The Saks Fifth Avenue at the new University Town Center is a breathtaking homage to style and elegance. Nestled amongst the finery on the second floor is Sophie’s Restaurant. Named for Sophie Gimbel, the iconic lead fashion designer for Salon Moderne of Saks Fifth Avenue from 1929, the restaurant seeks to capture the essence of their muse and her simple, fresh designs. Sophie’s features the kind of impeccable service and exacting aesthetic one would expect from an exclusive club but manages to do so with genuine warmth. The rooftop patio is an oasis of clean white lines and flowering vines and the kitchen and bar collect basil, mint and various other herbs from the patio garden. The menu reveals attention to detail with an emphasis on flavor, elevating a simple Garden Salad with the addition of beets and key lime vinaigrette and a Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Neuske’s bacon and fig jam. Under the helm of Executive Chef Dianna MacPhee, Sophie’s promises to be an exciting addition to the Sarasota restaurant scene as well as the best excuse to go shopping that we’ve yet to find.