Whats new on the Sarasota-Manatee dining scene? Heres our weekly restaurant and bar roundup – Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Restaurant and bar openings, closings, dining events and more for Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties.

For this weeks super-sized restaurant and bar newsroundupwe have exciting openings in the University Town Center district, St. Armands Circle, Cortez and then a couple more in Sarasota. Lets begin with a new spot in UTC that should appeal to folks who are serious about their pizza and wings (and enjoy pairing the comfort food classics with craft beers and cocktails).

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A Sarasota restaurant that specializes in pizza, craft beer and wings with two existing locations has opened its third inone of the areas busiest shopping districts.

Origin Craft Beer & Pizza Cafe, which has locations in Sarasotas Southside Village and Palmer Ranch, opened this week at University Town Center at 8193 Tourist Center Drive. The space formerly housed fellow pizzerias Casa di Pizza andDoughbie Brothers Pizza Co.

Owner Rami Nehme said he was not initially planninga new location so soon after the Palmer Ranch restaurantopened last year, with the original Origin on Hillview Street opening in 2016. Yet the UTC location was proposed to him,and offered a way to expand their customer base withanother thrivingcommunity.

I try to keep (the locations)far apart, and the UTC area, obviously, its growing tremendously,Nehme said. I was shocked by the amount of cars that Ive seen there; its busy all the time.

Origin is known for its classic and specialtypizzas, some of which feature Mediterranean flavors such as gyroor falafel-and-hummus pies, as well as its chicken wings, which are baked rather than fried. Nehme said a menu with a few new additions will debut this week as well, including a Middle EasternZaatar pizza and another featuring chicken and Origins popular trifecta sauce.

Unlike its other locations, OriginsUTC restaurant offers full liquor with a drink list centered on classic cocktails. It has16 taps featuringlocal craft beer options, with plans to incorporatenearby breweries like Lakewood Ranchs Naughty Monk Brewery, Nehme said.

The restaurant seats roughly 150, about 80 inside and 70 outdoors, with plans to include a sandbox for children. It also offers takeout and third-party service delivery.

University Town Centersanticipated new business openingsthis year include several other restaurants. Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushiopened last monthfor takeout and deliverywith plans to offer dine-in as well. A Jenis ice creamscoop shop, a second location for downtown Sarasotas Selva Grill, Fords Garage,Georgies Garden Cafe, and Bar George are planning to open their doors as well.

Originshours are 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call 941-358-5850 or visit originpizzacafe.com.

A Florida business offering classic and modernarcade games, Cuban food, specialty drinks andcraft beer and winehas expanded to Sarasota, joining a growing number ofnew tenants on St. Armands Circle.

Arcade Monsters is now open in a two-floor building at 326 John Ringling Blvd., which formerly housed Surf Shack. The businessalso haslocations in the Orlando area and Brevard County.

Founder/ownerAdrian Ravelo lives in Orlando, but has visited Lido Beach with familyfor several years,and thought there was a marketfor a business in the area that offered entertainment along with restaurant and retail.

We decided to bring something fun to the circle,Ravelo said.

Arcade Monsters offers more than a hundred games to play, including retro and contemporary console games, imported Japanese rhythm games, pinball, air hockey and more. Customers can either pay $16.99 for unlimited play under a current deal, or visit for a meal or a drink with no separate charge.

The menu centers on Cuban cuisine, with dishes like empanadas, a Cuban sandwich, pastelitos and flan. It also offers American comfort food favorites like chicken wings and pizza, and combinations of both such as a Cuban cheesesteak or garlic cilantro wings.

Its bar offers a variety of alcoholic slushies and dry ice drinks, along with canned/bottledcraft beersincluding Florida options, and wine.

The restaurant seats around 150 with outdoor seating on the ground leveland an anime-themed balcony. The interior sportsglow-in-the-dark artwork of classic and current pop culture, video game and anime characters.

Other new businesses that have opened recently on St. Armands CircleincludeVernona Gourmet, a full-service chophouse with live music and a deli convenience market, andThe Whiskey Barrel, which features a drink and food menu based aroundwhiskeys and bourbons. Siesta Key mainstay Meaneys Mini Donuts & Coffee House alsoopened aSt. Armands location.

Arcade Monsters isopen from 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily. For more information, visitarcademonsters.com.

A new restaurant has opened in Cortez, featuring a familiar name and space for those who know the Manatee County fishing villages dining scene.

