Ticket Editor: Sarasota’s best new restaurant is this downtown tropical bar
Sarasota and Manatee counties have witnessed a multitude of exciting restaurant openings as we approach the midpoint of 2023. Among them, my personal favorite is a tropical bar by the same people behind one of the 10 best restaurants in downtown Sarasota.
Opened in April, Bar Hana is the sister business of Kojo, offering an upscale drinking and dining experience unlike anything else in the area. Start with their Instagrammable cocktails, served in a delightful collection of fun and vintage tiki glassware, but be sure not to overlook the food. Bar Hana's menu features some of the most creative and satisfying dishes I've tasted this year — dishes that may only be rivaled by the offerings of their other sister business, Palm Avenue Deli, when it opens next door.
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Bar Hana by Kojo in downtown Sarasota offers a tropical setting that's perfect for drinking and dining
Hidden behind a nondescript exterior on Palm Avenue, Bar Hana offers immediate escapism. Plants dangle spectacularly from the ceiling, handsome tiki masks hang behind the bar, and there's a dimly lit lounge area, along with a dining room of posh wood tables and matching chairs that appear plucked from a high-end furniture store in the mid-1960s.
To further enhance the nostalgic mood, a lone television screen shows black and white footage of surfers catching amazing waves in the Pacific Ocean, while the house speakers play sunny, timeless tunes by the likes of the Beach Boys, Dick Dale and a host of Motown stars. Venture to the spotless bathrooms, and you're met with vintage advertisements by mid-century travel ads offering tropical getaways to places like the Polynesian, Caribbean, and, yes, Florida.
Bar Hana definitely owes a debt to pioneering California tiki bars of the early and mid-20th century, such as Don the Beachcomber and Trader Vic's, while crafting its own unique identity, soaked in the Sunshine State but with a pan-Asian foundation akin to sister restaurant, Kojo. For instance, you won't find a tiki bar staple like the mai tai on Bar Hana's drink menu, but you will discover the Miami Vice (strawberry daiquiri + pina colada, $14).
For those craving the key mai tai ingredients like rum, Curacao liqueur, orgeat syrup, and lime juice, you will be pleased to try the Blue Hawaii (light and gold rum, vanilla, Blue Curacao, sake, pineapple, lime; $16). You can also opt for the similarly flavored Hip Hop Anonymous made with Jamaican rum, orgeat, Curacao, and lime. Elevated takes on classics like the margarita ($16) and pina colada ($14) are also on the menu, along with enticing originals such as the Siesta Key Swizzle made with pineapple and spiced rum, lime, honey, and bitters ($16).
Of course, if you simply must have a mai tai or perhaps a zombie, I'm sure any of the gifted bartenders, who double as servers when not practicing mixology, will be happy to concoct one for you.
Not in the mood for a mixed drink? Bar Hana also offers wine by the glass and bottles, as well as a concise beer list that includes one of my personal favorite local creations, Motorworks' V Twin lager ($7 for a 12-ounce can), and international classics like Kirin Light ($7 for a 12-ounce bottle), but no domestic macro brews. Once you've made your drink choice, proceed to the food section of the menu, which, although relatively small, is incredibly enticing.
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Bar Hana in downtown Sarasota for excellent food, from ceviche and wings to bao buns and ribs
The food menu is smartly succinct, basically broken down into "cold" and "hot" dishes, which can be enjoyed daily from 11 a.m. until late in the evening. During a recent afternoon visit, with Bar Hana acting as an ideal oasis from the Florida heat, I found myself instantly at ease with a delightful serving of "coconut habanero ceviche" ($24). Local snapper chunks and pieces of fresh avocado are served with a deftly rendered version of the classic sweet-heat Peruvian marinade "tiger's milk" and presented in a newly halved coconut on a bed of ice with a side of plantain and taro chips.
