborhood for a new location downtown this year, in a State Street space most recently occupied by Rise Up Cafe. A Sprig of Thyme's menu changes every three months, with staple dishes including The Giovanni Burger (named after co-owner Luigi Cirelli's father) blending lamb and Angus beef, and The Argentinian, flank steak char-grilled and served with chimichurri sauce. — JG
Sarasota restaurant opens at new downtown location
Deep Lagoon Seafood & Oyster House
1540 Lakefront Drive, Sarasota; 941-877-2234; deeplagoon.com
Deep Lagoon Seafood opened its new location over the summer in the Waterside Place neighborhood on the Sarasota County side of Lakewood Ranch. The restaurant specializes in seafood and features indoor and outdoor dining areas, along with bars offering views of Kingfisher Lake, the centerpiece of this upscale new neighborhood. Located at 1540 Lakefront Drive, it offers a menu and hours similar to the Deep Lagoon restaurant near Casey Key in south Sarasota County. — WT
New waterfront restaurant opening in Sarasota County next week
Bulgogi House
1472 Main St., Sarasota; 941-559-5678; bulgogihousefl.com
Taking over the former Kennedy Studios space in downtown Sarasota, this Korean barbecue spot opened in August , with ownership that includes John Zhao, who's also an owner of the restaurant Yummy House. Customers can order off a menu of a la carte, kitchen-cooked dishes — including pork shoulder or belly, beef bulgogi or LA Galbi (short ribs) and chicken breast — or cook themselves on grills at the table, with options including all-you-can-eat in a two-hour limit. — JG
A new Korean BBQ restaurant is now open in downtown Sarasota
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort
1601 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key; 941-231-1000; marriott.com
The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, overlooking a private white sand beach and the Gulf of Mexico, opened in August . The luxury hotel features four main dining venues: the steakhouse CW Prime, the Northern Italian restaurant Riva, the Latin American spot Aura, and the rooftop lounge serving Asian fusion cuisine, Oshen. There's also The St. Regis Bar, The Monkey Bar, and the hotel's café, Caroline's. All of the restaurants and bars are open to the public, except for Oshen, which is exclusive to hotel guests and St. Regis members. — WT
Sarasota beachfront hotel St. Regis with multiple waterfront restaurants now open
Settimi's Gelato
309 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota; facebook.com/settimisgelato
The long-running gelato shop on St. Armands Circle opened a new location in August in the space most recently occupied by DalMoros Pastas to Go . Settimi's new spot is only about 400 feet from its original location, which is still open, but owners Isidro Lodi and Esther Sabater said they took the opportunity to take over the former DalMoros Pastas to Go space as the new location is closer to Lido Beach and offers a bigger outside seating area. — JG
Sarasota gelato shop opens, fast-casual pasta restaurant permanently closes
Siesta Poke
5204 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key; 941-217-6359; siestapoke.com
Above the Bar Hospitality Group, which operates several Siesta Key Village establishments such as Beach Club, The Cottage, The Hub Baja Grill, MVP — My Village Pub and Summer House Steak & Seafood, added another to its roster when it opened Siesta Poke in late August . The restaurant offers signature or build-your-own versions of its namesake dish, poke bowls, along with açaí bowls and healthy snacks such as protein bars. — JG
Beach Club owners open new restaurant nearby on Siesta Key
Jaxx Wing Co.
