Mixon Food Truck, Rocco’s Tacos, Panda Express: Restaurant News

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — Here's the latest restaurant and bar news in the St. Petersburg area:

Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar Coming to Sarasota

Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar is opening its first Sarasota location in the University Town Center area, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The new eatery will open its doors on March 6.
The chain has restaurants throughout South and Central Florida.

Panda Express Opens in Bradenton

Panda Express, the largest Asian dining concept in the U.S., held the grand opening of its newest location in Bradenton at 14525 S.R. 70 on Thursday with the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce, according to a news release.

The first 88 guests will receive a special gift.

“Our entire Panda team is grateful to serve the Bradenton community by providing new jobs and supporting local organizations through fundraising opportunities,” Lynnette Velez, Panda Express area coach of operations, said. “We hope to be a lasting part of the community and welcome all guests into our doors to try our American Chinese favorites and discover their own.”

The new location is open Monday through Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The drive-thru is open until 9:30 p.m.

Le Petite Brasserie Approved by Sarasota City Commission

A new piano bar and eatery — technically classified as a nightclub by city zoning — is coming to downtown Sarasota.

Le Petite Brasserie, approved in a 4-1 vote by Sarasota city commissioners, will open in one of the commercial spaces of the Mark Sarasota condo tower, according to Observer Media Group.

The space will mix the vibe of an upscale cocktail lounge with the feel of a European sidewalk cafe, owner Ronnie Shugar said.

“As I sat on the bench on the corner, I envisioned the Champs Élysées in France or the streets of Milan,” he said. “People could just enjoy that beautiful scenery and beautiful building and, as an upscale brasserie, a place where mature adults could go to have a drink of champagne, hors d'oeuvres and just enjoy the beauty and surroundings.”

Mixon Fruit Farms Closing in Bradenton

The owners of Mixon Fruit Farms in Bradenton have put their 39-acre property on the market for $15.8 million.

The store and cafe, which serves ice cream and lunch items, will close to the public on July 29.
Janet Mixon told Patch that she hopes to launch a Mixon food truck serving all the favorites from the farm café’s menu.

“At least the ice cream, the pressed Cuban, the grilled cheese. Our most popular items,” she said. “People keep asking me, ‘What about the ice cream? Where can I get the ice cream?’”

This food truck will help her stay connected with her longtime customers and Mixon’s legacy.

“We’ve been a part of this community for so long and we love it. We love this area and the memories we’ve made here,” Janet said. “It feels like we’re doing really good about this (sale) but when it comes time to do this, it’s going to be really hard.”

New Restaurant Opening in Southside Village

The owner of Origin Pizza on Hillview Avenue is opening a new restaurant in Southside Village — Osteria Southside at 1812 S. Osprey Avenue, according to the Restaurants in Sarasota Facebook group. The space was previously occupied by Reef Cakes.

He’s partnering with Michael Calore, former owner of Pazzo, on the project. The menu will offer a mix of popular items from Pazzo and his family’s former restaurant Mozzarella Fella.
Osteria Southside is shooting for an April 1 opening date.