Pier 22

1200 1st Ave West
Bradenton, FL 34205

Bradenton is called the Friendly City, and no where has that reputation been more exemplified than at the latest restaurant we visited, Pier 22.  As you drive through the city and head north, you'll eventually come across this stately eatery sitting quietly on the Manatee River, overlooking the bridge and vast views of neighboring Palmetto.

I arrived at the address Rachel sent us (once again keeping us in the dark to enhance the suspense) and I was pleasantly surprised.  I parked and made my way to the back patio, all the while searching for my fellow LOLers. There are cozy and casual dining rooms inside, but as I stepped outside, I was amazed at how expansive their deck area is.  It took me a few minutes before I finally found my girls, sitting peacefully at a table under a beautiful huge tree.  I joined them and we all immediately commented on our pretty surroundings.  

"Location, location, location.  This has to be a main draw for this place," Rachel said.

As if the setting alone didn't make us feel completely at ease, we were made to feel completely at home when we were greeted by our server, Laura.  She was the perfect balance of attentiveness and discretion, answering our questions and genuinely making us laugh.  As we pored over our huge menus, we asked her what her favorite dishes were.

"I highly recommend the lamp lollipops and the escargot, if you feel like being adventurous," she said with a wink and a smile.  "They are seriously delicious."  She went on to mention that everything they served was all about freshness, from the seafood to the desserts.  "Even our breads and buns are made in-house," she said.  We were impressed, by this information and by her.  We decided to trust her and ordered the lamp lollipops and escargot as starters, though we were all a bit apprehensive.  I'm squeamish about eating the "baby" version of anything, and Kim and I both were worried about what the escargot would taste like.

The lollipops arrived first and we each took one.  As I bit into it, I was amazed at the tenderness of the meat and rich combination of spices and bread crumbs- it helped to allay at least a bit of my guilt.  Then Kim and I tasted the escargot.  I recall my mother once telling me what escargot tasted like when she tried it for the first time while visiting France- butter.  And truthfully, once you get past the texture, they did taste like butter- and maybe horseradish.  They were encased in a deliciously flaky pastry and then doused in a buttery sauce that complemented them well, although they were a bit on the rich side.  We struggled to eat more than two.

Still, we finished both dishes and were still looking forward to our meals.  Kim ordered a steak omelet, Rachel ordered the Pier 22 burger, and since I was feeling heavy from our appetizers, I opted for the apple and spinach salad and French onion soup.

After a few minutes of sharing gossip and life updates, our food arrived.  Rachel's burger was just satisfactory but she was particularly delighted at the homemade bun.  "I love that they bake their own bread.  And this butter is so good.  I love that they mix in an assortment of seasonings."

Kim was happy with her omelet and thought the potatoes that came with it were "yummy".

I enjoyed the refreshing taste and mixture of textures in my salad.  My only complaint was that I would've preferred it to come with the dressing on the side.  As for the French onion soup, it was good but not amazing.

Our appetites satiated, but not completely overwhelmed, we decided to try out a couple of the desserts.  Kim had to run so it was up to Rachel and me to be the judges- we ordered the creme brûlée and chocolate peanut butter cake to split.  Though we were told everything was made fresh and in-house, the chocolate peanut butter cake did taste as if it had been thawed from a frozen state.  As for the creme brûlée, Rachel described it best as just "OK."

So here's our review breakdown of Pier 22...

MENU	TASTE	PRESENTATION	SERVICE	ATMOSPHERE
7	7	8	9	10

Delivery?  No
Carry-out?  Yes
Outdoor Seating?  (Hell) Yes!
Wifi?  Yes
Pet-friendly?  Yes

Refer a Friend?  Absolutely!

Final Thoughts-

Kim:  "Laura was the best server I have ever had.  She was so friendly and honest when we asked her questions about the menu.  And I was so blown away by the views.  Listening to the birds and watching the boats drift along with the gentle waves, I felt so peaceful.  I leave here feeling overall satisfied and would like to come back."

Rachel:  "I love the freshness of everything they make, down to the bread and real butter.  Although the food itself was just average, I was so impressed by Laura's friendliness and the beautiful outdoor area.  I loved the relaxing views of boats and yachts coming into the docks.  I would definitely refer a friend here."

Kristen: "The back patio really is sublime.  It seems they have thought of everything to make you feel comfortable and enjoy the pleasures of being near the water.  I agree that the dishes we ordered were not spellbinding, but they were tasty enough and then menu had so many options, I'd like to come back and try some more!

The Breakfast House

1817 Fruitville Road
Sarasota, FL 34236

Ah breakfast.  It's the most important meal of the day- and my personal favorite.   I mean, what's not to love?  Fluffy eggs, savory sausage and bacon, and of course, sweet treats like pancakes and waffles.  So when it was my turn to choose a place for the Ladies of Lunch, I knew exactly where I wanted to take them.

