Browsing on Open Table, I discovered The Rustic Grill which is new to me, but looks wonderful (albeit pricey). Any word on it? I'm looking for before theatre on an Asolo weekend in May.

Hi Neopatrick,
We were there just last month, and did enjoy it. Quite a popular place, with some interesting,continental dishes.Liked the atmosphere, actually, better than the menu!

We enjoyed even more, The Selva Grill. Peruvian chef, with some wonderful seafood dishes, and ceviche to die for!

Enjoy that lovely theatre- we did a couple of Monday nights at the Asolo- I do enjoy that town!

Yes. Have been to the Selva Grill several times. The atmosphere of the Rustic Grill does look interesting, and I'm trying to figure out what that building (the old exchange, I think they say) was most recently.

Been going to the Asolo for about 35 years -- since the theatre was the little one attached to the museum. I love the repertory feature. We'll go on Saturday and see a matinee of Equus, then Shaw's Smash in the evening, and see a matinee of The Underpants on Sunday before returning home to Naples.

Well, had our pre-theatre dine there Saturday night at 6. Wonderful service, but of course it wasn't very busy until at least 7. Great drinks and nice selection of wines by the glass. (Lee had a Malbec which was excellent -- but I ended up drinking most of it) after my two Dewar's dry robroys. We both chose the applewood smoked bacon grilled pork chop served with sauteed green beans (almost carmelized but just barely cooked to crisp tender -- how did they do that?), potatoes au gratin, and a couple of carmelized shallots. Wonderful dish, everything perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. Large portions as well. We didn't want a lot so skipped first courses, but did split an order of their "house made potato chips sprinkled with blue cheese and sliced scallions" to go with our drinks. Those could be addictive! The atmosphere of the place is wonderful -- smallish, great overstated decor (the interior of the old Citrus exchange). The menu is not extensive, nor did it seem terribly creative, but what we had seemed the perfect choice! We sat near the open kitchen and were amazed at the desserts coming out -- but we didn't succumb. We'll certainly go back our next theatre trip to Sarasota.

Thanks for reviewing the Rustic Grill too Patrick. Happy to hear that you and Lee enjoyed it. We'll definitely give it a try when we get back in the fall.

Thanks Neo. We plan to get there once more next year.I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I should also mention that we had lunch at Treviso -- which is in the new visitor information building at the Ringling Museums. It's right next to the Asolo parking lot, so perfect before theatre. We sat outside on the terrace overloooking a pond and had wonderful spinach salads with carmelized walnuts, blue cheese, strawberries, and Lee's had shrimp, while mine had chicken. Really good and pleasant. We were going to go back before Sunday's matinee, but too much free breakfast fairly late at the Springhill Suites, made us opt to just sit at the Treviso bar for a Bloody Mary before the matinee.

That's good to hear. We didn't get the opportunity to get there- though we did get to Ringling once again, and this time did the "cocktails on the terrace" one evening. It did look lovely, and the menu looked appetizing!
Next year!!
But where are the Springville Suites?? I did check out the boutique Hotel down town, off of Ringling, whose name escapes me at the moment,for friends,as well as two upscale Inns, one on West Palm and one on Gulf- all three looked just fine.

Straight out the main entrance to the Ringling complex is University Drive heading east. Just a block or so (opposite the airport) are a series of places. Marriott has a Courtyard, a Residence Inn, and a Springhill Suites (the newest of the three). I see that a Hyatt Place is also under construction there.

I know where you mean, Neo. Think it's University Parkway. We just never hit it from that end!