Thai Wasabi Expands to West Bradenton

With two popular restaurants established in east Bradenton and south Sarasota, the popular family-owned business opened the doors to its third location in west Bradenton this week.

Fans of Thai cuisine living in west Bradenton are in luck, as the popular locally owned restaurant chain, Thai Wasabi, opened the doors to its third location last week in the Sweetbay Supermarket plaza off of Manatee Avenue at 59th Street West. Husband and wife team and co-owners, Tony and Natalie Teav, opened the first Thai Wasabi location in Bennett Plaza off of State Road 64 in 2008, where the combination Thai and sushi menu quickly established the restaurant as a popular east Bradenton eatery — so popular, in fact, that just two years later they were able to open a second location in south Sarasota. “My wife’s family had a Thai and sushi restaurant in Madeira Beach that was really popular, and we figured if the formula works there, why…

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Carolyn and Cricket

10:51 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012

As a frequent customer of the previous Thai Cafe I was very upset when they closed . But I have eaten at the Thia Wasabi twice and the food is great. It is my new favorite restuarant.   more ›

Bradenton Business Spotlight

Retro City Serves Up Diner Classics With 1950's Flair

Downtown Bradenton restaurant, Retro City, features a fun and funky 50's theme and diner classics.

It may be one of the newer restaurants to hit the downtown Bradenton scene, but Retro City is all about nostalgia. The 1950’s-themed diner and deli is precisely the kind of place where, in a bygone era, one might expect to run into leather jacket-clad greasers and girls in poodle skirts splitting two-straw milkshakes on their way to the sock hop or a drive-in movie. The restaurant décor includes old motorcycles and guitars, mounted antique car parts and photographs and images of retro celebrities and cultural icons such as James Dean, Elvis and Betty Boop. The menu features a wide array of classic diner fare with a few fun twists. Located in the Suntrust building at 1001 3rd Avenue West, the restaurant opened its doors to serve breakfast …

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Taste, Technology Unite At Carmel Cafe

Modern Mediterranean restaurant Carmel Cafe and Wine Bar combines modern food and modern ordering at new University Park location.

Inside a new restaurant in University Park, modern dining takes on a new meaning thanks to table side technology. A new Carmel Cafe & Wine Bar opened for dinner Monday at 8433 Cooper Creek Blvd., marking the third location for the restaurant group — all located on the Gulf Coast — where your modern Mediterranean dishes are ordered by iPad. Carmel didn't invent the concept of touch-screen ordering, but should be commended for having this available in a restaurant setting. Pennsylvania-based Sheetz gas stations revolutionized ordering food at gas stations through its touch-screens in 1995 becoming the first in the convenience store industry to do so. Why it took so long for table-service restaurants to catch on is that you need something …

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Bradenton Business Spotlight

Theresa's Restaurant: 'Everyone Is Family'

The downtown restaurant is a respite from the hustle and bustle of the everyday work world. It also is a favorite spot for breakfast and lunch for Bradenton regulars.

Theresa’s is a local favorite for breakfast and lunch, where owner-manager Jodi Boucher knows many regulars by name. A canopy of winding vines provides a natural buffer to the downtown traffic on Tamiami Trail, making the restaurant comfortable and convenient. Theresa’s is bright and roomy but not pretentious, which is how residents like it. Customers are not rushed and can take their time over breakfast or lunch, whether they read the newspaper or sit alone and chat with staff as they hustle by with traditional diner food. “Everything is homemade. We make our own homemade soups,” says owner Jodi Boucher. "We win awards for our food." Theresa’s has been around for 30 years, though ownership changed from the namesake. But the hands-on …

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Chef of the Week

Chef of the Week: Mark Baker, Ocean Harvest Market & Grill

Get to know the people behind some of Bradenton’s best eateries.

Name: Mark Baker Title: Executive chef/partner Restaurant: Ocean Harvest Market & Grill, 5718 Manatee Ave. W. Contact info: 941-795-3746, www.oceanharvest.tv Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; closed Sunday Specialty: Fresh fish, Canadian oysters, squid fries, barbecue How long have you been cooking? 30 years. My mother passed away when I was eight and my father had to work long hours, so I took over the cooking duties at home. I guess that's why I went into restaurant work. Do you cook at home? Occasionally. I like cooking on the grill, but I’m so tired after cooking all day here that my son and I usually go out to eat. What’s your favorite comfort food? Growing up as half Japanese we would have a lot of Japanese food, such as ocha-…

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Chef of the Week

Chef of the Week: Luke King, Ezra Café

Get to know the people behind some of Bradenton's best eateries.

