Fast n Fresh opens its doors in downtown Sarasota

Summer pecan, turkey bacon ranch, beet and fresh pear… these are just a few menu items available at Fast N’ Fresh at 32 Osprey Avenue.

The health-minded restaurant, with the slogan “the cure for the common salad,” already has locations in University Town Center and Lakewood Ranch. It had a soft opening for its new location Tuesday, Feb. 10.

“We advertised on Facebook…got our regular customers from our other stores,” said Lesley Harb, co-owner. “We didn’t want to get inundated in the first few days.”

Besides salads, Fast n Fresh offers paninis, sandwiches and soups. 

Harb said the downtown location got a lot of business over the weekend, though, thanks to the Downtown Sarasota Festival of the Arts Saturday and Sunday.

“We are open and it’s been going great,” she said. “(The festival) was an added bonus.”

The downtown location offers all the same menu items except fountain drinks. As business picks up, it will offer “grab and go” items like premade sandwiches, salads and hummus snacks. The location is an express version of the other sites, but it does have 36 seats inside and Harb is working on getting a permit for some outside seating, she said.

The location and menu will cater to working professionals at surrounding businesses – it’s near banks, real estate offices and government offices.

“We’re on the business end of Main Street – that’s definitely our customers,” Harb said.

The restaurant was supposed to open in December, but was delayed because of construction and permitting issues. It offers dine in, carry out and catering services, and its online ordering option will be ready on the website by the end of the week, Harb said.