South Florida healthy eating restaurant makes regional debut in Sarasota

A new healthy dining option is coming to University Town Center in Sarasota, outside Lakewood Ranch. Pura Vida Miami is opening in the shopping district Friday, Oct. 4.

The restaurant at UTC marks the first for Pura Vida Miami on the west coast of the Sunshine State, where it has nearly 30 eateries across South Florida. Its flagship location opened in 2012 in Miami's South Beach, and it also recently grew to include an eatery in New York.

On the menu are acai bowls, superfood smoothies, sandwiches, all-day breakfast, wraps, protein bowls, sides, pastries and salads.

Diners order at the register, then food is prepared behind the counter and delivered to the table, where guests are given numbered blocks to identify their orders.

All fruits and vegetables are prepped in-house, and leftovers are turned into compost. Soil is then donated to local farms, according to the company.

Pura Vida Miami is at 192 N. Cattlemen Road, Sarasota. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.