Family Meal Deals in Venice

With so many restaurants having to switch gears in light of the recent lockdown, many are offering meal deals for families! If you are searching for a list of restaurants offering family meal deals in Venice, then you have come to the right place. Our restaurants need our support more than ever and choosing one of these bundles for dinner is a great way to maintain social distancing while still enjoying a great meal and keeping our restaurants open!

Family Meal Deals in Venice

This list of family meal deals in Venice will be changing as deals are added and in the unfortunate circumstance that a restaurant chooses to close temporarily until this all passes. Bookmark this page or pin it to pinterest so that you can find it easily!

Darrell’s Restaurant

It’s no surprise that Darrell’s is on this list. Darrell himself is known for his generosity in giving back to the community and is on our list of restaurants giving free meals to students. They are offering their “Family Values” menu which includes 3 options ranging from $48-$62 for up to 6 people, along with quart-size side dishes, cornbread and a gallon of either their infamous sweet tea, unsweet tea or lemonade. These deals are only for Pickup or Curbside Carryout but the rest of their menu is available for delivery through DoorDash.

Hashtag Pizza

This food truck has a huge heart for the community, donating pizzas to families in need, hospitals, first responders and more… and that’s just in the last month. They recently debuted the largest pizza in Venice at a whopping 28″, but they can only do 3 of these per day and they must be preordered so make sure to call between 12 pm-3 pm to reserve yours! Their best meal deal is their “Pizza-N-Wings Deal” which include an 18″ 3-topping pizza, 6 pc of garlic knots and 8 Krunch wings with choice of sauce for only $32. They also deliver for FREE for orders over $20 (otherwise it’s $4 for delivery) within 10 miles. That means they will deliver as far north as Oscar Scherer State Park and through Nokomis, out to Border Rd in Venice and even down to River Rd! Call 941-483-0941. They are open Tues-Sat from 4 pm to 8 pm and park on Tamiami Trail in the old Albertson’s parking lot next to Suntrust near the circus bridge.

British Open Pub

Each week, the British Open Pub offers a special family meal of the week and every meal purchased goes towards a fund specifically for the employees who are virtually out of work because of the shutdown. While their full take out menu is available, I would encourage you to strongly consider this special meal to help our beloved community that is struggling to get through this. As of April 3rd, the special is Guinness Braised Kobe Beef with Mashed Potatoes for $15 or get the family size for $45! You can order online at BritishOpenPub.com or by calling 941-492-9227. They are located near the roundabout at Jacaranda and Venice Ave in the Publix plaza.

Rib City Venice

Rib City is offering a wide range of BBQ Packs for families that are served with choice of two sides: BBQ Beans, cole slaw, green beans or Mac & Cheese. Prices ranch from $19.99 all the way to $89.99 and serve up to 8 people. They are currently open from 11 am to 8 pm at their location just south of Jacaranda on Tamiami Trail in the Publix plaza. Call 941-408-7505 to place your takeout or curbside carryout order!

Keep Watching This Post for MORE Bundles to be added! You can also check out our Guide to Takeout, Curbside Carryout and Delivery to see what restaurants are open, who has online ordering and who delivers!

Cheesy Crash Hot Potatoes

If you are tired of plain baked potatoes, you’ll want to give this crispy alternative a try. Crash hot potatoes originated in Australia and were made popular by the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond (who just happens to be one of my daughter Elena and my favorite celebrity chefs.)

Cheesy Crash Hot Potatoes

Ree credits Australian food writer, Jill Dupleix, for developing the basic recipe. You can read about its history here. This adapted version features aged Asiago cheese, which hails from the northeastern part of Italy. Its robust, nutty flavor adds an interesting dimension to the crispy, baked potato base. Rich butter and fresh parsley round out the flavors to create a really fabulous dish your family will love!

How do you make Cheesey Crash Hot Potatoes?

