Restaurant review: Alibi Cafe is a triple threat
July 17th, 2009 by Brian Ries in Food and Drink, News, Sarasota-Manatee
Alibi Cafe
3 stars
5580 Swift Road, Sarasota, 706-1000 or alibicafe.com
“What is Alibi Cafe?” I remember thinking, every few weeks when I passed the sign on a lonely building on Swift Road over the past year or so. Then, it opened, and when walking into Alibi to check it out, my first thought was: “What is Alibi Cafe?” Honestly, I’m still kind of wondering.
On one hand, it’s a coffee shop, albeit a high-end one. There are sitting areas outiftted with comfy and cool leather couches, a few high-top tables scattered across the wide expanse of gorgeous natural tile floor, and, of course, coffee.
But there’s also food, albeit from a limited menu.
The owners hail from Bulgaria, which manages to infect the rather typical soup-salad-sandwich-pizza menu with a few unique touches. Like imported Bulgarian meats and cheese, or French fries topped by a pile of feta. And no matter how simple the menu, the food is actually pretty good. Pizzas have a cracker crust that snaps and a tasty balance of toppings. Sandwiches are assisted by heavily seasoned pastrami or garlicky salami imported from the old country. It’s a coffee shop menu with both a little talent and an interesting background behind it.
Then there’s the nighttime crowd, with a happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. and hours that run as late as 11 p.m. on weekends. All on a largely deserted stretch of road vaguely near Gulf Gate, with only Will’s Honkytonk providing synergy a quarter-mile away. Could it really be a wine and beer bar, too?
Maybe my attempts at pigeonholing Alibi just diminish its potential. In the morning, coffee and free wi-fi. Afternoon, sandwich and CNN on the televisions suspended above the conversation pit. At night, a glass of wine, a decent cigar and some pizza. Alibi is a triple threat.
Photos by Editorial Intern Mary Johnson
November 12th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
My friends & I like the atmosphere, the food and the people at Alibi Cafe. Prices are reasonable, too. I can recommend Alibi Cafe for all three of the scenarios suggested by the reviewer – for morning or afternoon coffee, lunch or dinner, evening watering hole. Give it a try.