Page 16 - First Bite Winter 2024

Celebrating with great Italian foods and wines at Isola Bella in Holmes Beach
“What a gem of a restaurant! We ate from the specials selec- tion. All the entrees and appe- tizers were outstanding! Our waiter was proficient and pro-
vided good suggestions. Will definitely look to return” - OpenTable Review, February 2024. Yes, the reviews keep coming in and all are so very positive, and with good reason!
On any given night, close to half the patrons are repeat guests. The staff at Isola Bella has worked hard to build their clientele
and is grateful to all their “regulars.” See what the buzz is about, book a table by phone (941) 242-5309 or through OpenTable.com. They are open Monday thru Saturday 5:00-9:00.
A place as unique as its name, The Lazy Ballerina Bistro is a restaurant and wine bar that opened last year at 2715 Manatee Avenue West in Bradenton (941-920-6126). The charming building was Latte Luna previously, and has undergone some amazing renovations to make it a real hit and is well worth a visit. The Lazy Ballerina Bistro is owned by Becky Kern-Garbus, who has a long connection to the Bradenton community. A short while ago Becky decided it would be nice for a place close by to have a glass of wine, or a local beer and comfort food in a unique atmosphere. Thus Lazy Ballerina was born. The unique name? It refers to a type of trellis that a wine grapevine is grown on.
The food served here offers a variety sure to please. Southern cooking for sure, flatbreads, soups, salads and such. New here is their Shrimp and Grits, Seared Salmon, Grouper bites, Fried Green Tomatoes, Chicken Marsala and their new 1911 Salad (so popular for lunch as well and it is the date of this historic building). Always new wines and beers are offered as well, at a very reasonable price, plus some higher end wines if so desired. Their dessert of Double Chocolate Cake is amazing!
We’ve visited a few times and have really enjoyed our evenings there. They are currently open for lunch Tuesday through Friday 11 to 2PM and dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 4:30 PM and a night we visited we were able to enjoy the Classic Caesar Salad along with the terrific Flank Steak Flatbread, with a side of sweet potato fries, the Mahi
Mahi as well as a few adult beverages of beer and wine, (no spirits served here). If you sit at the bar you will be sure to meet a few loyal cus- tomers enjoying their meal as well! Another visit was with family and friends and all were raving about the food and anxious to return, and we have! Enjoy their Happy Hour with discounted wines served at the friendly bar only from 4:30 to 6PM.
The rooms are varied in size and each offers a unique feel, we especially love the Library Room and front patio room. The Lazy Ballerina is a perfect restaurant for any private events or gatherings and they are taking book- ings for groups so call for more information. They take reservations as well! Make it a point to visit The Lazy Ballerina Bistro for a wonderful casual meal. We love how they use the Madness song, ‘Our House’ as a theme of the restaurant. “Our house in the middle of our street”... Make it your house for an enjoyable evening, a wonder- ful addition to West Bradenton.
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Taste Dining & Travel • Fall/Winter
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