St. Armands Culinary Gem Coming to UTC

March 13, 2023 – Sarasota

One of St. Armands Circle’s most popular dining destinations is coming to University Town Center (UTC) later this year. Greek restaurant Blu Kouzina is set to open its second Sarasota location in the West District at UTC, adjacent to Ford’s Garage.

Blu Kouzina, which was founded in Singapore and entered the St. Armands scene in 2015, is from Greek couple Chef Effie and Dennis Tsakiris. The new location will feature a 3,500-square-foot indoor space designed right out of Santorini, with hanging basket lights, natural textures and Mediterranean pastel color accents. There will also be an inviting outdoor patio that embraces the relaxed Greek lifestyle.

“Blu Kouzina was founded from our family’s love of sharing our native Greek and Mediterranean cuisine with family and friends,” said owner Dennis Tsakiris. “We want our guests to feel like they are in Greece, but most importantly, we want them to feel like they are entering an extension of our family home.”

The restaurant evokes that family feeling with Greek favorites — all prepared fresh and made in-house daily — like spanakopita, mousaka, grilled whole fish, succulent lamb, kalamaki souvlaki (beef skewers) and kotopoulo fourno (roast lemon chicken). Each dish is expertly prepared with the highest quality ingredients, including extra virgin olive oil grown and pressed in The Tsakiris Family Estate in Greece. Bottles of the olive oil, called Green Gold, will be available for purchase.  

Blu Kouzina is among an exciting lineup of new dining destinations at UTC. Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar recently opened its doors March 1. Other new restaurants opening in the coming months include Yard House; farm-to-fork concept Naked Farmer; Orlando’s famed Foxtail Coffee Co; locally owned Anna Maria Oyster Bar; taproom and restaurant Fat Point Brewing; and The Breakfast Company.

Benderson Development’s UTC is a premier mixed-use destination off I-75 and University Parkway on the border of Sarasota and Manatee counties. Spanning over 4 million square feet, the property features more than 250 specialty stores, 80-plus restaurants, three hotels and over 250,000 square feet of premier office space.

For more information on Blu Kouzina, visit https://blukouzina.com/us/

For more information on University Town Center, visit www.utcsarasota.com