Café Evergreen
For some, dietary limitations and fear of unkempt food preparation areas make going out to dinner less like a treat and more like a chore. If you have to bring your own lemons to cleanse the glass rim before you take a drink or must smuggle in salt-free seasonings lest the food be bland or too salty, why go to the bother of spending your hard-earned money on dining out. You want a restaurant to cook for you like they were cooking for their grandmother or treasured loved one, using the utmost care and love to prepare your foods in a clean area. And, what about the foods themselves? You want “farm fresh,” not day-old goods served to you after a hard day’s work. The freshest ingredients of the utmost highest quality, prepared with minimal or zero processing involved in all recipes would be wonderful, wouldn’t it? For Sarasota County, there is only one place that checks all your dining out must haves. The verdict is in and Café Evergreen is serving the freshest foods available in a beautiful restaurant in the heart of Nokomis. Let’s meet for lunch, shall we?
With a mantra that dictates they “be a leader in healthy foods and drinks that are fresh, great tasting and unique,” Café Evergreen is continuously coming up with highly delectable and creative dishes. They offer healthy varieties of the standard American fare including French fries and burgers, except theirs is a sweet potato version that is not fried but is definitely to die for. And those burgers – – only pasture fed and locally raised beef makes the cut for this popular lunch item.
What else is good to eat at Café Evergreen? For starters, everything! Organic sandwiches, salads, unique wraps and a broad selection of beer and wine cover everyone’s tastes. In addition to their seasonal menus which are adjusted to take advantage of what is growing locally, a daily “Chef’s Choice Lunch” and “Chef’s Choice Dinner” are always a delightful surprise to locals who cannot wait to see what the Café Evergreen kitchen is cooking. And, because they use two-thirds less salt than most other restaurants, you can worry a little less about your health concerns while eating away from home. Their juice and smoothie bar adds another healthful component to the restaurant with fresh and delicious concoctions. With names like “Carrot Rocket Booster” and “Squeeze Me Sun,” there is no room for doubt about disingenuous ingredients ending up in your juice glass.
Another certain aspect of Café Evergreen is the history involved with their building. They are situated in the oldest structure found on US-41, all the way from Nokomis to Tampa. Now, that is a great topic of conversation to have while washing down your lunch, followed by a beautiful piece of vegan cake and a specialty coffee. Café Evergreen serves breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Lunch and dinner are served Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM and Friday through Saturday 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The Juice/Smoothie Bar is open Sunday through Thursday 9:00 AM to 8:30 PM and Friday through Saturday 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
Much as the management at Café Evergreen expects greatness from their chefs, fresh food sources, and employees, they demand the same from organizations they belong to, including IBE. They have found IBE to be a great asset over the years. One of the main reasons is that they like the amount of cash businesses can hold onto. They love the feeling that goes with obtaining necessary items and services through bartering. When asked how they describe IBE to friends and business acquaintances, Café Evergreen owners, Ted and Annette Weinberger tell people that IBE is a “fun and creative way to meet people, expand your business, and get items you might be in need of or want.”
Ted and Annette like to treat their employees to QR Certificates around the holidays, something the staff has grown to love. They do not hesitate to call fellow IBE merchants for any AC needs and other issues around the home or office. “We look at the IBE family first for anything we need. We rarely have to look outside of the IBE network.” Ted goes on to say that “eight out of ten dining experiences he and Annette have are paid for via IBE.” They enjoy that they can eat out often, and get to try other beautiful upscale restaurants in the area.