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 25-30 minutes
Serves 4

Ingredients

1 lb. small red potatoes
5 T. unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
4 oz. aged Asiago cheese, freshly grated
3 T. fresh parsley, finely chopped
Salt and black pepper, to taste

Tip: If you do not have a potato masher, you can use the bottom of a heavy coffee mug or soup bowl to flatten the potatoes. (Choose a sturdy item that won’t crack from the pressure of pushing down on the boiled potatoes).

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450°F and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil

Boil a large pot of salted water and add potatoes. Cook for about 15 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender. Drain pot and set potatoes aside to cool.

Once cool enough to handle, place potatoes on prepared baking sheet and mash with a potato masher until flat. Leave room between potatoes so they are not overcrowded.

Top each potato with butter and half the Asiago cheese and fresh parsley. Place in pre-heated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until potatoes are nicely browned.

Remove from oven and top with remaining cheese and fresh parsley. Serve immediately.

Banana Cream Frozen Yogurt

You don’t need a bulky ice cream maker to enjoy delicious frozen treats at home. This homemade frozen yogurt consists of just a few ingredients and doesn’t require any churning or complicated equipment.

Banana Cream Frozen Yogurt

The secret to success with this recipe is finding the right balance between the tangy Greek yogurt and more mild cream cheese. If you use regular yogurt instead, you may want to use a little more because it is less creamy than Greek varieties.

Prep time: 15 minutes + freezing time
Cooking time: n/a
Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 large bananas
½ c. plain Greek yogurt, full fat
6-oz. cream cheese, cut into chunks
¾ T. real vanilla extract
¼ c. honey, preferably local

Optional Toppings:

Fresh banana slices
Shredded coconut
Chocolate sauce
Crushed graham crackers
Crushed nuts

Tip: Regular vanilla extract will affect the color of this dish. To prevent this, choose a clear vanilla extract instead. However, be sure to read labels carefully because most clear extracts are imitation.

Directions:

Peel and cut bananas into thin slices. Place banana slices in a plastic freezer-safe bag and place in the freezer until frozen.

Add yogurt, cream cheese, vanilla extract, and frozen banana slices to powerful blender or food processor and blend until completely smooth. (If necessary, add 2-3 tablespoons of water to the blender to loosen the mixture).

While blending, drizzle in honey until thoroughly combined with other ingredients. Once blended, taste mixture and add more honey, if desired.

Transfer contents of blender to a freezer safe dish and cover tightly. Place in freezer for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight. To serve, remove from freezer and let sit on counter for 5-10 minutes to soften. Scoop into individual chilled serving dishes and garnish with slices of fresh banana or other favorite toppings.

Check out my other dessert, Broiled Angel Food Cake!

Classic Caprese Salad

It’s hard to beat the classic flavor combination of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. However, this version adds another dimension by adding a rich and syrupy balsamic glaze instead of straight vinegar to top it off. This, combined with a really good quality extra virgin olive oil, is all you need to make this classic shine!

Caprese Salad with Balsamic Glaze

Prep time: 5 min.
Cook time: 10 min.
Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 large ripe tomatoes
12 oz. fresh mozzarella, large ball
1 large bunch fresh basil, washed and dried
3 T. really good extra virgin olive oil.
1 cup of balsamic vinegar
sea salt and fresh-cracked black pepper, to taste

Directions:

Thoroughly wash and pat tomatoes and fresh basil dry. Slice tomatoes, working from top to bottom, into evenly sized slices approximately ¼” thick, and set aside. Discard the bottom and top slices. Cut fresh mozzarella into ¼” thick slices, as well.

On each plate, start with a tomato slice, followed by mozzarella and a large, fresh basil leaf. Repeat this pattern until you’ve added 1 tomato and approximately 3 oz. of mozzarella to each plate, finishing each arrangement with a tomato slice. Drizzle with high-quality extra virgin olive oil.

To make the balsamic glaze, heat 1 cup of good balsamic vinegar over medium-high heat until it begins to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the liquid is reduced to about 1/3 of its original volume, stirring continually. When the liquid becomes thick and syrupy, it is ready to use.

Let glaze cool slightly before drizzling over the fresh tomato, mozzarella and basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste and garnish with additional sprigs of fresh basil, if desired.

