faq's Profile
Kid friendly in Sarasota/Siesta Key
I started to reply to a post, and realized after writing that it was posted last year. Oops. At any rate, I figured why let it go to waste since we're always looking for kid friendly spots for our tots (3yo and 21 mos). If you have any kid friendly spots to recommend, we're all ears as we'll be in Sarasota in a few days for the holidays.
Lunch/Dinner
Valentino's - http://www.valentinopizzeria.com/ - excellent pizzas and pastas
El Adobe on Tamiami - kids menu is key
Il Panificio recently opened up an outpost in Gulf Gate that we have yet to try, but I'm guessing it's kid friendly
Capn Curt's on Siesta Key (the kids love taking home the frisbee)
Rico's Pizzeria
Columbia @ St Armand's Circle
Peruvian Grill on Beneva - we always get takeout, and it's terrific. We stopped in one time to dine and it was a teeny place, already full, but it looked like they'd be accomodating.
Others we've been wanting to try:
El Toro Bravo - my husband hears this one is good
Yoder's - I hear the fried chicken is the bomb, but the line has been too long the times we've tried to stop in
Caragiulio's - I read somewhere that they will let kids make their own pizzas, but we have yet to visit
Pho Cali - downtown
And finally, our breakfast/lunch favorites are:
Sun Garden Cafe
Millie's
The Broken Egg on the Key is good - (the location on Clark Rd is forgettable)
C'est la Vie downtown - some of the best croissants we've ever had
First Watch (chain, sorry)
The Serving Spoon
Word of Mouth - I like this place, my husband is so-so on it
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El Adobe
4023 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34231
Serving Spoon
1825 S Osprey Ave, Sarasota, FL 34239
Pho Cali
1578 Main St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Peruvian Grill
5769 Beneva Rd, Sarasota, FL 34233
Word of Mouth
711 S Osprey Ave Ste 3, Sarasota, FL 34236
Sun Garden Cafe
210 Avenida Madera, Sarasota, FL 34242
Broken Egg Restaurant
140 Avenida Messina, Sarasota, FL 34242
Yoder's Restaurant
3434 Bahia Vista St, Sarasota, FL 34239
Il Panificio
1703 Main St, Sarasota, FL 34236
First time at Table Fifty-Two -- What to Eat
I tend to agree. The fried green tomato app was really good. Hummingbird cake was good, but I wouldn't go back just for that.
Your favorite delivery in Lakeview?
So we're getting a bit tired of our old standby's on dinner delivery and takeout in Lakeview... and most of the searches I ran were for Chinese ... I'd appreciate your help on your favorites. I'm also hoping to get a few terrific salad delivery/takeout recommendations.
So here's what's already on our list:
Thai: Cozy Noodles & Rice, TAC Quick, Spoon Thai
Chinese: New Jeanny's, Ping Pong
Pizza: thin - D'Agostinos, pan - Malnati's, stuffed - Pizza Capri, other - Carreno's
Sushi: Furaibo, Ringo
Sandwiches: Potbelly's, Costello's
Italian: La Gondola, Piazza Bella, Pompei
Indulgences: Philly's Best,
Takeout -
Burgers - Select Cut
Moroccan - Andalous
Columbian - Las Tablas
Peruvian - Rinconcito Sudamericano
Salads - Southport Lanes, CPK, Cafe Absinthe
Mexican - El Tapatio
Guatamalan - El Tinajon
Thanks!!
Best small restaurant with mind-blowing food
La Gondola. It's totally unassuming from the exterior, but given it's location (Wellington and Ashland, in the Jewel plaza) I probably wouldn't put it into the NY-style category. That said, it's tiny -- seats maybe 15. Try their handmade stuffed gnocchi, you won't be sorry. (I get it with bolognese, instead of pesto). They have fantastic eggplant parm also. Everything is made to order but the wait is well worth it.
Dinner Before the Blue Man Group?
I would suggest HB Home Bistro (Hearty Boys). Entrees between $15-25. It's just up the street at Halsted and Roscoe.
www.homebistrochicago.com
Dinner for 6 around W Hotel Lakeshore Drive
Other ideas are Kamehachi for sushi and Emilio's Sol y Nieve for tapas
Best Brunch/Lunch on Southport
I will admit that Julius Meinl's wait can be long and the service a bit spotty/slow... but definitely try the baked eggs next time...
Re: Violet - we've been twice. The first time we really enjoyed it. I had the steak and dirty eggs and my husband had one of the special french toasts. The steak had great flavor, so good that I ordered it again when we went back a second time. That time it was good, not great. But we would go back. We went early both times, like 8:30ish on a Sunday so it wasn't terribly crowded and we didn't feel rushed as Gweck noted. FYI, our waiter told us that they were planning to change the name this summer, cuisine would be French and they'd be open for dinner...
Help me narrow down my research
I'd vote for North Pond. Yum. I love the warm atmosphere and the midwestern elegant feel to the place. Fresh, local produce, often organic with delicious preparations that aren't overly off the wall. Extra bonus is the view of the Hancock building on a clear day. I'd recommend requesting a table by the window also...
Best Brunch/Lunch on Southport
Julius Meinl has terrific baked eggs. Also recommend the chicken salad sandwich for lunch.
Ann Sather for the cinnamon rolls
Southport Grocery and Cafe
Uncommon Ground at Clark (and Waveland?) is also good for brunch.
Deleece is excellent as well
Best Sunday Morning Hangover Breakfest in Chi
I find a Mexican breakfast just right to cure a hangover. El Tapatio at Ashland and Roscoe -- recommend the breakfast burrito or chilaquiles.
Kitsch'n on Roscoe is also quite good for that purpose.
Sanibel Island where to eat dinner
in sanibel, timbers restaurant, definitely. old school fish market type atmosphere and wonderfully fresh fish. if you want to go all the way to captiva, hands down go to the sunshine seafood cafe. no view, but excellent food and nice wine list. on a 5 day trip, we ate there twice.
One day in Key West
hands down, 7fish and blue heaven. on a long weekend in key west, we went to 7fish twice it was that good. must get a rsvtn though.
Family friendly in Boca and nearby
Chicago hounds (ready to get out of the crazy weather) heading to Boca Raton next weekend and the following week. We're traveling with our 4 month old and my parents.
What are your favorite family friendly spots? I put Luna Rosa on the list already. Is Sapporissimo OK if we go on the early side (5:30/6)? Any Cuban recommendations?
Also, my husband and I will probably try and get away for an adult dinner one night... where would you go? A friend had recommended Cafe Martorano in Ft Lauderdale - is it worth the drive/wait?
