THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Fred’s

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Fred’s Restaurant Review:

A few of Sarasota’s most gastronomically forward-thinking and exciting restaurants are clustered in Sarasota’s Southside Village. Centered on South Osprey Avenue between Hyde Park and Hillview streets, about 15 blocks south of downtown, Fred’s is part of a culinary empire that includes the longtime beloved Morton’s Gourmet Market, in which there’s a smaller shop called J.D. Ford Fine Wines. Corporate chef Mario Martinez is doing some exciting work (i.e., spins on comfort foods like avocado and lump crab napoleons with tropical mango-pineapple salsa or pan-seared shrimp and scallops with Fred’s sugar cure paired with a velvety artichoke-tomato Newberg sauce); service is professional; the dining room has a timeless elegance amped up with beautiful people and a fair amount of buzz; and the wine list is an embarrassment of riches. A few outdoor tables are at a premium on a lovely day.