Over 20 new restaurants opened in the Bradenton area in 2021. Here’s the list.
Pandemic or no pandemic, people have to eat, and the Bradenton area proved to be attractive to restaurateurs looking to launch new eateries in 2021.
Among the new restaurants and food-oriented businesses:
▪ Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., opened early in the year offering eclectic plates that reflect a lot of influences from different cuisines, ranging from from petit filet to shrimp BLT, a Cuban sandwich (the Cubano), the banh mi (a Vietnamese sandwich) and, a poke bowls.
▪ Pacific Counter opened in February at 11615 State Road 70 E. in The Green at Lakewood Ranch, offering fresh, high-quality poke bowls and sushi burritos, served with a happy helping of good vibes. Pacific Counter invites its guests to craft their own cuisine in an environment that inspires healthy eating, drinking, thinking and being.
▪ Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi, Unit 5, 190 N. Cattlemen Road, opened in February. One side of the Bento menu is dedicated to sushi classic rolls and signature rolls, and the other to “from-the-kitchen” items, such as rice bowls, noodle bowls and bento boxes.
▪ Wilder’s Pizza opened in April when Ryan and Erin Wilder bought the former Rocco’s Pizza & Pasta Grill at 827 14th St. W. at Kite’s Corner in downtown Bradenton. Wilder’s Pizza offers is hand-tossed New York Italian-style pizza and other traditional pastas, wings, salads and sandwiches.
▪ The Porch, 9707 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, opened in May. The upscale steak-and-seafood restaurant restaurant opened in a vintage building that was previously home to The Sign of the Mermaid restaurant, owned for 20 years by Ed Spring.
▪ South Philly Cheesesteaks owners Maryann and Jeff Hopkins opened their fourth restaurant in May at 5967 Factory Shops Blvd., Ellenton. While the cheesesteaks are the big draw, the menu also includes appetizers like wings, fried pickles, fried mushrooms and more, sides and salads, including the Bollettieri chicken salad (so named for the famous tennis coach), and other sandwiches.
▪ Ford’s Garage, the long-awaited burger-and-craft beer restaurant with a 1920s vibe and Model T cars hanging from the ceiling, opened in June at 295 N. Cattlemen Road, Unit 1, in University Town Center District. In addition to its Black Angus hamburgers, turkey, chicken and vegetarian sandwiches, Ford’s Garage also serves American comfort food such as homemade meatloaf, chili, macaroni and cheese, and lighter fare, including salads, grilled chicken and fresh fish.
▪ Skillets’ new 180-seat restaurant in School House Plaza, 9722 State Road 64 E., across from Carlos E. Haile Middle School, opened in June with four broad menu categories: early risers, breakfast, lunch and kids. Among the early risers selections: Skillet Omelet with bacon, tomato and Swiss cheese, topped with fresh avocado, served with potatoes, toast and a fresh fruit cup.
▪ The popular Clam House restaurant, 304 Seventh St. W., Palmetto, which closed in January, reopened in July with new owners. The menu is substantially the same with the most popular item, Thai Fry, a golden fried whole fish, topping the lineup. The only change to the menu at Clam House Bar and Grill, is the addition of two dishes — calamari and scallops.
▪ Jersey Mike’s Subs opened Aug. 4 at 6737 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton Jersey Mike’s has three other locations in the area: 4040 14th St. W., Bradenton, 5820 Ranch Lake Blvd., in East Manatee, and 8210 Tourist Center Drive in University Park.
▪ Dim Sum Kitchen, 11544 Palmbrush Trail, Lakewood Ranch, opened in October. Aside from all the dim sum made on the premises, the restaurant also offers combination specials, served with pork fried rice or white rice, an egg roll and soda.
▪ Fast-casual barbecue restaurant gRub, 415 Pine Ave., Anna Maria opened in the fall. Platters include honey spare ribs, cherry smoked brisket, pulled pork, chicken and pork belly bites. Also on gRub’s menu are sandwiches, ranging from Cubans to banh mi, empanadas, salads, vegan options, popular sides like mac and cheese, coleslaw, black bean coconut rice, banana bread, and desserts such as coconut pie, banana pudding and mango bars.
▪ Partners Mike Whalen and Casey Daniels opened their first Food + Beer restaurant in Bradenton in The Fountains shopping center, 4804 14th St. W., in October. The restaurant offers good food, lots of drink choices, and distractions, such as multiple TVs and a game room.
▪ Agrigento NY Style Pizzeria and Caffe opened in October at 5227 Manatee Ave. W. Agrigento’s most popular pie is a white pizza, called the Agrigento, which is made of ricotta, tomato, spinach, onions, fresh garlic and basil. Other signature pizzas include Greek, Fresca, Nova, Buffalo Chicken and Alla Vodka.
▪ Theresa’s Restaurant, a daytime restaurant that was featured twice on the “Restaurant: Impossible” TV show, reopened in December at at 711 Manatee Ave. E., after being closed for 14 months because of the COVID-19 pandemic and decision to change addresses.
On the sweet side
▪ Michelle Noel opened Wicked Awesome Ice Cream Emporium, 4122 Lakewood Ranch Blvd,. in January, featuring top quality, New England-style ice cream with dense, chewy goodness in every bite.
▪ Cremesh Coffee and Bakery, 1822 59th St W., opened in January. The European bakery and coffee house offers made-from-scratch breads, muffins, pies, brownies, scones and more. Customers can also get a breakfast sandwich or, at lunch, a sandwich, salad or soup.
▪ Breezy Bakery, 11904 Cortez Road W., opened early in the year, offering freshly made blueberry muffins, red velvet cake, cinnamon rolls, croissants, fruit danish, rum cake and much more.
▪ American Honey Creamery, 4949 96th St. E., Palmetto, opened in March, offering 17 traditional flavors of home-made ice cream.
▪ Stack’d Cake Studio, 6202 U.S. Highway 301 N., in the North River Village Shopping Center makes cakes to the customers specifications, right on the spot. The customer picks the flavor. the size, the buttercream and the filling.
If your restaurant opened in Manatee County this year and we missed you, email jajones1@bradenton.com.
