Fat Rabbit, Ed’s Tavern, 15 South, Taverna Toscana: Restaurant News

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — Check out the latest bar and restaurant news in Sarasota and Manatee counties:

Gourmet Burger Restaurant, Bar Opening in Sarasota

A gourmet burger and wing restaurant and bar with an original location in New Tampa is expanding to downtown Sarasota, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Fat Rabbit is moving into the second-floor space at 1359 Main Street, above OfKors Bakery and Main Street Creamery.

The 4,400-square-foot new restaurant is expected to open in mid-May.

Second Ed’s Tavern Location Opens

Ed’s Tavern, a sports bar and restaurant that’s called Lakewood Ranch Main Street home since 2009, has expanded in Manatee County, the Bradenton Herald reported.

Its second location recently opened its doors at the northwest corner of State Road 64 and Upper Manatee River Road.

The new restaurant seats about 180 diners and also boasts retractable floor-to-ceiling sidings that allow better views.

Ice Cream Shop Opens in Rosemary District

An ice cream shop has moved into Parkside, a food and beverage compound anchored by Arts & Central, in the Rosemary District, Sarasota Magazine said.

Great Heights Creamery opened its doors to the public on April 20.

The shop offers 16 flavors — three of them vegan — and uses local grass-fed dairy from Dakin Dairy.

15 South by Napulé Opening in St. Armands Circle

A revived and reimagined version of a favorite eatery, 15 South by Napulé, is returning to St. Armands Circle soon.

The former 15 South restaurant and bar, known as a late-night venue, is beingreopened by the owners of Italian restaurant Napulé, according to SRQ Magazine.

A grand opening celebration is planned Saturday, 6 to 8 p.m.

Celebrity Chef Opening Downtown Bradenton Restaurant

Fabio Viviani, who appeared on Bravo’s “Top Chef,” is opening his new modern Italian steakhouse in downtown Bradenton soon, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported.

The celebrity chef’s restaurant concept Taverna Toscana is expected to begin welcoming guests sometime in May.

The restaurant is opening in a standalone building at 1301 Sixth Ave. W.

Bijou Garden Cafe Temporarily Closing

Downtown Sarasota restaurant Bijou Garden Cafe is temporarily closing after Sunday for planned renovations.

It will be closed throughout the summer, the restaurant’s owners wrote in a Facebook post.