From beloved diners to fine‑dining landmarks, Sarasota has said goodbye to some unforgettable restaurants in recent years .

These weren’t just places to eat — they were gathering spots, memory‑makers, and pieces of local history.

Think of a waterfront gem serving fried grouper with salty breezes, a neon‑lit drive‑in flipping burgers since the Eisenhower era, an Italian restaurant whose witty marquee messages made commuters smile, and a downtown diner that once served a young Elvis Presley in 1956.

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