The Suncoast welcomes any worthy addition to the ever-exciting culinary landscape, and these four have our voters hoping for a lengthy stay. Baker & Wife rises to the top this year, winning over taste buds about town with favorites like the mushroom pizza and the beet burger. Mandeville Beer Garden comes in as the first runner-up with craft beers, bratwursts and salmon BLTs, followed by Surf Shack and Beulah.
Daryl Marchant (on Baker & Wife): Baker & Wife offer a fresh approach to some items that could be ordinary from other kitchens, as well as items not found on competitors’ menus. Anna Kozachenko (on Baker & Wife): Owner/Chef Isaac Correa is a super-talented chef, who brings no ordinary menu to Sarasota. His food is simple and yet astonishingly delicious. This restaurant really stands out in the Sarasota restaurant scene. Douglas A. Cherry (on Mandeville): Mandeville offers a fantastic beer selection and pleasant outdoor seating area, with a ping pong table and other games, that makes it family-friendly also. A perfect spot in an up-and-coming area of downtown. Diedra Finney (on Surf Shack): I love Surf Shack because the food is delicious and it has such a variety. Amy Kinker (on Beulah): A fresh and inventive menu with its comforting-yet-cheeky decor is a welcome addition to the downtown Sarasota dining scene.