Broiled Angel Food Cake

Once you’ve tried broiled angel food cake, there is a good chance you’ll never want it any other way. With a crisp, golden-brown crust reminiscent of toasted marshmallows and that tender melt-in-your-mouth interior you’ve come to expect from angel food cake, this is sure to become one of your favorite go-to dessert recipes for fast and delicious results.

Broiled Angel Food Cake Recipe

This recipe can be made with your favorite homemade angel food cake recipe or with the store-bought variety. However, if you buy a pre-made cake, look for one that is not packaged inside a disposable baking pan. The exterior of cakes sold like this tend to be very sticky, which makes them more difficult to slice. Look for one that is packaged with just plastic wrap around it for protection, instead. This would make a sweet dessert or breakfast.

Ingredients:

1 pint Heavy Whipped Cream
1-2 tbsp Real Maple Syrup
1 Angel Food Cake, homemade or purchased
5 tbsp Unsalted Butter, melted
1 pint fresh Strawberries, washed, hulled and cut into chunks or slices
½ pint fresh Blueberries, washed

Directions:

In a large glass bowl, blend 1 pint of heavy whipping cream with a hand or immersion blender until it doubles in size and changes texture. Then, drizzle maple syrup into the bowl and continue blending until the mixture is light and fluffy. Set aside.

Place your oven’s top rack on the highest setting and turn the broiler on high.

Due to its round shape, angel food cake is normally cut into a series of wedges. However, the pieces will not brown evenly under the broiler if cut like this. Instead, carefully slice the angel food cake with a sharp knife into equally thick sections by making a series of parallel 2” wide cuts, starting on one side of the cake and working toward the opposite side. Trim the pieces so they are all approximately the same size. The result should be uniformly sized pieces that will brown evenly.

Place the angel food cake slices on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and brush the top with melted butter. Turn over each piece and repeat on the other side.

Place baking sheet under the broiler until a golden-brown crust starts to form. (You may need to rotate the baking sheet to get uniform results). Keep a close eye on the cake during this time because it can burn very quickly. Once toasted, remove baking sheet from oven and turn over each piece of angel food cake. Place back under the broiler and toast the remaining side until golden brown.

To serve, arrange toasted slices on individual serving plates and top with maple whipped cream and fresh berries.

Support Local Restaurants with Gift Card Purchases

When practicing social distancing, it is difficult to support restaurants by dining out like we normally would. Restaurants that rely on us, especially during this time of year when they are supposed to be at their busiest, are facing difficult choices about how to move forward. These are the same restaurants that donate to our local charities, sponsor our kids’ sports teams, and provide relief when our community is struggling.

Support Local Restaurants with Gift Card Purchases

Keep in mind that you can still support restaurants by ordering takeout, curbside carryout or delivery. However, if you are nervous about being out in public, most restaurants offer gift cards that you can purchase now and use at a later date. Below you will find a list of restaurants in Venice that offer gift cards, with links to either contact them directly to order or to place an online order. Many of these restaurants are also offering deals when you purchase gift cards as an added bonus!

*Note: This list will be updated as frequently as possible with new information.

Deals being offered by local restaurants:

Italiano’s – Buy a 4 pack of $25 gift cards ($100 value) for only $75. Gift cards can be used in May, June, July and August. A portion of each sale goes directly to the staff!
Cassariano – buy a $100 gift card and receive a bonus $25: https://cassarianos.instagift.com
Chaz 51 Bistro – 20% off of all gift card sales $25.00 – $500.00

Other Restaurants with Gift Cards For Sale:

Ice Cream and Desserts:

Restaurants:

Choose your favorite restaurants and purchase gift cards to support them!

When you read, share, comment and like my blog posts, you are also supporting my family and the efforts I make to bring you all this information. I appreciate it so much!! Here are some of my recent blog posts to check out:

Takeout and Curbside Carryout in Venice

This post will be continuously updated as the list expands and situations change. Please bookmark it for future reference!

