Stories to watch in 2018: Menu of restaurants is growing

Longboat Key’s restaurant scene is continuing its makeover in 2018.

The Columbia Restaurant Group announced Dec. 18 that it would transform the former Pattigeorge’s property into The Buccaneer, an homage to The Buccaneer Inn that called Longboat Key home from 1957-2001. It’s expected to open sometime in 2019.

The Columbia Restaurant Group purchased the Pattigeorge’s property in June 2016, and in September, the group acquired the three-story Harbour Square office building on Longboat Key adjacent to the former Pattigeorge’s property. As of right now, the Harbor Square office building is not part of The Buccaneer plans.

Farther north on the Island, The Shore restaurant passed an inspection in September verifying it was making progress toward completion. The 7,000 square-foot, 185-seat restaurant is being built at the location of the former Moore’s Stone Crab Restaurant.

The restaurant was originally planned to open this summer, but now co-owner Tom Leonard is hoping for an opening in May or June, he said.

Nearby, Ed Chiles of the Chiles Restaurant Group, began a $2 million expansion project on Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub in August 2016. The project includes the addition of a second story office and a storage area, new interior and a 37% larger kitchen.

In February 2017, the kitchen was completed. Since then, the second story office and storage space have been completed. Chiles said in 2018 the renovations will continue on the interior seating area and bar.