Whitney’s brings fun dining to Longboat Key. Old-timers may remember a gas station there
Take an upbeat, relaxed vibe, cheerful staff, affordable breakfast and lunch menu, and the considerable charm of a repurposed former Chevron station, and you have Whitney’s, a brand-new restaurant.
“Just having fun at the beach” is the theme at Whitney’s, 6990 Gulf of Mexico Drive.
“It’s nice to be open. This has been a long time coming and we have gotten great feedback,” said David Benstock of the opening on Sunday. Benstock is a partner in the business with Jose Chichande, James Brearley and Joe Chillura.
It’s been well over a decade since a service station operated at the site. The owners took pains to retain the character of the service station, while renovating it into something bright, inviting and informal.
Outside, there is a shower for folks visiting from the beach, and a fire pit, which offered warmth on the coldest morning of the year.
Inside, customers walk up to the counter to place their order, and from there, the staff takes over, preparing the food and delivering it to the table. There is also a small bodega, or market, at one end of Whitney’s.
Whitney’s adds a new option for diners on the northern end of Longboat Key. Just down the street are the new waterfront Shore Longboat Key, 800 Broadway St. ,and Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant and Pub, 760 Broadway Street.
Benstock and Chichande are restaurant veterans. Chichande’s resume includes experience at Euphemia Haye Restaurant and Harry’s, while Benstock has the Il Ritorno restaurant and the Green Stock in St. Petersburg.
“We are really embracing the community and want to create a gathering spot,” Benstock said.
“The Village is really special,” he said, and as if to emphasize the point, an inscription over the entrance reads “Hail this feisty village.”
Among those having coffee at Whitney’s this week were Christy Pace and Patricia Lucas.
“I am happy to see what they did with this place. They really did a great job, and it’s not an eyesore any more. We love it,” Lucas said.
Fun is a word that often comes up at Whitney’s: fun at the beach, fun food. “It’s not over complicated,” Benstock said, adding that the kitchen emphasizes quality, fresh ingredients, sourced locally when possible.
The breakfast menu starts at $6. Among the selections are the Village Egg Sandwich, Longbeach Breakfast Burrito, bagel and lox, banana French toast, avocado toast and more.
The lunch menu includes sandwiches, salads and the LBK Bowl, starting at $9. All sandwiches come with shoestring fries. Also offered are tacos, a barbacoa street burrito, and snackables, such as wings and smoked fish spread.
Wine and beer are available, along with coffee and soda.
Whitney’s has seating for 40 inside and 30 outside. Hours are 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, and closed Monday and Tuesday.
“We are limiting our hours to maintain quality. We don’t want to overdo it. We will stick with this until we feel everything is perfect,” Benstock said.
For more information, call 941-383-4606 or visit https://www.whitneylbk.com/
This story was originally published January 23, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
