What’s New in Town? Let Taste Tell Ya’
(and what’s hot South of the Border)

The Year 2008 was a difficult one for many businesses, including the restaurant trade. In our area alone about 130 restaurants shut their doors with about 40 new opening. The area is still potentially big for restaurants as a few of the major chains are still very interested in our dining demographics and see the area as a good investment.

Many restaurateurs have had to resort to “creative financing” to help them through these difficult times. A few early dining discounts are springing up in many local restaurants (Barnacle Bill’s) and a few prix fixe dining specials that are normally seen over the summer months are being extended throughout the season (Harry’s, Lido Beach Grille and Fleming’s Steakhouse to name a few).

There is always comfort in less expensive drinks and the return of the Happy Hour (Barnacle Bill’s Seafood again with his “Economic Stimulus Plan”) is helping to ease the day’s worries with many restaurants featuring $5 martinis and after 9pm drink specials (Bonefish Grill).

Look for portions to be reduced (as should the prices) and a cut back on the expensive items. That second bottle of wine over a meal could be a forlorn memory as wine prices to me, have gone the way of the ridiculous. Priced too high? Let the owners know. A mark up is one thing but some restaurants are getting way too greedy. Let’s be fair people.

Okay, I stray from our meaning of this particular article. What’s new? We will bring you a few of the new spots to visit if you haven’t been with us since last year or are just out of “the loop.” We invite you to get out and enjoy the new dining establishments and the ones that have been opened for a while. Many of them have been advertising with Taste Dining & Travel for every issue over our 17 years of publishing. Thanks Lynches Pub & Grub, Saga, Duffy’s Tavern, Hemingway's, Barnacle Bill’s Seafood, Harry’s Continental Kitchens Euphemia Haye, Capalbo’s Pizza, Cosimo’s, Galileo, Hilton on Longboat Key, Ophelia’s, Mr. Bones, Sandbar, Mar Vista and the BeachHouse. We invite you to read on and support some new restaurants that will hopefully be around for the next 17 years.

Fire & Stone Pizza 10519 Cortez Road West, Cortez • 792-5300

Technically they are not a new restaurant but they are new owners and I feel that they should be in this article. Fire & Stone Pizza is in what was Capalbo’s Pizza in the village of Cortez. Last year new owners Craig and Radka Watson purchased the restaurant from Mike Capalbo. Over the summer and fall a huge renovation took place resulting in a wonderful makeover that has people buzzing. In came granite serving areas and tables, tiled walls, marble flooring– all just beautiful.

Craig and Radka decided that the time is now right to establish their own name since the transition and renovation is now complete. What has stayed is the same commitment to serving the best pizza at the best value. Not only is their pizza delicious it comes with a 24-item salad bar, dessert and a 2 for 1on house wine and draft beer all the time, but the price make it even better. Lunch is $5.99 and dinner is $6.99 for this unlimited feast. Just fantastic! Make tracks today to visit the new Fire & Stone Pizza, it is now better than ever.

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