ART GARDEN CAFE – Restaurant

Tucked inside the Venice Art Center, a nonprofit gallery on Nokomis Avenue South, the Art Garden Caffe serves lunch surrounded by the work on show. The cooking leans Italian and light: pressed panini like the Milado with fresh mozzarella, mortadella, roasted pepper and basil oil, the Miami with spicy salami, goat cheese and olive pate, the Venice with capocollo, brie, grilled zucchini and mint. Add creamy soups, big salads, a shrimp and avocado plate, espresso and house desserts including creme brulee. Daytime hours only, weekdays, with private parties and meetings taken by reservation. Gallery walls, real cooking and no fuss.

Cuisine: Restaurant