J. Ryan's Bar & Grill, Sarasota, Florida

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I had viewed the menu for this restaurant online and saw lots of yummy things I really wanted to try.  The restaurant is new, on Clark Road near Sawyer, in the plaza where The Big Kitchen used to be.  It is really a lovely, more upscale restaurant.  The owners have obviously spent quite a bit on redecorating.  Nice, but nothing really fantastic.  I ordered the Walnut Chicken Salad on a bed of field greens.  The chicken salad was very dry and tasteless.  It did have a lot of whole walnuts sprinkled all over the plate, which was nice, but I would have preferred to have them in the salad; maybe that would have livened it up a bit.  It desperately needed some mayonnaise.  The greens were pretty, but kind of limp.  My companion had a French Dip sandwich, which was on what looked and tasted like a hot dog bun.  He got about 5 french fries with it.  For over $10, not a good deal at all.  My salad was also over $10.  Someone has to pay for all those fancy wavy clouds on the ceiling!  I would like to go back and try something else next time.  It is a nice place to eat, just not a good value.

Yoder's Restaurant, Sarasota, Florida

The best thing on the menu is the Peanut Butter Pie!  Eat the pie first, then maybe some meatloaf, roast turkey or the chicken salad, which is pretty darn good, too!  The place is small and cramped and may make some people a little claustrphobic.  All of those women in dresses and little bonnet things on their heads made me nervous, too.  I felt like an evil woman!  Next time, I think I will get my order to go from the handy little take out window outside.  I don't think they have any bad food here and Yoder's is known for their fried chicken, but if you want all white meat for turkey, better ask for it in advance, or you might get some nasty brown meat mixed in. Not for me! ">