There are several breakfast joints around Sarasota and Bradenton, but to me, the best place for some good hearty morning eats is the charming Breakfast House on Fruitville Road.

I noticed this place right after I moved down here.  I would drive by and be tickled by the adorable yellow house and simple sign.  I couldn't wait for the next free weekend when we could stop by before heading down to the beach or farmer's market.  I texted the address to the ladies, keeping the destination a secret, and crossed my fingers that they would enjoy it as much as I always did.

I arrived first (shockingly) and gave my name to the hostess seated at one of the tables near the front door on the porch and then sat down myself.  The place was already hopping, with fashionable women in elegantly funky exercise outfits and snowbirds in pastel shorts.  Soon, Kim joined me and not long after, Rachel arrived.

The girls commented on how they too had always driven by this place but had never gone in.  Though it sits close to busy Fruitville Road, The Breakfast House is also embedded in the colorful district of former circus performer residences.  The buildings were in danger of being knocked down until the locals rallied and had them repurposed as local businesses.

I explained this little bit of background to the girls as the hostess began to lead us to the back outdoor area which is sectioned off with a white fence and decorated with all kinds of plants and ornaments.

"Aw look! They even have an actual yellow brick road," Kim said, pointing to the yellow blocks that made up the path.

As we followed the hostess, we noticed a table set up with sparkly and silvery jewelry.  A local store had set up shop for the morning and we all stopped briefly to take a look.  While Rachel and I looked over a few bracelets, Kim found something she really loved.

"I normally walk past things like this, but the cool atmosphere here just inspired me!" Kim said.

We were led to a table that had no umbrella with it which was fine, except that we were repeatedly sprinkled with leaves and small debris from the trees overhead.  Still, the girls were quickly becoming charmed by the place.

"Look at the salt and pepper shakers!  They're so cute!" exclaimed Rachel when she noticed the adorable ceramic bunny rabbit shakers.

Then it was on to the business of breakfast.  The girls looked over their menus and when the server came around, we placed our orders.

Rachel ordered the Tuscan omelet with three eggs, mushroom, goat cheese, pesto and sun dried tomatoes.

Kim followed my lead and we both ordered my go-to, "Uncle Harry's Hearty Breakfast", which includes two eggs, bacon or sausage, potatoes, and pancakes.  Being a special occasion, we both upgraded our pancakes.  Kim selected the white chocolate macadamia nut and I had been dreaming about the banana nut for days.

As we drifted into conversation, we were lulled by the gentle tones of the live guitar player who strummed softly in the background.

Soon, our food arrived.  Kim and I excitedly dug into our rich luscious pancakes while Rachel tasted her omelet.

"This is delicious!  I don't even need to add ketchup."

We shared our pancakes around so we could all have a taste.  I enjoyed my sweet banana nut pancakes, but I was in love with Kim's white chocolate macadamia nut.  I felt they had a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors.  Rachel seemed to agree.

"These pancakes are better than I could make at home," she said.

If there was a con, it was that when I went to dig out some butter from the small tin, I noticed a big dead fly sitting on top.  We notified the owner as she walked by and she quickly swept it up and got us a new butter container.  While it did gross us out at first, we were able to shake it off and judge the place as a whole.

Here's the Ladies of Lunch breakdown for The Breakfast House:

MENU	TASTE	LOCATION	PRESENTATION	CLEANLINESS	SERVICE	ATMOSPHERE
8	7	6	7.5	6.2	6.5	8.5

Final Thoughts:

Kim-  I enjoyed the artsy feel and look of this place.  From the patrons to the staff, I felt cooler just eating here!  I enjoyed the food but I was more impressed with the uniqueness of this place more.  Sitting outside and listening to the live music with a cool breeze, I was so relaxed.  The inside was a little cramped, especially for a busy Sunday morning, but outside was peaceful and beautiful.

Rachel-  It was annoying that the leaves and debris kept falling on us but I'd rather have that than be sitting inside.  If we were sitting at one of the tables with an umbrella, it would have been better.  The server was nice, just busy.  Overall, I enjoyed the feel of the Breakfast House,  I'd call it Florida shabby-chic.  Very laid back yet classy.

Kris-  This is one of my favorite breakfast spots, and not just for the food, but for the atmosphere.  The eggs and sausage were cooked just how I liked them, and the pancakes are killer- sweet but not too sweet.  It was unfortunate that I found the dead fly in the butter, but I would still take people here as it is a definite example of local Sarasota charm and culture.

