Top 15 Affordable Restaurants in Sarasota, FL

Joi Henry I already LOVE Sarasota but this is the place I DREAM of when I am not there. From the food to the service, Kojo has been able to set a welcoming, chic and vibey atmosphere for all ages. We went to celebrate my father-in-laws birthday during the time of New Years. We had the kimchi fried rice, fried chicken bao buns, wasabi Ceasar and a few sushi rolls. The bao buns were soft, slightly spicy and full of flavor. The chicken was moist but crunchy at the same time. When the rice came out, it smelled like a vacation in a cast iron skillet. The egg yolk was runny and it balanced out the spiciness of the dish.Outside of the food, our waitress (I wish I could remember her name) was the most kind and attentive. Our glasses of water were NEVER empty. And when we had dessert to celebrate my father-in-laws birthday she noticed none of us were drinking alcohol that night and instead of champagne to celebrate, she gave us Ginger Ale! I thought that was so thoughtful! Every time I visit Sarasota, Kojo will ALWAYS be on my list!

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.

momof toogirls Had a great dinner at Beso! We were greeted warmly and seated right away for our reservation. Our server was super friendly, knew the menu well, and kept our drinks topped off all night. The place is beautiful and has a really nice vibe. The food was pretty good — it’s tapas style, so great for sharing. There were four of us and we each ordered a couple of dishes to split. We tried the patatas bravas, queso de cabra, pollo ajillo, shrimp ajillo, and a steak dish (can’t remember the name, but it was delicious!). Overall, really nice dinner with great service. Would definitely come back!

Lisa Burke We had a wonderful experience at Fork and Hen. We had initially visited their original location and their food was delicious! This was our first time and the new location, and we were not disappointed. The portion sizes are amazing for the price! Every single meal was delicious, and there were many options on the menu that we would return for. The chef/owner serves your meals and returns to see how you liked it. Service was great. They have a great indoor space and a cute patio outside. We will definitely be back!

Tessa best seafood place ! delicious, seasoned, and cooked perfectly. big portions, reasonable price, good service. the food comes out very fast. my #1 seafood place.

Total Mass Retain YES Tribute band The best restaurant Ive ever eaten -- thats how the 4 of us felt after our first time eating at Chef Antonios.... so we went again the next night (lol) and felt the same!!! Im an italian from NYC and so I always say that nothing is better than a home cooked meal... THIS WAS A HOME COOKED MEAL. You enter a house converted into an elegant dining room, we were so impressed with the authenticity and quality. The hospitality is second to none. Chef Antonio himself greeted and sat us, and we had the best service from Elena. 100% recommend - no doubt about it. The only Italian restaurant in Sarasota with 5.0 rating as of the date of my review and for incredible reasons.

D N We were there yesterday and were so impressed. Love the circus theme, our waitor was amazing , the chef presented a beautiful display and tasty and came by the table to talk to us . I loved the ringmaster on my cappuccino And the decor was amazing. The tables by the window- displayed the sunset perfectly. We went to Lido beach to watch the sunset and celebrated a Bucket list item then to the restaurant- it was a memorable experience- my husband is still taking about it. Highly recommend !!!!!

Noel Guilianotti Where to start? How about COFFEE! These folks have leveled up on espresso creation with the right equipment and coffee. Top notch for coffee connoisseurs with reasonable pricing. Now the FOOD: it is a unique treat. Highly recommend the pimento cheese option. Everything is scratch baked, so you can pick the wrong thing. Try several if visiting.

mk Sage has been a secret for me except I don’t know why. What a wonderful dining. experience. They have the WHOLE package covered. From their bar on the roof top, to their restaurant on the main floor. Service was excellent:) Their menu has innovative selections. Every dish we enjoyed was presented in an art form and was equally delicious. Hopefully the pics to the dishes justice. We will be back sooner than later.

Bill Howe This was our first visit for us to this restaurant in the Rosemary District. Parking was a bit of a challenge, but we circled the block and were able to take over a spot that was just vacated. We were here for Mother’s Day brunch. The host greeted us warmly and we seated promptly. Service was good even though the place was very busy. The Mother’s Day brunch menu prices were high compared to their usual menu, which has very recently priced items. I got the Quiche Lorraine with breakfast potatoes. The presentation was very bland with no garnish at all even a couple more slices would’ve been nice. It was tasty. My wife got the spinach and crab omelet, also with breakfast potatoes. It unfortunately was very bland. And the plate came without any garnish. Presentation is so important, but at least the food was good

Kelly We hosted our engagement party here and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. The food was absolutely delicious, the service was outstanding, and the staff went above and beyond to cater to our needs. The owner, Matthew, is very personable and made sure everything ran smoothly from start to finish. Our guests are still talking about how wonderful it was. Highly recommend for any special occasion or even a great dinner out!

Jennifer Hemingway Have you ever walked into an Italian familys kitchen for dinner on a Sunday, early evening, in Jersey? I have, and it feels like this. Do you remember when the food critic, Ego, found his childhood in a bowl of ratatouille? I do, and it tasted like this. The atmosphere was idealistic, the ambience was like an Italian familys dining room, Castinas service was superior, and the food was better than Nonnas, sorry not sorry. To the incredibly hospitable service, to never feeling left abandoned or waiting for service, to the best complimentary bread and garlic oil dip, to the phenomenal meatball martini. Rocco is your favorite Italian Papa, who invited you over for dinner, enjoyed your visit and sent you to bed with a cannoli and a hug. I will never make an Italian dish in my home kitchen again, Ill go to Bella Vita and ask for Rocco. I wish I took more photos of the food. Bravo, Brava!

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.

Christina Santowasso First time but definitely not the last! Very clean, love the atmosphere! Can serve large parties!! We had no idea it was happy hour! Drinks are half off and really good daily specials. We had the calamari, Parmesan chicken, and shrimp scallop over risotto. Everything was delicious! Prices were reasonable! We will be back!!

Deeandrea Burgos Ok so this was definitely a very pleasant choice for a girls night out. (Just two of us). First of all, the place is beautiful decorated (inside and outside) with just the right mix of “texture” without it being overloaded. The service was perfect. Our server was attentive but gave us as much space as we needed without constantly barging as my friend and I had a very immersive conversation. I also noticed the table near us was also in a similar boat where they were deeply immersed in their conversation and the servers were around but didn’t barge in periodically unnecessarily. The food was REALLY good. I had the chicken churrasco. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture but the chicken was perfectly seared and juicy and just lovely! My friend had the chuleta with I think some mango ontop and though it was a fairly generous sized meat she managed to eat it all! We also shared the mojito sampler flights which were tasty and beautifully presented. We also got to checkout the back which has the most awesomest vibe and it’s a space if you have a large party and call ahead of time they can put you back there. I don’t live in the area but I will absolutely love to go back soon!