Green Zebra Made from Scratch
The Ianakiev family opened their second Green Zebra Café in downtown Sarasota, in a location that is wedged on a street full of popular restaurants, including First Watch, Selva Grill and Clasico’s. What sets Green Zebra apart, however, is their dietary-friendly menu and the warm Bulgarian family that operates the establishment.
Green Zebra is owned and operated by Tony and Elena Ianakiev, with help from their three sons: Anton, Ivan, and Alex, the youngest, who works on the weekends during the school year. These are familiar faces you’ll get acquainted with the more you dine here.
It’s a special day when a vegetarian can find something scrumptious on a menu that’s not just a salad. The Green Zebra caters to all, with a menu including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, keto-friendly, dairy-free, and Paleo options. Never fear: There are also plenty of meat-based options to choose from.
“A lot of the stuff we make here, my mom’s made throughout her life,” said Anton Ianakiev, eldest of the three sons. “She’s condensed it into a simple menu.” The Black Sea Sandwich, for example, echoes the spirit of the Black Sea, with grilled chicken breast, provolone, feta cheese, roasted bell pepper and tomato.
The downtown Green Zebra is a two-story full-service restaurant, serving breakfast and lunch, with dinner tentatively scheduled to open by late October. Just as at the St. Armand’s location, you can call ahead for takeout or come in to pick up a smoothie.
The menu will be the same and, lucky for us, they have added dishes that have been requested over the years. Pancakes—with names like Signature Pear Ricotta and Lavender Blueberry Lemon—and a creative array of variations on Eggs Benedict, including a vegan Eggs Benedict made with cashews, have been added to the menu.
“We do everything from scratch,” said Elena. “The vegan meats are made in house, never store bought, mostly from nuts. We don’t cut corners.”
Hand in hand with the family’s health-conscious mission, the design of the restaurant is eco-friendly meets DIY, with the tables being re-purposed by Tony and the decorations handcrafted by Elena. One entire wall has been set aside for a Green Zebra tradition: The family encourages customers to write a permanent message on the wall.
“We wanted to make it feel like home when you come, more comfortable,” remarked Elena, in her sweet, motherly tone.
In the foyer of the restaurant, orchids hang from the ceiling, swaying gently to the sound of laughter and bustling staff. Orchids are among the most difficult flowers to keep alive, and as a testament to the family’s heritage and bond, these elusive flowers sit thriving on the tables of the restaurant.
Who knows? If you dine here enough times, they might just start calling you family.
> 476 John Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, 941-388-2848
> 1377 Main St, Sarasota, 941-388-2848; greenzebracafe.com
