Our readers have spoken! The 2022 Best of Lakewood Ranch competition has wrapped and we are so excited to share the winners of this year’s competition. From the favorite places to dine, to the best neighborhoods to live in and the best realtors to put you there, you’ll love–and learn from–the results of our annual Best of Lakewood Ranch competition.
LWR | BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT Lucky Pelican
The dreaded “what should we have for dinner” conversation is easily put to rest with these winners. Lakewood Ranch voters picked their Platinum prize with LUCKY PELICAN while they gushed over Gold winner ATRIA CAFE. Finish the night with something sweet at Silver sensation WICKED AWESOME ICE CREAM EMPORIUM INC or have a seafood feast at Bronze winner SPEAKS CLAM BAR - ITALIAN & SEAFOOD - LAKEWOOD RANCH. There are plenty more places to pick from looking over Honorable Mentions Grove, Cassariano Italian Eatery Lakewood Ranch, Nancy’s Bar-B-Q at Lorraine Corners, Libby’s, Bourbon and Bones Chophouse and Thai Spice & Sushi.
Gabriele Harris (on Lucky Pelican): Great fresh food. Local. JD DeVries (on Wicked Awesome Ice Cream Emporium Inc): Delicious treats and great hospitality. Lisa Grasso (on Speaks Clam Bar - Italian & Seafood - Lakewood Ranch): Incredible food and great service every single time! Platinum Winner- Lucky Pelican / Gold Winner- Atria Cafe / Silver Winner- Wicked Awesome Ice Cream Inc / Bronze Winner- Speaks Clam Bar-Italian & Seafood-Lakewood Ranch.
LWR | BEST CASUAL DINING. Craft Growlers To Go & Tasting Room
Getting dolled up for dinner is all good and fun, but when you can’t quite commit to the glitz and glam, these cool and casual spots are the perfect fit for jeans and a t-shirt type attire. Readers loved CRAFT GROWLERS TO GO & TASTING ROOM for Platinum and just two votes behind ATRIA CAFE cruised in for a second place Gold. LUCKY PELICAN made quite the impression popping up again for LWR in Silver and ED’S TAVERN battled for Bronze. Don’t miss Honorable Mention Bourbon and Bones Chophouse.
Courtney Barringer (on Craft Growlers To Go & Tasting Room): Great casual local spot. Easy going and the simple but delicious menu makes this a favorite place. Aiko M (on Lucky Pelican): I find the seafood at Lucky Pelican to be fresh and their recipes are always very flavorful. I feel their pricing is good for what you get in both taste and portion size. They have a nice happy hour to help with the long waits. Long wait times due to the crowds wanting to eat there. I always recommend Lucky Pelican as a good seafood location. Adrian Morell (on Ed’s Tavern): Ed’s Tavern has a laid back atmosphere. The employees, patrons, food and drinks are great. Platinum Winner- Craft Growlers To Go & Tasting Room / Gold Winner- Atria Cafe / Silver Winner- Lucky Pelican / Bronze Winner- Ed’s Tavern.
LWR | BEST BREAKFAST+BRUNCH Station 400
Starting the day off right can be as simple as a great plate of eggs and bacon. Lakewood Ranch has plenty of places to jumpstart your joy, starting off with pancake-slinging Platinum winner STATION 400. A true favorite making it onto several Best Of winning categories this year ATRIA CAFE wins one more Gold spot and ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFE cracks its way to Silver. Find biscuits and bacon at Bronze winner GROVE.
Courtney Barringer (on Station 400): Locally owned and operated Station 400 is always consistent with food, pricing and staff. Kathy James (on Another Broken Egg Cafe): Another Broken Egg restaurant is the “Holy Grail” of pleasurable dining experiences for breakfast or brunch! Not only do they have an over-the-top menu filled with an incredible variety of foods and flavors to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters, their servers are so attentive and friendly and you get all this for a super reasonable price. What more could you want? Oh yes, and it’s conveniently located too! (Try the Biscuit Beignets for a really unique indulgence!) Platinum Winner- Station 400 / Gold Winner- Atria Cafe / Silver Winner- Another Broken Egg / Bronze Winner- Grove.
LWR | BEST MODEL HOME Mainstay - Lee Wetherington Homes
Finding an oasis to call your own can be tricky but these home models showcase the best. Platinum Winner MAINSTAY - LEE WETHERINGTON HOMES takes the top spot this year while KORINA, JOHN CANNON HOMES is close on their heels for a second place Gold win. Rounding out the category for Silver is THE RIVIERA, KEMICK BUILDERS AND CONSULTANTS CONCESSION MODEL.
