Longboat Italian eatery to open second Manatee County location

A Longboat Key Italian restaurant is opening a second location in Manatee County, this one on the mainland.

The restaurant is Ventura’s Italian Kitchen. Its Longboat location, Ventura’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, is at 6814 Gulf of Mexico Drive. The new one — with a grand opening scheduled for Friday — is at 4805 Cortez Road W. in Bradenton. The Cortez location, according to a statement, “promises a warm, welcoming atmosphere where guests can savor traditional recipes passed down through generations.”

“We’re excited to bring our passion for cooking and family to the Bradenton community in our new open air kitchen,” owner Debra Murphy says in the release. “Ventura’s isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a place where families gather, friends toast and every meal feels like Sunday dinner.”