Food & Drink

Manatee Eats: Looking for good food around Bradenton? Here’s where the locals go

As 2019 comes to a close, here’s a toast to all of the fantastic food and drink-making happening at restaurants, bars, markets and businesses around Bradenton and Manatee County.

This year, we asked members of our Facebook group, Manatee Eats, for lots of suggestions on where to dine local.

Topics included sushi, steak, Mexican and Indian cuisine, calzones, coffee shops and waterfront dining.

The responses did not disappoint.

Here’s a short list of the places that locals loved in 2019.

There are lots of places to grab a tasty calzone in Manatee County. This calzone at Villa Italia Cafe, 2808 10th St. W., Palmetto, is stuffed with ricotta and mozzarella.
There are lots of places to grab a tasty calzone in Manatee County. This calzone at Villa Italia Cafe, 2808 10th St. W., Palmetto, is stuffed with ricotta and mozzarella. James A. Jones Jr. jajones1@bradenton.com

Calzones

San Remo Pizza and Pasta, 1914 14th St. W., Bradenton.

Danny’s Pizzeria, 7220 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

Brancato’s Brick Oven Pizza, 5227 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

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Coffee

Tellers, 1201 Sixth Ave. W., Bradenton.

Land of a Thousand Hills, 1822 59th St. W., Bradenton.

Mountain Comforts Coffee Café, 3550 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton.

Oscura Café & Bar, 540 13th St. W., Bradenton.

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Bowled Life, also known as the “Purple People Feeder,” is a food truck serving fruit bowls, salad bowls, smoothies and more in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Bowled Life, also known as the “Purple People Feeder,” is a food truck serving fruit bowls, salad bowls, smoothies and more in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Photo courtesy of Bowled Life

Food trucks

Bowled Life. 941-417-7856. facebook.com/bowledlife.

Grandma Wan. Parks at Pirate’s Den Bait & Tackle, 2711 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton. 813-476-2760. facebook.com/GrandmaWan.

The Schnitzel Trailer. 941-779-8080. facebook.com/tstfood.

Doña Betty Tacos. Parks at 5510 14th St. W., Bradenton. 941-580-4730.

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Fried chicken and waffles are on the menu of Metro Diner.
Fried chicken and waffles are on the menu of Metro Diner.

Fried chicken

Publix.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, 3390 First St., Bradenton and 3707 U.S. 301 N., Ellenton.

Metro Diner, 4726 Cortez Road W., Bradenton.

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A spread of traditional Indian dishes at Flavors of India in Bradenton.
A spread of traditional Indian dishes at Flavors of India in Bradenton. Provided Photo/Flavors of India

Indian cuisine

Tandoor Fine Indian Cuisine, 8453 Cooper Creek Blvd., Bradenton.

Flavors of India, 6103 14th St. W., Bradenton.

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Find homemade key lime pie in the bakery section at Detwiler’s Farm Markets in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
Find homemade key lime pie in the bakery section at Detwiler’s Farm Markets in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Detwiler's Farm Market

Key lime pie

Publix.

Detwiler’s Farm Market, 1800 U.S. 301 in Palmetto (and three locations in Sarasota County).

Sugar Cubed Pastry Lab, 531 13th St. W., Bradenton.

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Fresh tortillas are prepared at Acapulco Tropical, a well-known Latin market in Bradenton.
Fresh tortillas are prepared at Acapulco Tropical, a well-known Latin market in Bradenton. Tiffany Tompkins ttompkins@bradenton.com

Mexican food

Acapulco Tropical, 3525 First St. E. and 5612 14th St. W., Bradenton.

El Primo Taqueria, 1111 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton.

Doña Betty Tacos parks at 5510 14th St. W., Bradenton.

Taqueria Mi Rancho, 3603 15th St. E., Bradenton.

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Steak

Michael John’s Restaurant, 1040 Carlton Arms Blvd., Bradenton.

Longhorn Steakhouse, 4502 14th St. W., Bradenton.

The Capital Grille, 180 University Town Center Dr., Sarasota.

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The “Nina Roll” at Sam Oh Jung in Bradenton is a California roll wrapped in avocado and topped with baked crab.
The “Nina Roll” at Sam Oh Jung in Bradenton is a California roll wrapped in avocado and topped with baked crab. Sam Oh Jung

Sushi

Sam Oh Jung, 6032 14th St. W., Bradenton.

Thai Wasabi, 5250 State Road 64 E., Bradenton.

Sushi Hana, 4274 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton.

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Vegan and vegetarian

Sage Biscuit Café, 6656 Cortez Road W., Bradenton and 1401 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

Birdrock Taco Shack, 1004 10th Ave. W., Bradenton.

Flavors of India, 6103 14th St. W.,Bradenton.

Blue Jasper Restaurant, 5718 Cortez Road W., Bradenton.

Poppo’s Taqueria, 212 C Pine Ave., Bradenton; 6777 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton; 4220 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton; and 8471 Cooper Creek Blvd., Bradenton.

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Stone crab claws at the Star Fish Company Seafood Market and Restaurant in Cortez.
Stone crab claws at the Star Fish Company Seafood Market and Restaurant in Cortez. Bradenton Herald file photo

Waterfront dining

Star Fish Company, 12306 46th Ave. W., Cortez.

Tide Tables Restaurant and Marina, 12507 Cortez Road W., Bradenton.

Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant, 995 Riverside Dr., Palmetto.

Linger Lodge, 7205 85th St. Court E., Bradenton.

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At Linger Lodge, visitors can enjoy a meal with the magnificent critters of the Florida backcountry.
At Linger Lodge, visitors can enjoy a meal with the magnificent critters of the Florida backcountry. Ryan Ballogg rballogg@bradenton.com

Where to take visitors

Tide Tables Restaurant and Marina, 12507 Cortez Road W., Bradenton.

The Sage Biscuit Café, 6656 Cortez Road W., Bradenton and 1401 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

Star Fish Company, 46th Ave. W., Cortez.

The Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria.

Linger Lodge, 7205 85th St. Ct. E., Bradenton.

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The “Montana Plate” at enRich Bistro in Bradenton is angus tenderloin prepared with a bison glaze, roasted fingerling potatoes, brussel sprouts, baby rainbow carrots and asparagus.
The “Montana Plate” at enRich Bistro in Bradenton is angus tenderloin prepared with a bison glaze, roasted fingerling potatoes, brussel sprouts, baby rainbow carrots and asparagus. Courtesy of enRich Bistro

Favorite overall restaurant

enRich Bistro, 5629 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

Michael John’s Restaurant, 1040 Carlton Arms Blvd., Bradenton.

O’Bricks Irish Pub and Martini Bar, 427 12th St. W., Bradenton.

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Not a member of Manatee Eats? Join the group today to get in on the local food and drink discussion.

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This story was originally published December 6, 2019 at 5:00 AM.

RB
Ryan Ballogg
Bradenton Herald
Ryan Ballogg is a local news and environment reporter and features writer at the Bradenton Herald. His work has received awards from the Florida Society of News Editors and the Florida Press Club. Ryan is a Florida native and graduate of USF St. Petersburg. Support my work with a digital subscription
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