Tastemakers – Michael’s On East Restaurant
Image: John Revisky
Tell us where the inspiration for your menu came from.
Our Restaurant and Catering menus are constantly evolving and are the culmination of decades of personal experiences and culinary travels around the globe by Michael & Phil. The growing access to innovative and captivating ingredients, coupled with top-quality meats, fresh seafood, and produce, shape our distinctive menus - whether for an intimate dinner for two in our restaurant or a grand catering affair for 400!
What makes your restaurant unique?
Michael’s On East Restaurant takes fine dining to another level, offering award-winning cuisine and outstanding service, in an exceptional 1940’s supper club atmosphere. Our team of professionals at Michael’s On East consistently rises above with their unparalleled dedication to hospitality, expertise in fine dining, and collective commitment to creating memorable experiences for every guest. Our wine program sets itself apart with a 5-star award-winning wine list and our specialty wine & spirits retail shop excels with over 1000 wines to choose from. We are Sarasota’s only AAA Four Diamond Award restaurant, receiving our 34th consecutive award in 2023.
What is your signature dish? What do people love about it?
In 1987, our opening chef was only serving Nouvelle California Cuisine until our guests demanded a “simple” pasta dish. Michael & the chef created Michael’s Famous Bowtie Pasta which became an immediate hit and has been on our menu ever since! The dish has grilled chicken, pancetta, snow peas, shiitake mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and is tossed in a light parmesan cream. It is just one of the many guest favorites on our menu!