The arrival of October marks the start of Eat Like a Local Restaurant Week, which is an annual tradition for the Sarasota-Manatee Originals restaurant collective. Luckily, this calendar switch has also brought the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s dine-out celebration, Restaurant Month, to eateries south of Tampa. Read on for the lowdown on both.
Running for a couple of weeks through Oct. 14, Eat Like a Local Restaurant Week encourages the Bradenton, Anna Maria Island, Bradenton Beach, Longboat Key, Sarasota, Siesta Key and Venice communities to hit up close to 50 local, independent restaurants for specially priced prix-fixe menus. The bills of fare start at $9 for breakfast and lunch and $19 for dinner.
Participants include, Mattison’s, Blū Island Bistro, Michael’s on East and Pier 22.
“With nearly every type of culinary experience imaginable represented, this is the perfect time to taste your way through our award-winning local restaurants,” according to a statement from Sarah Firstenberger, executive director for the Sarasota-Manatee Originals.
Meanwhile, Restaurant Month is a new event for the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau that aims to drive business to the coastal eateries most impacted by the recent red tide algae bloom, which has resulted in economic downturn.
Restaurants around the Bradenton area — among them Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Beach House and Eliza Ann's Coastal Kitchen — are set to showcase “30 Day Deals” through Oct. 31. The featured offers include complimentary drinks and $10-off coupons.
“We truly believe that you can now enjoy our unique coastal restaurants, shops and attractions without experiencing the effects of red tide,” said Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione. “We hope our community takes advantage of these special deals.”
This article appears in Sep 27 – Oct 5, 2018.