Ocean Prime, Meliora, Panera, Beach House Water: Restaurant News

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — Here’s the latest restaurant and bar news in the Sarasota and Bradenton areas:

Ocean Prime Sets Opening Date

The restaurant chain Ocean Prime will open its 19th location at The Quay Sarasota at the end of December, according to Sarasota Magazine.

Cameron Mitchell, CEO of Ocean Prime’s parent company, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, has owned a home on Siesta Key for 20 years. He calls the new Sarasota location “a passion project.”

“It’s all about location, and Ocean Prime Sarasota is an incredible location,” Mitchell said. “I’ve always wanted to open a restaurant here but I was waiting for the Quay, specifically. When you think about the hotel rooms, condos, proximity to the bay, the amazing neighborhoods nearby and the walkability, I think it’s a blessing that we’ve waited this long.

New Panera Bread Opens in Manatee County

Panera Bread opened its first location in Parrish and its fifth in Manatee County on Wednesday, according to the Bradenton Herald.

The first 50 guests at the new store, which is at 8980 U.S. 301 N., #102, will receive a year’s worth of bagels and cream cheese.

The Parrish location, open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., has indoor and outdoor seating, digital ordering, mobile pick-up lanes, and a drive-thru.

New Orleans-inspired Eatery Planned

A New Orleans-inspired sandwich shop is coming to Southside Village, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Lucky 8 Luncheonette is expected to open sometime this month at 1812 S. Osprey Ave.

Its chef/owner, Mark Marjorie, who lived in New Orleans before coming to Sarasota, was previously executive chef for the nearby Veronica Fish & Oyster from its 2016 opening until earlier this year.

Exclusive Restaurant, Private Club Expanding to Sarasota

An exclusive restaurant and private club on Florida’s East Coast is expanding into Sarasota, the Observer reported.

The Jupiter-based 1000 NORTH will open its second location in BLVD Sarasota at the corner of Boulevard of the Arts and North Tamiami Trail in late 2025.

The project is a collaboration with Sarasota developer Kevin Daves, who is known for The Concession Golf Club at Lakewood Ranch and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Residences.

Beachfront Restaurant Reopens After Hurricane

Six weeks after being ravaged by back-to-back hurricanes, Helene and Milton, Beach House Wateron Bradenton Beach has reopened, Fox 13 said.

In the weeks after the storms, Beach House employees spent every day cleaning up the property and shoveling sand left behind by the storms.

"It’s the old; many hands make light work. It’s incredible how many things you can get done with just whatever people you can put together," Jon O’Driscoll, general manager, said. "We’d bring in teams of ten, and they would do so much work I’d come in surprised the next day."

Southside Village Restaurant Rebrands

Popular Southside Village restaurant Meliora, which opened in 2022 at 1920 Hillview Street, has rebranded, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported.

The restaurant now boasts a new name, Adeline, as well as a new business owner, Edward Zaki, co-owner of 1592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails in downtown Sarasota.

The restaurant has also unveiled new lunch and dinner menus.