SRQ DAILY Apr 28, 2026
Tuesday Dining and Food Edition
"I really get the best of the best."
Ted Weinberger used to drive past the old Nokomis Bank and Post Office—a stucco building circa 1923 with arched windows and stained glass—en route to Warm Mineral Springs, where he first launched Café Evergreen. The oldest structure on US-41 between Venice and Tampa, he renovated it himself in six months.
Some 13 years later, Weinberger starts cooking corned beef at 6:30 am. By noon, every table is full—patio and all—as he greets regulars, runs food, clears plates. Reclaimed tables from a local barn, a fireplace mantle in pecky cypress, doors still swinging inward, as the historic board required. Water arrives in a mason jar.
The menu rotates seasonally around fan favorites and whatever local suppliers bring in: pea shoots and radish greens from Simply Organics, the vibrant veggies and herbs that form his ahi tuna bowl. “I really get the best of the best.” Weinburger cooks without a fryer. “It forces me to think about how I’m going to do my food,” he says. “I look at the ingredients and really have to figure out how to make it pop.”
Nothing on the menu appears only once. Beets—“great detoxifier”— show up in the Ukrainian-style borscht, and again in the Roasted Beet Reuben on vegan marble rye with 1000 island. “I don’t want people to wonder about what they’re eating, if it’s healthy or not, because I’ve already taken care of that.” The Evergreen Club, voted Best Vegetarian Sandwich in the U.S. by Restaurant Hospitality, layers quinoa cakes, pickled beets, tomato, carrot and organic microgreens with pesto ranch on toasted multigrain. Raw avocado sliders, between dehydrated onion, flax and sesame bread, vie for best bite with a grass-fed lamb burger sourced near the Everglades.
The drink menu includes organic beer, kombucha, smoothies, fresh juices and probiotic coolers made from a kefir water strain he’s tended for twelve years. “When you come here, you can look at the menu, find something you like, order, and just enjoy it.”
Café Evergreen, Mon-Thurs, 9am-8pm, Fri-Sat, 9am-8:30pm, 801 S. Tamiami Trail, Nokomis, 941-412-4334, cafeevergreen.net 
Pictured: A fan favorite: Ahi Tuna Bowl with quinoa pilaf, sauteed veggies and vibrant chimichurri. Photo Credit: Cafe Evergreen.
On Saturday, May 2, 2026, the 2nd Annual Taste & Toast Gulf Coast returns to the Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa, bringing together the region’s top culinary talent for an elevated evening of chef-driven tastings, craft cocktails, fine wines, and a vibrant Kentucky Derby-inspired celebration. Think Big Hats. Bold Flavors. Bold Pours. A lively Derby Watch Party, a Best Dressed Contest (with a Revive Spa experience awarded to the winner), and a new Casino Cool Zone – all set against an energetic outdoor backdrop designed for an unforgettable night. Even more impactful – 100% of proceeds benefit the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Suncoast Chapter Education Initiatives, supporting the next generation of hospitality leaders.
Saturday, May 2, VIP 5:00pm, General Admission 6-9pm, Florida Central Credit Union Yard, Palmetto Marriott Resort and Spa, 600 US 41, Palmetto.
Cask weekend Brunch ventures into uncharted comfort & taste territory with offerings created in our Kitchen and sure to be new fav's...check out our Million Dollar Bacon sliced in House, Chilaquiles, and the Build Your Own Omelets offerings. The "I'm Being Good" section offers healthful alternatives and complements our quest for always fresh, always delicious. Embracing the ‘Low to No’ gauntlet, we've created fresh Mocktails served with bubbles, housemade simple syrup, tasty rim garnishes and an assortment of juices, spicy bitters, or whipped cream...as your taste may roam on any given day or night. Join us at Cask & Ale for Brunch Saturday & Sunday 11 am – 3 pm with Sunday live Jazz from 12 pm – 4 pm. Cheers!
This Friday night, Fresh Fridays Back To The 80s event is coming to S. Palm Ave from 7-10 PM. This is our most anticipated and highly attended event of the season. We have a special announcement, an iconic 80s DeLorean photo opportunity. The event will have live 80s music by Careless Whisper, light-up 80s giveaways, and more. Visit www.freshfridayssarasota.com to learn more.