316 Old Main St. (aka 12th St. W.), Bradenton; 941-226-0668; jaxxwingco.com
Fans of hand-formed burgers, hand-cut fries, and some of the best chicken wings in all of Sarasota and Manatee counties will want to visit Jaxx Wing Co., which opened in downtown Bradenton in September. Just before hurricanes Helene and Milton hit, the casual little restaurant and beer bar was forced to temporarily close. Jaxx, which has a larger sister restaurant in Palmetto, returned strong, though, earning a spot on my list of the best new dining spots of 2024 . — WT
6 best restaurants in Sarasota area, from fancy to casual, that opened this year
Rufa
1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota; 941-309-2000; ritzcarlton.com
The opulent Ritz-Carlton hotel in downtown Sarasota opened its new open-air restaurant and lounge, Rufa, in early October. Adjacent to the hotel's signature restaurant, Jack Dusty, and run by its culinary team, Rufa offers impressive first- and second-floor sunset views of Sarasota Bay while specializing in craft cocktails and shareable dishes prepared tapas-style, such as chicken skewers, beef tenderloin tacos, and lobster tostada bites. — WT
New waterfront restaurant opens this week at downtown Sarasota luxury hotel
Pura Vida Miami
192 N. Cattlemen Road, Sarasota; puravidamiami.com
This Miami-based, health-and-wellness-focused café, founded in 2012 and known for its all-day breakfast menu, is among the most exciting fast-casual brands to hit our market in recent memory. Opened in October, Pura Vida Miami's new University Town Center location features a fresh, modern aesthetic, with a bright white exterior gleaming under the Florida sun and a menu showcasing fresh egg breakfast sandwiches and smoothies as vibrant as its setting. — WT
10 best restaurants near Sarasota's Mall at University Town Center for shopping and dining
Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar
6562 University Parkway, Sarasota; 941-337-0568; tommybahama.com
Tommy Bahama, the island lifestyle brand with a long-running restaurant and retail store on St. Armands Circle (where it will remain, though it is moving into a new building ), added a new area location at Lakewood Ranch's Center Point development in October . Marlin Bar is a separate concept from Tommy Bahama's other restaurants, with orders placed at the bar, then dishes such as coconut shrimp or blackened mahi-mahi tacos delivered by servers to the table. — JG
National restaurant, bar, retail store announces opening date of Sarasota area location
Pazzo on Orange
481 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota; 941-364-4682; pazzoonorange.com
Michael Calore, best known as the founding owner and chef of Mozzarella Fella, is running the kitchen at Pazzo Orange , located at 481 N. Orange Ave. in downtown Sarasota's Rosemary District, in the space previously occupied by 481 Gourmet restaurant. Pazzo Orange is owned by Frank Nocco, who was the manager of Calore's former restaurant, Pazzo Southside. They opened Pazzo Orange in October, serving Italian-American classics such as pizza, pasta, and sandwiches at lunch. — WT
New restaurant opening in downtown Sarasota features return of popular chef
Spice Indian Cuisine
3550 Clark Road, Sarasota; 941-924-7222; spicesarasota.com
Venice's Tikka Indian Cuisine, which was named the second best restaurant in Florida by Yelp in a Top 100 list last year , opened this second location with a slightly different name in the former Curry Station space on Clark Road in Sarasota. Spice Indian Cuisine has the same menu as Tikka including curries such as tikka masala and clay-oven dishes such as tandoori chicken, as well as various appetizers, rices, naans, sides and desserts. — JG
New Sarasota Indian restaurant from owners of acclaimed Venice eatery now open
Lucky 8 Luncheonette
Three Sarasota restaurants — Lucky 8 (pictured), Tralia and Focaccia Sandwich + Bakery — have earned recognition from the famed MICHELIN Guide. Read more .
1812 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota; 941-444-0155; lucky8srq.com
This New Orleans-inspired eatery opened in late November in Sarasota's Southside Village, taking over the former Osteria Southside space. The new restaurant's operators include former Veronica Fish & Oyster executive chef Mark Majorie and Edward Zaki, known for 1592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails and, more recently, as the new business partner at Adeline and Little A (continue reading). Majorie previously served as chef de cuisine at The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Lucky 8's menu features New Orleans favorites, including po'boys, muffulettas, and gumbo. — JG
Sarasota chef to open New Orleans-inspired restaurant in Southside Village
Adeline and Little A
Adeline was at 1920 Hillview St. in Sarasota. Read the story.
1920 Hillview St., Sarasota; 941-444-7692; adelinesrq.com
Opened to widespread praise in 2022, Meliora made a major announcement this fall with its new name: Adeline . The New American restaurant at 1920 Hillview St. in Sarasota's Southside Village also noted that it has expanded its hours and unveiled a new lunch and sandwich concept called Little A, operating at the same location. Chef Drew Adams, who co-owned Meliora, continues to showcase his brilliance at Adeline with innovative dinner entrées and at Little A with some of the best sandwiches — plus house-made fries, chips, pasta salad, and chocolate chip cookies — you will find in Sarasota-Manatee. — WT
6 best restaurants in Sarasota area, from fancy to casual, that opened this year
Ocean Prime
501 Quay Commons, Sarasota; 941-404-1024; ocean-prime.com .
Nationally acclaimed, Ohio-based Cameron Mitchell Restaurants' Ocean Prime is opening its newest location in the new and improved Quay, a 14-acre downtown waterfront district along Sarasota Bay advertised as eventually offering a blend of luxury residential and retail, along with a boutique hotel and office space. Ocean Prime, named to OpenTable's list of the Top 100 Most Beloved Restaurants in America , began hosting private preview dinners on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at its new Sarasota location ahead of its official grand opening to the public on Saturday, Dec. 21. Ocean Prime is best known for its fresh seafood, prime steaks, hand-rolled sushi, side dishes, and signature house-made desserts. — WT
Luxurious waterfront restaurant opening this week in downtown Sarasota
Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 35 new restaurants to try in Sarasota, Bradenton, and Venice
