Pictured: Chocolate Marquise, a decadent ending to savor. Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Visit Sarasota County.

Michael’s on East has laid a prix-fixe table for restaurant week since the start. “When Savor Sarasota began in 2006, we were proud to be among the first restaurants to participate,” says co-proprietor Michael Klauber. He calls it an honor to support “this celebration of Sarasota's vibrant dining scene.” For Savor's 21st year, the beloved restaurant extends its three-course menu through the end of June.

First, the mood. Think classy supper club. Cognac leather chairs pull up to black linen tables. A palm mural sweeps one wall, a Deco-swirled carpet underfoot. A shaded table lamp casts a sultry glow. Your server can riff on the menu, trade in banter and still know when to recede. Courses arrive ideally timed, leaving space for patter and powder. Old-school in the best sense.

The Savor lineup tours Michael’s monthly Epicurean menus, each devoted to a country for “a unique culinary experience,” Klauber says. “They’ve become a signature tradition.” This journey spans China to Jamaica. First, bread service: a wedge of country Italian nestles a brown raisin bread and an Indian papadum, blistered and golden. Then there’s octopus, braised Galician-style till it surrenders its chew, the pieces finished hot then tossed with chorizo, roasted fennel and a cohesive chipotle aioli. Diners after a different route can look to Mexico: Azteca soup with roasted chicken and guajillo-tomato.

Next, Wagyu short ribs. The black bean and soy glaze, almost lacquer-thick, is equal parts sweet and savory, the meat melting. A ginger-scallion fried rice catches the drippings; snap peas cut the fat and glaze. Closer to home, there’s Cajun jumbo shrimp and grits via New Orleans. An oak-aged Midnight in Manhattan from the new zero-proof list stands up alongside the ribs. You mean to pace yourself, but don’t.

Finally, the chocolate marquise represents France in a dense, almost truffle-y slab, deep and bittersweet against a cool crème anglaise and fresh strawberries. Two bites, you promise. You know how this ends.

Michael’s on East, Tues-Thurs 4:30- 10 pm, Fri-Sat 4:30-11 pm, 1212 S East Ave, Sarasota, 941-366-0007, bestfood.com

Pictured: Chocolate Marquise, a decadent ending to savor. Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Visit Sarasota County.