Urban Reef to Open in Downtown Sarasota

URBAN REEF is proud to announce its grand opening, infusing a fresh vacation atmosphere into the heart of downtown Sarasota. The Reef is cooking up fresh tropical cuisine with an edgy twist, nightly live entertainment and a wide range of special events. URBAN REEF is owned and operated by the two-generation Sarasota family of Larry and Kathy Heinzerling and Eric and Andrea Zito. The grand opening is set for Thursday, November 12th, with a soft opening on Monday, November 2nd.

With inspiration from traditional Floribbean cuisine, Urban Reef has developed a menu with that is unique to Sarasota, bringing the beach into the city with fresh, local seafood. Common ingredients in the URBAN REEF kitchen are bold and modern, featuring stars such as curry, coconut, coffee, pumpkin, cilantro, and ginger. For starters, URBAN REEF offers Caribbean inspired appetizers, featuring:

--Deep Fried Barbados Style Fish Fritters with House Tarter --Massa Corn Slow Braised Pork Tamale Cakes, Chipotle Chocolate Sauce, Sour Cream & Pineapple Pickled Ginger

Featured dishes from the URBAN REEF dinner menu include:

--Crispy Skin-on Snapper, Pineapple Slaw, Coconut Red Curry and Mango Salsa --Pan Seared Grouper, Spinach Lump Crab Stir Fry, Coo Coo Cake and Peppercorn Beurre Blanc --Coffee Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Goombay Smash Yucca Sweet Potatoes and Apple Jus

URBAN REEF offers live entertainment both upstairs and downstairs, including a vast array of talent from local DJ's, singers, bands, and karaoke performers. There are several events planned to round out the holiday season, including special industry nights, block parties and charity functions, including a benefit in early December for Daxton Cole Blanford, a nine month old baby with stomach cancer. All cover charges from the benefit will go directly to the Blanford family. “We love our community,” said co-owner Eric Zito. “We want nothing more than to add to our growing town and for our town to love us right back.”

Join the URBAN REEF family on Thursday, November 12th, for a fabulous grand opening weekend with great entertainment, food and drink specials, and prize giveaways. For more information, please call (941) 365-5181.

ABOUT URBAN REEF: Urban Reef is located at 1888 Main Street, on the corner of Links and Main in the heart of downtown Sarasota. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday for lunch from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, and again for dinner from 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM. The bar is open until 2:00 am Monday through Saturday. Dinner prices range from $15-$24 a dish. For more information, please call (941) 365.5181.