Cafe L’Europe: The Renaissance of an Old-Time Favorite

By Sue Cullen

Steeped in local history and radiating European charm, Café L’Europe has set the standard for congenial fine dining in Sarasota for 45 years. Now in its second year of new ownership, this venerable dining destination in the heart of St. Armands Circle has been refreshed with judicious renovation and a discerning eye for adding fine foods and wines. At the same time, the restaurant retains the Old World ambiance and menu favorites that have kept diners returning again and again since 1973 to this 240-seat icon.

 “Café L’Europe was one of my favorite places to go. It had something different, and a staff that made me feel special every time. The restaurant had a flair and gave me an experience I couldn’t get anywhere else in town,” said Ron Milton, who partnered with long-time friend Joe Balzano and purchased the restaurant in August 2016. “It’s a restaurant made up of family, and when you come in, that’s what you are, family.” That respect for tradition while incorporating a new freshness has struck a chord with local diners who have catapulted Café L’Europe from a ranking of 45 to number 15 of 685 area restaurants and earned a 2016-2017 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence.

Owning Café L’Europe (941.388.4415/cafeleurope.net) was a long-time ambition for Milton, whose French side fostered a talent and a passion for cooking. Having owned multiple businesses, including one with more than 500 employees for 15 years, he understands that service is key. “We have maintained a lot of the staff, some of whom have been here for 30 years, which says a lot in this industry. I have never seen a staff like Chef Rolando Casillas and his kitchen staff and managers Persefoni Nicolosi and William Maradiaga and their wait staff care and work so hard to put smiles on people’s faces and give them that fine dining experience they are looking for,” he said. 

“We know that service and the experience are why people come here, and our promise is to give the best we have to give. We shoot for the stars, and if we’re not always perfect and we slip, we expect our clientele to tell us. I am available anytime if someone feels we haven’t achieved that mission. We want the chance to be sure that our clientele are 100 percent satisfied with their experience when they leave.”

In addition to basking in glorious Gulf Coast weather with shaded al fresco European-style dining on the sidewalk, patrons also enjoy soft music with dinner in the Piano Room where jazz vocalist Amandah Jantzen performs on Friday and Saturday evenings during season. Also on Friday and Saturday nights, valet parking is available at the back of the restaurant. A series of monthly wine dinners featuring very fine wines paired with exquisite gourmet dishes have proven popular. So far this year, those have included Louis Latour, Caymus, Insignia, French Burgundy Grand Cru, and an Opus One black tie dinner.

One of Café L’Europe’s unique features is its location at 431 St. Armands Circle, which originally housed John Ringling’s real estate office. Milton and Balzano have invested more than $500,000 in replacing building infrastructure, including air conditioning and kitchen, as well as refreshing its look with new ceilings, walls, chandeliers, bathrooms, carpeting and more. The restaurant also is being reroofed. No detail has been overlooked from new European-themed artwork to new tables and chairs set with fine dining silverware and wine glasses. What remains unchanged are the restaurant’s original warm wood, brickwork, lustrous terracotta tile floors and regiments of wooden wine racks.

The menu is being tweaked, although Milton, operating partner, reassures that perennial favorites like Chateaubriand, potato crusted grouper, Dover Sole, liver and onions, fresh pasta Bolognese, crispy brandied duckling, and of course, the lobster bisque are not going anywhere. He does plan to add a couple of personal favorites like short ribs and calamari. And outdoor diners’ canine companions not only can enjoy a fresh bowl of water but also have their own full canine cuisine doggy-dining menu that ranges from Gustav’s steak tartare to a baked biscuit du jour.

Café L’Europe continues to be a sought-after destination for private events ranging from birthday parties and business meetings to weddings and fundraisers. Its catering staff also handles off-site and in-home events. Milton invites those planning an event to call Cafe L’Europe’s catering coordinator at 941.388.4415, extension 4, for event planning assistance. 

“We really are proud of the staff that has elevated our service here to second to none, and if you haven’t had the opportunity to visit Café L’Europe or you haven’t been here in awhile, we hope you’ll visit us,” Milton said. “We really do appreciate from the bottom of our hearts those who join us here, a lot of times over and over again, and who have taken the time to give us such outstanding reviews.”

For the past 10 years, Sue Cullen has written about, and enjoyed, the Sarasota scene. When she’s not doing that, she works with clients in her PR/marketing business.