CFishman's Profile
SARASOTA "STATE STREET EATING HOUSE"
I like the idea of State Street, which is mostly what I think they are selling, but I don't think the food is where it should be yet. My wife and I had one lunch meal there a couple of weeks ago. I had the corned beef sandwich which was a soggy mess. I could forgive that if the corned beef was good but it wasn't. The thing that it reminded me of the most was Steak-um. My wife had a veggie burger that was really under-seasoned/under-sauced, just bland. Oddly, the "Hand Cut Fries with Pink Sea Salt" were also under-seasoned. We also had the braised kale and the sweet potato and neither side was in anyway remarkable. I like what State Street is trying to do but they are going to have to step up the food. Hopefully, these things will get ironed out as they get their footing.
Boca: Used to be "Smoke" in Hyde Park in Tampa--how is it?
Geoffrey, where have you been? Anyway, I think Boca is good but a bit inconsistent. They do nice things with fish at dinner. For brunch, they have excellent pancakes with fruit from King Family Farm. A lot of the food, in fact, is locally sourced. They make sure you know that too. I hate to deduct points for trying too hard (you want people to try hard, right?), but I could do without all of the ideology ("farm to table", "locally sourced", and such written on the front of the restaurant) and the posing (e.g. the rock and roll theme). In the end, that is just a niggle as the food is pretty good. The nice thing is that they are doing a very good business. I hope other restaurateurs will take hope in the fact that the community will support a good restaurant. It's interesting that Boca, Pane Rustica, the Refinery, and Wimauma are all serving similar food and doing it with some success.
New cheese shop in Sarasota
Yeah, I would like to see her bring the prices down a bit. A cheese plate for two is $27. That's not terrible but it might keep me from coming in for a pre/post dinner snack. Otherwise, it is very nice place. I hope they will do well.
Lunch at 4 Rivers Smokehouse or Hawkers Asian StreetFare tomorrow?
Personally, Hawkers doesn't do anything for me. To me, it's a theme restaurant. I would be much happier eating at any decent Asian restaurant. For instance, I can imagine eating a couple banh mi at Boston Bakery and being very satisfied. 4 Rivers is like any BBQ: it can be hit or miss. The problem is that the long line ramps up my expectations so that the misses are particularly painful. The last two times I have been there I have been served brisket that was so over-salted that I couldn't finish it. Anyone who has seen me eat will tell you that something must have gone drastically wrong for me not to leave a clean plate. If I were going to Orlando tomorrow, there is no doubt that I would have lunch at the Ravenous Pig. The pork belly sandwich that I had there a month or two ago was superb. I still think about it.
Tampa recommendatons please (Researched!!)
Coloradosmom, I think the only thing we would agree on is Ted Peters. All my meals at Mid-Peninsula have been great. If it were in my neighborhood, I would eat there once a week. Ceviche used to be good but seems to have fallen off. Maybe the new location will revive Ceviche a bit. I had one meal at Bin 27 and was not impressed at all.
Little Moir's Food Shack -- deserves its own thread!
Yeah, Little Moir's is great. It's a haul from Tampa but we do it. There have been other threads. Here is one from the Miami board with pictures: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/825669
Has anyone been to the TABLE Restaurant in Sarasota??
I did not really emphasize properly that as good as the food was the company was better.
Has anyone been to the TABLE Restaurant in Sarasota??
We had a very nice time. I started with the Wahoo ceviche with key lime sriracha vinagrette. I thought this was a great dish although slightly on the small side. I then had a poached pear salad with glazed almonds, mascarpone, lemon ginger vinaigrette (I am getting help here from the webpage: http://tablesrq.com/dinner-menu/ ). The salad was kind of disappointing. It was just kind of random things in individual piles on the plate. My entree was the short rib with
Caribbean gnocchi, roasted root vegetables, mushrooms, and vidalia manchego froth. I thought this was an excellent dish and perfect for the cold winter night (the door beside us kept opening and closing, so it really did feel like a winter night). The food was very good and I will definitely go back when the weather allows for eating on the patio (pretty noisy inside). We have plans for another meal and I hope the Coves will make it.
Sarasota: Best Seafood - Shrimp and Fish
I am definitely going to try Captain Brian's but I want to put in another vote for a Chowdown at Starfish.
Jeannie Pierola and Kitchenbar
We did cancel. I couldn't get over the bad feelings from opening night.
just found a bakery in Sarasota to die for !!!!!!!
I just had my first bretzel from Small Batch (I think Jim calls them Pretzel Bread) and it was great, a serious competitor to Geier's version. I particularly liked how dense the inside was. Pardon a little reminiscing, but there is a great place in Chicago that specializes in making sandwiches on bretzels called Hannah's Bretzel.
http://www.hannahsbretzel.com/
Ooh La La French Bakery (Sarasota)
Thanks to Teresa for providing the motivation to get us all together yesterday. Perhaps it is better that I live 50 miles away from these tarts.
just found a bakery in Sarasota to die for !!!!!!!
