Siesta Key Restaurant Reviews
by Rick Brown
Here are some personal tips for dining if you ever visit Sarasota, Florida … Siesta Key in particular. Keep in mind there are other eating establishments I have yet to try … many of which I have heard positive comments about. Sarasota and all the Gulf Coast is crammed with tiki bars, fish houses, and the standard fare found most anywhere. I am merely a presenting a synopsis of places I have dined … and my particular preferences as a guide to the tourist. Most of these restaurants have live music much of the time … and many of them are “dog friendly” on their patios.
The Cottage
Don’t let its “Red Green Show” décor fool you … this is much more than an island seafood restaurant in a fishing lodge setting. The happy hour here pretty much lasts all day, running from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. And the food is casual but distinctly gourmet. I have had lunch here on several occasions. Yvonne and I also enjoyed a wonderful dinner on their back deck patio with live music. The Cottage is one of the best lunch/supper dining experiences in Siesta Key Village. It’s one of the very few places on the island where the term “Chef” (His name is Larry Eppler) is more than appropriate. Check out one of their fine recipes in our Food and Drink Section!
http://www.cottagesiestakey.com/
Sun Garden Café
When I first began visiting Siesta Key I just happened to ask a cashier about a good place to get breakfast. And she recommended Sun Garden. Since then I have learned that the pharmacy owner’s daughter was the proprietor. Nonetheless her advice was sound. I actually ate breakfast at Sun Garden the first three days they were open. And on any visit my wife Yvonne and I are there for lunch or breakfast 2 or 3 times in a week. It’s that good. The atmosphere is airy and open, with a spacious patio, tables and umbrellas. The staff is friendly and attentive. And Sun Garden’s menu is bold and innovative, making it (especially for breakfast) a dining experience way beyond other Siesta Key’s typical breakfast diners.
http://www.sol-food.net/
Ophelia’s On The Bay
Ophelia’s is the most elegant of all the eateries on the island. The view of Little Sarasota Bay is breathtaking. The food is gourmet … the wait staff impeccable. It’s a little pricey … but that’s to be expected for the class you will find at this linen tablecloth establishment. Dinner is superb and their Sunday Brunch is to die for. Make reservations … you won’t be disappointed.
http://www.opheliasonthebay.net/
Flavio’s/Bella Roma
Right now the bar is called Flavio’s and the dining room Bella Roma. But I’ve heard that once remodeling is complete it will simply be Flavio’s. The place is cozy and has a wonderfully warm atmosphere. I have only eaten at the bar’s happy hour. But their margherita pizza took Yvonne and I back to a time we wandered into a little eatery in Verona, Italy and had the best pizza of our lives. I look forward to an Italian dinner here soon … made by Italians.
http://www.bellaromaitalianrestaurant.com/flaviosbrickovenbar.html
Taste of Asia
This is another of Siesta Key’s gems. Serving Lao, Thai and Vietnamese fare makes their menu the biggest aspect of this tiny, cozy restaurant. The food is delicious, offering seafood, pork, beef, chicken, and … yes … even vegan options. I’ve eaten here on several occasions and it’s always a delight. They do a lot of carry out. But I suggest eating there. The staff is friendly and the food terrific!
http://www.tasteofasiasrq.com/
Siesta Key Oyster Bar
… or SKOB as it is affectionately referred to … has a delightfully funky “Quonset Hut” feel to it. Patrons sign dollar bills and post them on the walls to maintain a presence and enhance the atmosphere. The place feels more like a bar than restaurant but that ambiance serves it well. Their daily dozen oysters on the ½ shell or Louisiana Crawfish happy hour from 3 – 6 p.m is a great way to begin an evening of seafood celebration. The menu is mostly standard bar food and is above average. But I wouldn’t say excellent. Still … SKOB is a fun place to dine and commune with friends while knocking back a few cold ones. I visit here pretty regularly.
http://www.skob.com/
Blasé Café
I fell in love with the Blasé Café after the first couple times I meandered in. It had an artist’s feel, a local appeal, and decent food. It was a place where people who grew up on Siesta Key would drop in. Snowbirds hovered. I met a few people there a few years ago that I now count as friends. There was community. The place has changed some and I guess that’s show biz. Nothing stays the same in life. You can still see some of the “regulars” once in a while. It depends on the time of year really … and that’s mostly true of any place in Siesta Village with a bar. The staff remains friendly and welcoming. The food is pretty good as well. And even though it’s not quite the same “neighborhood bar” feel, I still frequent The Blasé every time I visit the key.
