The Sarasota area dining scene witnessed one of its most beloved waterfront restaurants — especially cherished by those who appreciate locally caught seafood in a charmingly casual setting — thrust into the national spotlight this month, in addition to numerous exciting restaurant openings.
Yes, February was a very good month for the Sarasota-Manatee dining scene, offering a special honor and a panoply of new choices for us longtime locals and all of you snowbirds and tourists joining us for the winter months.
Presented in no particular order, here is the essential Sarasota-Manatee restaurant news of the past month. Have a dining tip? Email us at [email protected].
Yūgen opens in University Town Center
Japanese chef’s counter concept Yūgen debuted in University Town Center on the week of Valentine’s Day. The intimate, reservation-only 10-seat chef’s counter, operating Wednesday through Sunday with two seatings each evening, is located at 190 N. Cattlemen Road adjacent to Zōtō Sushi, a Japanese restaurant serving sushi and other raw offerings as well as grilled dishes that opened last year in UTC…