1551 Main St., Sarasota, 917-0043; aztecasarasota.com
AZTECAMexican cuisine with a focus on fresh fish. Located in the former Cinco de Mayo location.
1526 Main St., Sarasota, 365-6800; barnaclebillsseafood.com
BARNACLE BILL’S SEAFOODThe flagship for Sarasota’s Barnacle Bill’s empire, the downtown version is more chic than most, with upscale preparations of seafood from around the globe.
1952 Main St., Sarasota, 331-4351; bomboncafe.us
BOMBON CAFEBreakfast and lunch, with sandwiches and some fresh baked goods.
1409 Main St., Sarasota, 365-1026; cafeamericanosrq.com
CAFÉ AMERICANOThe chrome and red vinyl furniture, open kitchen and high ceilings are reflective of the straightforward preparations, like creamy polenta or sauteed mushrooms in a basket of Parmesan cheese. Pastas, chicken, beef, and seafood dishes, rotisserie specials. Excellent service and good wine selection.
1371 Main St., Sarasota. 951-6896; cafeamicisrq.com
CAFÉ AMICIAt the heart of Main Street, Café Amici dishes up classic Italian cuisine and a good wine selection in a quaint setting.
1553 Main St., Sarasota. 906-9575
C’EST LA VIEYou can find the best croissants in town, along with a bounty of fine baked goods, or sit at the tables and enjoy the casual service and tasty breakfast and lunch items at this French spot.
1766 Main St., Sarasota, 330-9393; divinosarasota.com
DIVINOCharming decor, gracious service and a delicious menu. Divino is a family-owned Italian restaurant located on Main Street, known for its consistent menu, which includes homemade pastas, daily fresh fish, steaks, desserts and nightly specials. Its bar offers the finest spirits, cocktails and an international wine selection. Private dining room available.
1572 Main St., Sarasota. 955-8404; drunkenpoetsarasota.com
DRUNKEN POET CAFEA casual sushi and Thai spot in the heart of the downtown dining district, Drunken Poet specializes in evocatively named makimono, many inspired by local chefs and downtown regulars.
1592 Main St., Sarasota. 365-2234; elgrecocafe.com
EL GRECO CAFEThis old-time downtown mainstay underwent a big renovation a few years back, updating the space and adding covered sidewalk seating where you can enjoy your garlicky Greek pizza and stromboli, along with other Italian and Greek classics.
1991 Main St., Sarasota, 952-9400; halfshelloysterhouse.com
HALF SHELL OYSTER HOUSESeafood — especially oysters, of course — via Louisiana culinary traditions served in a massive location with prime outdoor seating.
1703 Main St., Sarasota. 366-5570; panificiousa.com
IL PANIFICIOExcellent thin-crust pizza available by the slice or the pie, along with big sandwiches and salads made to order and an extensive outdoor dining area on Main Street.
1970 Main St., Sarasota, 365-4122; sarasota-italian.com
MEDITERRANEOMediterraneo serves classic Italian fare in a chic, urban setting. Enjoya pizza from the wood-burning oven; or more sophisticated dishes such as potato dumplings with Gorgonzola and arugula, veal scallopini with Marsala wine and mixed mushrooms, or grilled jumbo shrimp with tomatoes on a bed of spinach.
1568 Main St., Sarasota. 953-7111; lanrestaurant.com
MELANGEChef Lan Bradeen’s cuisine is innovative and exciting, focused on small plates with worldwide influences constructed with precision and elegance. Also, the late-night menu is some of the best food in town.
1377 Main St., Sarasota. 951-6272; mozaicsarasota.com
MOZAICChef Dylan Eljhajoui’s Moroccan and Mediterranean-inspired cooking injects a needed burst of African elements into downtown’s dining scene. The food is exquisite, the wine program is excellent and the newly-expanded space is elegant.
1668 Main St., Sarasota, 366-7600; mozzarellafella.com
MOZZARELLA FELLAFresh mozz made daily, plus prepared dishes and plenty of simple — but extraordinary — sandwiches.
1512 Main St., Sarasota. 955-7545; pastryartonmain.com
PASTRY ARTPart coffee shop, bakery and restaurant, the centrally-located Pastry Art is known for great soups and fine sandwiches at lunch, along with its pastry selection.
1429 Main St., Sarasota. 957-6433; patellinis.com
PATELLINI’S PIZZAGreat N.Y.-style pizzas by the slice or by the pie.
1481 Main St., Sarasota, 955-1481; patricksofsarasota.com
PATRICKS 1481Patricks has a new look to go with the same famous burgers and homey bar and grill fare it has served for decades.
1578 Main St., Sarasota, 955-2683; phocalisarasota.com
PHO CALIEven on a mid-week night, the place hums with energy. The restaurant takes its name from the hearty noodle soup, “pho,” and offers 17 variations on this staple. Diners can explore a series of variations, with different cuts of beef, with meatballs, with chicken, with shrimp, or with a variety of vegetables. Asian beers.
1345 Main St., Sarasota, 362-4427; selvagrill.com
SELVA GRILLFavorites at this Peruvian restaurant include the wide variety of cured fish available as ceviche. Entrees, prepared with flair, include flavorful preparations of steaks, chicken, pork, fish and shrimp.
1319 Main St., Sarasota, 365-0469
SPORTS PAGE BAR & GRILLENeighborhood bar and grill offering homestyle food at reasonable prices. Menu includes specials such as barbecue ribs and prime rib, burgers, salads, soups, grouper Reuben, pastrami, potato skins, nachos and more. Full bar, flat screen TVs and pool tables. Indoor and outdoor dining. Kitchen open until 1:30 a.m.
1420 Main St., Sarasota, 364-5775
TROPICAL THAIThe setting at Tropical Thai includes beautiful wood carvings under glass tabletops; the scent of fresh flowers fills the air. The menu include all the favorites: pad Thai, Yum salads, curries and specialties including roast duck, sea scallops, Siam chicken, lobster and more. Plus a variety of macrobiotic entrees.
1355 Main St., Sarasota. 366-1618; twosenoritas.com
TWO SENORITASIcy margaritas and hot Mexican cuisine are the stars here, along with great open-air dining facing Main Street.
1900 Main St., Sarasota, 366- 0095; sarasotasushi.com
UTAMARO SUSHI BARAlthough sushi is abundantly available around town, few places can offer the overall ambience Utamaro provides. Sushi is the obvious center of the menu, but there are enough other samplings to offer a rounded dining experience, such as tempura dishes. Excellent service.
1537 Main St., Sarasota. 363-0604
YUME SUSHIAnother downtown sushi spot with fine sashimi and makimono.
Where to eat: Downtown Sarasota's Main Street
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Danielle
Monday, January 7, 2013 at 12:36 pm
Don't forget Eat Here restaurant - also on Main Street:
http://www.eatheresarasota.com/
Duval's New World Cafe on Main Street!