What’s new and open in Manatee County? See the latest list of new restaurants
Manatee County’s dining scene has seen several new restaurants open recently.
Here’s a look at what’s opened lately throughout the county.
Aqua Tequila
The long-awaited restaurant serving authentic Mexican cuisine opened in February at 8950 U.S. 301 N. #133 in the Creekside Commons shopping plaza.
Aqua Tequila, which was first announced as a future tenant at the plaza in 2024, is part of a locally-owned family restaurant group that owns restaurants in North Port, Venice and Port Charlotte.
The restaurant boasts a guacamole table service experience along with fajitas, quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos, burritos, chimichangas, nachos and more.
For more information, visit www.Aqua-Tequila.com.
Jersey Girl Bagels
The second Jersey Girl Bagels opened in February. The bagel shop had a line waiting when it opened its doors at 8750 U.S. 301, Unit 105, in Parrish’s Creekside Commons shopping plaza.
The first 50 in line received free bagels for a year.
Kim Fishman began the brand in her Lakewood Ranch home kitchen during the COVID-19 pandemic, before turning her passion into a brick-and-mortar off University Parkway in 2022 and the recent expansion with a Parrish location.
The shop boasts 17 different bagel flavors.
For more information, visit JerseyGirlBagels.net.
Smiley Face Cafe
Owner-operator Megan Harkinson opened the Smiley Face Cafe at 923 10th St. E. in Palmetto, serving breakfast sandwiches, toasts, lunch sandwiches, bowls, smoothies, coffees and more.
After having a culinary career in Austin, Texas, Harkinson and husband Nick opened the Smiley Face Cafe after relocating to Manatee County.
“We just kind of missed the food and coffee culture that was over there, and we thought Palmetto needed an alternative coffee shop that’s just a little bit different,” Megan Harkinson said.
For more information, visit www.SmileyFaceCafe.org.
5 Boroughs Pizza
Using family recipes developed in the 1960s, Sal Candela and his family opened the pizzeria in the space vacated by Raven Pizza, which closed last summer after serving Parrish for 30 years.
Candela’s pizzeria offers hand-tossed New York style pizzas as well as garlic knots, toasted ravioli, chicken parmigiana, baked zita, penne, pinwheels, calzones, strombolis and more.
5 Boroughs Pizza is located at 8255 U.S. 301 in Parrish.
For more information, visit www.5BoroughsPizza.com.
Yugen Omakase
The 10-seat, reservation-only chef’s counter opened in February. The kaiseki-focused concept is open Wednesday through Sunday with two seatings per night.
Diners get a variety of Japanese cooking methods from executive chef Atsushi Okawara, who previously led Miami Beach’s Den, a Michelin one-star restaurant.
Yugen is located at 190 N. Cattleman Road at the University Town Center.
For more information, visit YugenFl.com.
Cava
The area’s second, and first for Manatee County, Cava opened recently at the Marketplace at Heritage Harbour shopping center off State Road 64 E. near Interstate 75.
The fast-casual restaurant serves popular Mediterranean food such as chicken shawarma, lamb, steak, falafel, red pepper hummus, harissa, tzatziki, roasted eggplant and more.
It’s located at 7145 State Road 64 E., Suite 101.
For more information, visit www.Cava.com.
Wendy’s
Despite announcing it was closing 5-6% of its stores nationwide, according to reports, the fast-food giant recently opened its newest Manatee County location.
It’s located at 8101 Moccasin Wallow Road in the Parrish-Palmetto area in the commercial space outside the Seaire community.
Seaire is neighborhood that features a man-made lagoon.
Wendy’s is open 10 a.m. to midnight daily.
For more information, visit www.Wendys.com.
