Lucky 8

The spirit of New Orleans is alive and well in Sarasota’s Southside Village. Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant draws inspiration from a range of Cajun and Creole classics. Chicken and andouille sausage gumbo with pickled banana peppers is a comforting effort, as is the barbecue shrimp with superb French bread. Crispy suckling pig with herbs dressed in nuoc cham honors Louisiana’s Vietnamese community. The colorful dining room leans kitschy and vintage and is run by a friendly team that’s always happy to help.