Bar Hana's rendition of the ubiquitous tuna tartare ($24) was equally impressive, owing to the freshness of the fish and avocado immersed in a delightful truffled ginger ponzu dressing. It was garnished with an orange heap of yuzu tobiko fish roe, green onions, and thinly sliced radishes, and served alongside wonton chips, creating an eye-catching presentation. Moreover, for those who relish the experience of savoring every bite of the tuna and avocado atop a crispy wonton chip, I discovered that the server is more than willing to provide additional servings of these irresistible chips.
The cold section of the menu, which also includes a citrus salad and chilled sesame noodles, is a fine place for snacking, but the dozen or so hot dishes is where you will want to feast. Now, my love for quality chicken wings is perhaps unparalleled in the greater Sarasota-Manatee region, and there are few, if any, that match the level of taste and texture found in Bar Hana's "crispy lava wings" ($14). Each bite offers a delightful crunch with a sweet and spicy pineapple-habanero glaze, complemented by fried garlic, before revealing the juicy, tender morsel of meat inside. If you're in the mood for another crispy treat, the "crispy salt + pepper shrimp" ($19) were also outstanding, featuring large, plump crustaceans encased in a crunchy coating with an unstoppable caramelized chile-garlic seasoning and garnished with cilantro.
Bar Hana's Asian influences shine through in dishes such as the Japanese-style garlic mazemen noodles (sambal butter, furikake, scallion, crispy nori; $14) and the Chinese-style bao, where the soft bun is filled with a tender cut of roasted duck ($19) accompanied by a house hoisin glaze, fruit chutney, cilantro, and shredded vegetable slaw for added texture. The pan-fried wagyu and shiitake dumplings ($19), along with the fall-off-the-bone glazed pork ribs topped with Thai basil, crispy shallots, lime, and green onions ($21), should also be on your shortlist of must-try dishes at Bar Hana, especially for satisfying your carnivorous cravings.
Or, if you prefer, you can feed your carnivorous habit with the Big Island burger ($22). It features a medium-sized juicy beef patty topped with a grilled pineapple-caramelized onion relish, teriyaki mayo, and white American cheese. All of these inspired ingredients are nestled inside a perfectly soft and slightly sweet bun reminiscent of a Hawaiian roll, resulting in a winning flavor combination that sets it apart from the other best burgers in Sarasota-Manatee.
"Ono" is a Hawaiian term that means "delicious," and Bar Han's "ono fried chicken sammy" ($19) surely lives up to its name. The crispy exterior, moist interior chicken bursts with flavor courtesy of a spicy gochujang-honey sauce augmented by green cabbage slaw, nori ranch and cucumber kimchi pickles. Like the burger, Bar Han's fried chicken option is among the best in town.
I've adored Kojo since it opened in 2022 and I might even love Bar Hana more. The menus are similar, but there is an added playfulness to Bar Hana's cuisine that, for me at least, is more appealing. Additionally, the unique tropical setting of Bar Hana is simply unbeatable.
Finally, I can't end this column without providing an update on Palm Avenue Deli, the latest venture by Chef Natalia Levey and her local Hi Hospitality Group, which also owns Kojo, Bar Hana, and the Speaks Clam Bars on St. Armands Circle and in Lakewood Ranch. After enjoying a meal at Bar Hana with my wife, Kristin, we decided to take a look inside the deli located right next door, where we found Natalia and her husband, Mark Levey, hard at work.
Palm Avenue Deli is expected to open by the end of June, initially serving breakfast. The Leveys have plans to eventually operate the deli 24 hours a day. I could write an entire column about the exciting tour of the deli that the Leveys kindly provided us, but that will have to wait. In the meantime, make sure to visit Bar Hana for lunch, dinner, or brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Personally, I'm already looking forward to returning to Bar Hana and trying their brunch dishes before indulging in the New York-style Jewish deli offerings that will soon be available next door.
Bar Hana is at 1289 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. For more information or to make a reservation, call 941-536-9717 or visit barhana.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: Best new restaurant in Sarasota is Bar Hana by Kojo downtown
