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One of the restaurant openings in Sarasota and Bradenton that I'm most excited about for 2024 is happening this week. Technically, it's a reboot. After nearly a four-year absence, it stands out as one of the most significant restaurant comebacks in recent memory, easily rivaling any highly anticipated brand-new eatery opening.

Gifted chef and owner Rich Knowles' enRich Bistro delighted a loyal following of discerning diners with its "elevated American entrees and small plates" for about six years before closing in July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and strained lease negotiations. Now, the restaurant will once again welcome guests at a new, larger, and more alluring location in West Bradenton, surpassing its previous spot nearby.

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Chef Rich Knowles' enRich Bistro opening this week in West Bradenton

The new enRich Bistro is at 5239 Manatee Ave. W., in the same Fairway Center shopping plaza as the impressive pizzeria Agrigento. The restaurant previously operated just down the road on Manatee Avenue West. 

EnRich boasts 140 indoor seats, up 40 percent from the previous location. There's seating for about 30 more guests in the partially covered patio area on the west end of the building. In addition, enRich offers a private event space that seats about 15 people and a larger banquet room that seats 45.

Guests will also note that the chic new bar seats 20, which is twice the size of enRich's previous bar, which was among the trendiest drinking destinations in Manatee County. Like before, enRich will specialize in craft cocktails.

The food menu at enRich will include past favorites such as the tuna poke with wonton chips and wasabi kale slaw, calamari salad with wasabi vinaigrette, and the bestselling buttermilk-fried chicken breast with honey truffle butter. Knowles, who has remained busy in recent years with his  catering company, as well as being co-owner of the , will also debut new dishes such as a black garlic-crusted skirt steak, which is one of several steaks on the menu including a ribeye, chateaubriand and filet.

"I’m just overwhelmed with joy to finally be returning to this part of town and reopen my original baby,” Knowles said by phone.

EnRich Bistro in Bradenton to offer full-liquor bar, with late-night menu on Fridays and Saturdays

Knowles is hosting private events at enRich this week ahead of a sold-out grand opening dinner on Friday (May 10). The restaurant will then close on Saturday ahead of its Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday (May 12). Beginning Monday (May 13) and continuing through May 28, the plan is for enRich to serve dinner 5-11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and then stay open until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday with a late-night bar menu. Starting May 29, enRich also plans to start serving lunch at 11 a.m. The restaurant will be closed on Sundays, following the Mother's Day Brunch.

In addition to Knowles, the leadership team at enRich includes Tammy Troxler, general manager, and Larry Lane, executive chef. Knowles worked with Lane at his Innovative Dining catering company and credits Lane with new menu items such as the Maple Leaf Farms Duck Duo featuring a cast-iron seared half breast and whole confit leg.

"Larry is a Florida native but honed his skills in California," Knowles said. "He brings a lot of skills and experience."

EnRich Bistro is at 5239 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. For more information, call 941-289-1299 or visit .

Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on ,�������Ի���. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.