Ethnic restaurants--Vietnamese, Thai, Middle Eastern, Mexican, Chinese, great thin crust pizza etc.--where are they?

[blueherons]

Originally Posted by NeedsinfoMN

Thanks. I will see if we can check out a couple of these during our scouting visit. Is the issue also perhaps that there is just not all that much diversity of immigrants from foreign countries to this area? After all that is what usually happens when immigrants decide to start their own small business, and it's frequently a restaurant.

There is no diversity in Sarasota. It is the whitest place I've ever been outside of Salt Lake City.

Gulf Gate is where you want to be for diverse dining. Excellent choices, all mom and pop places locally owned. No chains.

I've never had a bad meal anywhere in Gulf Gate.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by blueherons

There is no diversity in Sarasota. It is the whitest place I've ever been outside of Salt Lake City.

Gulf Gate is where you want to be for diverse dining. Excellent choices, all mom and pop places locally owned. No chains.

I've never had a bad meal anywhere in Gulf Gate.

Not true. There is plenty of diversity when you get north of downtown. And even more in Bradenton. But I agree that south of downtown and all the way through Venice it is lily white. Same for areas like Lakewood Ranch.

[blueherons]

Originally Posted by gypsychic

Not true. There is plenty of diversity when you get north of downtown. And even more in Bradenton. But I agree that south of downtown and all the way through Venice it is lily white. Same for areas like Lakewood Ranch.

I was referring to Sarasota proper which would not include Bradenton.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by blueherons

I was referring to Sarasota proper which would not include Bradenton.

Well it does include north Sarasota, which is where all the ethnic restaurants I suggested are.

[Avalon08]

Originally Posted by NeedsinfoMN

We will be in the area scouting for a place to be snowbirds and also want to check out the availability of finding these types of favorites. These are the types of meals we prefer to get at home when we go out or for take-out. Can you tell me where (or if) there are ethnic restaurants in the greater Sarasota area? Names of your favorites would be appreciated. Are these kinds of restaurants available anywhere but in Sarasota proper?

Hole-in-the-wall, totally downscale with take-out as a choice is more our style than stylish and up-scale. We are looking at homes all the way from Bradenton near Anna Maria to the Venice area (primarily more west of the Trail).

Thanks for the tips.

You're on the Gulf coast of Florida, you're not going to have to worry about places being too stylish and upscale.

[OrchidSlayer]

We are also from MN and, although I would prefer to stay home in the northland, I go south because I love the ethnic food in SRQ (and my spouse, who doesn't want to stay north).

Some of my favorites are the family-run Ssam (Korean) on Tamiami north of downtown, Spice Station in the Rosemary district (trendy but still great), Isan Thai (near Phillippi Park), Brasa and Pisco (University) and Peruviuan Grill (Beneva and Clark). A great non-ethnic place to pick up a salad or sandwich to eat by the water or at Selby is Maximillian's (Gillespie Park. 10:30-3 M-F).

Check Yelp for more ideas.

[NanMcKelvey]

Originally Posted by craigiri

I think your view is more accurate 5+ years ago than today.....for many reasons. Firstly, we live in W. MA. which is not a metro area nearly the size and there are literally dozens of world-class eateries or outlets within 15 minutes (due to colleges and the type of population).

But you must keep in mind that vast numbers of short-stay tourists come through the SRQ area and, also, more active retirees that spend 3-6 months down here have lots of time on their hands to go out and eat. That differs greatly from a place where everyone is in an office building all day long....etc.

Try a cauliflower taco and some other stuff at that screaming goat place and I think you might agree that some Mexican taste good. I agree the El Toro stuff is greasy high calorie stuff.....

The pizza truck at the Wed. Farm market is definitely at least a 7 out of 10, probably higher for many folks (we live near Pizza heavens here in New Haven, etc.). I'm expecting some of those new places to be decent but we will see. We cannot be fooled. We simply refuse to eat regular pizza.

The Bagels at Lox and Eggs are not as good as the Best from NYC, but they are better than most any elsewhere.

Now..that's not gourmet food...of course. But, to us, it is......

"More accurate 5+ years ago than today"......?? naybe I don't know what I'm talking about because I'm a long time native. You live in "western MASSACHUSETTS?? okay, that explains why you know more about the area than I do. This place is not expected to be the home of a bunch of true "ethnic restaurants" that' s nutty.