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Arts + Entertainment | Eat + Drink

Harry's Continental Kitchens has been a local favorite for decades.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • June 16, 2026
Savor Sarasota deals extended through June

Fifty-five restaurants will continue to offer special pricing for lunches and dinners.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Jonathan Ith, who has run Chick-fil-A Creekwood for the last 25 years, is preparing to open a new location in Heritage Harbour to keep up with the local demand.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • June 16, 2026
Chick-fil-A expands in Bradenton with a new store in Heritage Harbour

Owner Jonathan Ith has run Chick-fil-A Creekwood for the past 25 years and is excited to open a larger store.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Peculiar Pub takes the place of Twisted Pit BBQ on Main Street at Lakewood Ranch.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • June 12, 2026
Peculiar Pub crawls across Main Street in Lakewood Ranch

Peculiar Pub is offering extended hours, an elevated menu and a full bar at the new location.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
University Town Center is poised to welcome more than a dozen new tenants, Ikea this summer to Dick's House of Sport in 2027.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • June 3, 2026
13 new retailers, eateries coming to University Town Center

Restaurants and retailers are among the new businesses coming to the UTC area.

  • East County
  • Business
Arts and Central, the Rosemary District restaurant opened in 2024 by father-and-son team Dan Henson Jr. and Dan Henson, is one of more than 50 restaurants participating in the 21st annual Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 27, 2026
Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week kicks off its 21st edition June 1-14

More than 60 area eateries are offering two-course lunches for $25 and three-course dinners for $45.

  • Arts + Culture
In addition to delicious brisket, Stottlemyer's offers live music daily under an open-air tiki bar.
  • By Emma Burke
  • May 26, 2026
Holy smoke! Don't let May pass you by without celebrating National Brisket Day

Gather around the table with people you care about and savor life in the slow lane.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
A colorful spread of kebabs, house-made sauces and sides showcases the restaurant’s bold, cross-cultural approach to Mediterranean cuisine.
    By
  • Marty Fugate
  • May 20, 2026
Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant gets its passion from surprising its customers

Florence & the Spice Boys Chef Collin Blakeman explains why Middle Eastern cuisine is the spice of life.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Costello’s Neighborhood Pizza owner Kenny Palin takes a pie out of the oven at the Longboat Key branch of Costello’s.
    By
  • S.T. Cardinal
  • May 12, 2026
Owner rebrands Longboat, Gulf Gate pizza joints to Costello's Neighborhood Pizza

As the franchise contract reached expiration, owner Kenny Palin decided to personalize his two pizzerias with a family name.

  • Longboat Key
  • Business
Pastitsio ($25) made with Greek macaroni with ground beef, fresh herbs topped with a creamy béchamel sauce.
    By
  • Emma Burke
  • May 11, 2026
Make it a Mediterranean (meal) May

These local dishes remind us that eating well doesn’t have to feel restrictive.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Il Panificio is now open at 1995 Main St. in Sarasota.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • May 9, 2026
Il Panificio opens new downtown Sarasota restaurant

The pizza restaurant now has two locations on Main Street and one on Siesta Key.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Saucy! is expanding on the Gulf Coast, with a Lakewood Ranch and Trinity location opening May 4 and 5, respectively.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • May 7, 2026
Saucy new chicken spot opens in Lakewood Ranch

As the name of the KFC spinoff suggests, dipping sauces are front and center in the restaurant on Lena Road.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Sarasota's Axel Neff is glad to welcome community members who are both familiar and unfamiliar with Tim Horton's brand to bond over food and coffee.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • April 26, 2026
Tim Hortons blazes a Florida path with Manatee County restaurant

Tim Hortons, a Canadian breakfast chain, wants customers both familiar and unfamiliar with the brand to walk away with a smile.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
The Original Hob Nob Drive-In is back at 1701 N. Washington Blvd. in Sarasota.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • April 25, 2026
The Original Hob Nob Drive-In reopens in Sarasota

The open-air restaurant on Washington Boulevard has returned and has future plans to offer online ordering.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Kojo's incredibly delish truffled chicken wontons ($14).
    By
  • Emma Burke
  • April 20, 2026
Live large with a tiny taste of the best truffle dishes in town

We've rooted out some affordable ways to celebrate National Truffle Day.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
Element Steak.Seafood.Pasta is at 1413 Main St. in Sarasota.
    By
  • Elizabeth King
  • April 16, 2026
Sarasota restaurant closing on Main Street seeks new space

Element will shutter its current location downtown in late April.

  • Arts + Entertainment
  • Eat + Drink
1 2 3 4 5 »
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Latest in Arts + Entertainment

1
Attendees were impressed by the fireworks across Sarasota Bay.
  • June 19, 2026
Fourth of July 2026 events in Sarasota, Longboat Key and Lakewood Ranch
2
Class participant Michael Hartman begins to put on the AED pads to the CPR mannequin.
  • June 18, 2026
Learn a life-saving skill this summer
3
Most of the action in Asolo Repertory Theatre's "Lady Disdain" takes place in a studio where romantasy audiobooks are recorded.
  • June 17, 2026
Asolo Rep's 'Lady Disdain' brings the Bard into age of romantasy, revenge porn
4
Waves of red, white and blue flooded Bay Isles Road for the 2024 Freedom Fest parade. While the patriotic display was impressive, organizers of the upcoming Fourth of July festivities believe the activities planned for this special 250th edition will be bigger and better than ever.
  • June 17, 2026
Get ready for a special edition of Longboat's 'shortest parade in America'
5
JP Soars and the Red Hots will perform a free Father's Day concert at The Bay on Sunday, June 21.
  • June 16, 2026
The best things to do in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat for June 18-24

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