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Ranch Nite Wednesdays offers diverse menu at Waterside Place

The weekly event in Lakewood Ranch keeps patrons coming back with its many food trucks and restaurants.


  • By Liz Ramos
  • | 11:00 p.m. January 4, 2023
East County's Alyssa Miller and Juliya Hochstetler try a different food truck every time they go to Ranch Nite Wednesdays. One of their favorites is the cheese curds from Say Cheese Curd Company.
East County's Alyssa Miller and Juliya Hochstetler try a different food truck every time they go to Ranch Nite Wednesdays. One of their favorites is the cheese curds from Say Cheese Curd Company.
Photo by Liz Ramos
  • East County
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East County's Alyssa Miller and Juliyah Hochstetler said its like a trip to a different restaurant each time they go to Ranch Nite Wednesdays at Waterside Place.

With more than 10 food trucks serving the patrons along with the hub's restaurants, those who attend can go months before they need to repeat their choice for dinner.

 On Jan. 4, Hochstetler was trying egg rolls.

"We love coming here for the food," she said. 

Miller said she was surprised by how much she liked the cheese curds from Say Cheese Curd Company.

"The cheese curds were way more enjoyable than I thought they would be," Miller said.

Lakewood Ranch's Andrea Allison said one of her favorite food trucks is Got Lobstah. 

"That place is great," she said. 

When she's not enjoying food from the food trucks, Allison and her husband, Chad Allison, grab food from one of the restaurants at Waterside Place. On Jan. 4, they enjoyed a meal from Kore Steakhouse. 

Besides the food trucks, many people like Palm Aire's Mary Buono, enjoyed the live music from Juicy Purple. 

Waterside Place is packed with people and food trucks for the first Ranch Nite Wednesday of 2023.
Waterside Place is packed with people and food trucks for the first Ranch Nite Wednesday of 2023.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Saratoga, New York 3-year-old Sullivan Shafer has fun visiting his grandmother, Palm Aire's Mary Buono. Buono says he will be dancing because he loves the band Juicy Purple.
Saratoga, New York 3-year-old Sullivan Shafer has fun visiting his grandmother, Palm Aire's Mary Buono. Buono says he will be dancing because he loves the band Juicy Purple.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Juicy Purple performs live at Ranch Nite Wednesdays.
Juicy Purple performs live at Ranch Nite Wednesdays.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Veronica Huber, who is visiting Sarasota from California, has fun dancing to the live music.
Veronica Huber, who is visiting Sarasota from California, has fun dancing to the live music.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Kim Valone, who is visiting from New York, dances the night away.
Kim Valone, who is visiting from New York, dances the night away.
Photo by Liz Ramos
East County's Alyssa Miller and Juliya Hochstetler try a different food truck every time they go to Ranch Nite Wednesdays. One of their favorites is the cheese curds from Say Cheese Curd Company.
East County's Alyssa Miller and Juliya Hochstetler try a different food truck every time they go to Ranch Nite Wednesdays. One of their favorites is the cheese curds from Say Cheese Curd Company.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Angie Brenner, a server for The Hyppo, says Ranch Nite is a wonderful, fun night with lots of people and a good energy.
Angie Brenner, a server for The Hyppo, says Ranch Nite is a wonderful, fun night with lots of people and a good energy.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Lakewood Ranch's Andrea and Chad Allison attend Ranch Nite Wednesdays all the time for the food, the music and the people watching, Andrea Allison says with a laugh.
Lakewood Ranch's Andrea and Chad Allison attend Ranch Nite Wednesdays all the time for the food, the music and the people watching, Andrea Allison says with a laugh.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Kenyon Campbell and Gunnar Saxon, who are visiting Sarasota from New York, compete in a round of cornhole.
Kenyon Campbell and Gunnar Saxon, who are visiting Sarasota from New York, compete in a round of cornhole.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Christina Amato and Gary Amato, who are from Ohio, have a chance to see what Lakewood Ranch has to offer during Ranch Nite Wednesdays.
Christina Amato and Gary Amato, who are from Ohio, have a chance to see what Lakewood Ranch has to offer during Ranch Nite Wednesdays.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Cathy Guido, Carlo Guido, Ava Caputo, Anthony Caputo and Sierra Caputo, who are vacationing in Lakewood Ranch from Toronto, attend their first Ranch Nite Wednesdays.
Cathy Guido, Carlo Guido, Ava Caputo, Anthony Caputo and Sierra Caputo, who are vacationing in Lakewood Ranch from Toronto, attend their first Ranch Nite Wednesdays. "We love it; it's great," Sierra Caputo says.
Photo by Liz Ramos
Englewood's Erik Dunigan and his wife, Megan Dunigan, take cover from the rain with their daughters, 9-year-old Lynlee Dunigan, and 7-year-old Laiklyn Dunigan.
Englewood's Erik Dunigan and his wife, Megan Dunigan, take cover from the rain with their daughters, 9-year-old Lynlee Dunigan, and 7-year-old Laiklyn Dunigan.
Photo by Liz Ramos

 

author

Liz Ramos

Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.

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