Page 40 - Fall/Winter Taste Magazine 2021-2022

First Bite
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On Anna Maria Island, The Waterfront offers a full bar to match their terrific lunch and dinner selections
complements. Local fishermen provide The Waterfront with quality seafood on which their fare thrives. This leaves them with a well-round- ed menu including items that nearly all customers are familiar with, plus an outlet for more adventurous and traveled diners to experience the best and brightest available product in their market. You can even bring your own catch to them and they will gladly prepare it for you!
They have a full liquor service with a fantastic variety of craft cocktails offered by the knowledgeable staff including Richie Rich, who are a pleasure to watch behind the bar mixing the various award-win- ning cocktails. Their draft selection of imported and hand crafted lagers and ales is without equal on Anna Maria Island, not to mention the 30 plus bottle beer selections. Enjoy their Happy Hour Monday through Friday 3 to 6PM at the bar only. The Waterfront’s garden courtyard is a very popular spot for private parties, comfortably accommodating up to 40 people. They recently installed new UV-C air sanitizing system for their guests. Also their spacious outdoor front seating area offers safe dining with amazing views! Their curbside pick-up is still a big hit as well. They have it all going on at The Waterfront.
Upon entering Kojo at 1289 N. Palm Avenue, Sarasota (941-536-9717) you will immediately understand why the restaurant has became a hit, not only with locals and tourists, but also celebrities.
The food and cocktails are craveable, especially the delicate and delicious nori tacos and the world’s best Midori sour. Definitely worthy of mention are nationally award-winning drinks - Mezcalero and Lava Lamp plus a cool Sake Bar and strong selection of Japanese Whiskies. Most popular dishes are Miso Black Cod, Kojo Sushi Roll
and Pork Belly Bao Buns. If you need a sweet ending, the desserts are absolutely delicious - from light and refreshing Hawaiian Sunrise
(coconut custard with fresh tropical fruit and passion fruit foam), to can’t-get-enough - Matcha Donuts, to chocolate lovers dream...we’ll just leave it there!
For Owner Natalia Levey, modern Asian cuisine is about so much more than food ... it’s about feeling. During her time in the Far East, Natalia came to savor and appreciate the multi-sensory experience that is sharing plates of fragrant, fla-
vorful and vibrant food with the
people you enjoy the most. Natalia
and her husband Mark put togeth-
Very popular in Downtown Sarasota is the new Kojo serving modern Asian cuisine and amazing cocktails
er the favorite dishes from their travels and had their world class culi- nary team develop the recipes.
The interior is warm and inviting, and absolutely beautiful with Acacia wood tables imported from Thailand and four private booths, separated by carved out trees. Amazing! Two outdoor fire pits make for cozy cocktails and conversations. Dinner is served evenings only and they close at 11pm during the week and are open until mid- night Friday and Saturday. Make your weekends special with their lovely brunch served Saturday and Sunday 11am to 3pm. Kojo will become your new ritual.
The popular Speaks Clam Bar is a casual upscale authentic NYC “Little Italy” style Clam Bar that has really been a great success, deservedly so. The food is made fresh and is moderately priced, all with excellent quality. The service is exemplary, friendly, and engaging and this concept is completely and totally guest focused and guest driven. With two area locations at 8764 East SR 70 in Lakewood Ranch (941- 232-7646) and 29 North Blvd. of the Presidents on St. Armands Circle (941-232-7633). I have experienced all this firsthand over a working lunch, and with friends, at the SR 70 restaurant, - a great afternoon. Speaks Clam Bar is unique, comfortable, and fun, with its upscale NYC “Chic “sensibility, and its exciting ‘Prohibition/Speakeasy’ feeling.
What makes an Italian Clam Bar? It is the sauce. An authen-
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Celebrating 30 Years! Taste Dining & Travel • Fall/Winter More online at www.tasteweb.net