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Cafe Epicure Info
Amenities
Service options
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Outdoor seating
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Takeout
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Dine-in
Highlights
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Fast service
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Great coffee
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Great dessert
Popular for
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Solo dining
Accessibility
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Wheelchair accessible entrance
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Wheelchair accessible parking lot
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Wheelchair accessible restroom
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Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
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Alcohol
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Beer
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Cocktails
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Coffee
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Comfort food
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Hard liquor
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Healthy options
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Late-night food
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Small plates
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Vegetarian options
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Wine
Dining options
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Catering
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Dessert
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Seating
Amenities
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Bar onsite
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Restroom
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Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
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Casual
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Cozy
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Romantic
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Trendy
Crowd
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Family-friendly
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Groups
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Tourists
Planning
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Accepts reservations
Payments
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Credit cards
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Debit cards
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NFC mobile payments
Children
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High chairs
Parking
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Free street parking
Best WLM Reviews
this place looks very nice with a very cool design. We had an awkward entrance into t the restaurant. when we entered the host just gave my wife a blank stair. She finally had to say “shall we said anywhere?“ We did find a comfortable seat. The server brought menus over right away, and we quickly were given water and for something very rare, a basket of bread, I ordered Filletto al Pepe Verde. it came with a very nice helping of sweet potato. I didn’t care for the sauce and unfortunately, the steak was done medium rare to my liking it was very bland. I tried to put some salt on it, but the salt shaker was solidified because of the humidity and no amount of shaking could loosen it. It was not the most flavorful steak I have ever had. My wife had the Linguine Fruitti di Mare. She thought it was very good. I had to classic Negroni, which was well done. My wife had a strawberry martini which side. Our serving staff and general seems to be low-key almost listless side. They did not generate a lot of excitement about our meal or our experience, but it was the end of the day and it is very hot and humid here.
Fast service, good wine selection, great food. Had the Milanese di Pollo and Pesto salmon. Both were cooked properly. Limoncello and Italian cookies were complimentary after dinner aperitif. Highly recommend.
We went on Sunday afternoon and it wasn’t busy. Service is efficient and professional. The bread and tapenade that came before the meal was very tasty. The pizzas were fairly large for a lunch portion which was nice. I highly recommend this spot for good food and service with a great view.
Sat atthe bar. Bartender was fabulous! We had the black linguine with shrimp and Diavolo sauce and the Mediterranean salad. Everything was fabulous!
I went here for the first time a few days ago but my parents have been coming to Epicure for years. It really lived up to the hype. The food was amazing and the service was impeccable. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating but it was so busy, we got the last outdoor table. My mom had gnocchi and I had the pasta with tomato sauce and burrata cheese. Both were to die for. My very picky 13 month old was surprisingly obsessed with the gnocchi (first time ever having gnocchi). I can't wait to come back and try the pizza next time- I heard it's delicious!
Cafe Epicure has been on the Sarasota dining scene for over 20 years. Which is IMPRESSIVE in the world of restaurants. So they’re clearly doing something right. And that thing is the FOOD. The interior is quite lovely, the location is an excellent downtown corner with lots of outdoor seating on the sidewalks, but there is also a choice of seating options inside with a dedicated bar and high top communal table on one side (with tables as well) and a more casual Trattoria setting on the other side with a large flat screen TV playing daytime television.
The food is LEGIT wood fired, thin thin crust pizzas (quite a variety), pasta dishes, a small selection of breakfast/egg options, plates that are great for sharing (Fritto Misto, Eggplant Parm, Warm Octopus “Salad”) and salads.
LOTS of choices. Really something for everyone and everything freshly made from excellent ingredients.
My parents LOVE this spot. I mean LOVE it. When I mentioned the fact that the person who appears to be in charge has a rather abrasive/unfriendly demeanor. Look I OWN a restaurant and work in it 50+ hours a week - so I KNOW from the service industry and what it takes to do it and my exact quote was, “I find that to be an interesting choice of demeanor for the service industry.”
Like, YIKES. I’m deducting a star for that alone. Rude. To my father. Super regular customer who spends A LOT of money and sings the praises of this joint. Unprofessional.
That being said, 4 stars for the food. It’s fantastic.
The bread that comes is really good; dense, flavorful. You get white and an olive bread that is really really good. It is also served with an olive tapenade that is pretty freaking great. (Don’t worry, they’ll give you more if you’d eaten your first round.) But don’t fill up on the bread! Which would be really easy here. LEAVE ROOM!
Fritto Misto (fried calamari, shrimp and zucchini) is absolute perfection! This is a very hard thing to find. Perfectly fried, delicious and lightly coated with just the right amount of salt. I could eat this all day.
Eggplant Parm. It’s good. Above average. Eggplant cooked perfectly. Marinara a little bland. Ask for the red pepper flake!
I ordered the Caesar Salad because you KNOW ya girl is ALWAYS going to order a Cases if It’s on the menu. Epicure’s Caesar is now tied for Best Caesar Salad I’ve ever had. It is THAT good. They’re not overthinking it: fresh, crisp Romaine, paper thin slices of Parm, just enough dressing (the most common “error” with a Caesar Salad is that it is DROWNING with dressing. Not at Epicure! This salad is what every Caesar Salad should aspire to.
I definitely wanted to have pasta because it is a VERY rare place I will order pasta at. Because it is a very rare place that is doing honestly good Italian food. Cafe Epicure has got pasta on lock. I wanted Puttanesca, but I didn’t want it with the pasta they were serving it with, I wanted Rigatoni (which was also on the menu, so I knew they had it in house). No problem at all. They subbed the Rigatoni, which was cooked perfectly (don’t EVER be serving me pasta that isn’t al dente, I will not eat it). The Puttanesca was good, not too much, just the right balance between pasta and “sauce.” Although their Puttanesca is not really a traditional “sauce.” There is no tomato base. Just the capers and olives, etc, tossed with the pasta. It’s good. Really good. I’d eat it again.
Finished with a double latte. Yes, they know how to make an espresso drink. Which is another thing that A LOT of places attempt and also FAIL at.
Excellent spot for authentic Trattoria/Roman style Italian food and espresso drinks. We couldn’t sit outside because it was 55 degrees and raining. But it was lovely inside as well.
Great place with great service. The food was tasty, I don't think I heard a single complaint from our large party. We'll be back and highly recommend.
manager Fabi was amazing, so helpful, noticed he was wearing many hats throughout our time there (kuddos)
Lunch at Epicure was fantastic
sav blanc wine
soups
ciabatta sandwiches
perfect spot for a relaxing and nice date
Quick Facts About Cafe Epicure
Today
Opening Hours
| Monday | 11:45 AM - 10:30 PM |
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| Tuesday | 11:45 AM - 10:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:45 AM - 10:30 PM |
| Thursday | 11:45 AM - 10:30 PM |
| Friday | 11:45 AM - 11:00 PM |
| Saturday | 11:45 AM - 11:00 PM |
| Sunday | 11:45 AM - 10:30 PM |
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