If you're looking for a fun and flavorful way to kick off your morning, swing on by Sarasota’s newest breakfast spot, Waffle Monkey. This independently-owned cafe has locations in Costa Rica, the Cayman Islands and Florida, and when it comes to serving up playful and whimsical breakfast bites, they aren’t monkeying around.

Waffles are obviously a central part of the menu at Waffle Monkey. The handmade waffles are golden and fluffy, made to order and piled high with a variety of sweet or savory toppings. If you want something salty, try the Chicken and Waffles. The eatery’s signature waffle is topped with chicken that had been marinated in spices and seasonings for 24 hours before being rolled in breadcrumbs and fried to order. Looking for something sweet? Go for the eponymous Waffle Monkey, which is topped with powdered sugar, banana, local honey and coconut. The tropical flavors are a great nod to the restaurant’s Costa Rican roots.

One thing that sets Waffle Monkey apart from other breakfast joints is their commitment to catering to people with food sensitivities. For Pete Collins, who owns the Sarasota location with wife Kathryn, it’s a personal priority.

“I’m very careful that the gluten-free and vegan waffles are kept completely separate from everything else in the kitchen so there’s no cross contamination,” Collins says. “Being celiac myself, I feel very strongly about that.”

There are more than just waffles available at Waffle Monkey. There is also an array of breakfast sandwiches, a yogurt and granola bowl, avocado toast and sausage rolls, as well as a varied drink menu. Come in and enjoy table service while taking in the colorful mural that pays homage to the very real original waffle monkey.

“At the Costa Rican location at Tamarind, there’s an actual monkey that comes in every day and sits on the edge of the tables,” says Collins. “They give him a banana and he peels it himself and eats it.”

Waffle Monkey, 52 South Palm Ave., Sarasota, 941-210-3830, wafflemonkey.net. 

Pictured: At Waffle Monkey, enjoy specialty waffles made to order and piled high with delicious toppings. Photo by Cecilia Marty.

This deal just got richer. Jack Dusty Coastal Cuisine and Crafted Cocktails at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota invites patrons to enjoy Pearls & Prosecco: the perfect blend of brine and bubbles. Every Wednesday evening from 4:30-6:30 p.m. through August 27, 2025, diners can enjoy $2.50 glasses of prosecco and $2.50 oysters no matter where they’re seated in the restaurant.Price is per oyster and per glass. Reservations are not required but can be made on OpenTable. 

For reservations click here.

Planning an evening at Florida Studio Theatre? Start your night just steps away at Ocean Prime Sarasota with our new Sarasota Theatre Menu—crafted with showgoers in mind. Enjoy a three-course dinner for $65 per person, available nightly before 6PM. Whether it’s a date night or a group outing, this pre-show dining experience is the perfect way to elevate your evening with exceptional food, impeccable service, and a timely experience that gets you to your seat before curtain call. 

For full menu click here

Der Dutchman Sarasota is honored to be in the running for the USA TODAY Readers' Choice Award for Best Buffet in the entire country. The restaurant is the only finalist in Florida and is currently in 3rd place with 12 days of voting to go. Located at 3713 Bahia Vista St., Der Dutchman has been serving up traditional Amish cuisine and baked goods in Sarasota's Pinecraft neighborhood since 1985. Guests can choose from the menu or feast from a garden-fresh salad bar and buffet stocked with comfort food favorites, including slow-roasted meats and real mashed potatoes. Summer hours are Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  

To learn more click here

Café on St. Armands invites guests to a one-of-a-kind culinary experience, Sip & Savor: The Perfect Pairing, on Monday, June 24, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM in the Gallery Room. Fresh off a stellar showing at the inaugural Taste & Toast Gulf Coast, where Café on St. Armands earned the Perfect Pair award and first place in the FRLA Suncoast Chapter Best in Show, this elevated tasting celebrates the art of pairing flavors and the joy of sharing them. This intimate event will feature five chef-crafted small bites, each expertly paired with premium wines selected by John Burke of Allocated Wine & Spirits. Guests will enjoy a curated progression of bites and pours, from fresh Greek salad skewers with crisp white wine to savory kefta with a bold red and a sweet Black Forest Cake finale with dessert wine. Every pairing has been chosen to highlight both the wine and the dish, showcasing how flavor, balance, and creativity come together on the palate. Seating is limited for this one-of-a-kind event and reservations are required.

Café on St. Armands, 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, Monday, June 24, 5:00pm to 6:30pm.  

For the past five years, Beachside Hospitality’s Teacher Give Back initiative has helped teachers fulfill their classroom wish list needs ahead of the new school year. This year, Beachside is extending their teacher & school appreciation with some summer specials. For students:  All June long, Sweet Willy’s Ice Cream Shoppe is serving a free ice cream scoop to students who bring a positive report card in (no other purchase necessary). Its new location inside of Sandbar Seafood + Spirits offers a rotation of ice cream flavors. Sandbar: 100 Spring Ave, Anna Maria. For teachers & any active school staff: From June 1 to July 31, all Beachside Hospitality restaurants will offer the first round of drinks on the house. Guests just have to show a valid school I.D. In Manatee County, restaurants include Sandbar Seafood + Spirits, Beach House Waterfront Restaurant and Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub. 

In this adult class Preston will get you primed for auditions. You'll learn how to approach cold readings, how to prepare monologues, and what to expect at Venice Theatre auditions. Although this class focuses primarily on the acting aspects of auditioning, Preston can point you in the right direction for choosing audition songs. Jun 12, 2025 at 6 pm, runs for 4 weeks. 

To learn more click here

La Musica Chamber Music marks its 40th anniversary with a sweeping season (December 3-April 9) that opens with all six of J.S. Bach’s "Brandenburg Concertos" and culminates in the world premiere of "The Magical Carnival," a whimsical new work by composer Michael Stephen Brown inspired by endangered animals. Under the artistic direction of Wu Han, the world-renowned pianist and co-artistic director of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the six-concert series returns to the Sarasota Opera House and Riverview Performing Arts Center with performances from some of the most acclaimed chamber musicians in the world. This milestone year begins with a musical event of rare scope and significance: the complete “Brandenburg Concertos,” presented by artists from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. 

Come join the Lighthouse at The Ringling for a guided, descriptive, and tactile museum tour, followed by an interactive art experience. Tour is different every month.

June 24, 10:30am-12:45pm, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota. 

To RSVP click here