Recommended 12 Dinner Spots Near Sarasota, Florida

Mark McCool Wonderful breakfast at Café on St. Armands We had a very nice breakfast here and couldn’t have been happier. The quiche Lorraine was outstanding—perfectly cooked, rich, and flavorful, with everything tasting incredibly fresh and delicious. Service was fast and attentive without feeling rushed, which made for a relaxed and enjoyable morning. The atmosphere fits St. Armands beautifully and is a great spot to start the day. If you’re looking for a fresh, well-made breakfast with great service on St. Armands Circle, this place is definitely worth a stop. Highly recommend.

Kayla Conover We arrived around noon on a Saturday. The line to dine in was wrapped around the building & we were told the wait would be about an hour. Instead of waiting, we ordered from the carry out window. Our food was ready in about 15 minutes, and we ate it in their seating area out front. The roast beef sandwich with au jus is something I will dream of having again - it’s pretty basic but delicious nonetheless. We went to the gift shop and farmer’s stand as well. Bought oatmeal whoopie pies, a piece of chocolate cake, and apple butter. All were good, but the chocolate cake was surprisingly dry.

Robbie Burnett The bar had a great atmosphere. The happy hour margarita was good. I had a mango flavor. The fish dip/ appretizer was really good. I was hesitant to try because I dont eat tuna fish. The fries came out quick too at the bar. I had the shrimp meal that was vibe along with my husband salmon meal although he would like a little more rice.

Dr. Tomia Austin Our experience at Marina Jack’s was exceptional, thanks to Christina and Diego, who truly went above and beyond. From the start, they offered great recommendations, and every single one met—and exceeded—our expectations. We enjoyed the Reuben, Thai chicken sandwich, seafood roll, calamari (not pictured) and the seafood chowder, all of which were fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. Even the sweet raspberry tea was a standout. Their knowledge of the menu, attention to detail, and seamless teamwork made the entire dining experience effortless and enjoyable. Christina and Diego delivered outstanding hospitality, turning a beautiful waterfront meal into a memorable experience. We’ll absolutely be back and will be sure to ask for them again.

jr merritt It’s a fabulous time of year (December) to visit Columbia at St. Armands Circle. They open the dining room to the breeze when the weather is nice, and they also have heaters outside if you prefer to sit closer to the bustle of the sidewalk traffic. We went mid-week and were able to get seats at the bar—highly recommend if you enjoy watching skilled bartenders at work. The menu is huge and approachable. Everyone in your party will find something here. The mojito comes with a piece of sugar cane (fun touch), and both the white and red sangria were outstanding. It’s stone crab season, and the claws arrived pre-cracked—zero effort, all reward—with hot butter on the side. The Cuban bread was fresh, flaky, and left little crumbs that felt like confetti across our end of the bar, which honestly matched the mood: a celebration. My entrée was beautifully cooked, and the classic flavors reminded me why Columbia is such a Florida institution. Parking is plentiful, and strolling past the shops afterward is a perfect way to end the evening. If you’re in the area, don’t miss this fantastic family restaurant that has been around (in various forms) since 1905. Consistently great food, warm atmosphere, and a true taste of old-Florida hospitality.

Sholenny Ferreira Had a good dinner here. You can tell chef and/or owner really care about what theyre serving. We started with the meatballs, super tender and flavorful. Had the pumpkin and crab soup. I loved it. Well balanced flavors and good texture with the sprinkled shaved almonds. My partner had the rack of ribs and I had the sea bass. At this point I wasnt that hungry so I couldnt fully appreciate the dish. Seabass was cooked perfectly and I enjoyed the sides it came with. The ribs were amazing.

