New restaurant opens in Sarasota this week serving 'farm-fresh food'
One of Sarasota's most anticipated new restaurants has begun welcoming guests.
Naked Farmer, the self-described "fine-casual" restaurant established in St. Petersburg in 2020, now has seven locations across Florida, including a new one in downtown Miami. Its University Town Center location opened on Wednesday, June 19.
Naked Farmer’s 2,300-square-foot space is in the West District at UTC, right next to Blaze Pizza and near Rocco’s Tacos, which was one of the biggest restaurant openings in Sarasota and Manatee counties in 2023.
Originally scheduled to open in summer 2023, Naked Farmer specializes in "locally-sourced, farm-fresh food."
Restaurant reviews: Best things to eat in Sarasota-Manatee, Part 1 of 5
Ticket Editor: Sarasota restaurants snubbed by Southern Living magazine. Here's what we're going to do!
Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news and reviews plus info on things to do every Friday
Naked Farmer restaurant opens at University Town Center in Sarasota
“UTC has become a hub for health and wellness, with its variety of fitness studios, free weekly outdoor workout classes and proximity to Nathan Benderson Park, so it was a natural choice for us to grow into this area and serve the health-conscious community,” Jordan Johnson, the founder of Naked Farmer, said in a statement.
“The vision set forth by the Benderson family is very inspirational to us. We’re grateful to be a small part of it as we continue our mission to build a better food system in the area’s premier lifestyle center. We look forward to connecting local farmers to the community and providing our new neighbors in Sarasota with increased access to locally-sourced, farm-fresh food.”
What food does Naked Farmer serve and how much do meals cost?
Diners can choose from one of the rotating chef pairings or build their own harvest bowls from the menu. Some of the summer menu items currently available include Street Cart Corn, Chili-Crunch Green Beans, and Farmer’s Panzanella. Each dish is advertised as being made with produce grown on nearby farms.
"The menu features high quality farm-fresh food cooked from scratch daily, priced to feed a neighborhood," reads the press release. "Naked Farmer has become known for their vegetable-forward menu featuring seasonal ingredients harvested as little as 24 hours ahead of being served."
Meals start at $11, according to the press release.
Does Naked Farmer serve alcohol?
Naked Farmer's online menu lists a limited wine, beer and seltzer menu. Here are the selections, as they appear on the restaurant's website:
J Pinot Noir
Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc
Fleur De Mer Rose
3 Daughters Seasonal Ale
High Noon
Benderson Development owns University Town Center and will be leasing to Naked Farmer
Benderson Development, based in the University Park area of Manatee County and billing itself as "one of the largest privately held real estate companies in America," owns University Town Center, which includes the mall and surrounding shopping and dining districts located off I-75 and University Parkway, on the border of Sarasota and Manatee counties.
The property spans over four million square feet and features more than 250 specialty stores, over 80 restaurants, three hotels, and more than 250,000 square feet of office space, according to the press release.
Restaurant News: Popular Sarasota, Bradenton restaurant blames Benderson Development for closing locations
If you go
Naked Farmer is at 215 N. Cattlemen Road, Suite 58, Sarasota, in the West District at University Town Center. The restaurant's hours are listed as 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 941-870–9412 or visit eatnakedfarmer.com.
Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New restaurant opens in Sarasota serving 'farm-fresh food'
