The Scenestress Suggests…the First Street Chop House
November 25th, 2009 by The Scenestress in Food and Drink, Music, News, Nightlife, Sarasota-Manatee
There’s another new kid on the block of the downtown Sarasota dining scene…and this one may have a chance. On Wednesday I attended the media preview launch of the First Street Chop House, formerly Arosa, on the corner of First Street and Pineapple, and was pleased with what I saw.
Upon arrival a nice young man led me upstairs to the reception while sharing a little history about the building, which was actually built in 1926 and was at one time, among other things, a gentlemen’s club. A server greeted me promptly to offer a drink, after which I greeted a few other Loaf-ers and played spot-the-rival-media-groups (I tallied a few from SRQ Magazine and The Observer, with whom I very politely shook hands when introduced).
Well-dressed Manager Amanda Kastor stopped to welcome us as we enjoyed some fruit and cheese and to tell us a little more about the restuarant’s entertainment plans, including monthly theme parties as well as live pianists and full bands performing on the weekends in the courtyard and/or upstairs.
If you can, take advantage of their almost-all-day Happy Hour, which runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and picks up again from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. (the kitchen is open late, too). With what looks to be a strong team in the front of the house, and a capable crew in the kitchen, the First Street Chop House is on its way.
November 25th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
hey Scenestress – Just a little FYI ~ We also hit the Chop House, but not on media night, just sort of incognito, and it was every bit as courteous and welcoming as the scene you describe. They had a couple little blips… bartender not knowing what a B&B was for example nor did they have something pretty common… what was it; a chardonnay perhaps? … but they were so gracious about these things and so great in all other ways, no one really cared. You don’t have to be perfect to be the perfect place to meet and eat, right? Looking forward to a return on band night.
November 26th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
We’ll have to try it when we’re downtown.