http://www.theblasecafe.com/
Clayton’s Siesta Grille
Rumor has it Clayton’s is where some of the old Blasé crowd moved to … maybe that’s true. I’m not around enough to make a call. The feel is more restaurant than bar. And the happy hour deals are a bargain and tasty. But there is no community feel to it as a watering hole. And the food is somewhat generic to the area … decent quality but nothing to write home about. The Blasé Café is still more comfortable.
http://claytonssiestagrille.com/
Blu Que Island Grill
My wife Yvonne and I go here on Tuesday nights when we’re in Siesta Key. The reason is to see a good friend of ours, Tommy Doerr, play some great music … not the food. Blu Que used to be Blu Smoke. Unfortunately the inconsistencies don’t end there. This place used to have the best calamari I ever ate … but not any more. I realize running a restaurant on Siesta Key is a challenge. But you won’t score points by compromising your dishes’ ingredients … which appears to be the case with Blu Que. This is too bad … the place has a nice funky feel to it and the staff is friendly and welcoming.
http://www.bluqueislandgrill.com/
Solorzano Brothers’ Pizzaria
This place has GREAT pizza, salads and subs. The atmosphere in the dining room … what there is of it … is basic at best. They deliver. But the food isn’t inexpensive, there is a delivery charge, and the driver does NOT get a cut. So by the time you pay for your food, the fee, and tip the delivery person it can cost between $25 and $30 for a pizza … and maybe a salad if you’re lucky.
http://www.SBPSiestaKey.com/
The Old Salty Dog
The atmosphere is nice … heavy wood … outside picnic tables. The fare is standard Florida bar food. The raw oysters are very good. They are known for their fish and chips. But the place has more of a bar feel … albeit a very nice one. The food is steady in its presentation with not a lot of creativity. But consistency is not a given at Siesta Key eateries and The Old Salty Dog is certainly that. Similar to SKOB yet more intimate as far as throwing a few back and visiting friends.
http://www.theoldsaltydog.com/SiestaKey/index.htm
City Pizza
Decent pizza … average pizza place environment. Still, it seems very popular with locals and tourists alike. This isn’t one of my regular haunts. But it is a good bang for your buck. They do make a lovely pesto pizza and have delivery as well.
http://www.citypizzaofsarasota.com/
Turtle Beach Pub
Turtles Beach Pub has a nice family tavern feel to it. The food is your standard beach bar fare … but good enough to enjoy. The staff is friendly. Most of their dining space is outdoors. This place is pretty good if you’re just looking for a quick burger, or fish sandwich, and fries. I couldn’t find a website for them however.
Turtles on Little Sarasota Bay
The view here is much like Ophelia’s. But that’s where the comparison ends. People (read: SENIORS) come here because the food is cheap. Cheap appetizers at the bar … and a “no entrée over $10” Early Bird Special brings folks in. The biggest problem is this: The food is really … really …lame … yet the wonderful view can make you forget that for an hour or two.
http://turtlesrestaurant.com/
Daiquiri Deck
This place has a great oyster bar … but that’s all I can say that I like. Behind the bar is a long row of pre-mixed daiquiri machines … several “flavors” I suppose. But this made me feel like I was having a drink in a Laundromat. The food is good … not great. The atmosphere beyond the bar ranges from “sports bar” (there’s an enormous outdoor giant screen TV between 2 separate buildings.) at best, to “don’t miss the wet t-shirt contest at 10 p.m.” at its worst.
http://www.daiquiridecksiestakey.com/
Lobster Pot
This place baffles me. It seems to be very popular with a certain segment of tourist. I’ve had dinner here twice now and will probably not return. I really see no point in going to a New England style seafood restaurant while on an island in Florida. The décor is cutesy … kind of a Bob Evans meets Cracker Barrel at the beach. And the food reflects it. Middle of the road cuisine makes the experience like eating at Olive Garden while visiting Tuscany. Again … just my opinion. But why go for the oh-so safe and familiar menu when there is so much to choose from in the vicinity?
http://www.sarasotalobsterpot.com/
Café Gabbiano Restaurant
I’ve only eaten here once. When the manager … maybe it was the owner … did a bait and switch with the wine, I decided never to return. We ordered a $60 bottle of wine thinking it was an extravagance. Then the waiter came out and said “Sorry we’re out of that but we have this instead.” Assuming it was the same price I agreed. Turns out it was an $80 bottle of wine. The food was good … not great. The atmosphere was smug at best. (I’m being kind here.) And the whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth. Apparently the place is under new ownership. I wish them well.
http://cafegabbiano.com
That’s all folks! As I wrote earlier, I have many other places to try. And I hope if you visit the Sarasota area … and Siesta Key in particular … you will find my observations helpful. Bon appétit!!
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