The Dish

By Sharyn Lonsdale

You’ve returned to more choices for dining out and to some changes in the Englewood restaurant scene. In addition to new restaurants, many of your favorites are now delivering to your door with services like Grubhub and DoorDash. Facebook is often the best place to discover the latest specials, hours and entertainment of your go-to eatery.

Restaurants

In June, Beyond the Sea Restaurant and Supper Club in East Englewood closed. In a Facebook post, owners Ron and Susan McGuire cited health concerns for the abrupt closing and thanked their employees and patrons, who they said have been “like family.” The location is currently empty.

Norma Jean’s Sport’s Bar in Lemon Bay Plaza, is now Libee’s Sports Bar and Grill. The menu offers up sandwiches, salads, flatbread pizzas, wings, burgers and dogs and comfort food like meatloaf, macaroni and cheese and “Grandma’s Sunday Sauce.” Libee’s also has a full bar and dessert menu, and of course, plenty of TVs to watch your favorite game.

Libee’s Sports Bar and Grill - 1859 Englewood Road, Englewood 941-460-8860. Hours: 11am to 10pm Mon. - Sat.; Noon to 10pm Sunday.

Gaspy’s Cafeteria specializes in empanadas, sandwiches, breakfasts and desserts with a Cuban flare, with no regular menu item over $10. This is NOT your high school cafeteria! 

Gaspy’s Cafeteria - 41 Chailett Road, Rotonda West 941-803-0141. Hours: 7am to 6pm Monday through Saturday. www.gaspyscafeteria.com

Dearborn Street is home to Blue Pineapple Bistro, an eclectic new eatery in a familiar location, mixing things up with Lox Benedict for breakfast and the Beyond Burger for lunch, soups, salads, mussels, and more. They also offer entertainment. You can find them on Facebook 

Blue Pineapple Bistro - 470 W. Dearborn Street, Englewood 941-460-6537. Hours: 8am to 2pm Sunday; 8am to 2pm Tuesday and Wednesday; 8am to 8pm, Thursday; 8am to 8:30pm Friday and Saturday.

Zarate’s Family Restaurant is located in a spot formerly occupied by Bay Point Grill and most recently Blossom’s Family Restaurant. Chef/Owner Jesus Zarates and partner Serafin Estrada have made sure there’s something for everyone with Greek, Mexican and Italian entrees, a large breakfast menu, salads, sandwiches and more. 

Zarate’s Family Restaurant - 3502 N. Access Road, Englewood, 941-208-2855. Hours: 6:30am to 7pm Monday to Saturday; 6:30am to 1:30pm Sunday. 

Seed to Table Vegan Eatery may be just outside Englewood, but it means area vegans don’t have to travel to Sarasota. The South Venice spot promises “pure, good eats” and is open for lunch only. You can order online and inquire about delivery.

Seed to Table Vegan Eatery - 2357 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, 941-799-7137. Hours: 11am to 3pm Monday to Friday. Eatseedtotable.com

Farmers Markets

In addition to the popular Thursday Englewood Farmer’s Market on West Dearborn Street which reopened for the season in October, the Englewood Event Center at 3069 South McCall Road, is hosting an “Inside/Outside” Tuesday Market every Tuesday from 9am to 2pm. There is plenty of free parking and new vendors all the time. 

Meanwhile, at Cool Today Park, the Atlanta Braves have gotten into the Farmer’s Market business, every Wednesday from 8am to noon at 18800 West Villages Parkway on the North Port/Venice line. If you work Monday through Friday, there are Saturday markets in Venice, Punta Gorda and Sarasota.