Ticket Editor: Best restaurants for delicious sandwiches in Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice

Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·5 min read
The Cuban sandwich at Columbia Restaurant.
The Cuban sandwich at Columbia Restaurant.

National Sandwich Day, which was Nov. 3, got me thinking about some of the best sandwiches being served at restaurants in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

I love pretty much any well-made sandwich — from peanut butter and jelly to a muffuletta — but as a longtime Floridian, my favorite is probably an awesomely authentic Cuban sandwich. I also adore classic sandwich shop options such as Reubens, Philly cheesesteaks and Italian hoagies.

And let's not forget about another Sunshine State favorite, the beloved grouper sandwich, which is served at pretty much all of the best local seafood restaurants. Oh, and no column about tastiest sandwiches would be complete without mentioning recommendations for fried chicken sandwiches!

Let's begin, though, with a look back at a few of my favorite places for Cubanos,  followed with picks for best sandwich shops, seafood restaurants for grouper sandwiches, and eateries serving fabulous fried chicken sandwiches in Sarasota and Manatee.

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Best restaurants for Cuban sandwiches in Sarasota and Manatee

The Cuban sandwich at J.R.’s Old Packinghouse Cafe photographed Aug. 6, 2022.
The Cuban sandwich at J.R.’s Old Packinghouse Cafe photographed Aug. 6, 2022.

For a genuine Cuban sandwich prepared Tampa-style (with salami), there's probably not a better place to visit in the entire country than the Columbia Restaurant that originated in Tampa's Ybor City and has been operating the equally excellent Sarasota location at 411 St. Armands Circle since 1959. For those in the mood for an authentic Cuban sandwich served Miami-style (no salami), try J.R.’s Old Packinghouse Cafe at 987 S. Cattlemen Road in Sarasota. I also highly recommend Mirna's Cuban Cuisine, which is located in Manatee County across from SRQ Airport at 7980 N. Tamiami Trail. For more great local options, check out my story on "Best restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton for real Cuban sandwiches" published in August.

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Best sandwich shops in Sarasota and Bradenton

"Famous Italian" sandwiches are made at Main Bar Sandwich Shop in downtown Sarasota.
"Famous Italian" sandwiches are made at Main Bar Sandwich Shop in downtown Sarasota.

Main Bar Sandwich Shop, at 1944 Main St., Sarasota, opened in 1958 and I've been trying my best for the past two decades to eat the more than 50 sandwiches on the menu. All-time faves include the Famous Italian with a winning blend of oil, garlic and spices on a toasted bun as well as The Aztec (roast beef) and Mayan (smoked turkey) with Main Bar's habit-forming jalapeno dressing smeared across a toasted Kaiser roll. For more great Sarasota options, check out my restaurant review titled "Best sandwich shops, delis in Sarasota for classics and signature items" published about a year ago.

The Italian sub at Fav's Italian Cucina in downtown Bradenton.
The Italian sub at Fav's Italian Cucina in downtown Bradenton.

In Bradenton, my favorite sandwich shop these days is Uncle Nick's at 5917 Manatee Ave. W. and their house-made roast beef, which I've enjoyed in the Aunt Philly and French dip. They make their own outstanding bagels, as well, which you can also order along with their bagel sandwiches on Saturdays at the Downtown Bradenton Public Market. For the best Italian and meatball sandwiches, on superb homemade bread, be sure to visit Fav's Italian Cucina (419 Old Main St), which also serves some of the region's best pizza.

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Best seafood restaurants for grouper sandwiches in Sarasota and Manatee

Blackened grouper sandwich with fries at Dry Dock Waterfront Grill on Longboat Key. Not pictured, the side of sweet chili sauce.
Blackened grouper sandwich with fries at Dry Dock Waterfront Grill on Longboat Key. Not pictured, the side of sweet chili sauce.

While spending a good chunk of October dining across Sarasota and Manatee counties for my story "12 best seafood restaurants in Sarasota and Manatee serving fresh Florida stone crab," I also enjoyed quite a few excellent grouper sandwiches. If I had to pick one favorite in Sarasota County, it would probably be the blackened grouper sandwich with sweet chili sauce they serve at Dry Dock Waterfront Grill (412 Gulf Of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key), which places you right on Sarasota Bay. For Manatee County, again if forced to choose among many fine options, it would be the grouper sandwich at Star Fish Company or sister restaurant Tide Tables, both in the historic fishing village Cortez.

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Best restaurants for fried chicken sandwiches in Sarasota and Manatee

The FreeBird Firecracker Chicken Sandwich at Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille Bradenton.
The FreeBird Firecracker Chicken Sandwich at Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille Bradenton.

Back in November, I compiled a story on the "12 best restaurants for fried chicken sandwiches in Sarasota-Bradenton." Since then, The Overton has closed, but the rest of the places appear to still serve the same tasty fried chicken sandwiches. If you're craving one in downtown Sarasota, visit Brewster's Tavern, Made or Mattison's; and if you're in the downtown Bradenton area, go to Mattison's Riverwalk location, Oak & Stone, Pier 22, O'Bricks or Sage Biscuit. Also, be sure to consider Food + Beer, which has locations in Sarasota, Bradenton and now in Venice at 301 S. Tamiami Trail.

Fried chicken, please! 12 best restaurants for fried chicken sandwiches in Sarasota-Bradenton

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Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida-Georgia Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Born in Hershey, Pennsylvania, he grew up in Tampa and graduated from the University of South Florida.
Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida-Georgia Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Born in Hershey, Pennsylvania, he grew up in Tampa and graduated from the University of South Florida.

Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida-Georgia Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.​​​​​​

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Restaurants: Best sandwiches in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice near me