S.W AND RICH HERMANSEN
Staff Writers
wine@lbknews.com
Last week’s Wine Times column surveyed the St. Armand’s – Lido Key food and beverage sector beginning on City Island and moving south on Boulevard of the
Presidents along the west side of the circle to Lido Beach and back north toward the Circle.
Continuing the survey past Kilwin’s and River Street Sweets on John Ringling approaching the Circle, we see Rico’s Pizzeria and Le Macaron open to walk in customers. Many of the stores on the south side of the Circle have closed. Ben & Jerry’s has opened and serves ice cream until 10PM. Big Olaf’s Creamery (serving Yoder’s Ice Cream) on west Washington Street stays open to 10PM as well. Two locations of Ephesus Mediterranean Delights have reopened on the Circle. Settimi’s Gelato, as one would expect, serves tasty gelato.
The Meaney’s Mini-Donut shop at the intersection of the Circle and Boulevard of the Presidents has closed. Going south away from the Circle along the hard-hit area on the right side of Boulevard of the Presidents, all food venues have closed. The Italian ristorante Le Colonne, famous for Mama Graziella’s handmade pasta, has a “temporarily closed” sign out front. We are hoping that this landmark restaurant makes a comeback soon.
Across the Boulevard of the Presidents from Le Colonne, the trattoria 15 South by Napulè, offers a full bar, a wood-fired Neopolitan pizzas, and handmade pasta. Continuing north and east on the Circle, the Crab and Fin restaurant (craft cocktails and fresh shell and fin fish dishes) is serving a steady stream of customers. Going east on John Ringling toward the Ringling Bridge, a new I Love Candy and Ice Cream location is opening just before the large Alvin’s Alley store. In the middle of that block, the Blue Dolphin Café opens early for coffee and breakfast. Past the Blue Dolphin, the Green Zebra (vegetarian) has opened for takeout orders.
Continuing north across John Ringling and circling back west toward the Circle, Tommy Bahamas Restaurant has staked out an expanse of storefronts below the former location of the Shore Restaurant on the level above. Tommy Bahamas plans to open both the lower and upper levels of restaurant space this summer.
Starbucks on the Circle has closed temporarily. The Café at Soliel nearby has stepped in to serve cappuccino and other brunch specialties. The adjoining Café at St. Armands serves drinks and Mediterranean lunch and dinner selections. The Cha Cha Coconuts tropical bar and café, owned by the Columbia restaurant group, occupies a space between the Café on St. Armand and the Columbia. The Cilantro Café on the level above the Columbia opened shortly after the Circle opened shortly after Hurricane Milton.
In the area immediately west and north of the Columbia, the Madison Café has closed. That block of N Boulevard of the Presidents remains open for development.
While far from complete, the recovery of the St. Armand’s Circle and Lido Key area has moved beyond its critical first stages. The commercial and residential tax base of the area has inspired federal, state, county, and city agencies to help improve resiliency to storm surges in particular and flooding in general. The future of St. Armand’s Circle and Lido Key depends on public and private efforts that rely on one another: so far, so good, but still uncertain.
S. W. Hermansen has used his expertise in econometrics, data science and epidemiology to help develop research databases for the Pentagon, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Agriculture, and Health Resources and Services. He has visited premier vineyards and taste wines from major appellations in California, Oregon, New York State, and internationally from Tuscany and the Piedmont in Italy, the Ribera del Duero in Spain, the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale in Australia, and the Otego Valley in New Zealand. Currently he splits time between residences in Chevy Chase, Maryland and St. Armand’s Circle in Florida.
Rich Hermansen selected has first wine list for a restaurant shortly after graduating from college with a degree in Mathematics. He has extensive service and management experience in the food and wine industry. Family and friends rate him as their favorite chef, bartender, and wine steward. He lives in Severna Park, Maryland.
