It’s officially spring break season, which means college kids are flooding to Mexico, Miami Beach, and the Dominican Republic to relax, party, and celebrate in warmer weather. For our senior year spring break, my friends and I decided on a nice quiet trip to Sarasota, Florida — a town known for its laid-back vibes and beautiful beaches. Although we each have different preferences when it comes to activities, we all agreed to prioritize a variety of meals that weren’t just affordable, but absolutely delicious. Here are my favorite Sarasota restaurants to try the next time you’re in Florida.
KOJO Restaurant
Located in the heart of the city center, KOJO was the perfect place to kick off our break. Entering into Kojo felt like stepping into a trendy LA restaurant. The ambiance was dark and sleek and the food while gourmet was also affordable for college students. Dubbed “modern Asian style cuisine,” many of KOJO’s dishes are tapas or small shareable plates.
To begin, my friend and I shared the Truffled Chicken Wontons, which were doughy and juicy, and packed full of umami truffle flavor. Next to come out were our order of crispy sweet potato bao buns, which were soft and pillowy, and made for a great contrast to the crispy sweet potato shavings.
Last but not least was the mushroom rice pot, a flavorful end to the meal featuring shiitake mushrooms, maitake mushrooms, king trumpet mushrooms, bamboo shoots, inari tofu, and truffle emulsion over crispy rice.
The Fat Donkey
After a busy travel day and the immediate onslaught of warm weather, the obvious fix was fresh ice cream. As we walked in, I immediately noticed the neon green walls, and tables absolutely packed with patrons. As a chocoholic, I decided on The Fat Donkey’s chocolate cake ice cream, which had chocolate cake pieces mixed into a chocolate base. . The sprinkle topping and mouthful of different textures and flavors was a serotonin boost, and a great start to the trip.
Columbia Restaurant at St. Armands Circle
On our second day in Florida, we decided to treat ourselves to a nice lunch after weather reports killed the beach day vibes with rain and clouds. We stumbled upon Columbia Restaurant which was totally packed (a great sign) and a highlight of the trip. Once we sat down and put in our drink orders, our waiter immediately brought over a complimentary large chunk of fresh, warm Cuban bread with sweet cream butter for each of us. It was crispy on the outside, but warm and soft on the inside.
For my main dish, I ordered Pollo Manchego, which is boneless chicken breast breaded with Cuban bread crumbs and grated manchego cheese, topped with citrus sauce, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil and served with yellow rice. The chicken was crispy and juicy, and the cheese added the perfect blend of sharpness and flavor.
And, as a proponent of the sweet treat, I had to end my fabulous experience with an order of fresh churros with caramel and chocolate sauce. At the first bite I could taste the cinnamon sugar and feel the crunch of the crispy outside, then my taste buds navigated to the warm chocolate and caramel and the doughy inside of the churro.
Classico
After a fun day spent exploring stores in Sarasota, we dressed up and headed back to the city center to Classico for an authentic Italian meal. After trying a refreshing gin and tonic, my friends and I split a bottle of Chianti, which is a red Italian wine. For my main dish, I decided on a bucatini with meatballs. The pasta was cooked to perfection and the sauce was sweet and fresh, making for perfect vacation comfort food. I ended the night with warm homemade donuts sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and drizzled with chocolate and caramel, which literally melted in my mouth.
BAKER & WIFE
To celebrate our last night in Sarasota, we decided to give Baker & Wife a try after seeing so many rave reviews on TikTok. Tucked away in a strip mall, this restaurant was unexpectedly adorable and one of my favorites. As I looked over the specials menu, the truffle burger immediately caught my eye. Made with truffle infused ground beef and topped with gruyere cheese and truffle shavings, this burger was a dream. Not to mention it came with a side of crispy shoestring parmesan truffle fries, too.
Plus, to make the meal even more magical, I treated myself with a class of Tuscan red wine and a decadent flourless chocolate cake. While it’s hard to pick a favorite meal, the Baker & Wife made for a fantastic end to our spring break trip.