Even if you have visited Sarasota just once, you know that its dining scene is one of its best assets. There are tons of great restaurants here, casual and fancy, large and small.

But what you might not realize is that Sarasota is a foodie's Mecca - a dining destination that rivals other, much larger, cities. Turns out Sarasota has Florida's highest concentration of

Michael's on East

restaurants rated by Zagat Survey - the world's leading source of consumer survey-based restaurant information.

What's more, because of Sarasota's tropical climate and coastal location, these chefs have superb local resources - like fresh seafood and locally grown produce - right at their fingertips.

So, in an effort to raise awareness of Sarasota as a culinary town, the Sarasota Convention and Visitor's Bureau will hold its third annual Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week, May 27 - June 8, 2008. It has drawn the participation of more than 30 area restaurants, ranging from elegant (the Vernona Restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota) to casual (Dry Dock Waterfront Grill on Longboat Key), are scheduled to participate. Many belong to the Sarasota-Manatee Originals, a group of independently owned and operated area restaurants that promise freshly prepared meals using local ingredients.

The event will work like this: each day, the participating restaurants will offer "prix fixe" lunches and dinners. Typically, meals will consist of an appetizer, salad or soup, an entrée and a dessert. The portions might be a bit smaller than what's usually served, so that patrons can taste and enjoy all three courses. Also, special events such as cooking and drink-making classes, cooking demonstrations and wine tastings, will be held throughout

Chef Paul Mattison

the week.

For the participating restaurants, Restaurant Week is a chance to woo new customers, and to please the regulars, by offering inventive new dishes. According to Michael Klauber, owner of Michael's On East, a restaurant known for cutting-edge Continental cuisine, the event is the perfect opportunity for chefs to try out new ideas. Klauber's lunch and dinner menus for that week will include both new items and signature dishes - "a mix of new items and old favorites," he said.

"I'm very proud of the quality of restaurants in this town," Klauber said. "Here, there are more highly rated restaurants in a 20-mile radius than in any other place in Florida."

As for patrons, Restaurant Week will provide the perfect excuse to dine out - either at a favorite restaurant, or at a brand new place you've wanted to try. For one, chefs will be at their most creative, offering inventive menus and all-around delicious food. Plus, prices are just $15 and $25 per person, for lunch and dinner respectively (not including drinks or tip). For most of the participating restaurants, meals at that price are quite a bargain.

"It's a steal," said Executive Chef Paul Mattison, who owns four area restaurants, as well as a catering company and culinary outfitters. Mattison's City Grille and Mattison's Riverside will both participate in this year's Savor Sarasota.

Last year, Darwin Santa Maria, chef and owner of Sarasota's Selva Grill, served a dinner menu that included a seafood or meat entrée, a dessert of homemade sorbet and ceviche - the signature dish that the upscale Peruvian restaurant is known for. The $25 price is less than what such a meal would usually cost at the restaurant, which is rated one of the top 10 on Florida's west coast, according to the Zagat Survey.

"I think this city is growing, culinary-wise," said Santa Maria, who himself has been named one of the Top 10 Chefs in America, by Bertolli Olive Oil. "There are a lot of talented chefs, and we really love what we do."

If you go:
For a list of restaurants participating in Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week, as well as a calendar of special events, visit www.savorsarasota.com, or call 800-522-9799. Note: Restaurants suggest making reservations for Restaurant Week well in advance.