Who Are The Sarasota-Manatee Originals?
The Sarasota-Manatee Originals organized in September 2003 from a passion to celebrate and preserve our community’s culinary “sense of being.” A group of 24 independent restaurateurs from Sarasota and Manatee counties joined together to become Florida’s first chapter of Dine Originals. The Sarasota-Manatee Originals now boast more than 50 active members located between Anna Maria Island at the northernmost point and Venice at the southernmost point.
Nowhere in the state is the sense of independence and quality more important than the Sarasota-Manatee area. Within a 20-mile radius of downtown Sarasota, there are more Florida Trend Award and Zagat top-scoring restaurants than any other area – and every one of these award winners is independently owned.
Our independent restaurant owners and chefs are obsessed with the flavors that define our region, yet are always looking for ways to incorporate interesting styles of cuisine from around the world into our own brand of Sun Coast dining. We promise to serve you only the freshest food available. Our long-standing relationships give us the distinct advantage of offering you meals prepared within hours of harvest from fields and waters close to our kitchens.
Many of us have been serving locals and visitors alike for 20 to 30 years and have established a culinary heritage that simply can’t be replicated in the corporate kitchens of Chicago, Los Angeles or Dallas. We live here, work here and play here. As a part of the community, we appreciate your business and enjoy being your neighbors.
From a casual meal on the beach to an exquisite four-course fine dining experience, we guarantee the meals you eat at member restaurants are freshly prepared using the best local ingredients combined with the famous heritage flavors of the Sun Coast. It’s what makes us The Originals!