With social distancing in place and many in our area struggling with self-quarantines, our restaurants are struggling to stay afloat. Many of these restaurants are now offering expanded Takeout and Curbside Carryout in Venice. Let’s keep our community safe, healthy and strong by continuing to support our restaurants so they can stay open and still feel a sense of security by minimizing the risk of exposure to illness.

Takeout and Curbside Carryout in Venice

There are a number of restaurants that are adding Curbside Carryout. Many major chain restaurants are already offering this:

Outback
Carrabbas
Bob Evans
Bonefish Grill
Applebees
Chilis

List of Small Restaurants Offering Curbside Carryout:

Please note that this may not be a complete list, but I am updating it as quickly as I can as new information becomes available. MOST restaurants in our area are offering pickup, these are just the restaurants offering curbside carryout so you can maintain social distancing.

* = Online Ordering Available
Italics = Delivery Available Directly Through Restaurant

Click Here for the complete list of restaurants that are still open for takeout

Metro Diner

Chain restaurant, Metro Diner is also offering Curbside Carryout! From their Facebook page:
“Introducing Metro-curbside Service! In light of recent events, we want to offer our wonderful, beloved guests a way to feel safe and comfortable. Hungry? Call Metro Diner and tell us what you desire! Just like a standard TO-GO, we will take your name, and order…except now…you tell us what kind of car you drive! We make your food, you pull up, a manager brings it out to you! Its that simple! Might I add, if you take advantage of this service, you’ll receive a Dine-in only 5$ card! That way, when all this blows over, we can treat you to another wonderful meal!”

Local Food Trucks

In many cases, Food Trucks can be the ideal place to get your meals during this time because there are very few employees, open-air kitchens and they are constantly sanitizing just like a regular restaurant. Check out these local food trucks in Venice with regular schedules:

Hashtag Pizza
- Parked in the old Albertson’s parking lot near the Circus Bridge. Tuesday through Saturday4 pm – 8 pm. Takeout and Delivery available!
Sausage Express LLC
- Currently parking in South Venice at the “Look at It Now” Thrift Store, 1936 S. Tamaimi Trail Venice, 34293. Schedule subject to change, see their Facebook page for details. Takeout and Limited Delivery available.
The Maine Menu
- 11:00-3:00 at Always On Occasion Florist, 1836 S Tamiami Trail, Venice FL 34293. You can call 941-303-9300 for questions or to place your order in advance.

Looking For Food Delivery in Venice?

Yes, I am using referral links in this post. This does not cost you anything but it helps to support me and my family and I truly appreciate it!

If you are searching for Food Delivery in Venice, there are a number of apps that will allow you to order from your phone from a wide variety of restaurants and deliver it right to your door.

Door Dash

If you order from Door Dash, there’s a decent chance it might even be ME bring your delivery! Sign up using my link and receive $5 off your first 3 orders (new customers only)

UberEats

Get $7 off your first Uber Eats order!
Use my code at checkout: eats-alyssar6998ue http://ubr.to/EatsGiveGet

Postmates

The great thing about Postmates is that it’s not just restaurants, you can get delivery from convenience stores like 7-Eleven as well! I also deliver for Postmates, so you could be seeing me through this app as well! Want $100 in delivery fee credit? Sign up with code D2TUR or just tap this link! (Terms apply.) https://postmat.es/5K6i89CyU4

Fresh Produce Delivery in Venice

With the farmer’s markets closed and the grocery stores overwhelmed, SWFL Produce is still bringing fresh fruits, veggies, eggs and more from LOCAL FARMS to Venice on Sunday afternoons.

The pick-up location is in the old Albertson’s parking lot across from First Watch on Sunday between 2-3 PM. In the interest of social distancing, if you would like to get produce but do not want to be in public,

I AM DELIVERING all over Venice for FREE to anyone who cannot get out by themself because of no transportation, childcare or health reasons. Email me and tell me what you need and I’ll do my best to help you!
Contact me at Alyssa@Venicefoodies.com

If you have any questions about this, please just ask or you can join Venice Foodies & SWFL Produce Co-Op.

You can place your order online at SWFLProduce.com or on the event in the group posted above.

