3 New & Coming Soon Sarasota County Restaurants

Sarasota County has three food businesses in the pipeline, including a family-run New York-style pizzeria, a large Mexican restaurant and a new frozen custard shop on Siesta Key.

Dominick's Family Pizza — Sarasota

Address: 8317 N Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243

Status: Targeting a soft opening in about two months, followed by a two-week to one-month soft-opening period before the full public debut.

What to expect: Dominick’s Family Pizza will be a small, family-run pizzeria with about 12 to 15 seats inside its roughly 1,500-square-foot space. Owner John Papandrea plans to use the soft opening to train staff, test workflows and collect guest feedback through reservation-only seating and complimentary tastings.

Menu highlights: New York-style pizza made from Papandrea family recipes will anchor the menu, including classic round pies, Sicilian square pizzas and rotating specialty options. Strombolis, pinwheels, chicken cutlet sandwiches, housemade mozzarella sticks and zucchini patties are also planned.

Special dinners: Papandrea also plans a fixed-price Friday night dinner with one featured entree each week, such as penne vodka, chicken Parmesan or fried shrimp with pasta. The meal would include a salad, entree and dessert and be available for dine-in customers only.

Drink program: Papandrea intends to pursue a liquor license and is also considering a bring-your-own-beverage format similar to restaurants he is familiar with in New Jersey.

Who’s behind it: John Papandrea is building the restaurant around recipes from his late father, Dominick, who emigrated from Reggio Calabria, Italy, and spent much of his career in the pizza business.

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Avocado's Cocina Mexicana & Bar — Sarasota

Address: 6131 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231

Status: Targeting an opening sometime in 2026.

What to expect: The Sarasota restaurant will be Avocado’s third location and is planned as a sizable full-service operation with seating for around 200 guests. Table service and a full liquor license are also part of the plans.

Menu highlights: Avocado’s will serve the same traditional Mexican dishes found at its existing restaurants, using recipes from the owners’ family. Expect fajitas, quesadillas and other Mexican plates.

Drink program: Margaritas and Mexican tequilas will be a major part of the bar, alongside other popular spirits.

Who’s behind it: Ramiro Ramirez Saldana operates Avocado’s with his immediate family. The family has been in the restaurant business under this concept since 2013, initially operating as Habaneros Mexican Grill before changing the name to Avocado’s in 2022.

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NOW OPEN!

Whit's Frozen Custard — Siesta Key

Address: 5147 Ocean Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34242

Status: Open now!

What to expect: Whit’s Frozen Custard brings the franchise’s fresh-made custard model to Siesta Key. Custard is prepared inside the shop each morning rather than being delivered as a finished product.

Menu highlights: Vanilla and chocolate will serve as the everyday core flavors, accompanied by rotating selections. Guests will also be able to customize their custard with different toppings and mix-ins.

Who’s behind it: Franchisee Larry Fineberg opened the shop with his sons Jason, Drew and Matthew Fineberg, who operate the business. The family has signed on for three Whit’s locations and may ultimately open additional stores.

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