Restaurant news around Sarasota

Pizza maker settles down in Gulf Gate

A nomadic pizza maker is soon to settle down in its first home. Tralia, which is known as a pop-up, offers its popular pies at local watering holes and other locations. Now it’s open for takeout and delivery from Gulf Gate and is planning to welcome dine-in customers in midFebruary.

Founded by Anthony Petalia, Tralia offers Detroit-style and “sourdough rounds” that resemble traditional Neapolitan pizza. The brick-andmortar location at 6596 Superior Ave. is the former home of Your Culinary Place, a shared kitchen business. Tralia will add seating and is working to obtain a beer and wine license.

Hours will be noon to 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, noon to midnight Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays.

Owen’s hopes to open new site in March

Although supply shortages have slowed the construction of Owen’s Fish Camp at Center Point in Lakewood Ranch, co-owner Mark Caragiulo remains undaunted.

“We’re taking our time, doing it right,” he said.

Caragiulo said he hopes to open the restaurant in March, and his customers will find the restaurant to be every bit as good as Owens Fish Camp in Sarasota, if not better.

“We can expand on that Southern food-centric aspect but will flex our muscles a little bit,” he said. “It’s just fun experimentation. Playing, cooking, eating, imagining what we’re trying to do.”

For instance, one item on the menu, which he said will be comprised of about 25% new items compared to the Sarasota location, is the Pimento Chive Drop Biscuits

“It’s a mouthful,” he said.

Ribs are another possibility that aren’t served at Sarasota’s location.

Primo! site sold in two parcel deal

The site of a former well-known Italian restaurant in Sarasota was sold in late 2022 alongside another parcel for $2.2 million.

For the past 36 years, Primo! Ristorante occupied 11,500 square feet of space, though the building was originally built in 1953.

The sale of the two parcels at 8076 N. Tamiami Trail was managed by SVN Commercial Advisory Group, according to a statement. The buyer and seller of the transaction were represented by Gail Bowden, senior investment adviser. The second parcel features a two-bedroom, twobathroom house that was built in 1950, the release adds.

“It’s a very high-visibility spot on a well-lit corner, and it’s close to nearly everything,” Bowden says in the release. “Having the residential house next door to the commercial parcel is a bonus – just a terrific opportunity.”