Swfl Produce Co Op weekly share has been posted! Click Here To See It!
YOU MUST PREORDER BY 12:00 ON THURSDAYS

IF YOU RECEIVE EBT:
SWFL Produce participates in the Florida Grant Double Bucks. This grant is to help local farmers, and help people that receive EBT eat healthier. Spend $40 with them, they will only charge your card $20!!!

Check out this Guide to Food Assistance for Families in Need!

Food Assistance in Venice for Students and Their Families

This post will be continuously updated as the days progress and new information becomes available.

With school closing until at least March 30, leaving many students who rely on receiving breakfast and lunch at school to go without. Parents are scrambling to find resources and I’m determined to find all the resources I can to help. Through every disaster that has struck our community, we have seen our local businesses and restaurants step up to give back. We truly are #VeniceStrong and I am so proud to see everyone coming together again because of the Corona Virus aka Covid-19.

Where Can I Go For Food Assistance in Venice?

With all of the uncertainty going on in our world because of this virus, there are many families suffering due to closures of businesses, unpaid sick leave and other circumstances beyond their control. If you or someone you know are in need of food assistance in Venice, the first place to start would be with All Faith’s Food Bank.

List of Local Food Pantries in Venice

All Faith’s Food Bank describes themselves as “All Faiths Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Their mission is to feed America’s hungry through a nationwide network of more than 200 member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger. Through Feeding America, All Faiths has been able to continually strengthen and broaden our network with our sister food banks, agency partners, and corporate partnerships; operate at the highest standards possible; evaluate our work and impact more thoroughly; and create and implement best practices across all aspects of our organization.”

See The Full Schedule of Food Pantries and Locations by clicking here to download the PDF.Download

For more information about food pantries and food assistance in Venice, check out my resources page.

Hot Meals for Students

In addition to these resources, local restaurants have also stepped up and pledged to keep children fed during this time.

Hashtag Pizza

Hashtag Pizza is open on Tuesday through Saturdays from 4-8 pm. Thanks to the generosity of the Venice Community, they have received sponsorships to help local families in need of a hot meal. Just show your EBT card or medicaid card to receive a FREE 18″ pizza.

In addition, they will be offering Free Slices to Students
(20 per day) First Come, First Serve.

Instructions for storing and reheating our pizza:

Wrap individual pizza slices in foil, tightly, to store in fridge.
Reheat by putting foil-wrapped slices in oven on broil for 2-3 minutes.

Venice Ale House

Any child needing a meal can come in to receive a Kids Burger with fries starting on 3/16. There will be 20 free meals available each day for children.
Call 941-303-6906 to reserve your spot.

Shark Bites Deli

Shark Bites Deli will be providing a brown bag lunch for any child who needs it starting 3/16. This will include a ham or turkey sandwich, a bag of chips or goldfish and a juice box with a surprise inside! Just come on in and ask for the “Brown Bag Special”.

Burgundy Square Cafe

Even after the unexpected, tragic loss of Chuck Cyr, Burgundy Square keeps his legacy of giving back to the community going strong.

**UPDATE**
Starting 3/16, 15 children per day can get a kids meal for free at Burgundy Square Cafe. Call 941-303-9300 to reserve yours.

Big Mike’s Pizza

Families struggling can order whole pizzas for their families at school pricing pizza where it’s $5 for a 14”, $7 for a 16”, and $8 for an 18″. In addition to this generous offer, children can come in for a free slice of pizza at lunchtime starting 3/16.

Flapjacks Cafe

Flapjacks Cafe will be offering breakfast or lunch to school-aged children that are eligible for free/reduced lunch through the school system. Call 941-480-1020 and let them know you would like the school meal breakfast or lunch.

Mad Dog Hot Dogs

Mad Dogs Hot Dogs

Hours: Closed. Open tomorrow at 11 am (11:00 am – 7:00 pm)
Website: maddogshotdogs.com
Address: 2059 Tamiami Trl S, Venice, FL 34293
Phone: (941) 493-3086

They are offering any child a free hot dog, chips, and water. Children must be present when ordering.

