Restaurant Watch 2027: What's Coming to Sarasota and Venice

One of the best parts of living on this coast is watching the dining scene keep raising the bar, and 2027 has a full plate of openings on the way. From an upscale steakhouse landing at University Town Center to the first Sarasota County Texas Roadhouse approved for Venice, there is a lot to look forward to. Here is my restaurant watch for the year ahead, with the openings I am keeping an eye on for my clients and myself.

BrickTop's Is Coming to University Town Center

The headline is BrickTop's, the Nashville-based contemporary American steakhouse that is planning its first Tampa Bay area location at 55 North Cattlemen Road in the West District at University Town Center. The sign is up and the target is a 2027 opening. The group is known for a chef-driven American menu, craft cocktails, and polished but relaxed rooms, and it has been one of the most anticipated additions to the Sarasota dining scene since it was announced. If you enjoy a great steak in a room that feels sophisticated without being stuffy, this one is worth the wait.

Ed's Tavern Takes Over the Former Chili's

South of downtown, Ed's Tavern is coming to 4131 South Tamiami Trail, the longtime Chili's location south of Bee Ridge Road. The sign on the building says it will open in 2027. It is a sports bar and restaurant concept, and given the size of that building and the easy access from the trail, it should be a convenient new spot for anyone in south Sarasota looking for a reliable place to watch a game and get a good meal.

A 300-Seat Waterfront Restaurant at The Bay

The most exciting project on the list is a new 300-seat waterfront restaurant planned for The Bay park in downtown Sarasota, operated by the Venice Pier Group, the team behind several beloved waterfront dining spots. Reports suggest it could open as late as late 2027, which means the downtown waterfront is about to get a serious dining anchor. A table with a bay view that big does not come along often, and I expect this to be one of the hardest reservations in town when it arrives.

Texas Roadhouse and Chipotle Approved for Venice Crossing

South County has a major development of its own. Texas Roadhouse, which would be Sarasota County's first location, had its site and development plans approved by the Venice Planning Commission, along with a Chipotle in the same Venice Crossing development on Laurel Road. No opening date has been announced yet, but the approvals are real progress, and locals who currently drive to Sarasota or Fort Myers for that hand-cut steak with cinnamon butter will not have to much longer. Whataburger, Chick-fil-A, and Panda Express have also been mentioned as possible tenants in the pipeline.

Downtown Wellen Keeps Growing

Venice's Wellen Park continues to fill in its dining lineup. The Breakfast Company is set to open at Downtown Wellen with the park's first drive-through, and Downtown Wellen Phase II has added La Maison, a French patisserie, alongside the Agave Bandido Mexican restaurant that opened in late 2026. It is shaping up to be a genuinely walkable food scene, which is exactly what the community was designed for.

Also Still to Come

Two more favorites to watch: Balos, the upscale Mediterranean restaurant from Washington, D.C., is planning its first Florida location at The Edge Sarasota in downtown, and Caragiulo's, the beloved 36-year-old Italian landmark, is preparing to reopen at its new Ringling Boulevard home after closing its longtime Palm Avenue space. Between the new openings and the beloved returns, it is a good year to be hungry on the Gulf Coast.

Dining Is Part of the Lifestyle Here

Great restaurants are one of the reasons buyers fall in love with this area, and the scene is only getting better. If you are thinking about moving here and want to know which neighborhoods put the best dining within reach, I would love to help. Send me a note, and I will share my current favorites and the ones I am counting down to.