Slickers Eatery is now open at 12012 Cortez Road W. in the former space of OShucks Raw Bar & Grilland most recentlyPig Out BBQ, which still has anotherlocation openon Manatee Avenue West. The new business is owned by Bob Slicker, who has worked at several restaurants over the years, including as general manager of Cortezs Swordfish Grill.

His daughter Molly Slicker, who is creative director for Slickers Eatery, said it was always a dream of Bobs to open his own restaurant. She described the menu as eclectic plates,drawing from a variety of cuisines and types of dishes.

Its an outlier for the Cortez area because were not mainly a seafood restaurant,Slicker said. There are a lot of those in this area, and they do a great job at that, so we are focused on really bringing fresh, different tastes to this area.

Current dishesinclude a Cuban sandwich,pork belly banh mi andblack beans and rice with mojo pork or chicken breast. There are also seafood items such as a shrimp BLT orspaghetti and an ahi tuna poke bowl, along with numerous vegan or vegetarian options like The Slicker Spread (a crudits plate with crostini, rosemaryand garlic cannellini spreadand hummus) or meatless versions of the spaghetti and poke bowl.

The drink menu offersa selection of craft cocktails, some with Manatee County-themed names such as the Coquina Dusk (Bacardi Silver, pineapple, mango puree, lime juice, triple secand Orgeat) and Cortez Swizzle (Patron, mezcal, aquavit, lemon juice and honey.) There are 10beers on draft, several from local craft breweries such as Bradentons Darwin Brewing Company and Motorworks Brewing.

Slickers Eatery offers both indoor and outdoor seating and is currently reservation-only exceptfor a few walkup tables, Slicker said, with takeout also available and plans to offer delivery in the future. The restaurant plans to be open daily.

For more information, call 941-251-9428 or visit slickerseatery.com.

A popular restaurantthat temporarily closed because of the coronavirus pandemic has reopened in a new location.

Amore, the downtownSarasota restaurantoffering Italian and Portuguese cuisinethat closed in July, hasreopenedinthe formerSilver Starspoton Lime Avenue in the Colonial Village Shopping Center. Amore originally operated on Longboat Key before taking over the sizable location in Burns Court.

Amore had originally planned to open its180 N.Lime Ave. location last month but reopened to the public Feb. 9 following a large renovation and overcoming some unforeseen circumstances,the restaurants owners noted in an email sent Feb. 2.

Like a lot of people, we are victims of COVID-19 and went from profitability to liability in the larger restaurant that had 175 seats, chef/owner Tito Vitorino told the Herald-Tribune in January.We decided to scale down and offer patio seating as well as distance seating inside and takeout if desired.

The Vitorinos have completely transformed the new restaurant into an Old World setting with distressed wood patterned flooring, tile walls and Portuguese art gracing the walls.There are 64 seats inside with plexiglass partitions between booths, and tables are socially distanced.The outdoor patio accommodates another 24 guests.

At the previous restaurant, the menu included about 25 percent Portuguese selections and 75 percent Italian.The newAmorewill be 50/50.

We are serving many of the favorites from Burns Court but adding more Portuguese favorites, Vitorino said.

In addition to salads and starters, among entre options are branzino essiccato with sun-dried tomato coulis, seafood cataplana with seafood or pork and clams, and the special salted Norwegian cod fish (lagareiro).The pork loin with bifana sauce is another favorite, as well as rack of lamb andlinguini pescatore. The restaurant is also known for its desserts prepared tableside, including bananas foster and cherries jubilee.It will offerbeer plus a respectable wine list, including Italian, Portuguese and California selections.

Amore is open 5-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 941-383-1111 or visitfacebook.com/amorerestaurantlbk.

Authentic Neapolitan pizzas are the main attraction atAntonio Mancinisnew restaurant in Sarasota Commons.Atmosphere Neapolitan Pizzeria has opened in the former Atmosphere Italian Restaurant (originally Almas Kouzine) at 935 N. Beneva Road, featuring a brick oven as the centerpiece surrounded by a bar where customers may witness the owner crafting their pizzas.

The restaurant has been renovated and includes 36 seats inside and out in a casual setting with Italian artwork gracing the walls. There is also a small market area with imported oils and condiments.

A native of Italy, Mancini came to America three years ago to handle pizza making for Napule Restaurant in Sarasota.Subsequently, he opened Vesuvio Neapolitan Frozen Pizza and now has added the new pizzeria to his culinary pursuits.According to his wife, Jay Mancini, who directs the front of the restaurant, her husband has always wanted his own restaurant and is pleased to offer his hand-tossed pizzas, plus other Italian selections, desserts, beer and wines, all imported from Italy.

