Florence and the Spice Boys are at it again, this time at University Town Center. The restaurant, with its Middle Eastern-influenced menu, is the brainchild of husband-and-wife duo Florence and Steven Schmitt and their business partner, Carl Kober. The UTC location officially opened to the public this Monday, April 28.
Florence and those boys started out with a wildly successful food truck before opening their first location in The Landings in 2022. The new location mirrors the eclectic décor of the original, leaning heavily into lush green tones with pink accents reminiscent of Palm Springs. Florence describes the design aesthetic as “camp.” “If it doesn’t look like Alice in Wonderland, we’re not interested,” she says with a laugh.
The UTC spot features ample indoor and outdoor seating for nearly 160 guests and double the bar seating of its sister restaurant. Open for lunch and dinner, Florence says the kitchen will offer a limited menu from 3-5 p.m. as the team transitions into dinner service. Then, starting at 5 p.m., the restaurant will run a one-hour happy hour where guests can snag a $0.99 gin or vodka martini. That’s right—$0.99. for a simple, classic gin martini, served up or on the rocks.
Food-wise, Florence and the Spice Boys fans can expect to find familiar menu offerings, like creamy hummus, chicken shawarma, Jerusalem beef pita and savory roasted Brussels sprouts. If you’re looking to sample a bit of everything, opt for the “mixed grill for two” that includes salad, pita, tangy sauces, sides and kebabs galore for $65.'
When Florence and the Spice Boys opened in The Landings back in 2022, we wrote it was serving up some of the best food in Sarasota at the time. It still is. There’s a reason the team amassed a dedicated local following that has now allowed them to build out two brick-and-mortar spaces. Dining at UTC just got a whole lot more delicious.
Florence and the Spice Boys opens daily at 11 a.m. on at 257 N. Cattlemen Road, Unit 90, Sarasota. For more information, click here.