Jay Thomas We absolutely love this Old Salty Dog location near St. Armands Circle in Sarasota. The restaurant is waterfront and right next to a marina/boat yard and marine center. There are always boats being launched, refueling, or just cruising by. On a sunny day, it is a perfect waterfront spot in Sarasota to boat watch. The Pelicans are always swooping for fish and putting on a show for restaurant guests. You can also occasionally see jelly fish, we just saw a couple hundred swimming by on our last visit. Rain or shine, Old Salty Dog is always worth a visit. The patio gets the perfect amount of sun on a sunny day with light sun shades, a gulf breeze, and the perfect sunset back drop. On rainy days, you might have to wait a minute for an inside table or seat at the bar because they stay busy, but it is worth the wait. As the name implies, they are known for their deep fried hot dogs and dog bites which are always a favorite. The burgers also hit the spot for a change up and the seafood doesn’t disappoint. If you’re looking for a frozen drink on a hot day, a delicious rum runner, or just a beer they have something for everyone. The parking lot gets full pretty quick with limited spaces while they are working on the building next door, but additional lots are across the street and a short 2 minute walk. We’d highly recommend Old Salty Dog for a casual waterfront restaurant in Sarasota with good food, good drinks, and the ability to come in your swim suit by boat or car.

John We hit Owens Fish Camp during our recent vacation and it did not disappoint. While not on the water, the ambience, covered by trees and nature while tucked away near downtown, was great. We sat outside on a warm summer night. The service was really good. We had everything we needed and yet the servers weren’t intrusive. It was our first time to Owens and they gave great recommendations on what to try. We started with the Gumbo and Crab Cake appetizers. Both were flavorful and the crab cake was over stuffed with breading. For entrees we went with Shrimp Baskets & the Fresh Catch plates with Scamp and Grouper with Butter sauces. The fresh was cooked perfectly (meaning not over) and you could taste the freshness. We ended up splitting a Key Lime Pie for dessert. Everything went well and we will certainly be back on our next trip. There’s also a mercantile shop connected to the restaurant to kill time while waiting for a table. We were there mid week and there wasn’t live music but next time we’ll try on a weekend to hear some tunes. All in all, highly recommend Owens Fish Camp for a great all-around dining experience.

Katarina Benakovic Douglas It was my husband’s birthday and they made sure he felt special! The food was amazing, atmosphere and service were great! Thank you so much for wonderful experience, we will definitely come back! Dante and Katarina P.s. all these “bad” reviews are made from very petty people!

Himatee J. Patel We had a truly phenomenal meal here. The service is attentive and wonderful. The food is delicious and wide ranging in choice. The food is fresh and flavorful. The naan and curries were amazing. The chicken was great quality and tender. Not one dish was over spiced or excessively oily as many Indian restaurants get wrong. The desserts were truly delicious and memorable. We wanted to lick our plates.

Kimberly Hill We were greeted as soon as we walked in. It is seat yourself but we hadn’t been there so we weren’t sure where we wanted to sit. E had lots of questions. We were told about Happy Hour specials. We asked about the tacos. Our server ate there every day and had tried all the tacos so she could help us decide what we would like. We ordered margaritas. I had the house Margarita and my husband had the Bourbon Margarita. We loved them. We tried the guacamole with goat cheese as an appetizer. And then we tried the tacos. We ended up trying 5 of their tacos - all the Happy Hour ones (B1G1F, mix and match) and the Cheesy Chicken. I liked the Mongolian and the Thai Shrimp ones best of the 5 we tried. We will be going back!!!

Christan Lanigan I had a wonderful Sunday brunch at Classico after church! My friends and I tried a variety of dishes— my friend got the kale salad, I had the short rib hash, another friend ordered the steak and egg entree along with the smoked salmon small plate, and my sister got the 1341 Benedict and some waffles. Everything we tried was delicious and beautifully presented. Chef Brandon does a great job. For drinks, I had the La Vie en Gold, which comes in a martini glass and even had cute little hearts on top which was such a sweet touch! I’m not typically a bourbon drinker, but I love amaretto, and this cocktail is always a favorite of mine. My friend had the Frequent Flyer, it was good, but I still preferred mine. The service was excellent. Our server was personable, friendly, and took the time to answer all our questions. She made sure my friends, who were new to the restaurant, had a great experience, and I appreciated how attentive she was throughout brunch. The food, drinks, service, and atmosphere all came together to make a really enjoyable Sunday brunch. I’m glad we tried Classico for brunch, it didn’t disappoint! ☺️