Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant moves to Palm Avenue

After five years at its First Street location, Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant, known for its tapas and sangria, will be moving to a slightly larger home near the intersection of Main Street and Palm Avenue.

“We’re excited to be in better walking distance to the downtown scene,” said Joe Orsino, CEO of Ceviche. “It’s much more accessible by foot.”

The new location offers 11,500 square feet inside the historic Miramar Plaza, at 55 Palm Ave., including a brick outdoor patio. The former dance-studio space will be renovated before Ceviche moves in. Renovation work, including a new dining area, a bar and kitchen, will take about three months to complete.

“We want to be there by March,” Orsino said.

Ceviche’s move was driven by a desire to be slightly closer to Main Street and the center of downtown.

“The menu is staying the same,” Orsino said. “We are sort of picking up and moving down the street.”

The new space will feature a larger dining room that looks onto the brick patio. The restaurant will continue to add to the night scene with live music.

Although there won’t be a rooftop bar, the patio will be a welcoming place, Orsino said.

“It is beautiful, with brick pavers and a waterfall, and it leads right into our bar lounge,” Orsino said
Another draw of the building for Ceviche was nearby parking available in the Miramar parking garage.

Ceviche will remain in its current building while the new Palm Avenue site is under construction. The 1216 First St. building is currently listed for sale.

Social Eatery & Bar
In another change, a new restaurant called Social Eatery & Bar could be opening across from Ceviche’s First Street location.

Plans for the restaurant, at 1219 First St., feature an outdoor dining area similar to that at Mattison’s City Grille, and a menu that includes locally-sourced food. The restaurant is slated to open in December, if the city approves a conditional-use application.

The restaurant is awaiting approval of the application, which the City Commission will vote on Monday, Nov. 5 and is required for the liquor license the restaurant is seeking.

The restaurant’s layout is unique, with most of the seating outdoors; of 147 seats proposed, more than 90 are located outside.

Co-owner Samir Abdo hinted that the menu will bring a specific cuisine, now popular in New York City, to Sarasota. But, Abdo didn’t give away the menu secrets yet. Abdo described the cuisine as “rustic American-Italian comfort food.”

“I know we will get tourists and the snowbirds,” Abdo said. “But, really, this is a restaurant that is for Sarasota. We want it to be a neighborhood restaurant.”

Abdo will open the restaurant with partners John Tassotti, David Goldman and Jason Lefrock.