Sausage Express LLC

Sausage Express LLC who will be giving out 10 free hot dogs with chips a day at their food truck located in front of Lowes on US 41. Please call ahead and make reservations for pick up at (941) 301-1900.

Italiano’s

Italiano’s will be offering a free small cheese pizza to 5 families per day. Call to reserve one 941-496-9090.

Darrell’s Restaurant

Darrell’s will be giving away 10 free kids meals per day. Please call 941-485-9900 to reserve one.

What other resources are available during this time?

Starting on Monday, March 23rd, Sarasota County Schools will be providing meals for children 18 and under at specific locations on Monday-Friday while schools are closed. This will be a drive-thru pickup service and you MUST have your child(ren) in the car with you for staff to verify. You will receive lunch and breakfast for the next morning. Pickups are from 9 AM to 1 PM.

Booker High School – 3201 North Orange Ave
Fruitville Elementary School – 601 Honore Ave
Garden Elementary School – 700 Center Rd, Venice
North Port High School – 6400 West Price Blvd, North Port
Atwater Elementary School – 4701 Huntsville Ave, North Port

If your child has food allergies, please email kristen.pulfer@sarasotacountyschools.net with allergy concerns, school location for pickup and approximate time of pick up.

Searching for Takeout, Curbside Carryout or Delivery? Check out this post!

Do you have more information to share? Comment below or send an email to alyssa@venicefoodies.com

A Venice Foodies Event at Cucina Gloria

One of the best parts about running this blog is being able to put together events for new restaurants in our area. In the location formerly known as Joseph’s Diner and the previous owners from the much loved Caffe Panini on Venice Island, Cucina Gloria in Nokomis, FL is a cozy new Italian restaurant serving up Italian comfort foods and a more traditional Italian pizza. It was so wonderful to coordinate this event for the Foodies to enjoy! If you’re looking for pizza in Nokomis, FL, this is definitely a spot to try.

Our Foodies Event at Cucina Gloria

Warm Bread, Margherita Pizza and Pepperoni Pizza at the Venice Foodies Event at Cucina Gloria in Nokomis, FL

This event at Cucina Gloria took place at the end of February when the tourist season is nearing its peak. However, you would never know that by the smiling faces of the entire staff. We were greeted with warm hellos into a dining room that embodied the comfort of an Italian grandmother’s house. Beautiful wooden chairs with plush seats make sitting around the table with your family comfortable and relaxing.

Making New Friends at our Foodies Event

While Cucina Gloria has an incredible variety of Italian dishes on the menu, we decided to focus on their pizza menu for this event. For our group members, they received 10% off of their pizzas! (If you haven’t joined our group yet, head over to Facebook and join the Venice Foodies Community) It was amazing to see everyone in person instead of just on a computer screen. There were people who had never been to an event and were first time guests at Cucina Gloria there, which is always exciting!

Attendees at our Venice Foodies Event at Cucina Gloria in Nokomis FL

Looking for Pizza in Nokomis?

When Caffe Panini was still on the island, I loved their various paninis, but I was also a fan of theirs because everything from the bread and mozzarella to the sweet balsamic dressing is made fresh in-house daily. This is not your average NY style pizza. This is the classy, more traditional Italian version of pizza! The crust has a nice crisp on the outside while being soft and pillowy as you chew. The sauce doesn’t come as close to the edge and the fresh mozzarella that is made in house just can’t be beat. The menu for this evening featured pizzas like my favorite, the “Margarita” consisting of simple tomato, mozzarella and fresh basil leaves.

This evening, I had my daughter, Elena and her best friend Calli with us, who both preferred pepperoni. Even though it wasn’t on our special menu, it is available as a topping!

