111 Nights: Unsung cheap eats around Sarasota
July 14th, 2009 by Suzanne Highland in Food and Drink, News, Sarasota-Manatee
In my absence from the CL blogosphere, I have somehow only been eating — eating often and, thankfully, eating well. I’m not a chef or critic, but I am, as I’m sure I’ve mentioned a nauseating number of times, a poor college student looking for sweet digs in Sarasota. The to-be-mentioned restaurants are simply yummy and you should take a bite.
First on the list, one of those “hole in the Floridashoppingplaza” places so often overlooked by hungry tourists. But hungry tourists (and Sarasotans) take note: located at 2700 Stickney Point Road, Burritos is a fine, inexpensive place for Mexican food. It provides the basics of Mexican cuisine in a warm and welcoming setting, it’s relatively cheap and moreover, the service is fantastic. The staff puts up with me and my picky friends’ requests with a smile. I dare say we’re getting close to the “I’ll have the usual” phase. And that’s the great part about dining locally.
Next up, a new addition to downtown, located at 1473 Main St.: Whiteberry, which is not to be confused with Pinkberry (in the Sarasota Square mall) or Sunberry (a Tallahassee favorite of us FSU students). The three places do share both similar names and a common theme — frozen yogurt. Whiteberry offers three flavors: organic chocolate, green tea and the original. The lack of yogurt diversity may feel off-putting at first… until you see the toppings. Displayed in beautiful, colorful, downright artsy trays at the counter, you can choose anything from fresh fruit to chocolate or carab chips to granola and cereals. The yogurt is all natural and organic, which is good for the body and soul, and the décor is trendy and inviting, so you just might want to take your new sweet (and healthy!) treat and hang out for awhile.
Last on my list might not look like anything special from the outside (or inside, to be perfectly honest), but the food is absolutely stellar.
Subconscious, located at 1303 N. Washington Blvd., is family owned and has great subs and sandwiches for an acceptable price. They’ll make you almost any combination you can think of and they deliver with big flavor. Best of all, you can look right across the street while they’re making your sub of choice and see Subway, and you’ll get that warm fuzzy feeling inside knowing that you’re supporting local business.
Bon, bon, bon appetit.
To read past 111 Nights stories, click here.
July 21st, 2009 at 3:32 am
Let me say this: “But Suzi, you hate Mexican”
July 21st, 2009 at 11:19 am
I’m going to push a long time local establishment at Webber and Benenva: Nellie’s. They have, hands down, the best bagel in town. When toasted it has the perfect amount of outer crunch and inner chew. Get two plus a small cream cheese for under $2. Beat that PaneraSteins!
Plus, the staff, especially the morning ladies, are as sweet as Yoder pie. They always gave me dog biscuits (aka bagel bites) when I walked there with the marmadukes.