Old restaurants, food & lunch places in Sarasota/Manatee (Venice: live in, prices)

[Michael Koester]

I'm trying to make a list of all the old restaurants, food places and delis in this area (Sarasota/Manatee). Really, anything over 20 years old qualifies. I'm considering building a website that features only the old, classic food places. Whatever you know, please post it here so I can begin making a comprehensive list. They can be big places, like Columbia or hole-in-the-wall places. I'll go first:

-Columbia
-Hot Diggity Dog (1970) The Original Hot Diggity Dog in Sarasota Florida
-Hob Nob (1957) About

[MIKEPOTE]

New Pass Grill comes to mind

[SharpestJim]

I haven't lived in Sarasota in nearly 25 years. Is Angers Garden Deli (on Lime Ave near Fruitville) still in existence? A web search brought it up. But according to Yelp, it is closed. What a shame. I lived on 6th St near Washington Blvd in the early-to-mid 1980's and used to eat at Angers a lot. That's been many years ago and the owners (two couples) were no spring chickens back then. But they certainly made wonderful sandwiches.

The Hob Nob is a classic. We used to frequent that place when I worked in one of the nearby motorcycle shops, again, mid-80's-ish up until I left Sarasota in 1993. It was cool - you could sit outside and drink pitcher-after-pitcher of beer. And that is exactly what we would do. It was owned, at that time, by a gentleman named Angelo. What a great guy. He used to come sit down at our table and drink beer with us. He would then, generally, have the waitress bring us another pitcher on the house. Fond memories.

Li'l Villa on South Trail north of Stickney Point was our favorite pizza place back during that era.

How about the Hide-A-Way on North Trail just south of 27th Street? I never hung out there. But it certainly was a unique establishment.

Then there was a place on North Washington Blvd. I can't remember the name. But it had "Mary" in the name. Oh, wait...that wasn't a restaurant.

[treeboy919]

how about Sonny's BBQ on 41...haha... And of course Walt's Fish Market. Surely they've been around for that long.

[beach43ofus]

Linger Lodge was here 25 years ago when I last called this area home. It appeared as if it had been there for quite some time before that. Maybe the 1960's? It's a very unique place for sure.

[SharpestJim]

Originally Posted by treeboy919

how about Sonny's BBQ on 41...haha... And of course Walt's Fish Market. Surely they've been around for that long.

Walt's has been around forever. I lived near Gillespie Park in the mid-1980's and we used to eat at Walt's (and Popeye's before that chain gained national popularity).

Sonny's. Indeed, haha. We live in North Florida where Sonny's got its start. I'll go just about anywhere for BBQ before I'll go to Sonny's. The one on Venice Bypass has been there for approx 40 years.

I assume that Oaks Barbecue is still around. They got their start in a tiny place at the southwest corner of US41 and Stickney Point. That building had originally been a Royal Castle hamburger stand (there was another one on the NE corner of 41 and Bahia Vista. That chain fell by the wayside in the early-70s.

[beach43ofus]

Linger Lodge's web site says founded 1968, (coming up on 50 year anniversary) and that Al Roker named it one of the top 5 weirdest restaurants in the nation. It might be closed temporarily for improvements, but I hope they dont mess up the vibe the old hunting lodge throws off. If you have ophidiophobia, don't go here. They have huge trophy sized Rattlers mounted all over the walls, and in the displays.

[photoman_6]

glad to see someone is doing your homework for you.

[Sunshine Rules]

My opinion of Linger Lodge is different. While the decor is lacking (unless you are into dusty, stuffed animals), when we last visited in April with friends the food was good and prices reasonable. We all shared the sampler platter, the gator and fried green tomatoes were good. The others said the frog legs were good as well (not a frog leg fan myself). Entrees were enjoyable as well. It's one of the few places that serve alligator, which visitors from "up north" always want to try. Will be interesting to see the remodeled version of the restaurant.

[FLHfan]

Because you posted it Shekie, and that name was deleted.

But you already knew that.