Where’s the Bread?
When I set out to write about the (rapidly) disappearing trend of complimentary bread at restaurants, I was filled with nostalgic, carbohydrate-laden food memories. Visions of everything from the delicate gougères at (the now tragically defunct) Derek’s Culinary Casual to the addictive hand-rolled yuca rolls at (the now tragically defunct) Table Restaurant Creekside danced through my head.
There are myriad reasons for the sharp decline in free bread at restaurants across the country, including rising costs, supply- chain issues, potential waste, a rise in gluten-avoiding diners, and, most recently, a global pandemic. I’m still a fan of the warm hug that is inherent in a little plate or basket of free bread—the hallmark idiom of a shared meal is that of breaking bread together, after all —so I did the legwork and searched for a few stalwarts and standouts here in Sarasota. You’re welcome. Now, pass the bread!
Chianti Ristorante
I like to dine at a bar whenever possible and Chianti Ristorante has the perfect bar for a lone diner to pull up a stool and enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail and some happy hour bites. I was inspired by the warm crusty bread and marinated olives to order the sautéed PEI Mussels—what goes better with bread than a garlicky white wine broth?
chiantisarasota.com
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
The expansive new tasting room and restaurant at the end of Fruitville Road offers flights of award-winning, handcrafted wines and is part of a prolific chain of restaurants across the country. Did I mention the bread? A round loaf of homemade pretzel bread with butter pairs beautifully with the aforementioned wines and one of the best lobster bisques that I’ve tasted in recent memory.
chwinery.com
Michael’s On East
Three decades later, Michael’s On East continues to be a consistently excellent choice. Offering one of the best lounges in Sarasota, complete with Joe Micals at the piano and Michael himself greeting and gabbing, the bread basket could easily be relegated to the status of an afterthought. It isn’t. This is one of the biggest in town and offers three varieties: a raisin bread, an Italian bread, and a rare gluten-free option—an imported authentic Indian papadum redolent with earthy cumin that is a nod to Michael’s mother, Joanna, who attended school in India as a child.
bestfood.com
Miguel’s Restaurant
For a decadent and intimate dining experience I love to visit Miguel’s on South Siesta Key for exceptional French cuisine and fresh seafood. The showmanship here doesn’t stop with incredible tableside preparations of salads and flambéed desserts but it does start with an impressive course of delicious French bread and accompaniments: creamy pâté, fresh crudité, olives, and cheese. C’est magnifique.
miguelsrestaurant.net
Napulè
For a trip to Italy via Tamiami Trail find yourself at Napulè, destination dining at its finest. The pizza “al metro” is cooked in a wood-burning oven and the pasta, sauces, bread, and desserts are homemade daily. Oh, that bread … focaccia studded with gems like sun-dried tomatoes and fresh herbs, presented with a decadent eggplant caponata. Be still, my heart.
napulesarasota.com
Tripletail Seafood & Spirits
The bread here is a tale of two butters: crusty Italian baguette slices presented with a scoop of creamy regular butter on one side and a scoop of cinnamon honey compound butter on the other side. There’s nothing better than bread and butter—until you taste bread and cinnamon honey butter.
tripletailsrq.com
Valentino Pizzeria Trattoria
Valentino offers the kind of home-cooked authentic experience that they call “Grandma’s Italian Food.” Nearly everything is made from scratch, including the pizza dough, but in a nod to their Northern New Jersey roots the bread is imported from a bakery in New Jersey. Try it with a bowl of the Pasta Fagioli—mamma mia!
valentinopizzeria.com
