COLUMN: What are you waiting for?

We know there’s nothing you guys like better than craning your necks as you drive by new eateries, wondering when they’ll open.

Along with three Bradenton-area chains reaching southward into the area, here’s even more teasy news, in rough order of unveiling.

AMOB SCENE

That’s exactly what North Port had on its hands when word got out that Anna Maria Oyster Bar (AMOB) was soft-opening its sixth and southernmost shucking station — the first outside its Manatee County home base — a day earlier than expected and two days before its official ribbon-cutting.

Founder John Horne told the crowd at the ribbon cutting, “We are so excited to finally be able to open a restaurant in North Port, Florida!”

Every year since 2022, parent company Oysters Rock Hospitality has expanded, adding new locations that now reach as far as south Sarasota County.

“Rapidly growing towns like North Port can use a family-friendly seafood spot that doesn’t break the bank,” Executive Vice President Eleni Sokos said. “There aren’t a lot of other options to support the demand that’s there.”

In the future, they’re looking to fill the gap with a Venice location, too.

AMOB’s layout remains much the same as Family Table’s — enter in the center, dining to the left — but guests will see a dramatic change in the north-side bar/tavern. There, a Seminole-built tiki connects to a wraparound inside bar via sliding glass doors, creating an indoor-outdoor experience.

The bar is crowned with a signature AMOB shucking station, where shuckers and fresh shellfish are on full display. Lining the bar top, an ice-filled trough keeps diners’ shellfish chilled right in front of them.

Beyond specialties that swim, there are steaks, burgers, wings, salads, tacos, hush puppies and margaritas, all consistently landing awards for Best All-Around Restaurant, Best Seafood Restaurant and Best Margarita in the Bradenton area.

Look for the same menu and pricing as at other AMOB locations, with daily deals like Monday’s AUCE fish and chips, Tuesday’s Maine lobster, Wednesday’s salmon dinner duo, Wine Down Wednesdays, prime rib on Thursdays and Sundays, and daily happy hour.

Anna Maria Oyster Bar ($$-$$$, O), 941-761-7797, 14132 Tamiami Trail, North Port, is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Over the summer, it plans a 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekend brunch.

DEL-ICIOUS

The sign is up, which must mean something.

Alongside a forthcoming Buffalo Wild Wings with drive-thru, a 2,370-square-foot Del Taco is on the way to Murdock.

You probably know less about Del than about its popular next-door chicken-wing neighbor, but it’s another piece of Bradenton coming to town.

Your closest experience with one of its eight other Florida stores to date would have been with one of the two in Bradenton. Now that Del Taco is expanding its Florida footprint substantially, that means Port Charlotte will be the first Del in Charlotte County and the 12th in Florida.

Founded in 1964, Del Taco serves more than 3 million guests a week at nearly 600 restaurants across 16 states. It stands out from that other 1960s-born chain, Taco Bell, in serving special shakes and desserts, crispy fish and chicken, tortas, burgers and fries.

Even trendy beef birria tacos and quesadillas are bubbling up on its menu.

Still better, that menu includes 20 items for less than $2 and 2-for-$3 deals like Crispy Chicken Tacos and Egg & Cheese Breakfast Rollers.

Its competitive edge, Del says, stems from “cooking, chopping, shredding, and grilling menu items from scratch.”

Del Taco ($-$$, O), 1490 Tamiami Trail (former Busey Bank, U.S. 41 and Murdock Circle), Port Charlotte, is expected to open midsummer. Hours at other Del Tacos are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. or midnight.

A SALTY TARPON SERVING NO SEAFOOD?

When The Belgian Monk’s owners revealed a new restaurant called Salty Tarpon, which they said would serve Monk favorites, heads at first spun.

Now, we know Punta Gorda has its (Charlotte High) Tarpons, and the Monk’s famous French onion soup is a little salty, but how could a place with a name like that not serve fish?

As sure as a joint called Leroy’s Southern Kitchen & Bar can plan a fish shack for Fishermen’s Village, a pub called The Belgian Monk can open a big seafood eatery in the former Manatees Pizza.

Owner Charlie Johnson confirms that they’re still working through permitting issues and finalizing the menu.

But they will indeed serve what people want and expect: Belgian beers and specialties like French onion soup, Chicago-style Vienna beef dogs … and fresh-caught seafood.

“No frozen stuff,” Johnson swears.

Salty Tarpon ($$, 0), 408 Tamiami Trail (historic Ice House building), Punta Gorda, is expected to open by September.

JELLY BIRD

It will have been nearly two years coming, but Jelly Bird Café & Bakery has been busy with special orders to local businesses.

Soon, it promises Punta Gorda Isles a new bakery and breakfast/lunch spot.

Despite unanticipated bumps along the road, they, too, are finalizing the menu and working toward an early summer opening.

Look for beer, wine, house-made soups, sandwiches, salads and that special extra: house-made breads and baked goods from pies and cakes to muffins and cookies.

Jelly Bird Café & Bakery ($$), is coming soon to 1133 Bal Harbor Blvd., Unit 1133 (Bal Harbor Plaza), Punta Gorda.

WHEN WILL UTAMARO BECOME OOO, TODAY?

It’s been nearly a year since Cross Trails Center saw artful, but nearly illegible, signage hinting at a new sushi bar experience coming to the former El Dorado Mexican Grill.

Utamaro Sushi Bar, a Sarasota Main Street spinoff, promises a menu built on Japanese standards from sushi to tempura, teriyaki and hibachi, as well as ramens.

Utamaro Sushi Bar ($$) will one day move into 615 Cross St. (Cross Trails Center, behind Starbucks), Unit 114, Punta Gorda. If it keeps the same schedule as Sarasota’s, it should serve lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., dinner from 5 to 9 p.m.