Gabriele Harris (on Mainstay - Lee Wethington Homes): Great floor plan, beautiful design and attention to detail. Jane Jones (on Korina, John Cannon Homes): I really loved that Korina model. The wine room especially; you could see all the bottle labels. If you go into any subdivision with model homes and there is a Cannon model, their quality will stand above all others. The unique custom features and specifically the ceiling details make them a clear ‘best model home’ winner. Platinum Winner- Mainstay, Lee Wetherington Homes / Gold Winner- Korina, John Cannon Homes / Silver Winner- The Riviera, Kemich Builders and Consultants Concession Model.
LWR | BEST NEIGHBORHOOD Waterside at Lakewood Ranch
A home is where the heart is but also where your kids can make lifelong friends down the street and a barbeque invitation is only a mailbox away. Being surrounded by a community of kind and inviting people is just as important to making a home as picking out the right paint color. With new developments constantly popping up around Lakewood Ranch, these neighborhoods were standouts. Readers voted WATERSIDE AT LAKEWOOD RANCH a Platinum paradise while THE LAKE CLUB was a feel-good Gold. Voters sang the praises of Silver selection MALLORY PARK AT LAKEWOOD RANCH BY DIVOSTA HOMES and ESPLANADE GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB AT LAKEWOOD RANCH became a Bronze-winning best. Check out Honorable Mention Bridgewater for a neighborhood delight.
Lucinda Fingado (on Waterside at Lakewood Ranch): Waterside has great proximity to UTC I75 and downtown Sarasota. The homes are beautiful and on large lakes. The developments are within walking distance to downtown Waterside. The downtown was well designed with restaurants situated on a large lake with multiple areas to wine dine shop and exercise. Amy Gorman (on Mallory Park at Lakewood Ranch by Divosta Homes): New houses and townhomes in a carefully planned location with much thought and detail put into the planning. Great recreational facilities-walking paths, pool, spa, grills and parks. Platinum Winner- Waterside at Lakewood Ranch / Gold Winner- The Lake Club / Silver Winner- Mallory Park at Lakewood Ranch by Divosta Homes / Bronze Winner-Esplanade Golf and Country Club at Lakewood Ranch.
LWR | BEST COMMUNITY PARTNERS YMCA Lakewood Ranch Branch
Helping a community grow is key to its success and these places showed their true colors as wonderful community partners. YMCA LAKEWOOD RANCH BRANCH is pleased to take home Platinum while only a three votes away the Gold goes to FAWLEY BRYANT ARCHITECTURE. This year’s Silver winner was SIRIUS DAY SPA.
LWR | BEST REALTOR/ LAKEWOOD RANCH REALTY Rick Chang, Wagner Realty
Look no further than these housing experts for all your needs when looking over your housing must-haves checklist. Lakewood Ranch voters know they can trust RICK CHANG, WAGNER REALTY with his expertise as the Platinum winner while others got their Gold-star guidance from second place winner LISA TARJANYI. Sliding into Silver is TINA CIACCHIO, LAKEWOOD RANCH REALTOR, MICHAEL SAUNDERS & COMPANY who can help you sign on the dotted line. Honorable Mentions Barbara A. Milian PA, Lakewood Ranch Realtor- Michael Saunders & Company and Kathy White Realtor: ICON Premium Realty are also ready for housing help.
Weyli Angus (on Rick Chang, Wagner Realty): Personable, dedicated and a deal maker. Linda Sines (on Lisa Tarjanyi): Tarjanyi Home Sales make you feel like you are family from the start and wants the absolute best for you. They go the extra mile to make the process truly enjoyable. Angela Massaro-Fain(on Tina Ciacchio, Lakewood Ranch Realtor, Michael Saunders & Company): The ultimate professional who cares about your success and the purchase or sale of your home. Smart. Strategic. Hardest working Realtor I have ever worked with. Platinum Winner- Rich Chang, Wagner Realty / Gold Winner- Lisa Tarjanyi / Silver Winner- Tina Ciacchio, Lakewood Ranch Realtor, Michael Saunders & Company.
LWR | BEST SHOPPING The Mall at University Town Center
Clicking through a computer catalog of clothes will never have the same appeal as finding the perfect dress in real life and modeling it for the mirrors in the dressing room. Lakewood Ranch residents turned to Platinum pick THE MALL AT UNIVERSITY TOWN CENTER to fill their baskets while others grabbed goods at Gold winner COOPER CREEK PLAZA. Silver winner SIRIUS DAY SPA was a third place treat to take yourself out for a day of window shopping.
