Although I have a few years in Sarasota under my belt, I’m still discovering new restaurants in the area.

Case in point: I was solo dining earlier this year when a couple at the table next to me struck up a conversation. Turns out, they loved to travel and, specifically, have cycled across India, Cambodia and parts of Europe (adding in a dash of yoga wherever possible).

As we enjoyed our lamb kabobs at a local Greek restaurant, they suggested I try Sardinia for their favorite Italian cuisine in town. Within a week, I made myself a reservation and couldn’t wait to try it out.

Sardinia is an upscale Italian kitchen focused on farm-fresh, locally grown food. Chef Dino Carter uses an Italian wood-burning oven as the focal point of the kitchen, bakes traditional Sardinian bread daily, and infuses authentic sauces and flavors into all of his dishes.

I was seated at a high-top table near the bar, enjoying my front-row view of the usual Friday crowd. Though I noticed only three servers taking care of everyone in the restaurant, Sardinia makes everyone feel like family. In fact, I saw numerous patrons purposely hunt down their particular server by name to say farewell and thank them for the meal. Surprisingly, many of those goodbyes involved hugs, as well!

My server, Adriana, was one of the aforementioned employees receiving hugs from various guests. Well-versed on the menu, she suggested I start with the funghi selvatici su crosta di Parmigiano, better known as wild mushrooms in a crispy Parmesan basket. I was slightly hesitant, but seeing her popularity among fellow diners caused me to agree.

Without a doubt, her recommendation was excellent. I’d never tasted mushrooms like these before, and along with my glass of Chardonnay, the crispy Parmesan was the perfect complement.

For my main course I selected the homemade Tagliolini with sausage, spinach, olive oil and garlic. I’m a bit of a pork sausage snob, and these meatballs exceeded my expectations with a soft fennel flavor atop a homemade pasta bowl of garlic and olive oil goodness.

With these two home run choices, I had to ask Adriana about dessert. Without hesitation, she recommended the Caramel Panna Cotta, coyly describing it as “too sinful to share.”

Of course, it, too, was incredible. But so was my personal level of restraint when I considered running my fingers through the remaining caramel sauce and licking them. There was a delicate brûléed flavor I wanted to savor again and again. I used my spoon until it became time to give up the fight.

None of this would’ve been possible had I not opened myself to a random conversation on a Friday evening. My thanks to Bill and Lynn, perfect strangers who shared their favorite Italian restaurant with a fellow traveler at a table nearby. Perhaps one day I’ll run into them at Sardinia to properly thank them both.

— Carrie Cox, account executive