A Main Street Casual Italian Eatery Serving Something Familiar Yet Different

In Sarasota there are a plethora of Italian restaurants ranging from the simple pizza place to the fine dining establishment. The popularity of Italian cuisine is only eclipsed by the regional variety of the food preparation and the style of the restaurant.  does both.

When you first arrive at Café Americano you are immediately struck by the casual outdoor seating, the simple yet stylish indoor décor, and the relaxed style of the staff. The menu offers a wide range of appetizers, salads, pastas, grilled items, seafood and Sardinian specialties. Since the co-owners hail from Sardinia, we decided to “stick” with the Sardinian selections on the menu. Our thinking was simple: “When in Rome…or in this case Sardinia, do as the Sardinians do.”  For our meals we chose the following:

• Insalada caprina con rucola organica, zucchine, pinolie, ravanelli: Organic arugula, goat cheese, zucchini, pine nuts, and radishes. $8.95
  Fresh, flavorful, with a nice mix of textures
• Insalada du pomodori con gargonzola e cipolle: Sliced tomato, with lettuce, onions, and gargonzola. $7.95
  Fresh and nicely plated, a classic mix of flavor
• Insalada Tropicale: Arugula, lettuce, avocado, hearts of palm and endive. $8.95
  Nice presentation, fresh, delicious
• Gamberetti con fregola sarda: Sautéed shrimp with red fish sauce and semolina pasta. $12.95
  Flavorful shrimp, simply prepared and presented
• Culurgianes di Pecorino d'osiloe Arancia in Salsa di Pomodoro: Sardinian ravioli stuffed with imported sheep cheese and tomato sauce. $14.95
  A tasty delightful alternative to standard cheese ravioli, very good
• Malloreddus (gnocchi sardi) con Ragu di Salsicia e Ricotta Salata: Sardinian gnocchi with sausage ragu and ricotta cheese. $13.95 Another interesting alternative for gnocchi, flavorful, rich, the aged ricotta was delightfully different and very tasty.
• Paella Sarda di Pesce Servita con Favette: Paella with Sardinian fregola (semolina pasta), seafood and fava beans. $24.95
  A signature dish, full of seafood, textures, and flavor, excellent presentation

The wait staff was very attentive taking time to explain the Sardinian specialties and making suggestions on various combinations. Café Americano offers an extensive wine list with a large number of selections from Sardinia and other regions in Italy. 

Café Americano is setting itself apart from the many selections of Italian restaurants in Sarasota. The casual “laid-back” setting combined with the relaxed outdoor seating was a great combination. The Sardinian specialties were a great change of pace from traditional Italian dining and ones we would enjoy trying again. So if you are in the mood to try something familiar yet different, Café Americano might just be the place! We found our visit to be refreshing.

Cafe Americano
1409 Main Street
Sarasota, FL 34236-5714
(941) 365-1026

www.cafeamericanosrq.com