Cafe Epicure, 1298 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota

Café Epicure first opened in Downtown Sarasota in the year 2000. The sunny trattoria features sidewalk seating, cheery service, a beautiful backlit bar and a state-of-the-art wood-burning pizza oven. In the past couple of years thanks to a renovation and helped along by proximity to hot spots like Clasico, Selva Grill and Ivory Lounge, Café Epicure has also become something of a staple for Sarasota’s lively nightlife crowd. The authentic, fresh Italian cuisine, though, is what keeps us coming back for more. My family and I are huge fans of Epicure – our go-to choice for Christmas Eve dinner, a quick lunch or a gelato fix. I love the Insalata Tropicale featuring hearts of palm and avocado, the Salmon Tartare with cucumber sauce and a decadent touch of heavy cream, as well as the pizzas with their perfectly thin crusts. My dad and I can’t get enough of the chili infused olive oil; he likes to pour it liberally over the fresh seafood pasta. 

Cafe Epicure, 1298 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota