Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
One of the most popular places on the Circle, this upscale cafe has outdoor seating and a
generous menu of sandwiches, wraps and salads. Everything is made fresh to order, and
sandwiches come bursting with deli meats, crunchy veg and thick slabs of cheese.
Monk's Steamer Bar
SEAFOOD
(
941-927-3388;
www.monkssteamerbar.com
;
6690 Superior Ave; mains $7-30;
4pm-1am Mon-
Fri, 3pm-1am Sat & Sun)
Order a spicy oyster shooter (a Bloody Mary with an oyster in it) or oyster 'Monkafellas'
(baked with signature toppings) and watch bar staff expertly shuck the gnarly shells in
front of you. Or guzzle 2lb of sweet, steamed mussels or Cajun crawdads (crayfish) before
lining up for a game of pool at this ever-popular local sports bar.
Indigenous
MODERN AMERICAN
$14-26; 5:30-9pm Tue-Sat)
Focusing on the popular farm-to-table movement, chef Steve Phelps whips up innovative
American creations such as American-harvested shrimp with grits
lyonnaise
(grits blended
with caramelized onions, butter, eggs and Parmesan) and Mote marine sturgeon with sweet
potatoes. It's a lot of fun, too, housed in a funky, Old-Florida bungalow with a broad deck
and an intimate 'wine cottage' serving biodynamic and small-production wine labels.
Antoine's Restaurant
EUROPEAN
( 941-377-2020;
www.antoinessarasota.com
;
5020 Fruitville Rd; mains $16-32; 4-10pm)
Despite its inauspicious location (in a former KFC), Antoine's is a small, charming French
bistro with a clubby vibe serving elegant dishes such as scallop risotto with a candied, tan-
gerine sauce. But this isn't faddish fusion food: owner Christian Zebier hails from Belgium
and the restaurant reflects his classic European style. Save room for the Belgian chocolate
desserts; you won't regret it.
Marina Jack's Restaurant
SEAFOOD
941-365-4232;
www.marinajacks.com
;
2 Marina Plaza; sandwiches $9-13,
mains $25-34;
11:30am-10pm)
