Bradenton's first LongHorn Steakhouse opens Monday

Photo provided

Bradenton’s first LongHorn Steakhouse is expected to open this morning.

The Darden Restaurant-owned chain will cut the ribbon at 10 a.m. before opening to the public at 4502 14th St. W. Crews demolished the former Los Cabos Mexican Restaurant to construct the LongHorn.

Rob Pere, a nine-year employee of LongHorn, will be the managing partner.

The 6,450-square-foot restaurant seats 240 people and serves steaks, seafood, chicken and has a full bar in its American West theme.

This is Bradenton’s first LongHorn and the two closest to here are in Sarasota on Fruitville Road and on the corner of Gulf Gate Drive and U.S. 41.

Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and close at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

If you haven’t been to a LongHorn in awhile, here are some specials they’re running:


• Winter Peak Season menu – The winter Peak Season menu changes four times a year and features fresh flavors of the season. Guests can enjoy new items, like Garlic Mussels, Winter Brie Salad, Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto and Praline Pecan Butterscotch Pudding.

• Chef’s Showcase menu – The Chef’s Showcase menu allows for some Executive Chefs’ culinary inspiration and creativity. The new menu currently features the Blue Crab & Meyer Lemon Filet – Flo’s Filet grilled and served on a bed of grilled asparagus, topped with lump blue crab and finished with Meyer lemon & smoky paprika hollandaise sauce. The second dish, Blackened Salmon & Cheddar Grits, features a hand-cut Atlantic salmon blackened and seared, served on a bed of creamy cheddar grits and finished with a citrus butter sauce.

• Steakhouse Dinner for Two – For $29.99, diners have a choice of an appetizer or dessert to share; two hand-chopped salads and two entrees of your choice. Seven entrees to choose from, including the new Garlic Portabella Sirloin, Bacon Wrapped Sirloin, LongHorn Salmon and Grilled Chicken Stuffed Portabella, among others.

Darwin's named a top 18 brew pub in USA Today

Chef Darwin Santa Maria (Courtesy Photo)

Darwin's on 4th in Sarasota is getting some national love for its brew pub, offering Bradentonians a bit of a tease of what will soon be here.

The Peruvian restaurant and microbrewery, 1525 Fourth St., Sarasota, made a top 18 list of the "best brew pubs/taprooms for food quality" nationwide. BeerRate.com's Joe Tucker ranked the best for USA Today's Travel section this week, and only included breweries that served food.

"Unlike traditional restaurants, these are social establishments that are places to relax, sample the local flavors and enjoy some conversation," Tucker told USA Today.

Chef and owner Darwin Santa Maria was honored for the recognition of his Andes-influenced beer and dishes.


"I am extremely happy and so proud of the entire Darwin's team for this accomplishment," Santa Maria said. "I also want to offer my congratulations to Cigar City in Tampa and Funky Buddha in Oakland Park for making the list for their beer quality. Please support your local Florida breweries!"

Darwin's is bringing a brewery and lounge to 803 17th Ave. W, across from McKechnie Field this spring. The 6,000-square-foot building is a 15-barrel brewery that includes a tasting room, beer garden, and performance area for local bands. The brewery will offer canning, kegging and growlers of its beers. While the Bradenton location won't feature the food menu from Darwin's in Sarasota, it does plan to hold food truck rallies there.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2013/08/12/4657652/bradenton-slowly-forming-brewery.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2013/10/10/4764865/darwins-brewery-alcohol-permit.html#storylink=cpy