PigFish, Lakeside Bites, First Watch, Sage, Bijou: Restaurant News

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — Here's the latest restaurant and bar news in Sarasota and Manatee counties:

Sarasota Opera Food & Wine Festival Returns

The Sarasota Opera Food & Wine Festival returns Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m., with food offerings from restaurants, and specialty food, wine, and coffee shops throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Tickets are $75 in advance and $85 at the door.

Proceeds benefit Sarasota Youth Opera.

Bijou Extends Priz Fixe Menu

Bijou Garden Café in downtown Sarasota will extend its summer prix fixe menu through the first week of October.

Guests can continue to enjoy the summer prix fixe menu for $49 per person, according to a news release. The promotion, which now runs through Oct. 7, includes a choice of two courses along with a glass of wine.

Diners have the option to select an appetizer and main entree combination, or a main entree and dessert, from the restaurant's summer seasonal menu. The portions for the prix fixe option are slightly smaller, but guests can choose to upgrade their main entree for a small additional fee.

First Watch Expanding in Manatee County

Bradenton-based national daytime restaurant chain First Watch is expanding with two new locations in Manatee County, according to the Bradenton Herald.

One will open in Lakewood Ranch, in the former space that housed Nancy’s Bar-B-Q.

The second location will be at 1520 Cortez Road W. in the Lowe’s shopping center. That space was previously a Panera Bread.

Pigfish Opening Soon

Calusa Brewing and Chef Steve Phelps are teaming up to open a new sandwich shop, PigFish, in Sarasota.

The shop will open in the former White Buffalo Saloon space, Sarasota Magazine reported.

The eatery will serve Calusa beer and feature a menu created by Phelps of Indigenous.

Lakeside Bites Opens in Downtown Wellen

Lakeside Bites, the newest addition to The Yard in Venice’s Downtown Wellen, is dishing up fresh-caught Florida seafood, paninis, rice bowls and super casual fare, according to a news release.

Located in one of The Yard’s three retrofitted shipping containers, the eatery recently opened and offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Lakeside Bites is the latest Downtown Wellen venture for Jamie Albano and Ryan Lane, the proprietors of the adjacent Kind Vibes Outfitters.

“The menu highlights local fresh ingredients and affordable prices,” said Albano. “We plan to have local seafood nights and stay open late for cornhole nights, concerts and events. We have a great chef from Baltimore, Chef Hans Baumgartel, who has helped us build a really cool concept in Downtown Wellen.”

Bakery Opening at Ellenton Outlet Mall

Tookies & Treats Bakery Shop is opening Sept. 30 at the Ellenton Premium Outlets.
The warm and welcoming mother-and-daughter-owned bakery takes pride in crafting delicious, handcrafted baked goods with love and care, according to a news release.

The bakery offers an assortment of freshly baked goods, including a variety of cookies, cakes, cobblers, pies and more made using local farm ingredients, time-honored recipes, and a dedication to traditional baking techniques.

Sage to Host Wine Dinner

Sage Restaurant will host its first wine dinner of the season Oct. 11, 6:30 - 9 p.m.

Presented by executive chef Christopher Covelli, the evening will consist of a six-course dining experience, expertly paired with wines from the Napa Valley ZD Wines.

John Buckey, national sales and tasting room manager of ZD wines, will be in attendance and guests will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with him.