Tuscan royalty

Meet Marcello Aquino, the King of Brunello

The wine room at Aquino's Marcello Ristorante Italiano must be seen to be believed.

02/17/2021 By Bob McGinn

Oops!

Wine Mix-Ups: More Common Than You Might Think

Local restaurateurs share stories of serving the wrong wines and other expensive mistakes.

11/03/2020 By Bob McGinn

Rising

New Pop-Up Restaurant Serves Sourdough Pizza and Other Italian Classics

Tralia is a family-run 'virtual' restaurant that serves customers every Saturday.

08/10/2020 By Allison Forsyth

Spring Cleaning

Clásico Has a New Look, a New Menu and a New Chef

It's the restaurant's first extensive refresh since it opened roughly eight years ago.

06/16/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Health scare

Fundraising Dinners Will Help Local Chef With Lung and Brain Cancer

To help Lila's Arthur Lopes recover, friends have organized a GoFundMe campaign and the restaurant is planning two special meals to raise money.

06/08/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Coronavirus

Many in the Food and Beverage Industry Are Facing an Uncertain Future

'We'll make it through somehow,' says restaurateur Paul Caragiulo. 'I mean, what choice do you have?'

03/20/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Small but mighty

Five Amazing Appetizers

Chef Judi often likes appetizers more than her main entrée. Here are five of her favorites.

03/09/2020 By Judi Gallagher

Weekly planner

An Italian Carnival, a Pressure Cooking Class and More of This Week's Best Food and Drink Events

Also on the menu: yoga at a rooftop bar in Bradenton, a weekly grilling session and a Venice wine dinner.

02/19/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Good Luck Charm

Cotechino and Lentils Is the Delicious New Year's Tradition You Deserve

What's so special about this simple, luxurious meal? The memories.

12/19/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Weekly Planner

A Seafood Festival, a Food Truck Rally and More of This Week's Best Food and Drink Events

Also on the menu: a walking food and history tour and a mermaid festival.

12/04/2019 By Sarafina Murphy-Gibson

Weekly Planner

A Rum Festival, a Pumpkin Party and More of This Week's Best Food and Drink Events

Also on the menu: a jazzy brunch at Muse and a mother-daughter tea party.

10/02/2019 By Sarafina Murphy-Gibson

Capri fun

Bravo at Westfield Siesta Key Reopens With New Menu, New Look

The restaurant celebrated the overhaul at an event on Tuesday.

09/25/2019 By Olivia Epstein

Five alive

Five Terrific Indian Dishes

When Chef Judi is craving Indian food, these are her favorite destinations.

07/22/2019 By Judi Gallagher

Some Like It Hot

We Tried It: Latin Dancing at The Venue

Do I have what it takes to become a salsa queen?

07/18/2019 By Olivia Letts

Iberian eats

New Owners Plan Portuguese Makeover for Italian Restaurant

Portugal natives Tito and Liana Vitorino recently purchased downtown Sarasota's Amore Restaurant and a changeover is in the works.

07/11/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Just like nonna did it

Six Perfect Pasta Dishes

It's a supreme challenge for Chef Judi to narrow down her list of her favorite Sarasota pastas, but she gives it a go.

06/17/2019 By Judi Gallagher

One of a Kind

Here's What Makes the Piada, an Italian Street Food, So Special

Chef Sara Valeri and her husband, Ken Doyle, opened Piada Mania in a small south Sarasota space last year.

05/30/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Slice capades

New Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant Opens Friday

Bavaro's Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria is situated in a beautifully rehabbed law office on the eastern edge of downtown Sarasota.

05/15/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

40th Anniversary

Our First Restaurant Review Reminds Us That This Town Has Always Loved Italian Food

In November 1991, Sally Fine reviewed Bella Roma, Cafe Baci and Cafe Beneva—and discussed the "pleasures and perils" of Sarasota dining.

02/26/2019 By Sally Fine

Food

Downtown Restaurant Rebrands

The downtown Sarasota restaurant Salute! Ristorante & Enoteca was recently given a new name and logo.

02/04/2019 By Staff