Sarasota, Florida, boasts a vibrant culinary scene, and nestled within it is a gem that has captured the hearts (and palates) of locals and visitors alike: State Street Eating House. From the moment you step inside, you’re enveloped in a hip, detail-oriented atmosphere that promises a memorable dining experience. Having visited this establishment not once, but twice, I can confidently say State Street Eating House is not just another restaurant; it’s a destination. For anyone seeking a blend of innovative American cuisine and exceptional cocktails in Sarasota, this is a must-visit.
Located on a quieter side street, just off the bustling Main Street, State Street Eating House offers a welcome retreat from the typical downtown clamor. Its understated exterior gives little away of the stylish interior that awaits, making it a delightful surprise for first-timers. The location, a block south of Pastry Art-ish, presents a comfortable and accessible spot for a relaxed yet refined dining experience.
Exterior State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
Exterior State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
Upon entering, the ambiance immediately sets the tone. The interior design is striking, particularly the bar area. The bartenders, dressed in a cool, hipster-chic style with vests and striped shirts, contribute to the overall vibe. The bar itself is a focal point, impressively stocked with craft liquors, signaling a serious commitment to exceptional cocktails. It’s clear that State Street Eating House pays attention to every detail, creating an environment that’s both sophisticated and welcoming.
Interior State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
Interior State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
The thoughtful details extend beyond the bar. From the industrial-style napkins, which are as functional as they are stylish, to the artful display of water bottles and the dedicated wine room, every element contributes to the restaurant’s unique character. Even the place settings are carefully considered, adding to the overall polished yet approachable feel.
Interior State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
Place Setting State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
Interior State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
Since its opening in February, State Street Eating House has clearly become a local hotspot. Both of my visits were during busy periods, a testament to its popularity, especially considering it was before the peak tourist season. The concept is a fresh take on traditional American cuisine, elevated with quality ingredients and presented with a modern, hipster flair. It’s a place that manages to be both cozy and chic, familiar yet refreshingly new.
Interior State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
The commitment to quality is evident in their food and, crucially, in their cocktails. Everything appears to be made from scratch, from house-preserved lemons to freshly baked bread. This dedication extends to their drinks, where house-made syrups, craft liquors, and muddled fruits are standard. Ordering a cocktail here is more than just ordering a drink; it’s an experience, reminiscent of a romantic, sophisticated, and yes, undeniably hip, Parisian setting.
Bar Area State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
Learning that the owners personally designed the entire space further underscores the meticulous attention to detail found throughout State Street Eating House. From the carefully chosen font on the menu to the stylish light fixtures, the posh wallpaper, and the artfully displayed wine, everything contributes to a cohesive and inviting atmosphere. The result is a space that feels both elegant and approachable – the perfect place to bring out-of-town guests for a memorable Sarasota dining experience. Just be sure to book a table, as this popular spot fills up quickly!
Cheri’s Culinary Journey: Food and Cocktail Review
Appetizing Beginnings & Signature Cocktails
No meal at State Street Eating House is complete without exploring their cocktail menu. On my visits, we started with two standout drinks that perfectly showcased their mixology prowess. The Classic Whiskey Sour is a testament to traditional cocktail craftsmanship. Made with real egg whites for that signature frothy texture, house-made heavy syrup, whiskey, and fresh lemon, it’s a beautifully balanced drink. The sweetness is subtle and refined, giving way to a smooth whiskey finish that speaks to the drink’s sophisticated nature.
Classic Whiskey Sour State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
Equally impressive was The Bramble, their signature cocktail. This delightful concoction features muddled blackberries, house-made simple syrup, lemon juice, lemon gin, and crème de mûre. It’s a sweet yet refreshingly tart drink, perfectly balanced and not cloying. The only minor drawback is the muddled berries and ice can occasionally clog the straw, but a little finesse solves this quickly, and the rewarding flavors are well worth the minor effort. State Street Eating House clearly caters to all liquor preferences with their extensive cocktail list, ensuring there’s something for every palate. Intriguingly, they even age their own whiskey in casks displayed above the bar, adding another layer of craft to their cocktail program.
The Bramble (Blackberry Cocktail) State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
To accompany our cocktails, we sampled a couple of their snack-style appetizers. The Fried Fresh Okra with White Truffle Oil arrives in a charming paper bag. While the batter was a touch greasy, the paper bag cleverly absorbs some of the excess oil, making it a satisfying snack. The truffle oil adds a distinctive earthy note, enhancing the okra’s natural flavor. These are definitely intended as light snacks, perfect for pairing with pre-dinner drinks.
Flash-fried Okra with White Truffle Oil State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
Flash-fried Okra with White Truffle Oil Detail State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
The Mini Lobster Rolls are as delightful to look at as they are to eat. Served in tiny, soft, homemade wheat buns, they are filled with delicate pieces of lobster. The flavors are subtle and clean, with just a hint of sea salt, making them an elegant and understated snack.
