St. Armands Circle

If there is one place in town that locals should visit to feel like a tourist, it is the unrelentingly resort-focused St. Armands Circle. Be prepared to pay a premium for the experience (even at the more moderate places) but a few hours of faux vacation may be worth it.

15 SOUTH RISTORANTE ENOTECA 15 S. Boulevard of Presidents, St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, 388-1555 or 15southristorante.com

Hgh-end Italian cuisine along with some kick-ass pizzas out of a blazing brick oven. 15 South also has a nice bar area up front and a music venue/nightclub upstairs.

BENFORD'S CAFÉ 7 S. Boulevard of Presidents, St. Armands Circle, 388-1671

Sandwiches and quick eats from a pseudo-deli/ice cream/bagel shop.

BLUE DOLPHIN CAFÉ 470 John Ringling Blvd., St. Armands Circle, 388-3566 or bluedolphincafe.com

Here you can grab a simple stack of flapjacks and two eggs over easy, or you can succumb to the resort stylings of St. Armands and hit the breakfast big-time with crab benedict or ribeye and eggs.

CAFÉ GALANTE 419A St. Armands Circle, St. Armands Circle, 388-2222 or cafegalante.com

In the former space of the Hungry Fox, Galante serves an interesting blend of Italian and Lebanese dishes at prices that are surprisingly reasonable for the pricy Circle. Lebanese options are all small plates, which makes this a fun spot for drinks and tapas.

CAFÉ L'EUROPE 431 St. Armands Circle, St. Armands Circle, 388-4415 or cafeleurope.net

Sarasota's -- and St. Armands' -- grande dame of fine dining is still chugging along with its repertoire of classic dishes. You can still find the potato-crusted grouper and brandied duckling of years past, with few surprises left over from a modernization push from a few years back.

CHA CHA COCONUTS 417 St. Armands Circle, St. Armands Circle, 388-3300 or chacha-coconuts.com

Tourist food and boat drinks, featuring fried shrimp and cold daiquiris served in plastic cups.

CHINA PAVILLION 19A N. Boulevard of Presidents, St. Armands Circle, 388-3119 or china-pavilion.net

How does this Chinese take-out joint manage to survive on a street with the highest commercial rents in the area? We may never know.

COLUMBIA RESTAURANT 411 St. Armands Circle, St. Armands Circle, 388-3987 or columbiarestaurant.com

The Sarasota outpost of this family-owned Florida chain still serves the Spanish/Cuban food that made their headquarters in Ybor famous. The black bean soup and 1905 salad are almost required eating, especially the one day a year they roll back the prices almost a hundred years.

CORK 29 N. Boulevard of the Presidents, St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, 388-1675 or corkonthecircle.com

Downstairs is a casual spot with open air dining serving breakfast through dinner, while upstairs is a chic, classy spot for modern fine dining. There, expect expensive modern American cuisine tinged with a touch of Italian.

CRAB & FIN 420 St. Armands Circle, St. Armands Circle, 388-3964 or crabfinrestaurant.com

Although there's nothing terribly fancy about the preparations, Crab & Fin has one of the most extensive selections of fresh fish and raw oysters in the greater Sarasota area. Order the Mote sturgeon for a truly local treat.

HEMINGWAY'S RETREAT 325 John Ringling Blvd., St. Armands Circle, 388-3948

Although overlooked by a lot of locals, Hemingway's has a menu informed by the Cuban and the Caribbean that fits well into the Lido Key aura.

LYNCHES PUB & GRUB 19B N. Boulevard of Presidents, St. Armands Circle, 388-5550 or lynchespub.com

Lynches is a great place to hide from the unceasingly resort qualities of the rest of the circle, thanks to the deliciously casual pubby atmosphere, decent beer, and inexpensive Irish/American bar food.

RISTORANTE LE COLONNE 22 S. Boulevard of the Presidents, St. Armands Circle, 388-4348, lecolonneristorante.com

Great classic Italian fare with a very nice sidewalk dining space.

TASTE OF ITALY 322 John Ringling Blvd., St. Armands Circle, 388-1442

Pizza and calzones for those on the go. They do slices, which makes the place a good spot for an inexpensive bite.

TOMMY BAHAMA TROPICAL CAFÉ 300 John Ringling Blvd., St. Armands Circle, 388-2888

Don't knock this touristy spot just because it's touristy. The burgers and drinks are tasty, the décor is islandy (and admittedly contrived), and the second story balcony tables offer a great view of the teeming hordes and swaying palm trees.

VENEZIA 373 St. Armands Circle, St. Armands Circle, 388-1400

A new spot on the circle where you can grab a gelato, a plate of fresh pasta, or a pizza.