Indiana Brewery , Drive-Thru Chipotle, 3 New UTC Eateries: Restaurant News

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

Indiana Brewery Opening Sarasota Location

An Indiana brewery with ties to Florida's craft brewing scene is opening a brewery and taproom in Sarasota this summer.

Sun King Brewery will take over JDub's Brewing Company's former 5,000-square-foot flagship location at 1215 Mango Ave. JDub's closed its Sarasota location last year after struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sun King began distributing its beer in Florida in 2017 after hiring its now vice president of sales, Joe Burns, the former national sales manager for Tampa's Cigar City Brewing and a Sarasota resident.

At the moment, only its core beer line-up — the "approachable" Sunlight Cream Ale, the Orange Vanilla Sunlight Cream Ale, the Pachanga Mexican-style lager and its hazy IPA, the Keller Haze — are available through distribution in Florida, Sun King co-founder and co-owner, Clay Robinson said.

The planned brewery and taproom will introduce the brand's other beers to Florida and will also eventually create new ones, as well.

"With the advent of the Florida brewery, it gives us the opportunity to brew beer specifically for Florida and experiment a little bit more with the tastes of Floridians," Robinson said.

Burns, a Sarasota resident, will continue in his vice president role and will also oversee the new brewery in Florida.

Mexican Restaurant, Tequila Bar Opening in Waterside Place

A South Florida Mexican restaurant and tequila bar is expanding with a new location in Lakewood Ranch.

Agave Bandido, which has a location in Pembroke Pines, will open a 4,000-square-foot restaurant in Waterside Place in late 2022, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported. It’s owned by the Florida-based Wolverine Management Group.

The restaurant’s indoor bar will offer more than 250 tequilas and mezcals, and many favorites from the Pembroke Pines eatery’s menus, including tacos, burritos, chimichangas, fajitas and more.

Three New Eateries Coming to University Town Center

The University Town Center has three new eateries in the works: a Florida-based juice chain, a Massachusetts-based sandwich shop and a Lebanese restaurant.

Kelly’s Roast Beef will open in the Square at UTC this summer, Sarasota Magazine reported.

Founded in 1951, the sandwich joint is known for creating the “Original Roast Beef Sandwich,” selling about 1 million of them each year. Each sandwich is made to order using fresh roast beef cooked daily in house. The chain has been featured on Food Network, PBS and “Saturday Night Live.”

Al Forno De Libano will open in the former Jimmy John’s space in the Target plaza, the Herald-Tribune reported.

The restaurant’s owner, Ibrahim Saad, was born in Lebanon and has been in the United States for about 20 years. He decided to launch his eatery because he’s been unable to find Lebanese cuisine in the region.

All menu items will be freshly made each day and diners can build their own order, which is available in a bowl, as a sub or in pita bread.

3Natives, a Florida-based acai and juice chain that originated in Palm Beach County, will open in the UTC area this spring, according to the Herald-Tribune. It offers various cold press juices, smoothies, acai bowls, salads and wraps.

Chipotle with Drive-Thru Opens in Ellenton

A Chipotle Mexican Grill with a “Chipotlane” — a drive-thru lane for diners to pick up their orders placed online or using the chain’s app — has opened in Ellenton on U.S. 301 North, according to the Herald-Tribune.

There are currently about 25 Chipotlanes in Florida. This year, one will be added to about 80 percent of the Chipotle restaurants in the state, reports said.