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

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.