Popular downtown Sarasota restaurant to start serving food on iconic rooftop this week
One of the best rooftop bars in Sarasota and Bradenton will soon begin to serve food.
Sage Restaurant, the downtown Sarasota dining and drinking destination that opened in 2019, occupies the iconic Sarasota Times newspaper building on First Street. Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the handsome Mediterranean-style structure had been sadly vacant since Ceviche Tapas Bar left in 2014.
If memory serves, Ceviche served food on the fourth-floor open-air rooftop. However, Sage's popular international cuisine could only be enjoyed in one of its lower floor dining areas. Starting this weekend, though, guests will also be able to dine on the rooftop, which overlooks the theater district and Sarasota Bay. Previously, guests were limited to ordering drinks on the rooftop, with food only available up there during catered events.
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Sage Restaurant in downtown Sarasota to begin serving 'elevated gourmet street food' on its rooftop
Sage recently announced that it's introducing a brand-new "gourmet street food" menu available exclusively on its rooftop starting on Friday, Nov. 10. This menu will be available every Thursday through Saturday evening.
"We've noticed a growing demand for a unique culinary experience on our rooftop,” said co-owner and executive chef Christopher Covelli in a statement. “Our guests enjoy the live music, sophisticated vibes and inspired cocktails. Our culinary team has created a menu of delicious handheld options that capture the essence of global flavors, designed to be enjoyed under the Sarasota sky."
The enticing rooftop menu will include cod and baby shrimp ceviche with assorted chips; guacamole with house made chips; confit of patatas bravas; smoked beef empanadas; house-blend smash burger with kimchi and garlic mayo; pulled chicken sandwich with tomato-bacon jam and cabbage slaw; and panino with eggplant confit, capicola, porchetta and white truffle aioli.
The rooftop continues to offer a full-service bar, open table seating and live music every Friday and Saturday evening. While reservations are encouraged for the main dining area, the rooftop does not require reservations. I'm guessing it will be packed this weekend, and probably every weekend through tourist season, so arrive early to secure a prime spot under the stars.
Sage Restaurant, at 1216 First St., is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday through Saturday. For more information, call 941-445-5660 or visit sagesrq.com.
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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: Popular Sarasota restaurant Sage to serve food on iconic rooftop