Name: Luke King. Title: Chef/manager. Restaurant: Ezra Café, 5629 Manatee Ave. W. Contact Info: 941-792-0990, www.ezrafinefoods.com Hours: Monday-Friday, lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., dinner: 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; closed Sunday. Specialty: We have a really diverse menu with an Asian fusion flair. Also, Donna’s (owner Donna Eason) triple chocolate chip cookies are a customer favorite. Every customer gets a triple chocolate chip cookie. How long have you been cooking? I started working in restaurants when I was 15 years old and started cooking professionally for about 14 years. I attended culinary school in Indiana and was lucky enough to have worked with some really great chefs. Do you cook at home? Absolutely. I love …

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Chef of the Week

Chef of the Week: John Hunter, Robin’s Downtown Café

Get to know the people behind some of Bradenton's best eateries.

Name: John Hunter. Title: Chef. Restaurant: Robin’s Downtown Cafe, 428 Old Main St. Contact Info: 941-747-8899, Robin's Downtown Cafe on Facebook Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.-noon Specialty: Home made quiche and soups. How long have you been cooking? 25 years. Do you cook at home? Yes, I love cooking at home, and my family likes my cooking. What is your favorite comfort food? Meat loaf, with mashed potatoes, gravy —the whole nine yards. Other than your restaurant, where else do you like to eat in Bradenton? The Outback (Steakhouse). A message from Chef John: I’ve been here for nine years and it’s fun. You never know what to expect the customers will order. One time I had an order for omelet with turkey, …

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Chef of the Week

Chef Of The Week: Jodi Boucher, Theresa’s

Get to know the people behind some of Bradenton's best eateries.

Name: Jodi Boucher. Title: Owner/chef. Restaurant: Theresa’s, 608 14th St. W. Contact Info: 941-747-7066 Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Specialty Homemade soups, sandwiches, and hot breakfasts and lunches. Cubans are a customer favorite. How long have you been cooking? 25 years. Do you cook at home? Of course, I’m a woman. I have to. What is your favorite comfort food? Baked potato, because I’m an Irish girl and we love our baked potato. Other than your restaurant, where else do you like to eat in Bradenton? Ortygia. I like small, family owned businesses and Guy (Cannata) has a great place. A message from Chef Jodi: It’s never dull running a …

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Chef of the Week

Chef Of The Week: Greg Campbell, Mattison’s Riverside

Get to know the people behind some of Bradenton's best eateries.

Name: Greg Campbell. Title: Executive chef/general manager. Restaurant: Mattison’s Riverside, 1200 First Ave. W. Contact Info: 941-748-8087, www.mattisons.com Hours: Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Specialty: Seafood, steaks, sushi and a very diverse menu. How long have you been cooking? 25-30 years, I started when I was around 10 years old. Do you cook at home? Yes. I cook all the meals for my family. What is your favorite comfort food? Oyster stew. Growing up, my grandmother made it for me. Other than your restaurant, where else do you like to eat in Bradenton? We don’t go out much, but I would recommend SoMa Diner. A message from Chef Greg: I love the restaurant …

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Chef of the Week

Chef Of The Week: Greta Shepherd, Lucky Dog's

Get to know the people behind some of Bradenton's best eateries.

Name: Greta Shepherd. Title: Chef and co-owner with Kathy Jones and Sheri Clinard. Restaurant: Lucky Dogs, 1207 Third Ave. W. Contact Info: 941-896-8839, www.bradentonluckydogs.com Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Specialty: Lucky Dog (mustard, onion and their own special meat sauce) and Cuban sandwiches. How long have you been cooking? About 14 years. Do you cook at home? No, I usually just eat out. What is your favorite comfort food? Macaroni and cheese — maybe because my grandmother made it and it reminds me of her. Other than your restaurant, where else do you like to eat in Bradenton? The Riverside Café in Palmetto and Bonefish Grill. A message from Chef Greta: I like the relationship we’ve developed with…

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