Veg - A Vegetarian & Seafood Eatery

We here at the Ladies of Lunch enjoy satisfying our sweet (and salty) tooth when dining out.  We love finding these little hidden restaurant gems that provide deliciously rich or savory dishes.  However, all that richness can leave us feeling sluggish.  Happily, with Kim's pick this month, we found a spot that offers options that feel like an indulgence but without all the guilt.

Kim kept Rachel and I in the dark as to where we would be meeting, supplying us with only the address of our dining destination.  I plugged it into my GPS and realized we were going to someplace in Gulf Gate.  I parked my car when the GPS said I was near my destination, but I didn't see the restaurant at first.  But there, tucked next to two stores, is "Veg", a vegetarian-friendly restaurant.

Kim greeted me with a hug and a smile and told me about how she discovered this place.

"I was searching online for local restaurants that were healthy and tasty."

She was successful.  "Veg" is a family owned restaurant that was inspired by the chef's life spent in South Africa.  They specialize in healthy and fresh ingredients, using locally sourced fruits and vegetables, and even bake their own bread.  Their hefty list of options is capable of satisfying vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan needs, without leaving us omnivores hungry.

After Rachel joined us we began looking over the menu.  Much to my surprise, I was actually stuck between choices.  I worried someone like me (an anti-cold food or salad eater) wouldn't find anything that looked appealing.  By the time our waitress arrived, we had all made our decisions.

Kim ordered the matzoh ball soup for a starter and the Silly Philly sandwich as her main dish.  Rachel  selected the club sandwich, made with a beef-less burger patty, "bac-un", avocado, lettuce, tomato and aioli.  I opted for a cup of the root vegetable soup and the veggie burger with fruit.

As we sipped our house-made iced teas, we noticed the array of publications and write-ups hung sporadically around the restaurant.  It got us all even more excited for our orders.

Kim and my soup arrived first.  I was slightly disappointed by the texture and sweetness of my root vegetable soup, hoping for a creamier consistency and velvety texture.  Instead, I couldn't help but be reminded of baby food.

Kim's however was really delicious.  The broth was savory but light and the "matzoh" balls were a little large but surprisingly dense and meaty.

When our sandwiches arrived, we all took a bite of our own and then began passing them around to each other.

Rachel was satisfied with her club, describing the bac-un as a little too soft but still having a pleasant smoky flavor.

My veggie burger had a nice toothsome texture, not overly dry or flavorless.  I even opted out of the homemade aioli that comes with it, and it still tasted pretty moist.

However, Kim's Silly Philly was the winner in my book and hers.  The thick cut portobella mushrooms and savory sauce made me forget all about the meat in a Philly cheese steak. 

"I think I just had a food-gasm..," Kim said through her mouthful of sandwich.

She offered me a piece and I had to agree that I liked her sandwich even more than mine.  But Rachel took a bite of my veggie burger and decided she liked mine best.  So there we were, three non-vegetarians happily feasting on a meal of fresh veggie patties and fruits.

The only sour note we hit was the lack of enthusiasm we received from the waitress.  Though not outwardly rude, we just all were hoping for a warmer and excited reception.  

"It feels like she was just trying to get her work done," Rachel commented.

Since we had been so nice to our waistlines for our lunch, we thought we could be a little naughty for dessert.  Kim ordered a small slice of key lime pie and Rachel and I shared their chocolate madness cake.   

Kim, who is quickly becoming a connoisseur for key lime pie, noted that theirs was tasty but a little too tart.  

The chocolate madness cake was definitely for someone with a serious chocolate craving.  

"It's very rich- almost fudge-like."  It was good but forgettable to me.

After the bill had come, we began tallying our points:

MENU	TASTE	LOCATION	PRESENTATION	CLEANLINESS	SERVICE	DÉCOR
7.6	7.5	6.3	7.5	5	4	5.2

Final Comments:

Rachel- "The coleslaw was yummy, and I appreciate the freshness of all the vegetables.  The bite I had of the root veggie soup left me craving more.  The water was lemon-infused, which made it really refreshing.  I liked Kim's 'Silly Philly' but Kristen's was my fave.  It was a freshly made patty versus a frozen one.  All in all, there was a nice selection of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

Kristen- "I found several things I wanted to try, and by far, the 'Silly Philly' was my favorite.  I didn't even miss the meat.  I love the hole-in-the-wall atmosphere and the love the chef has for the ingredients.  You can tell he believes in what he does and he doesn't offer anything that he wouldn't please him."

Kim- "My soup was super yummy.  The broth had such a nice depth of flavor.  And my sandwich was delicious.  The key lime pie was decent, but Duval's is still the best!  But they did have a great gluten-free section.  Although the waitresses were a little cold and stand-offish, I would definitely come back again."

Delivery?  No
Carry-out?  Yes
Outdoor seating?  Yes  (a little)
Pet-friendly?  Yes
Refer a friend?  Yes!