Fast-casual healthy restaurant opens in Lakewood Ranch

A fast-casual restaurant offering healthy bowls, wraps and salads is opening May 13 in Center Point at Waterside, a mixed-use development in Lakewood Ranch. With an eye-catching lemon tree mural painted on the exterior, Flower Child is located in a 3,500-square-foot space at 6532 University Parkway.

The menu features mix-and-match vegetables, grains, fruits and proteins. It can support vegetarian, vegan, paleo, gluten-free and other diets. Customer favorite dishes include the following:

• “Mother Earth Bowl,” which features sweet potato, portobello mushroom, avocado, ancient grains, cucumber, broccoli pesto, charred onion, leafy greens, red pepper miso vinaigrette and hemp seed
• Gluten-free macaroni and cheese made with aged white cheddar and parmesan
• Chicken enchiladas with guajillo chile, smoked gouda, poblano cream, organic black bean, roasted corn and avocado
• “Flying Avocado Wrap” with smoked turkey, gouda, romaine, tomato and avocado hummus

The Lakewood Ranch eatery is part of Fox Restaurant Concepts, an Arizona-based company with multiple brands founded by restaurateur and James Beard Award semifinalist Sam Fox.

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“We couldn’t be more excited to open our doors in Sarasota,” Fox says in a statement. “Whether guests are stopping by for a quick, nourishing bite or gathering with friends over a meal that fuels both body and soul, we’re thrilled to bring Flower Child to the vibrant Lakewood Ranch community.”

Flower Child on University Parkway is the first for the brand in Florida and marks the 41st Flower Child restaurant in the country. Other Flower Child restaurants are in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia and Utah.