Nationally acclaimed Sarasota chef leaves restaurant named best new opening of 2023

Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Updated ·3 min read

The best new Sarasota restaurant of 2023 — co-founded by a nationally acclaimed, locally based chef alongside four other business partners — has taken a new direction.

PigFish, a counter-service restaurant focused on fish sandwiches and sustainable seafood, opened in November inside the new taproom for award-winning brewery Calusa Brewing, which occupies the former location of White Buffalo Saloon at 5377 McIntosh Road, Sarasota.

PigFish co-founder Steve Phelps — who is also the owner and chef of famed downtown Sarasota restaurant Indigenous, where his culinary work made him a semi-finalist for Best Chef: South at the James Beard Awards in 2014 and 2015 — has announced his departure from PigFish.

One of the best waterfront restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton is better than ever

Top 10 restaurants I recommend when asked 'Where should I eat in Sarasota and Bradenton?'

Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news and reviews plus info on things to do every Friday

Award-winning Sarasota chef Steve Phelps announced his departure from PigFish restaurant, now offering new menu

Steve Phelps is owner/chef of acclaimed Sarasota restaurant Indigenous and co-founder of PigFish, which he has now departed.
Steve Phelps is owner/chef of acclaimed Sarasota restaurant Indigenous and co-founder of PigFish, which he has now departed.

"After much heartbreak and decision making, I'm sad to announce that I am no longer affiliated with PigFish at Calusa Brewing," Phelps wrote in a social media post published Tuesday (Feb. 20). "I will continue to educate our community and the world about the importance of seafood sustainability, and I look forward to sharing more with everyone very soon."

Reached via text message, Phelps declined to comment further on his social media post. A member of the PigFish team was reached, and responded with an emailed statement.

"Chef Steve Phelps resigned of his own accord from PigFish on January 5th, 2024," reads the statement sent to the Herald-Tribune on Tuesday (Feb. 20). "We were excited to promote Alex Richmond, Gerardo Colon, and Tyler Kirby as the leadership team charged with advancing the concept — all of whom have worked tirelessly to get the culture and kitchen to the standards our customers have come to appreciate.

"As passionate beer-lovers and foodies, we stay committed to running an operation that brings together sustainable choices, ecological best practices, education and community. We're thrilled by the restaurant's success over the past month with the introduction of a popular and thoughtfully curated new menu and continue to advance the values and culture of PigFish Calusa into the Sarasota community."

10 best new restaurants of 2023 in Sarasota and Bradenton: My top favorites, ranked

PigFish restaurant at Calusa Brewing offering new menu items including burger and fries

PigFish is located inside the taproom for Sarasota brewery Calusa Brewing at 5377 McIntosh Road.
PigFish is located inside the taproom for Sarasota brewery Calusa Brewing at 5377 McIntosh Road.

My latest visit to PigFish was Jan. 6. I enjoyed the "bait shop taco" ($17) special as well as the beef and cheddar ($19) and chicken katsu ($17) handhelds. I also ordered a side of the tasty potato "roasties" ($5) and, for the second time, had the uncommonly good chocolate chip cookie made with orange, cinnamon, cherries, and spent grain.

The new menu no longer includes the beef and cheddar or chicken katsu handhelds, and the signature Pigfish sandwich is significantly different, now featuring blackened cobia and "bacon tartar" instead of kanpachi yellowtail fish topped by braised pork. The cobia hotdog, another item I raved about previously, is also missing. The roasties have been replaced by seasoned French fries and the chocolate chip cookie is now described as simply containing dark and white chocolate chips.

However, the current menu includes enticing new items — or at least items that were not offered during my previous visit — such as a barbecue pork belly sandwich called The Pig, a cornflake fried chicken sandwich, a beer-battered fish sandwich augmented by a side of vinegar made with Calusa's Zote IPA beer, a burger featuring grass-fed beef, and, yes, fries. The new menu also now includes a bowl dubbed the "sustainabowl" and featuring grilled amberjack.

Meanwhile, Phelps will continue to run his Indigenous restaurant at 239 S. Links Ave., Sarasota. For more information on PigFish, call 941-777-5220 or visit pig.fish.

Who lives here? Most famous celebrities with homes in Sarasota and Bradenton area

Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota chef Steve Phelps leaves new PigFish restaurant, Calusa