Pizzas on my list to try:

Rustica – Tomato sauce, mozzarella, Italian sausage and mushroom
Prosciutto – Tomato sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto, arugula, cherry tomatoes & shaved Parmigiano
Quattro Formaggi – Provolone, Parmigiano, mozzarella & gorganzola cheese
Siciliana – Tomato sauce, mozzarella, grilled eggplant & fresh basil

Other Notable Dishes:

As a Jersey girl myself, the real star is the homemade bread! If you are from the NY/NJ area, I’m sure you’ll understand when I say it’s so hard to find a loaf of good bread in Florida! Well, look no further. The homemade bread coming out of Cucina Gloria is just what I’ve been missing. When the basket hits your table, it’s still piping hot and worth burning your fingertips to get that first bite!

A basket of fresh, hot bread made at Cucina Gloria in Nokomis FL

Finally… Tiramisu!

Elena’s birthday is February 13th, so this event coordinated very well with celebrating! We received a beautifully presented Tiramisu that tasted even better than it looked! Each layer clearly defined, rich in coffee flavor without being overwhelming and a nice whipped cream on top… It was the perfect ending to our perfect evening.

Where can I find live music in Nokomis?

As luck would have it, just as we were finishing up, the live music started. To my delight, it was locally popular Joey O! I often enjoy hearing him play at the Venice Farmer’s Market. I’m not much of a videographer, but I did record a little snippet for you to hear that I posted below! Cucina Gloria has live entertainment Thursday through Sunday and karaoke on Mondays in their beer and wine lounge. They also offer a happy hour daily. Be sure to follow their Facebook page for specials and updates!

Where is Cucina Gloria?

Cucina Gloria is located at 625 N Tamiami Trail suite D, Nokomis, FL 34275. They offer dine-in, take-out and delivery in Nokomis, FL! You can call (941) 480-0095 for more information or to place your order!

We love doing these events!

We have had events at Blu Island Bistro, Tikka Indian Cuisine, Off The Wagon and many others. If you own a restaurant and would like to set up an event, click here!

Norma Jeans Steak House Grill Room – Venice, FL

We had a phenomenal experience tonight at the Norma Jeans Steak House Grill Room! I never expected to find something so upscale in a tiny strip mall. The interior is warm and welcoming, with the soft sounds of Sinatra in the background. Who knew something like this would be hidden behind a sports bar!

Our Night at Norma Jean’s Steak House Grill Room

Let me start by saying that our server, Alberto, was superb. Not only was he extremely knowledgeable about the menu, he recommended a few dishes and let us know about slight changes that may have affected our selections. He was friendly and provided some of the best service we’ve had in Venice.

Fresh Bread and Lobster Bisque

Alberto brought over a wooden cutting board with a fresh, hot loaf of bread served with an herb butter. The bread had a great crust and the butter had a delightful freshness from the herbs. It made a nice pairing for our first course, which was a crock of the lobster bisque. We were in awe of the considerably large chunks of lobster that contributed beautifully to the rich flavor in every bite.

For our entrees, I had the 8 oz sirloin, cooked medium-well, with asparagus and creamed spinach. Juicy and seasoned well, the steak was cooked just to my liking with perfect grill marks. The creamed spinach was made with fresh spinach, cooked down in a flavorful cream sauce that I would happily order again. As you may have guessed, I loved every part of my meal.

Jason ordered the 14 oz boneless ribeye steak, ordered medium, and cooked just as he likes it, with the same great flavor and perfect grill marks. He agrees with my assessment of the creamed spinach.

His other side was originally macaroni and cheese, however, we both found it to have a strange sour note which Alberto said may have been the result of a new recipe from the new chef.

He graciously traded it for a sweet potato with brown sugar and butter, which hubby liked much better.

Little princess went for chicken tenders and rice… and as any child would, she loved it.

As a mother, I have to make the point to say that I really appreciate how kid friendly they are! It was so nice to feel like I could have a really nice, quality dinner with my husband and know that there was something on the menu that our little girl would enjoy too!

As a treat, he sent us home with some delicious lemon Italian cream cake… which we all took a bite of when we returned home. Light, fluffy, with a sweet cream filling and subtle lemon flavor that (almost) overwhelmed my willpower against sweets. (Thank goodness for husbands that will take care of the temptations by finishing off the treats!)

All in all, we will definitely be adding this to our list of places to return to.
We highly recommend you all give it a try before season starts!