Mozaic on Main- mmm is right!
Before attending one of last week’s many wonderful Sarasota Film Festival events, my friend Sande was kind enough to invite a group of us for a quiet dinner at Mozaic, on Main Street between Pineapple and Palm. What a great choice that turned out to be!
We were warmly greeted and immediately brought to our reserved table even though one of our party was delayed. We had made our reservations for upstairs — another good choice; Mozaic’s upstairs is airy and cozy. And I appreciated the ‘just right’ noise level on both ground floor and upstairs — good music piped in, but softly played so we could actually enjoy good conversation, and hear everyone at our table.
Mosaic’s name is derived from it’s intention: to incorporate the flavors of southern European, western Mediterranean with uniquely American flavors—the flavors of our modern mosaic. Their website states cuisine is flavorful, fresh, and fits into the healthier lifestyle–and I couldn’t agree more! Their menu is packed with truly creative dishes, such as Jasmine tea dusted duck breast with sour cherry bread pudding, a pork tenderloin, caraway and violette mustard flavored, with apple compote & tarragon cider sauce ($22) and several luscious offerings for vegetarian/those who suffer food allergies: wild mushroom ravioli ($20) or seven vegetable couscous with saffron, raisins, chick peas, and quince are just two of a number of choices. (And for those who suffer wheat allergies, keep reading until you get to my description of their flourless cake!)
Our waiter was very knowledgeable, very patient with our questions about this unique and luscious fare, and he conscientiously steered one guest away from any and all dishes which might have included a common spice to which she was allergic.
As does any good restaurant, Mozaic focuses on presentation, displaying wonderful artwork on the walls and with unique architectural features in the restaurant itself. That attention to detail and presentation was obvious when our meals arrived: the only words to describe each plate are “exquisitely presented”, “works of art”; it’s one of the few times the meal placed in front of me actually looked as amazing as pictured on a website! Our table had ordered several of the Pan seared diver scallops with lemongrass lobster vinaigrette, a Colby Steak, and Mozaic’s Undecided meal consisting of duck breast, lamb chops, and diver scallops. After the initial exclamations over how wonderfully glamorous our meals looked, for a few moments we paid the chef the very highest of compliments…almost zero conversation, just a lot of very very happy sounds!
Dessert options are as creative, filled with flavor — and as sensitive to those with food allergies as the dinner choices. Pear and walnut flourless cake….a dark chocolate Frangelico molten cake…Mango coulis and Raspberry sorbet — and something I’ll definitely be returning for: White chocolate Amaretto crème brulée. And I have to mention the appetizer choices, which include such delicious options as Mussels in a Moroccan chermoula-scented lobster broth and their blue crab granny smith apple salad and lobster gelée.
Wisely, Mozaic offers a number of food and wine events, such next month’s ‘big beautiful artisan red wines from Napa Valley’s Delectus Winery, a family winery with a legacy as an eighth generation winemaker in winemaking.
Signing up on their email list will assure your place at the table for these unique events. Past events include food and wine pairing events on Saturday afternoons, and their Women & Wine series, which in May of 2013 allowed over 60 guests to enjoy 4 different wines selected by advanced Sommelier Julie Pepi, together with a multi-course menu whose first course was Pan Seared Faroe Island Salmon with sauteed spinach and lemon-lobster veloute. All that for just $29 plus tax & gratuity, with dessert optional (although not ‘optional’ for me!) Too many desserts, too little time! (All photos from Mozaic Restaurant Website)
1377 Main Street, Sarasota, FL 34236
Phone: (941) 951.6272
www.mozaicsarasota.com
Walk-in or reservations by phone or online
Dinner only; Beer and Wine only
About Susan Sweeney:
Susan’s professional career has included providing the professional services of proposal writer, graphic designer and event project manager — and thinking “outside of the box” — to many fine firms (including Aetna Insurance Company, American Epilepsy Society, Johnson & Johnson and Southern New England Telephone). Her writing ability plus her dedication to her clients earned her a nationwide reputation for integrity and efficiency. A published author on How To Win Gov’t Bids, Susan now runs a one-stop-shop for high quality grant applications and RFP responses that directly match her clients’ revenue strategies.