Sarasota FL Real Estate Blog

Restaurant Spotlight: Mozzarella Fella

Grilled Cheese Sandwich - Image Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffreyww/6071900948/

Nestled on Main Street in between 301 and the Sarasota Bay, Mozzarella Fella has an unassuming appearance. However, do not let the typical storefront fool you; this restaurant is home to some of the best Italian sandwiches in Florida.

Michael Calore founded mozzarella Fella after ten years of running a casual Italian restaurant in New York. He picked Sarasota as the new venue after visiting family in the area over the course of many years. His self-described focus is a passion for authentic Italian food that uses only the freshest ingredients available.

What About the Food?

Mozzarella Fella makes their own mozzarella cheese fresh on premises daily. This makes their sandwiches and appetizers burst with fresh flavor. When you visit, you may have something in mind, but always stop to consider the daily special on their board. This can range from a ham, mozzarella, roasted pepper, and mayo sub, to their sublime chicken parmigiana.

The menu board lists 21 different sandwiches, all freshly made to order. The portions are enormous, enough for two meals for...

Which Longboat Key Neighborhoods are the Most Desirable?

Lighthouse Point Home

Not only is Florida a popular vacation spot, it has been a retirement destination for years. No matter what age you are or the reason for going to Longboat Key, there are great communities to live in Longboat Key, Florida. Below are the top three neighborhoods in the area for you to consider when making your choice.

Conrad Beach

With only twenty seven small homes with wrap around porches, Conrad Beach is one of the more intimate residential communities. All houses are maintenance-free, meaning the community board is in charge of lawn care, repairs, and pest control.  With the free time gained from a maintenance-free lifestyle, there will be more time to visit the area's white sand beaches and spend some time shopping at Longbeach Village.

Country Club Shores

For a community with a larger variety of income levels, Country Club Shores offers houses starting at just $400,000. The neighborhood features a mixture of older, modest homes alongside luxurious villas. This community will make the water enthusiasts happy with most of the homes being on the water front and deep canals for boating.

Lighthouse Point

This is the most expensive of all the area,  but don't let that stop you if you can afford it.  Lighthouse Point is a peninsula, so the houses have...

Upcoming Event: 31st Annual Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix Festival

Calendar - Image Credit: http://pixabay.com/en/users/Nemo-3736/

If you’re looking for fun for the entire family, the 31st annual Sarasota powerboat grand prix festival which begins on the last weekend of June and goes through the July 4th holiday. This festival entails a golf tournament, a kickoff party, a block party and a parade of boats, vendors, foods, fireworks and a slew of other events the entire family can take part in.

You’ll find some of the fastest powerboats around and competing this year spanning from the Gulf of Mexico of Lido Beach and this is great for the speed boat lover in all of us.

The race will take place the 4th and the 5th and you can also enjoy Thunder by the Bay which offers a slew of events in itself as well. This event is about more than offshore boat racing and first took place back in 1984. It’s become an annual event ever since and has been a way for thrill seekers to enjoy. It offers over a week’s worth of other activities that can include:

  • June 28th: Suncoast Grand Prix Car Show which takes place on Main Street in Lakewood Ranch from 10-3
  • June 30th: Nautical Night of Giving Fundraiser which takes...

Restaurant Spotlight: Blue Dolphin Café

Dining - Image Credit: http://pixabay.com/en/users/vivienviv0-671182/

If you’re looking for an intimate atmosphere with great food, the Blue Dolphin Café may be what you’re looking for. It’s located in Sarasota, FL on the historic St. Armands Circle and offers breakfast and lunch on a daily basis.

The Menu

The menu offers a variety of foods for your taste buds and includes freshly prepared breakfast and lunch with daily specials for you to enjoy.

Products used by the Dolphin Café are eco-friendly and this means they come from renewable and recycled resources while helping to divert waste from landfills and creates a demand for recycled materials.

Some of the items you can enjoy on the breakfast menu include:

  • Eggs
  • Breakfast wraps
  • Egg sandwiches
  • Corned beef hash
  • Chicken fried steak and eggs
  • Eggs Benedict
  • Omelets
  • Pancakes
  • Waffles
  • Salmon platter
  • And more

From their lunch menu, enjoy selections such as:

  • Soup and salad
  • Burgers and hot dogs
  • Garden burgers
  • Chicken fried steak sandwich
  • Smoked...

Restaurant Spotlight: Sofrito Mamas

Latin Food - Image Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_spivack/2483995426/

Sofrito Mamas is your destination for comfort food for Latin cuisine in Sarasota. They offer mouth-watering Puerto Rican dishes at great prices and using traditional ingredients. Enjoy home-style cuisine for the whole family with options like salads, roast pork, stews and rice with beans.

They offer signature specialty dishes and homemade desserts. You can stop in for lunch or dinner all week in the heart of Sarasota on Beneva Road. Dine-in, sit on the patio, enjoy carryout or even order catering. Here is a look at what you’ll enjoy at Sofrito Mamas.

What to expect

The restaurant is located at 935 North Beneva Road #617 in Sarasota’s Commons Plaza. It’s just north of Fruitville Road in the heart of Sarasota. During their normal season from November through April, you can order food Tuesday through Friday from 11am-8pm and Saturdays from 11am-7pm. During the off season of May through October, hours include noon until 7pm Tuesday through Saturday.

Menu

The menu features fritters, salads, sandwiches, meats and delicious sides. Enjoy Nectars, Agua de Coco, Malta and Guarana...

Condos in Dolphin Tower may Reopen Soon!

Construction - Image Credit: http://pixabay.com/en/users/geralt-9301/

The Dolphin Tower in Sarasota may be reopening this summer. After being forced out five years ago due to severe structural problems, the owners are finally being given the OK to move back in this summer. The building consists of 116 residences and the building is around 41 years old.

Sizable special assessments have been completed and occupancy is within sight. The prices of the units are out of the bargain basement levels from 2012 and 2013 and all the condo board has confirmed all of the structural work is completed. Here is a look at what to know about the Dolphin Tower’s status.

What took place?

No occupancy permit was issued by the city yet but chairwoman Charlotte Ryan of the condo board believes that residents should be back home by the end of June. Residents were forced out of the condo because of a $9 million engineering and construction ordeal that needed to take place.

A critical 2-foot-thick slab of concrete had cracked back in the summer of 2010 which caused the city to force evacuations of the owners. The plan was to replace the slab altogether but instead a new layer of concrete was added to the slab which is much stronger.

Not only did the concrete need...

Restaurant Spotlight: Polo Grill

Dining - Image Credit: http://pixabay.com/en/users/neshom-447256/

Polo Grill is an excellent place to dine right in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. It’s located at the corner of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and Main Street a bar and lounge with happy hour specials during the week.

The restaurant was designed to be a new breed of American dining featuring food and wine with comfortable surroundings and caring hospitality. Think of it as American cuisine with a global soul often called by locals as the “living room of Lakewood Ranch.” Here is a look at what you can enjoy at the Polo Grill.

About Polo Grill

The restaurant was created by Tommy and Jaymie Klauber, renowned restaurateurs. They wanted to design a restaurant to not only be unique, but to offer a rich ambiance with great food and service. They take pride in the quality of their food offering only the highest quality of meats, produce and freshest seafood.

They’ve recently added a Polo Fit section to their menu which features clean eating options prepared in a healthy way. All of their ingredients come from local, sustainable and organic sources. You’ll love how everything is homemade from the sauces and dressings to the soups and desserts.

What to expect

Enjoy a delicious meal paired...