Sarasota bests, please

     The Columbia Restaurant on Siesta Key between Long Boat Key
and Sarasota, about a five minute drive from Sarasota.  It has some of the best Cuban food on Earth.  The Black Bean and Gaspacio soups are superb, along with the flan for dessert. Tampa is only a 45 minute drive to the north on Interstate-75. You can go to the section of Tampa called Ybor and eat at the original Columbian Restaurant, or go across the bay to St. Petersburg and eat at the Wedgewood Inne.  Another good place to eat is the pasta buffet at the Harbor Island Hotel, across the river from downtown Tampa.

In article , [email removed] (Barbara Wolf)
writes: > I'm planning a week in a condo in Sarasota in early March. Help me find the > best  restaurants, markets, etc. in town. Thanks in advance.

>

Cafe of the Arts, just north of the downtown.
Cafe Bacci, just south of the downtown.

Both on the Tamiami Trail. Both excellent and a nice change from the plethora of chains, family restaurants and Early Bird Specials.

Stay away from the Thai Orchid.  The most mediocre Thai food.

Barbara