Shaner's - Sarasota

The thin crust pizza in Chicago is fantastic! It features a deliciously sweet sauce, fresh toppings, and a wonderfully crispy crust. Be sure to try the chopped salad too—it’s packed with so many tasty ingredients in every bite!

We visited Shaner tonight, our favorite pizza spot in the Bradenton/Sarasota area, and we gladly drive 45 minutes just to enjoy it. It’s the only place where we can get thin-crust pizza like what we love back home in North Minnesota. We always order two large 16-inch pizzas for my husband and me. The crust is so thin and cut into squares that it feels like you can eat them like candy! I almost hesitate to share this review because I don’t want it to become too busy for us to get in. It’s hard to describe the crust—“cracker crust” doesn’t really capture it, and I know many places claim to have thin crust, but none are like Shaner’s. It’s simply fantastic Upper Midwest-style thin crust pizza. I couldn’t resist the urge to dig in before snapping a photo, which is why there are already pieces missing!

I'm thrilled to see Shaner's back in my neighborhood; I used to visit their original location at Clark and Beneva. Since then, they've moved to Gulf Gate, which is a cozy little spot that was quite busy when I visited. I was surprised at how small it was—only about seven tables—so I ended up sitting at the bar. It was a nice throwback to see that they’re using the same tables with baseball card tops from their first restaurant. Although it was a bit loud due to the crowd, busy restaurants often indicate good food and atmosphere. There are TVs available for watching sports, and the servers were bustling around with a cheerful demeanor that comes from experience. My dinner was a real winner!

New location. Shaner moved to Gulf Gate! 6500 Superior Ave. Sarasota, FL 34231. (hidden link)

Grew up in Sarasota and frequented Shaners. Now everything I come to town I MUST have a pizza from here. My favorite is the veggie.