Tapas restaurant to open in Sarasota

A little taste of Spain has entered the restaurant scene in Sarasota. 

Beso, a tapas restaurant featuring Mediterranean cuisine, is expected to open June 10 on Lemon Avenue in The Mark, a condo complex in the downtown area. The owners also run the nearby State Street Eating House + Cocktails. The kitchen is being headed by Sarasota native chef Amy Knox.

“Tapas isn’t only about taste,” says Chris Voelker, Beso’s owner, in a press release. “It’s communal; it’s passing dishes around the table and indulging in conversation with friends. It’s the social aspect along with the food that make up the overall experience.”

The restaurant is two stories with a mezzanine that overlooks the bar and seating area. The owners found inspiration for the layout while in Mexico and went tapas hunting in Spain, according to the release.