By Sheldon, Gettel & Dahl
A great weekend in Sarasota tends to start at the table, and this city has no shortage of places that do brunch well. Whether you're craving something sweet, savory, or somewhere in between, these brunch spots in Sarasota each bring their own personality to the table, and they're all worth adding to your regular rotation.
Key Takeaways
- Station 400 puts a creative spin on brunch classics using fresh, local ingredients.
- The Breakfast Company pairs an in-house bakery with standout sweet and savory plates.
- Waffle Monkey serves Liège-style Belgian waffles from a spot right in the heart of Gallery Row.
- Boca brings an elevated, chef-driven brunch menu to downtown on Saturdays.
Station 400: Classic Brunch With a Creative Edge
Station 400 has built a loyal following in Sarasota by taking familiar brunch favorites and giving them a distinctive spin. The menu leans on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and the result is food that feels both comforting and a little more interesting than your standard diner fare. With locations in both downtown Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch, it's an easy stop no matter which part of town you're starting your day in.
Whether you're grabbing a quick bite solo or settling in for a longer meal with a group, Station 400 is a neighborhood staple worth exploring.
Whether you're grabbing a quick bite solo or settling in for a longer meal with a group, Station 400 is a neighborhood staple worth exploring.
What to Expect at Station 400
- Inventive takes on traditional brunch dishes.
- A focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
- Two convenient locations, downtown and in Lakewood Ranch.
The Breakfast Company: Bakery Meets Brunch Menu
The Breakfast Company stands out for pairing a full in-house bakery with a menu of genuinely craveable dishes. The Chicken & Waffles, featuring hot honey glazed chicken over Belgian waffles, has become something of a signature order, and the loaded brioche French toast, topped with a mix of fresh berries, coconut, and whipped cream, is just as popular. Open daily from 7am to 2pm across four locations in the Sarasota and Bradenton area, it's reliably easy to work into a weekend plan.
The recipes trace back to handwritten notes from El Greco Cafe, giving the food a sense of heritage that comes through in how carefully each dish is put together.
The recipes trace back to handwritten notes from El Greco Cafe, giving the food a sense of heritage that comes through in how carefully each dish is put together.
What to Expect at The Breakfast Company
- Chicken & Waffles with a hot honey glaze, a customer favorite.
- A signature loaded brioche French toast.
- Four locations across Sarasota and Bradenton, open daily.
Waffle Monkey: Belgian Waffles in the Heart of Gallery Row
Waffle Monkey specializes in Liège-style Belgian waffles, made to order with that signature caramelized outside and warm, chewy center. Beyond waffles, the menu covers egg dishes, avocado toast, and granola bowls, plus gluten-free options for anyone who wants in on the waffles without the gluten. The Sarasota location sits right on Palm Avenue in the middle of Gallery Row, downtown's gallery and arts district, making it an easy pairing with an afternoon of browsing the surrounding shops and studios.
Rounding things out is a coffee program built on Costa Rican beans, which regulars mention almost as often as the waffles themselves.
Rounding things out is a coffee program built on Costa Rican beans, which regulars mention almost as often as the waffles themselves.
What to Expect at Waffle Monkey
- Made-to-order Liège-style Belgian waffles, sweet or savory.
- A location right on Gallery Row in downtown Sarasota.
- Costa Rican coffee alongside fresh juices and smoothies.
Boca: An Elevated Saturday Brunch Downtown
Boca brings a more chef-driven approach to brunch, with a menu that includes standouts like French toast finished with burnt sage butter and candied orange, Belgian pearl sugar waffles with berry compote, and benedicts topped with salmon or crab. Brunch runs Saturdays from 9:30am to 3pm, making it a solid choice for a weekend meal that feels a bit more special without straying from a laid-back downtown setting.
The menu also leans into local sourcing, down to a rotating "staff meal" built around whatever's freshest that week, which gives regulars a reason to keep coming back to see what's new.
The menu also leans into local sourcing, down to a rotating "staff meal" built around whatever's freshest that week, which gives regulars a reason to keep coming back to see what's new.
What to Expect at Boca
- Chef-driven dishes like sage butter French toast and salmon benedict.
- Brunch served Saturdays from 9:30am to 3pm.
- A menu built around local, seasonal ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sarasota Brunch
Do these spots tend to get busy on weekends?
Popular brunch spots in Sarasota can fill up on weekend mornings, so arriving a bit earlier or checking if reservations are available is generally a good idea.
Are there options for dietary restrictions at these spots?
Yes. Waffle Monkey offers gluten-free waffles, and several of these restaurants offer flexible menus that can accommodate different dietary needs.
Is downtown Sarasota walkable enough to visit more than one spot in a day?
It can be. Waffle Monkey's location on Gallery Row in particular makes it easy to pair a meal with a walk through the surrounding galleries and shops downtown.
Ready to Explore More of What Sarasota Has to Offer?
Good food has a way of making a place feel like home, and Sarasota has plenty of it to discover. These four spots are a great starting point for a weekend well spent.
If you're thinking about making Sarasota home and want a guide who knows the area inside and out, we'd love to help. Reach out to Sheldon, Gettel & Dahl to start the conversation.
If you're thinking about making Sarasota home and want a guide who knows the area inside and out, we'd love to help. Reach out to Sheldon, Gettel & Dahl to start the conversation.