All our ingredients are Italian imports except daily specials which include selections which have fresh ingredients from local markets, said Jay Mancini, who added that what makes their Neapolitan pizza different is the dough resting 24 hours before being hand kneaded and baked in a wood fire oven.

This is what makes the crust light and airy rather than thick and doughy, she explained.And the toppings are authentic Italian like San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella and Italian salami, which are on our popular Calabria pizza.

The traditional Margarita pizza, salami and prosciutto pizzas are other options, as well as some white versions. All pizzas are personal size, from 11 to 12 inches.Atmosphere also offers fried pizza bread with assorted toppings, fried pizza dough sandwiches, and appetizers including bruschetta and salads.

For dessert, diners may choose traditional Italian dishes such as sfogliatella,delizia al limone or ricotta and pear cake.Beer and wines from Italy are provided as well as non-alcoholic beverages.

Atmosphere Neapolitan Pizzeria is open daily from 4-9 p.m. with plans to expand hours in the future.Takeout and delivery services are available. For more information, call 941-203-8542 or visitinstagram.com/atmosphereneapolitanpizzeria.

Sarasota Deli, which opened recently in the Mobil gas station at6104 S. Tamiami Trailby the Beechwood Avenue intersection,is offering up an array of American breakfasts and lunch selections. Owner James Pressley, who has been in the restaurant field for over 20 years, saidthe new deli is a work in progress with plans to add seating inside and curbside pickup.Currently, customers may order the homemade items online, by phone or in person for takeout or delivery through Grubhub.

Customers tell me the food here isnt your typical gas station selections, said Pressley, who has long been involved in creative ways to enhance food.In fact, one day I plan to add some of my grandmothers recipes to the deli.

The chef/owner is assisted by his wife, Stephanie, and employee Sam Martinez.Meats are smoked on the premises andamong customers favorites are the brisket (taco or sandwich), pork and beef. Most recipes are American fare with a twist.I tend to go bold with seasonings, said Pressley.Our food is not typical.

The deli serves variousbreakfast selections, including favorites like croissant French toast, a breakfast burrito and biscuits with gravy.Theres also a traditional breakfast in a box anda BLT wrap.Lunch favorites include an Angus beef, pork or brisket tacos with assorted toppings. Theres alsoaburger featuring a hand-formed patty, Cuban sandwich pressed on the grill,and a ranch chicken wrap, as well assoups,salads and chili.In addition, there are sides like mac andcheese, potato salad and black bean salad.

Sarasota Deli is open from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday, with plans to extend the hours in the future.For more information, call941-315-0868 or visit facebook.com/sarasotadeli.

P.F. Changs in downtown Sarasota is celebrating Lunar New Year with additions to the menu to mark the season.In honor of its Asian roots, the restaurant will highlight the Year of the Ox with special selections through March 30.

Lunar New Year is a rich tradition and one were proud to honor, Tana Davila, chief marketing officer, said in a statement.We look forward to adding our unique perspective to the celebration with incredible flavors and new menu items.

Among offerings debuting for Lunar New Year are a Fire & Ice dessert and Red Lantern cocktail.According to P.F. Changs director of culinary operations, these items allow the restaurant to further expand their elevated menu offerings and provide guests with an immersive dining experience.The Red Lantern cocktail, available for a limited time, blends Reyka vodka, Solerno liqueur, blood orange, pineapple and lemon and is enhanced with a red lantern stirrer in an illuminated glass.

The Fire & Ice dessert combines bread pudding with vanilla ice cream encased in a chocolate shell, served flaming tableside. In addition to the spirited dessert and cocktail, holiday selections, which will remain on the menu, include Korean bulgogi lettuce wraps, miso butter lobster dumplings, Peking duck and the Rising Dragon cocktail, which are available for dine-in or takeout.

P.F. Changs dining concept includes wok cooking, plus hand-rolled dim sum, hand chopped ingredients and scratch sauces.There are more than 300 restaurants in 25 countries.

Located at 766 S.Osprey Ave., P.F. Changs in Sarasota is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m.For more information, call941-296-6002 or visit pfchangs.com.

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For the latest Sarasota-Manatee restaurant and bar news visitheraldtribune.com/entertainment/dining. Email restaurant news items to ticket@heraldtribune.com.

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Whats new on the Sarasota-Manatee dining scene? Heres our weekly restaurant and bar roundup - Sarasota Herald-Tribune