Chowdown was a good time yesterday. This Key Lime Kiss from Small Batch was one of the highlights for me.
Ham Heaven (Sarasota)
Fun chowdown yesterday. One of the highlights came at the tail end when a few of us stuck our heads into Ham Heaven on our way home. Ham Heaven advertises their Ruben as having being designated the best in the state of Florida. While we might quibble about how much of a distinction that actually is, the sandwich is genuinely very good. Look at the thick cut on the corned beef. I can't wait to go back and see if they cut their pastrami the same way. Thanks, Ospreycove, for treating me to this sandwich.
Jeannie Pierola and Kitchenbar
Andy, the oysters are $14. The potatoes are $8. I was trying not to mention every grievance as I made the choice to go on the opening night. You are right, though, I would not order the oysters again.
Jeannie Pierola and Kitchenbar
Austin, I would say the first week was very rough. I have a reservation for Xmas eve that I am considering cancelling if I don't hear something good soon. I say this full of regret as I really enjoyed the first three Kitchenbars.
Soft Shell Crab sandwich - South Tampa
Pretty eyes. Thanks for this. I will have to check it out. $5 is very reasonable for a soft-shell crab sandwich.
Knife & Co
I was there last night. The meal was kind of mixed. The disco fries are still good but I think the switch to waffle fries is unfortunate. The sliders came out cold. That could not have been intentional, right? The pork belly was fine for $10 but could have been cooked much better. It was mushy. The grits that I had with it were good. My friend ordered the scallops. I didn't taste them, so I don't know for sure, but the plate looked a bit random with ham draped over the scallops and then fava beans and carrots strewn across the plate. I was kind of peeved that the chef was schmoozing and then sitting at a table in the back during our meal. Maybe if she had been in the kitchen my pork belly would have come out a little better prepared.
Ooh La La French Bakery (Sarasota)
Somehow, I didn't realize that Ooh La La was closed on Mondays. This gave me a chance to go back to Small Batch and I have to say they are bringing some competition. I had a honey bun and a blueberry crumble cake. Both were great. I was sorry that I had to forego the raspberry pinwheel and the candied bacon croissant. I hope the neighborhood can support both places. Either one would be the best bakery in Tampa hands-down.
Ooh La La French Bakery (Sarasota)
Osprey, I understood. I didn't notice the address that Chowhound added. Removing it now.
Ooh La La French Bakery (Sarasota)
Osprey, thanks for pointing this out about Il Panificio's expansion. I will have to find a way to fit that into my next visit to Sarasota. I really like Il Panificio's pizza, so I would love to see what they can do with other Italian food. The passion fruit cake was great at Ooh La La. I have attached a picture for those who haven't made it back for this yet.
Ooh La La French Bakery (Sarasota)
Not that anyone cares, but I am on my way there this very moment. I am so excited to be headed back.
Sweetbay supermarkets
Joan, I have never been to a Restaurant Depot, but I imagine that Sanwa is quite similar (but with a more ethnic emphasis). The thing I was most excited about purchasing was 2lb bags of Spanish Sardines for $5 a piece. They had huge uncut slabs of steak that I definitely plan on going back for. It's a fun place. I am sure you will like it. If you plan your trip right, you can have dim sum across the street at the new Yummy House.
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Yummy House
2202 W Waters Ave Ste 1A, Tampa, FL 33604
Restaurant Depot
810 N 50th St, Tampa, FL 33619
Sweetbay supermarkets
Joan, I know you are coming a long way so do double check on the Sanwa lobster prices. It was my first trip there and I was a bit dizzy from all the possibilities. I would bet that I got it right, but I don't want to put you to any trouble.
Sweetbay supermarkets
If I am remembering correctly, Sanwa, which is open to the public, also had them for $5.99 last weekend (live).
Mad Crow Brewery and Grill, Sarasota ...CLOSED
I have heard somewhere that Patrick's is good. I will have to give it a try. I think Owen's Fishcamp is at the top of the list for the moment. Just waiting for a must-see movie next door.
Mad Crow Brewery and Grill, Sarasota ...CLOSED
I wanted them to make it but I have to say that the food was inconsistent. It's a nice space; too bad that it is somehow challenged. It's a wonder that anyone risks opening a restaurant in this economy. Thanks for posting this. I would have surely headed there only to be disappointed.
Crazy Cajun in Tampa
Kevin, thanks for saving me the disappointment of a meal at Crazy Cajun. It was on my short list as I drive by it several times a week. Herbert, Gulfcoast Po'boys is deep into Pinellas but it is worth the drive, no joke.
Filipino Home Cooking
That's funny. I will keep an eye out for you too. We are going to miss the next couple of weeks because of the holidays. It's too bad because those are the best movies.