83 Tavern is offering an all-inclusive buffet with an omelette-making staion and more for just $55 per person, including bottomless bubbles. This offer will be available both Saturday and Sunday of Mother's Day.
8383 S Tamiami Trl # 108, Sarasota, 941-203-5312, 83tavern.com
Last Thursday, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe held its annual spring fundraiser, the April Fête, at The Ora. The event featured performances by WBTT professional artists as well as students and alumni from its youth training program, Stage of Discovery, a delicious dinner, a paddle raise, and a lively dance party to close the evening. WBTT raised at least $255,000 for its education programs.
Much of the work at RedTail Gallery is not what people expect from Native American art. Newly opened in downtown Sarasota, the gallery offers a distinct perspective—one that moves beyond familiar Southwestern tropes to highlight work that is both rooted in tradition and strikingly contemporary. The collection brings together Indigenous art and jewelry of the American Southwest, with a focus on pieces that reflect cultural lineage and evolving artistic expression.
Every June, the eyes of the classical music world turn to Sarasota, drawn to the dazzling display of world-class artistry and youthful promise within the Sarasota Music Festival. So much more than a concert series, the Festival is a whirlwind of beauty, connection, and inspiration. It charges our city’s atmosphere with the passion and devotion of musicians who travel from across the globe to be part of something extraordinary. The energy is electric, and the collaboration is historic: for the first time, every performance this summer features faculty and fellows sitting side by side. For two weeks, you are invited to immerse yourself in this creative confluence. Four faculty-curated chamber music concerts culminate in a blockbuster full-orchestra finale. To truly experience the Festival is to see it from the inside: Go behind the curtain in coaching sessions and open rehearsals to catch the spark. While the Festival’s 13 days may feel fleeting, they ignite the kind of glow that stays kindled all summer long. Additional information about the Sarasota Music Festival is available at http://www.sarasotaorchestra.org/festival. Patrons may reach the Box Office at (941) 953-3434.
Thursdays and Saturdays, 7:30pm. Step right up to solve the murder of Dahlia the Queen of the High Wire on this interactive murder mystery who-dunnit.
2nd Fridays Creative Happy Hour brings the party to the gallery and transforms ArtCenter Sarasota into a vibrant hub of creativity, conversation, and connection. These lively monthly gatherings feature rotating themes, interactive art activities, live music, dance, film, and collaborations with local artists and arts organizations. It's a fresh take on the classic art salon, welcoming all ages to mix, mingle, make, and experience art in motion.
ArtCenter Sarasota, 707 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
Tripletail Seafood & Spirits delicious Sunday Brunch is from 11am-3pm. Guests are invited to indulge in a delightful brunch experience on the beautiful covered patio or casual dining room with nautical touches. The brunch menu features a variety of mouth-watering dishes created by Chef Cesareo Cardenas, including his decadent Crème Brûlée French Toast, savory Steak & Eggs, succulent Lobster Benedict, the flavorful Tripletail Brunch Burger and Crab & Shrimp Omelet. Guests will receive a complimentary Bloody Mary or Mimosa with the purchase of any entrée. Prices range from $13 to $26. Reservations can be made through Open Table or by calling 941-529-0555.
Tripletail Seafood & Spirits, 4870 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
Think while you drink! Gather your friends, co-workers or family and join us for a fun-filled evening. Prizes and specials each night. Monday – Wednesday at 7:30pm. Gecko’s on Clark – Monday ; Gecko’s on SR64 & Stickney Point – Tuesday ; Gecko’s on Hillview – Wednesday.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar UTC is proud to participate in Taste of UTC this April, offering specially priced three-course lunch and dinner menus that showcase guest favorites and signature coastal flavors. Join us for a limited-time experience featuring a curated selection of dishes that reflect the fresh seafood, bold flavors, and Five Star Fun hospitality that have made Anna Maria Oyster Bar a local favorite. Lunch is available for $18 per person and includes choices such as Spicy Seafood Gumbo or New England Clam Chowder, AMOB Tacos, Crab Mac and Cheese with house-made chipotle cheese sauce and lump crab, and the always popular Fish and Chips. Guests finish their meal with a slice of Anna Maria Oyster Bar’s famous housemade Key Lime Pie. Dinner is offered for $34 per person and features elevated selections, including the Seafood Fra Diavolo with shrimp, scallops, and mussels, Danish Baby Back Ribs, and Cajun Cobia topped with lump crab and Parmesan bacon crumble. Each dinner also concludes with our housemade Key Lime Pie.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar UTC, 5405 University Parkway, Unit 110
This Cinco de Mayo, Rufa will set the scene with coastal inspired décor, irresistible taco specials, and a specialty Patron cocktail menu designed to keep the fiesta going all night long. It’s the ultimate mix of laid back luxury and high‑spirited celebration, perfect for margaritas, mingling, and making memories.
