First Street Chophouse arrives downtown
The recently opened First Street Chophouse is setting the stage for fine dining in Sarasota’s Theater District. Located adjacent to the Sarasota Opera House in a vine-covered historic building, the restaurant offers a classic American menu of steaks, chops, seafood, fowl and pasta.
According to chef/owner David Arnold, the distinguishing factor for his new venture is not only the menu, or location, or even the outstanding service – it is the quality of the food. Fresh meat, seafood and produce are delivered daily, everything on the menu is prepared in-house, and Chef Arnold sources his food from high-end suppliers such as Buckhead Beef based in Atlanta. The restaurant’s signature dish is a Buckhead Beef Chairman’s Reserve Certified Angus Bone-in Ribeye. And the price of $26.95 is surprisingly reasonable.
Dinner entrees also include some interesting items in addition to the signature ribeye. The New York strip is also Chairman’s Reserve Certified Angus and is priced at $23.95. The filet mignon is wrapped in apple cider smoked bacon, chargrilled and topped with Boursin cheese ($24.95). For something different you may want to try the Bison Short Ribs ($21.95). The ribs are marinated and grilled and served with a truffle demi-glaze. Other choices range from the Veal Awesome Bucco ($19.95) to the Lamb Rack at ($29.95) to the Surf and Turf, consisting of filet mignon served with a lobster tail ($32.95).
Seafood entrees range from Blueberry Salmon or Potato Crusted Walleye, both priced at $16.95, to Ahi Tuna Medallions at $18.95, to a grouper and shrimp combination ($19.95).
Other choices include Chicken Mediterranean – a charbroiled chicken breast served on a bed of olive couscous ($11.95) and Goat Cheese and Peppadew Fettuccini ($15.95).
Before dinner, or for just a lite bite, diners can choose from appetizers such as Duck Wings ($9.95), Oysters Rockefeller ($9.95) or Crab Cakes ($13.95). If it’s too difficult to decide, just try the Around the World Variety Tray with Asian Egg Roll, Mozzarella Cheese, Hawaiian Chicken in a lettuce cup, Greek Antipasti, Shepherd’s Pie, Mushroom and Chicken Crepe and Beef Slider, all for $11.95.
First Street Chophouse is also open for lunch with entrees, salads and sandwiches. A Classic Caesar is $5.95. Add chicken or shrimp for an additional $3.50, or wasabi crusted ahi tuna for an additional $5.00. A grilled pear salad is $6.95 and Cobb salad topped with grilled chicken, avocado, tomato, bacon crumbles, boiled egg and bleu cheese crumbles is $8.95.
There are a variety of sandwiches such as liverwurst with onion and mustard on ciabatta bread ($6.95), Grilled Chicken Cordon Bleu ($7.50), salmon BLT ($8.95), crab cakes ($9.95) or a grouper sandwich, grilled, blackened or fried ($12.95). Chef Arnold has also added a small taste of New Orleans with the Oyster Po’ Boy at $10.95. Chicken or Shrimp Po’ Boys are available for $2 less.
Whether it is lunch or dinner save room for dessert. There is Banana Bread Pudding for $4.95, Crème Brûlée, also priced at $4.95, Key Lime Pie for $5.50, Strawberry Napoleon for $6.95 and the truly decadent Godiva Chocolate Cobbler for $7.95.
The upstairs Piano Bar has entertainment Tuesday through Saturday. Listen and sip a cocktail, glass of wine, martini or after dinner drink in an intimate setting. The lists of wines, martinis and cocktails are ample with interesting choices that are sure to please.
Whether before or after theater, for a power lunch, or for any occasion, and whether dining in the formal dining room, with tablecloths and elegant settings providing a rich and interesting contrast to the unfinished brick and stucco walls of the historic building, or al fresco at an umbrella table in the garden-like courtyard in the shade by day and under the stars at night, you will have a whole new experience in a historic setting at the First Street Chophouse.