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Restaurant News: BLVD Bistro, SRQUS, Oscura, Healthy to Go

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — Here's the latest restaurant and bar news in Sarasota and Manatee counties:

Original Beach Bistro Owner to Open Sarasota Restaurant

The original owner of Beach Bistro on Anna Maria Island, Sean Murphy, will open a new eatery in the Rosemary District.

The project, called BLVD Bistro, will open on the first floor of the 18-story BLV Sarasota condo tower in the Rosemary District, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported. The restaurant’s anticipated to open in November.

It was originally supposed to be a second location for Beach Bistro. Murphy and his wife, Susan Timmins, opened the original Holmes Beach location in 1985.

They announced the sale of that waterfront restaurant at the end of January. Developer Shawn Kaleta and attorney Louis Najmy bought it.

New Mexican Restaurant Opens Near Lakewood Ranch

Takos Cantina Mexican Cuisine, created by restaurateur Luz Nevarez, opened in Ranch Lake Plaza near Lakewood Ranch in December.

“Business has really been good so far,” assistant manager Ana Sanchez told the Bradenton Herald.

The restaurant has a full bar and separate lunch and dinner menus offering a wide variety of Mexican favorites, as well as some surprises, including a Mexican burger.

Café, Music Venue That Closed During COVID-19 Reopens in Downtown Bradenton

After closing in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Oscura, a café and music venue, will reopen in downtown Bradenton at a new location at 816 Manatee Ave.

The original owners, Ben Greene and Keith Nasewicz, have brought in some new co-owners and investors, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported. New owners include Ben Bakker and Wade Hamilton, who both launched Independent Jones, a local live music company. A third new owner is Richard Krause, who owns a plumbing business.

With 3,000 square feet, the new location will more than double Oscura’s previous space.

Historic Sarasota Building Turned into Upscale Music Venue

The historic Charles Ringling building, a nearly 100-year-old commercial building in downtown Sarasota, has been sold for $2.1 million.

Its new owners will restore the building and transform the space into SRQUS, an upscale music venue and social club, the Business Observer reported.

Located at 1927 Ringling Blvd., the building has sat empty since last year after the closure of the Sarasota Sky Bar & Club.

Mediterranean Vegetarian Restaurant Opens in Gulf Gate

The Gulf Gate area recently welcomed a new restaurant — Healthy to Go, which serves vegetarian and vegan Mediterranean cuisine.

The restaurant’s owner and chef, Aysel Ak, was a communications professor in Turkey before becoming a restaurateur, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported. She’s also created a clothing and gift line made with all natural materials.

“I’m providing Mediterranean dishes to order online and take out, plus catering services,” Ak said. “But I hope to add delivery services and indoor dining in the future. I use as many natural and organic products as possible as health is my priority. I believe we are what we eat.”

This article originally appeared on the Sarasota Patch