Cafe Americano

Fusilli with Rabbit Ragu

Having heard so much about this restaurant and finding himself constantly perusing the chalkboard specials each day he walked by, our Protagonist looked forward immensely to this first experience.  Alas, if only the hype had been lived up to!  The Fusilli with Rabbit Ragu was one of those tempting specials written on the board that day, which veritably screamed to be ordered.  While the fusilli, itself, was well prepared, sadly the main attraction, the rabbit, was not.  The meat was overdone and chewy, not unlike a well-done pork chop, which would have been much cheaper.  Better than Cafe Epicure?  Our Protagonist thinks not...

Cafe Americano

1409 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-365-1026

Two Senoritas

Marinated Chicken Burrito
Dulce de leche Ice Cream in Tortilla bowl

Our Protagonist arrived here for lunch as part of a coworker's first farewell lunch (of two)  First, the salsa was excellent; the texture and color were apparent from the moment the bowl was set down.  The taste was just as rewarding; a good spicy kick and nice blend of flavors.  The marinated chicken burrito was small; it was dominated on the plate by the customary rice and beans.  It was fine, not particularly special, wrapped in a flour tortilla and covered with queso sauce.  The generous dessert of Dulce de leche ice cream drizzled with Dulce de leche sauce and served in a cinnamon-sugared tortilla bowl was as good as it sounds.  It wasn't house-made as advertised, but the ice cream was good quality.  A fellow diner enjoyed a salmon salad in a honey-jalepeno vinagrette, and the Aguacate Relleno of shrimp and crab served in a California avocado sounded quite tempting.  Both were probably better choices than the burrito, even though it purposes to be one of the most popular lunch selections.  More exploration is in order to better pin down this restaurant...

Two Senoritas

1355 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34236-5616
941-366-1618

 

Main Bar

Gazpacho
Jerk Chicken soup
Main Bar Special

Our Protagonist's dining partner thought the gazpacho was the worst she had tasted; "Of all the Gazpachos in all the places in Sarasota..." she quipped. The jerk chicken soup was reasonably spiced, if not nodding slightly toward the more "gringo" of tastes.  The Main Bar Special is the classic Italian on a pita, so it was definitely lighter.  The olive tapanade and Italian dressing were a good complement to the meats and cheeses.  The dessert course was forgone, as nothing, alas, was made in-shop.  A tip was made, however, to the Caribbean Pie Company just next door; another long walk was definitely in order.

Main Bar
1944 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34236-5915
941-955-8733

First Street Chop House

Bone in Ribeye
Bison Short Ribs
Asparagus
sauteed mixed vegetables
house salad with orange vinegrette
strawberry napoleon
mango berry sundae

Dinner was served in the upstairs dining area with the unusual entertainment of a singing bartender accompanied by a keyboardist.  At first he was playing guitar music.  On his keyboard, using guitar sound.  Different, but interesting, and a not unpleasant sound for the rather intimate room.  The steak was well prepared.  The bison was tender, if a bit thick with the sauce.  Asparagus was good, not overcooked (the mortal sin of asparagus),  the vegetables were ordinary.  The house salad was a good size, very flavorful; nice dressing without being overpowering.  For dessert, the Napoleon was an artistically created strawberry shortcake with puff pastry instead of biscuits; light, good finish.  The Mango berry sundae had fresh berries and came with warm wild blueberry compote.  A little thick to pour over, but a nice touch, regardless.  A little pricey, but the chalkboard signage beckons a return trip.

First Street Chop House

1296 1st Street
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-554-4375

Cafe Epicure

Penne with prosciutto and endive
Sweet potato and goat cheese ravioli with sage butter
Mixed green salad

This was our Protagonist's first Italian encounter in Sarasota, and it was great start!  He and his dining companion both ordered off of the daily specials board, and having one taste of the house-made sweet potato and goat cheese ravioli made him covet his neighbor's dish.  However, the penne, with its window-pane of Parmesan gently laid on top was also wonderful.  The endive turned nice and creamy in the perfectly seasoned sauce; pure eating bliss.  Even the salad was good; for the price it was a full sized bowl of mixed vegetables, with oil and vinegar brought to the table to dress to one's pleasure.  Our Protagonist hears that the gelato in next-door Jolly is something to experience, and he must make a point of returning...

Cafe Epicure

1298 North Palm Avenue # A
Sarasota, FL 34236-5604
941-366-5648

The Culinary Journey of a new Downtowner

In an attempt to keep track of his new experiences in a new city, our Protagonist has chosen to write about his dining adventures in and around Sarasota.  From the undisclosed location of his downtown office, he has discovered, with delight, that many culinary adventures await.  From unexplored cuisines, to finding out just where is the best Mexican restaurant in town, he sallies forth to conduct his Noble Experiment.  We join him in the midst of his Voyage of Discovery...