Mini Lobster Rolls State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
Entrees: Fresh Flavors and Hearty Dishes
Moving onto the entrees, the Chopped Butter Lettuce Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish. Loaded with American Blue Cheese, Bacon Lardons, Fresh Corn, Avocado, Tomato, Toasted Walnut, and a Verjus-Honey Vinaigrette, it’s a salad that’s anything but ordinary. The freshness of the ingredients is immediately apparent, particularly the corn, clearly cut straight from the cob. The bacon adds a savory depth without overpowering the other flavors, and the light vinaigrette allows each component to shine. This is a substantial and satisfying salad, easily substantial enough to be a meal on its own.
Chopped Butter Lettuce Salad State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
The Catch of the Day, on this occasion Flounder, served over Wild Rice and Sautéed Kale, was a standout dish. The flounder was perfectly seared, boasting a crispy exterior and moist, flaky interior. A grilled preserved lemon added a bright citrus note, and the bed of sautéed kale and nutty wild rice provided a delightful textural contrast. Even kale skeptics would find this preparation appealing. The presentation in a small cast-iron pan adds a charming, homey touch.
Catch of the Day Flounder State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
However, the Sweet Potato Gnocchi was the true culinary highlight. Served with Baby Spinach, Fresh Tomato, Toasted Pine Nuts, and Aged Parmesan, this dish is simply exceptional. The gnocchi themselves are soft and pillowy, with a subtle sweetness and a delicate crust. The combination of wilted spinach, buttery sauce, and parmesan cheese creates a rich and comforting base, while the fresh tomatoes and pine nuts add brightness and texture. It’s a perfectly balanced dish that’s both indulgent and satisfying.
Sweet Potato Gnocchi State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
Sweet Potato Gnocchi Detail State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
Decadent Desserts
No dining experience is complete without dessert, and State Street Eating House offers two excellent house-made options. The Carrot Cake is a dense and moist slice of carrot cake, topped with a thick, incredibly sweet cream cheese frosting, nuts, and powdered sugar. While undeniably decadent, the chunks of carrot in the cake offer a slight pretense of virtue. It’s a rich and satisfyingly dense dessert for carrot cake aficionados.
Carrot Cake State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
Carrot Cake Detail State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
The Peanut Butter Pie is another standout dessert. It features layers of chopped peanuts, a thin layer of sea-salted chocolate, a smooth and creamy peanut butter filling, all resting on a dense chocolate cookie crust with a base of salty chocolate ganache. The balance of sweet, salty, and nutty flavors is expertly executed, creating a truly irresistible dessert.
Peanut Butter Pie State Street Eating House Sarasota FL Restaurant Review
Cloaked Restaurant Experience: An Anonymous Perspective
To provide a well-rounded review, an anonymous visit was conducted to capture the typical diner’s experience. This “Cloaked Review” offers further insights into State Street Eating House.
Initial Impressions and Bar Excellence
The initial impression, mirroring my own, was overwhelmingly positive. The website accurately portrayed a charmingly modern restaurant with rustic décor and an appealing menu. Arriving early on a Friday evening without a reservation (as recommended for parties under six), we were seated at the bar, which initially seemed like a slight compromise. However, the bartenders proved to be exceptional, providing attentive service from the outset. The bar’s décor, styled like an updated saloon with apothecary bottles and mason jars, transformed it into a captivating space, far from a typical stuffy bar setting.
Culinary and Cocktail Highlights from the Cloaked Review
The culinary experience exceeded expectations. The bartender crafted a special eggnog cocktail, described as inventive and boozy, setting a festive tone. He also recommended their signature Bramble cocktail, reinforcing its status as a must-try drink.
The Grilled Goat Cheese and Basil appetizer, wrapped in romaine and served with tomato, balsamic dressing, and bread, was a standout starter. The bartender’s recommendation to request extra bread proved essential, as the generous portion of filling required more than the standard bread serving. The bread, baked in-house, was excellent, and the combination of creamy goat cheese and bruschetta-like tomatoes was praised.
For entrees, the Chickpea Casserole was chosen as a healthier yet flavorful option, delivering rich flavors that belied its lighter nature. The Boneless Short Rib ‘pot roast’, served in a cast iron skillet with root vegetables, was described as outstanding, with tender and delicious meat. The skillet presentation kept the dish juicy and flavorful. Dessert also impressed. The Traditional Brownie Sundae was anything but ordinary, featuring a homemade brownie, ice cream, and a cherry sauce with a black cherry note, offering richness without being overly sweet. The Vanilla Malt, enhanced with a shot of top-shelf whiskey, was also highly praised.
Overall Cloaked Review Impressions
The anonymous review echoed the initial positive assessment: beautiful restaurant, excellent food, and a great experience whether seated at a table or the bar. The recommendation to try their signature drinks and dishes was reinforced, highlighting the consistent quality across the menu. The reviewer expressed a definite intention to return, specifically to try their burger, further cementing State Street Eating House’s appeal.
Cloaked Review Ratings
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State Street Eating House in Sarasota undeniably earns its high praise. From the meticulously crafted cocktails and fresh, innovative American cuisine to the hip ambiance and attentive service, it offers a complete and exceptional dining experience. Whether you’re a Sarasota local or a visitor, State Street Eating House is a must-try destination for those seeking top-tier cocktails and memorable meals.
