6 Sarasota restaurants recommended by New York Times in '36 Hours' travel story

One of my picks for the best restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton to impress out-of-town guests has been singled out for special praise by The New York Times. Published on March 14, the article in The Times' popular "36 Hours" travel series provides the "perfect itinerary" for folks who have a weekend to explore Sarasota.

Author Valeriya Safronova, described as "a reporter who grew up in Florida and returns to Sarasota regularly," offers recommendations for outdoor activities, attractions and museums, restaurants and bars, where to stay, and "getting around." While there are many suggestions, only three places are described as "key stops."

The first one is the most obvious, Siesta Beach, followed by the equally essential Ringling museum complex. The third choice for "key stops," though, finds the author selecting from Sarasota's long, impressive list of restaurants to recommend Meliora. In total, six Sarasota restaurants and bars received recommendations from The New York Times.

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Sarasota restaurant Meliora named ‘key stop’ in New York Times '36 Hours' travel story

One of the region's biggest openings of 2022, Meliora is a New American restaurant located at 1920 Hillview St. in Sarasota's Southside Village neighborhood, about a mile south of downtown. The New York Times' reporter seems fascinated by the fact that Sarasotans don't feel the need to get dressed up in order to enjoy a quality meal, and illustrates the point with Meliora. Safronova notes that the restaurant captures Sarasota's charming "high-low vibe" with "its unfussy decor of plain wood tables and prints of fish on the walls. Show up in a Hawaiian shirt and no one will bat an eye."

Oh, yes, us rubes in our Hawaiian shirts. Perhaps the Times' reporter spotted me there?

Anyway, Safronova does give Meliora a glowing review. "But the food is complex and inventive, like a recent special of cured, pickled, and grilled mackerel from the Gulf of Mexico ($21)," reads the New York Times article. "Menu regulars include Japanese milk bread in the form of pull-apart buns ($8), and a cabbage salad brightened with Meyer lemon vinaigrette and cheese that’s soaked in beer before aging ($14)."

Alas, the author failed to mention what is probably Meliora's most famous dish, the raw scallop served with chive and basil, one of the many dishes when I reviewed Meliora about a year ago.

Restaurant review:Meliora in Sarasota

More restaurants mentioned in New York Times' '36 Hours' in Sarasota travel story

After dining at Meliora, The New York Times recommends visiting downtown for a classic cocktail at Sage, one of our picks for best rooftop bars in Sarasota and Bradenton. "String lights and a fire pit set a cozy scene, and classic cocktails are enlivened with small tweaks: A Sazerac receives an infusion of banana liqueur ($19), and an Old Fashioned is mixed with mezcal and chocolate bitters ($18)." 

The next day, following a morning on Siesta Beach, The Times suggests a vegan lunch at Project Coffee's downtown location. "For brunch, try a salty-sweet frozen açaí bowl topped with blueberries, bananas, corn flakes, coconut cream, tajin (the tangy, spicy Mexican seasoning) and black-sesame crumble ($13.25)," Safronova writes. "For a housemade to-go option, grab a cinnamon brioche bun ($6) or tahini marble coffee cake ($5.75)."

The Times recommends you spend an afternoon at The Ringling, followed by a nearly nine-mile drive south on Tamiami Trail to Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar, where you might spot an alligator prior to noshing on one. "The restaurant is known for its fried gator chunks, like chicken meat, but tougher ($14.95). Dip in tartar sauce or in the addictive Gator Hammock hot sauce, made in South Florida and available on request."

After dining at Phillippi Creek, The Times suggests returning to Siesta Key for a pub crawl through Siesta Key Village with stops at Siesta Key Oyster Bar and Gilligan's Island Bar. "By night, Siesta Key Village, a neighborhood with chilled-out beach-town vibes on the north tip of Siesta Key, becomes a nightlife spot for different generations, who come to drink, dance or watch a game at a sports bar."

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Six Sarasota restaurants and bars recommended by The New York Times

While more restaurants and bars were mentioned in the New York Times article, only six were listed online under "recommendations." In recent years, I've visited each of these places and have recommended just about all them for various articles, ranging from best romantic restaurants to favorite places to eat, drink and party in Siesta Key Village.

• Meliora
• Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar
• Project Coffee
• Sage
• Siesta Key Oyster Bar
• Gilligan’s Island Bar

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Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.