Kojo to open in downtown Sarasota
A new Asian restaurant, featuring the same ownership as a popular Sarasota-Manatee dining destination, will take over a prime location in downtown Sarasota.
Kojo has moved into the 1289 N. Palm Ave. space that formerly housed Lemon Tree Kitchen on Palm Avenue Parking Garage’s ground floor, with hopes to open by late February, said co-owner Natalia Levey. She is also an owner of Speaks Clam Bar, a New York-style Italian clam bar with Lakewood Ranch and St. Armands Circle locations.
Levey said Kojo was inspired by time she spent in Asia as well as traveling with her husband, and will incorporate cuisines from across the continent in its menu.
The Parrot X-Press Grill opens in Sarasota
The Parrot X-Press Grill has opened at 2407 Bee Ridge Road in the former space of Smacks Burgers & Shakes, which closed in September. The new business is owned by Jeff and Melanie Gambino, who also own The Parrot Patio Bar & Grill restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton on State Road 70 near Interstate 75.
“We’re super excited about it,” Jeff Gambino said about the new concept. “It’s got that great Parrot vibe to it, inside and out, and we’ve heard a lot of positive response from the general public, both at our other locations as well as just stopping by here.”
Restaurant and Bar News in Sarasota-Manatee: Jan. 20-26
Our weekly roundup of restaurant and bar openings, closings, dining events and more.
Jimmy Geurts, Lee McCall and Wade Tatangelo
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
For this week s Sarasota-Manatee restaurant news roundup we have an exciting opening in the heart of Sarasota s most famous shopping district, a new sushi destination in Gulf Gate, an ice cream shop opening in downtown Sarasota and more, including a couple of alluring wine dinners. Let s begin with the new dining and (whiskey) drinking spot on the Circle.
The Whiskey Barrel opens on St. Armands Circle
The Whiskey Barrel – a new restaurant, bar and live music venue occupying a two-floor building – has opened on St. Armands Circle.
Restaurant and Bar News in Sarasota-Manatee: Jan. 6-12
Our weekly roundup of restaurant and bar openings, closings, dining events and more.
Lee McCall and Jimmy Geurts
Sarasota’s famed shopping and dining district has a new destination.
The new Vernona Gourmet on St. Armands Circle is a full-service chophouse serving breakfast, lunch and dinner; late-night lounge with entertainment; deli convenience market; artist lounge and gallery; and tobacco and wine store. Plus, Vernona’s owner has plans to provide home delivery of groceries and meals, curbside takeout and catering services.
“Since we have all this space (10,000 square feet), we’re darn well going to use it,” said Business Manager Rick Allen, when asked about such an ambitious undertaking. “We want to provide a wonderful convenience to the community, a wonderful place for dining and nightlife, plus the convenience of a market.”
The start of the new year is typically one of the slowest times for movies, and 2021 looks no different, with not much in terms of new releases this week besides World War II-monster movie mashup Shadow in the Cloud (video on demand Friday.) Thankfully, there are plenty of standout movies released in the past few weeks still available to watch if you haven t already, both in theaters and in the comfort of one s home. Here are this week s highlights (dates/venues subject to change.)
1. Soul
Pixar s latest movie follows a teacher and aspiring professional musician (Jamie Foxx) whose soul is separated from his body after an accident, as he tries to return to Earth. Soul shares a visual inventiveness and thoughtfulness with past Pixar film Inside Out, whose director Pete Docter helms this film as well. It also features Pixar s first Black protagonist, as well as its first Black co-director in Kemp Powers, the playwright and screenwriter behind another one of this year s