The Usual Place, more than usual

Located on Siesta Dr. just east of 41, in the former location of Bistro Figliulo and Deli Lane, a new, casual Italian eatery is already making a good impression. Although not top of mind when choosing a restaurant, this small strip mall, across from the Sarasota Westfield Southgate Mall, is home to a number of restaurants, bars, and breakfast spots. Adding another, just seems like a usual occurrence.

The name of this new Sarasota restaurant, both descriptive and non-descriptive at the same time, intrigued me. “What is The Usual Place? What type of cuisine?” For some, the usual place may mean good food, reasonable prices, and friendly service. For others, it just might mean convenience and/or comfort; a neighborhood location, a quick place to get a drink or a meal. Either way, the common denominator is frequency. The name implies regular and frequent visits with no particular emphasis on cuisine. We decided to test this spot to see if the restaurant experience can live up to the implications of its name.

From the outside, there is nothing distinctive or inviting about the restaurant.  However, the simple, casual, and comfortable décor immediately projects a warm welcome; providing an inkling that The Usual Place might be different. With a distinctive corner pizza oven, a good sized bar, a large open dining room divided by white sheer draperies, and a smaller dining space adjacent to the bar, the dining space is large, yet cozy and comfortable. White table linens, simple place settings and glassware set the stage for the meal to unfold.

The menu is extensive, offering an array of gourmet pizzas, soups, salads, chicken, veal, meat and seafood. With most items cooked to order, there is plenty of flexibility for those with special dietary requirements. For our meals we chose the following:

• Insalata Verde:  Spinach, romaine, arugula, green mix.  $7.90 A good sized salad, very fresh, colorful, and crisp, a great start to a meal.
• Mille Foligo Caprese:  Layers of crisp bread, fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, and basil.  $9.90 Attention Caprese and prosciutto lovers, this is a must try, creatively plated, salty, crunchy and full of fresh flavor…a signature dish if I ever saw one!
• Insalata di Funghi:  Arugula, shaved mushrooms, shaved parmigiano, speck stick.  $7.90 A large very fresh salad, the pieces of speck added a salty flavor and chewy texture…very good.
• Margherita Pizza:  Tomato sauce, mozzarella.  $11.95 Wood oven, thin crust, fresh, crisp, a simple yet delightful presentation the added basil was very good.
• Porcini e Tartufo Pizza:  Double mozzarella, truffle, porcini mushrooms.  $16.95 A perfectly prepared pizza, crispy thin crust with a rich flavorful topping, quite filling.
• Orecchiette:  Broccoli, tomato, sausage and cream.  $16.90 Once again a generous portion of pasta with great flavors and texture from the sausage, a classic dish.
• Pollo ai Carciofi:  Boneless chicken sautéed in white wine, artichoke and garlic.  $18.90 Big portion, chicken was tender and  moist, subtle flavors enhanced by the assortment of grilled vegetables.
• Gamberoni alla Veneta:  Shrimp sautéed with white wine, onions, cherry tomatoes on a bed of arugula.  $21.90 Calorie conscious? This dish is for you. Sweet, fresh, jumbo shrimp, served over fresh crispy arugula, colorful, flavorful, and not high in calories!
• Veal alla Milanese:  Veal lightly breaded topped with arugula and tomato.  $20.95 Another classic dish, tender thin veal medallions with peppery arugula and sweet tomatoes…delish!
• Salmone alla Arancio:  Salmon with orange and vegetables.  $20.90 A very good sized piece of salmon with a citrusy fresh flavor, very good.

The bread service is distinctive. Thin, toasted, and slight chewy, the pieces of house baked bread are different from most other restaurants. There is an adequate selection of beer, wine, and soft drinks to accompany your meal. With a friendly and knowledgeable wait staff, there is always someone there to assist you. We found the staff to be very accommodating, and sincerely interested in our impressions. Do not be surprised if you are visited by the chef/owner who takes great pride in making sure all the food is as expected.

So the question remains, can The Usual Place live up to the implications in its name? One word, YES! With a warm, casual and comfortable setting, very authentic well prepared food, a varied menu, reasonable prices, and a friendly staff, The Usual Place can become your usual place for casual Italian dining.The Usual Place

2157 Siesta Drive

Sarasota, FL 2157 Siesta Drive

Sarasota, FL 34239

941-952-9106

Monday to Saturday

11:00 am to 2:30 pm - 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Sunday 5:00 - 10:00 pm

http://www.theusualplacerestaurant.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Usual-Place-Restaurant-Pizzeria/366565520125421