Bijou Cafe

We are coming to the conclusion that the state of Florida is one large wasteland crossed with awful roads with beautiful coasts. The East Coast is much more developed and attractive with A1A running the length of the state. The West coast is much grimmer between Naples and Sarasota. Sarasota itself was a breath of fresh air. Here there are wide streets and beautifully landscaped surroundings. Our stay at the Ritz in the downtown area was a short 10 min. walk from the Bijou Cafe. Paul is getting into the swing of early arrivals which gives us time to check out the bar. We took our drinks to the small outdoor seating area and enjoyed the warm evening enjoying some serious people watching. There are fewer manufactured "tight smiles" here in Sarasota and we see a more diverse age group and a more mixed population. Maybe this is because of the large student population.

Dinner was a joy from beginning to end. Both Paul's and my shrimp appetizer were excellent, his SHRIMP PIRI-PIRI were wonderfully spicy, sauted with just the right amount of garlic, lemon, and cayenne pepper. My
Boursin-Glazed Shrimp with fresh sliced Strawberries and Baby arugula, and toasted hazelnuts, was perfectly complimented with sherry vinaigrette and herbed croutons. For the entre, Paul selected the ROAST DUCKLING which was slow roasted, boned and served extra crispy with a fruit dressing and port wine sauce. It was delicious with none of the ugly fat sometimes associated with duck. I enjoyed a serving of the restaurants SIGNATURE CRABCAKES. They were perfectly sauted fresh lump crabmeat, served with Louisiana remoulade sauce, on a small bed of greens. Our wine wine selection was a surprisingly good California merlot.

We enjoyed dessert and coffee at the hotel where we eagerly watched some of the olympic events we'd been missing.

Bijou Cafe
1287 First St. (Pineapple Ave.)
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-366-8111

Zagats says:
No longer a diamond in the rough, this Downtown Continental (once a gas station) is now a “beautifully remodeled” “little jewel”, gratifying regulars with “rack of lamb to die for” and shrimp piri-piri courtesy of chef-owner Jean-Pierre Knaggs, who’s laid in a large wine list from his native South Africa, and a “precise, friendly” staff that “treats you like family”; book way ahead in winter to beat opera-bound crowds worried about curtain time.