Savor Sarasota, Wine Spectator Awards, Happy Clams And Hams: Restaurant News

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

Siesta Key Seafood Restaurant Expands with New Location

A Siesta Key seafood restaurant has expanded with a second location further inland.

Happy Clams and Hams, a restaurant, seafood market, and deli, opened June 8 at 4110 Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune said.

Scott Dolan, who’s also owned Big Water Fish Market on Midnight Pass Road Siesta Key for the past 15 years, partnered with Carlyle Veale and Brian Paetsch on the expanded business, that offers deli sandwiches in addition to seafood, the report said.

"(Carlyle) has an Italian background and her kind of a dream is to do an Italian-style deli, so we combined the two concepts," Dolan said.

Restaurants in Sarasota and Manatee recognized by Wine Spectator

Sixteen restaurants in Sarasota and Manatee counties were honored by Wine Spectator’s 2026 Restaurant Awards, which recognizes the world’s best restaurants for wine.

The following local restaurants were among the 4,012 from around the world that landed on this year’s list:

• Alpine Steakhouse, Sarasota
• Cafe Gabbiano, Sarasota
• The Capital Grille, University Town Center
• CW Prime, Longboat Key
• Duval’s Fresh. Local. Seafood., Sarasota
• Grove, Lakewood Ranch
• Marcello’s Ristorante Italiano, Sarasota
• Michael’s on East, Sarasota
• O’bricks, Bradenton
• Pier 22, Bradenton
• Sage, Sarasota
• Seasons 52, Bradenton
• Seasons 52, University Town Center
• Selva Grill, Sarasota
• Siesta key Summer House Steak and Seafood, Sarasota
• Osteria 500, Sarasota

Savor Sarasota Generated $1.02 Million in Revenue

This year’s Savor Sarasota two-week restaurant prix-fixe dining promotion coordinated by Visit Sarasota County earlier in June generated more than $1 million in revenue, the agency said.

In its 21st year, the initiative saw diners sit down for 6,532 lunches and 18,934 dinners at 68 participating restaurants, totaling 25,466 meals and $1,015,330 in combined revenue, Visit Sarasota County said.

Across Sarasota County from UTC to downtown to South County including Englewood and North Port, guests enjoyed two-course lunches for $25 and three-course dinners for $45 per person.

"Savor Sarasota started as a smart solution for the summer slowdown, and twenty-one years later, it has become one of our community's most exciting culinary events,” Erin Duggan, the agency’s president and CEO, said. “What impresses me every year is how our chefs and restaurateurs keep raising the bar. The attention to every detail: creative menus, the thoughtful wine pairings, and creating special cocktails, all designed to give guests a truly special dining experience. I am just so proud of this incredible group of hospitality professionals!"

Fifty-six restaurants are continuing their promotions through at least the end of June:

• 99 Bottles
• 1592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails
• Amore Restaurant
• Andrea’s Restaurant
• Apollonia Grill (UTC)
• B&B Chophouse
• Bar Italia
• Bevardi’s Salute
• Boca
• Bodrum Restaurant
• C’est La Vie Sarasota
• Café BarBosso
• Café Evergreen
• Café Gabbiano
• Café on St. Armands
• Cassariano Lakewood Ranch
• Chophouse285
• Ciao Bella
• Comida
• Crab & Fin
• Dolce Italia
• Duval’s Fresh. Local. Seafood.
• EVOQ at The Westin Sarasota
• Fat Rabbit Pub
• Figaro Bistro & Wine Bar
• Fins at Sharky’s
• Fleming’s Steakhouse & Wine Bar (UTC)
• Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar (Siesta Drive)
• Harry’s Continental Kitchens
• Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse
• JPAN Sushi & Grill (UTC)
• Kolucan Mexican Bar & Grill
• Kore Steakhouse
• La Dolce Vita
• La Norma Ristorante & Pizzeria
• Lefty’s Oyster & Seafood Bar
• Marcel
• Mademoiselle Paris
• Mattison’s Forty-One
• Michael’s On East
• Miguel’s Restaurant
• Mimi Brasserie & Speakeasy
• Nōnnō Umberto Italian Seafood & Steakhouse
• Post Kitchen & Bar
• Rose & Ivy
• Rufa at The Ritz-Carlton
• San Marco of Venice Restaurant
• Sardinia Restaurant
• State Street Eating House + Cocktails
• Taverna Toscana
• The Lazy Lobster Longboat Key
• The Maine Line
• The Reserve by Chef Antonio
• Tripletail Seafood & Spirits
• Tzeva
• Wink Wink Food & Drink