Restaurant Wine List
Fleming’s
Michael’s On East, Vernona
With more than 100 wines by the glass, including many hard-to-find boutique varieties, Fleming’s delights any oenophile. Start with a single glass or spread your wings and try the popular wine flights or the “Pick of the Month.”

Power Breakfast
First Watch
Broken Egg, Vernona
Many a big-shot business deal has been brokered over the Siesta Key cocktail (granola, organic yogurt, fresh fruit and nuts in a parfait glass) at First Watch, strategically located at Five Points in downtown Sarasota.

Brunch
Vernona at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
The Colony, First Watch
At least once in your life, splurge on Vernona’s Sunday brunch. The selection is spectacular and every single item is a work of culinary art. Enjoy it all inside the elegant restaurant or outside overlooking the water.

Steakhouse
Fleming’s
Outback, Ruth’s Chris
At Fleming’s, the atmosphere is clubby, the steaks are sublime, the sides and desserts are wickedly rich, and the wine list is second to none.

Bar Scene
Ca d’Zan Lounge
Horse Feathers, The Table
The Ritz-Carlton’s Ca d’ Zan Lounge has it all: elegantly relaxed ambiance, savvy bartenders and the finest cocktails and cigars around—plus live music and dancing several days a week.

Restaurant to Eat Outdoors
Ophelia’s
Marina Jack, Old Salty Dog
From the waterside tables on Ophelia’s terrace you’ll see diving ospreys, squadrons of pelicans, mullet jumping and an occasional kayak gliding by the mangrove islands across the way. And the food is every bit as good as the view.

Restaurant to Arrive by Boat
Marina Jack
Old Salty Dog, Ophelia’s
A landmark on the downtown Sarasota bayfront, Marina Jack is a beacon to hungry boaters. Tie up for a bite on the patio, a burger by the bar, or a full-on dinner in the fancy dining room—which has won three consecutive Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence.

Non-chain Pizza
Il Panificio
Demetrios’, Rico’s
Great crust, fast service, outdoors, indoors or take-home. What more could you want?

Place for Dessert
Euphemia Haye
Jolly, Yoder’s
Dessert is so important at Euphemia Haye they’ve built a special room for it: the upstairs Haye Loft, where you can deliberate over a long list of out-of-this-world confections.

Place for Salad
Sweet Tomatoes
Columbia, Whole Foods
You could eat at Sweet Tomatoes every day without sampling everything the huge, ever-changing salad bar has to offer, from fresh veggies and soups to homemade muffins.

Sushi
Pacific Rim
DaRuMa, Yume Sushi
Pacific Rim in Southside Village has become a happening hotspot for diners who love the Asian stir-fries, traditional Japanese sushi and brand-new creations like the Southside roll, with tempura salmon and cucumber.

Burger
Patrick’s
Cheeburger, Cheeburger, Hob Nob
You can get it Cajun, you can get it South Beach, you can get it black and bleu. Whichever way you go, you’ll be hooked by your first bite into Patrick’s luscious, serious-sized beef burger.

Barbecue
Sonny’s
Lee Roy Selmon’s, The Oaks Open Pit BBQ
Sonny’s promises to make you feel good. How could you feel any other way with a plate heaped with smoky, tender barbecued pork, beef and chicken? Add some sweetened iced tea and you’ll be downright euphoric.

Caterer
Phil Mancini of Michael’s On East
Mattison’s, Nellie’s Deli
Sometimes it seems as if there couldn’t be a party, wedding reception or bar mitzvah in this town if it weren’t for Phil Mancini’s catering team. Crab cakes, rack of lamb, California rolls…everyone has a favorite, and the service is as superior as the food.

Deli
Publix
Nellie’s Deli, TooJays
Boar’s Head meats, cheeses, four kinds of rotisserie chickens, salads galore and a crew that turns out custom sandwiches in no time flat—no wonder the Publix delis won your vote.

Gourmet Market
Morton’s Market
Publix, Whole Foods
Morton’s is as beloved for its specialty foodstuffs and take-out cases stuffed with freshly made goodies as it is for pizza, wine, cheese—and a bakery that churns out gorgeous fruit tarts and chocolate cakes. Is it lunchtime yet?

Bakery
Publix
C’est La Vie, Morton’s
At the Publix bakery, they mix, knead, decorate, frost and display the biggest variety of first-rate baked goods in town.

Restaurant Service
Fleming’s
Mattison’s City Grille, Vernona
For an exceptional dining experience, the service must be as top-notch as the food. The Fleming’s waitstaff has mastered this subtle but exacting art, cosseting you with comfort and anticipating your every need.

Ice Cream Store
Kilwin’s
Big Olaf, Coldstone Creamery
True confession: We’ve been known to down a slice or two of super-rich homemade fudge while waiting in line for a scoop of Kilwin’s mocha chip ice cream at the popular St. Armands confectioner.

Arts, Entertainment & Sports

Performing Arts Group
Asolo Repertory Theatre
Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota Ballet
The Asolo’s season started with a bang, with the world premiere of Broadway-bound A Tale of Two Cities. Now New York will know, as we have for years, the brilliance of our longtime theatrical mainstay.