Reservations can be made via OpenTable.
Rufa at The Ritz-Carlton, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr, Sarasota
This Mother's Day, treat the mother figure in your life to a beautiful waterfront experience at Rufa. Set against stunning Sarasota Bay, guests are invited to celebrate the women who make life blossom. Moms can create something uniquely their own with a DIY flower bar, selecting fresh stems to design a custom bouquet to take home. Sip, stroll, and savor the moment with refreshing drinks, gentle coastal breezes, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere made for creating meaningful memories with someone special. Reservations can be made via OpenTable.
Rufa at The Ritz-Carlton, 1111 Ritz Carlton Dr, Sarasota
Geckos Grill and Pub is excited to announce our much-anticipated Annual Iron Chef Competition, a thrilling event that brings together culinary creativity and team spirit! This years competition will run for a total of seven weeks, beginning on May 11th and culminating in a championship finale from June 22 to June 28. This competition offers our teams a unique opportunity to work together in the kitchen, fostering collaboration and camaraderie as they prepare dishes daily. Each participant must assist one another, transforming the kitchen into a hub of creativity and teamwork. We approach this promotion with an Everybody Wins. mentality. Each location will celebrate innovation and teamwork throughout the competition. Participants are encouraged to unleash their culinary imagination! Competitors must create a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 dishes, featuring items from all cooking stations: fry, grill, saute,and pantry. Exciting Prizes Await! Our top three finalists at each location will earn fantastic cash awards. During finals week, the ultimate victors will each receive a cash bonus, an embroidered chef coat commemorating their Iron Chef winning year, and the honor of displaying the Iron Chef trophy at their location for an entire year. Join us for a flavorful time of competition, creativity, and camaraderie at Geckos Grill and Pub. We can’t wait to see the incredible dishes our teams will create. Let the culinary battle begin! Geckos Grill and Pub – Where Good Food Meets Great Friends.
Gecko's Grill and Pub
Art immersion class for children ages 6-18. Small classes with fine arts materials. Visit linarinconart.com for more information and to register.
Creative Liberties Artist Studios, Gallery & Creative Academy, 927 N Lime Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237
The summer 2026 exhibition at Selby Gardens will celebrate the creative collaboration between two legendary figures and longtime friends, photographer Lynn Goldsmith and singer-songwriter Patti Smith, who is Selby Gardens’ artist in residence. The exhibition will feature Goldsmith’s photographs of Smith, past and present, in the Museum of Botany & the Arts. The images will offer an intimate portrait of an iconic artist over the course of her remarkable career.
Selby Gardens, 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Juana Romani (1867–1924) was one of the most fascinating and successful painters in late-nineteenth-century Paris. Born in Italy, Juana—whose given name was Giovanna Carlesimo—moved to Paris with her mother and stepfather at the age of ten. She took up painting, studying under the well-known painters Jean-Jacques Henner (1829–1905) and Ferdinand Roybet (1840–1920). Romani quickly earned both critical praise and significant fame for her deftly painted, richly colorful depictions of strong, sensual women adorned in lavish textiles.
Ringling Museum, 5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
Mayer explores the impact of technology on the human body through this interactive sculpture series. Slumpies invites viewers to sit and slump on these sculptures, much like furniture, and find a place of comfort while using their technological devices.
Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
SRQ DAILY is a daily e-newsletter produced by SRQ MEDIA. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. The views expressed by individuals are their own, and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. SRQ DAILY includes content excerpted from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Robinson Valverde at 941-365-7702 x703 or via email |
Powered by Sarasota Web Design | Unsubscribe
