Flirt Sushi, Casa Patron, Peach’s, Melting Pot: Restaurant News

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — Here's the latest restaurant and bar news in Sarasota and Manatee counties:

Downtown Sarasota Sushi Restaurant Rebrands

Flirt Sushi Lounge, which opened in downtown Sarasota’s historic I.R. Burns & H.H. Bell Building at 1296 First Street last year, has rebranded.

The restaurant is now called Azul Steak & Sushi Lounge, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported.

“I wanted to make it a friendlier name, a different, friendlier atmosphere for everybody; lower the pricing to be more in line with the marketplace; and then broaden the menu by adding steaks, chops, seared seafood — just leveraging the full capabilities that the restaurant has," owner Rick Uhler said.

Mexican Restaurant to Replace Amish Eatery

A new Mexican restaurant is set to move into the space previously occupied by the Sommers Dutch Family Restaurant, according to the Restaurants in Sarasota Facebook group.

Casa Patron Mexican Kitchen is opening in the Amish eatery’s former location at 4000 Cattlemen Road. It will be open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will have a full bar.

Two Peach’s Restaurants Reopen After COVID Closure

Three years after closing for the COVID-19 pandemic, two more Peach’s restaurants are reopening, according to the Bradenton Herald.

The Bradenton-based company’s location at 7315 52nd Place E. welcomed diners again on April 14. Meanwhile, it’s working to reopen its eatery at 3201 Manatee Ave.

There are currently seven locations open in Manatee and Sarasota counties, according to the Peach’s website.

The restaurants serve breakfast and lunch and are open Tuesday through Sunday, 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Geck Hosts Iron Chef Challenge

Gecko Hospitality Group hosts its annual Iron Chef Challenge May 15 through June 18, according to SRQ magazine.

Each of the six Gecko locations will have a special weekly Iron Chef Menu with its chefs designing inventive menu items.

Guests can choose their favorite Iron Chef Special Menu during the first week with a championship final held June 12-18. One Gecko’s location will win the Iron Chef 2023 title.

Remodeled Melting Pot Restaurant Reopens

The Melting Pot at 1949 Ringling Blvd. is the latest of the chain’s restaurants to undergo a rebranding.

The restaurant “has undertaken a major, system-wide remodel initiative to unify all locations with a more open, modern visual identity,” according to a news release.

It features “a more open, inviting floor plan with an open dining room and a designated, easily visible, bar area,” the release said.

The Sarasota location is the sixth of more than 60 restaurants scheduled to be remodeled this year.

The remodel also sets the tone for growth within Florida, as the franchise hopes to build upon its 15 existing locations within the state.