There may be no better way to work up a healthy appetite than by spending a sunny day cruising our shimmering waters, inhaling the salty sea air and feeling the constant caress of balmy breezes. Happily, hungry seafarers can satisfy their culinary cravings on the waterfront or on the water. Slip into a dock and dine at a range of boater-friendly restaurants, board a mega-yacht for a gourmet meal or snack and sail on a captained charter. Whether you prefer casual eats and atmosphere or elegant ambiance and finer fare, boating is one of the best ways to sink your teeth into Sarasota 's culinary scene.

Philippi Creek Village Restaurant & Oyster Bar in south Sarasota encourages entire families to come as they are.

Dine on the morning's catch at Crow's Nest Marina Restaurant & Tavern in Venice

No linen tablecloths here... paper towels double as napkins at the rustic picnic tables situated inside and out. Voted "Best of the Best Raw Bar and Seafood Restaurant" 12 years in a row, the menu naturally includes a plethora of fish and shellfish, including raw and steamed clams, shrimp, mussels, salmon, calamari, lobster and of course, oysters. A "Little Mate" menu caters to kids and features clam strips, hot dogs, burgers, chicken fingers, fried shrimp and fish and chips.

Few sites on Siesta Key hold more tropical allure than Turtles on Little Sarasota Bay. Surrounded by majestic coconut palms inhabited by hosts of wild parakeets, this restaurant presents an expansive view of the bay. It boasts fresh seafood and other fine cuisine at reasonable prices, in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Value dinners range from fish and chips to prime rib. Kids will love having their very own menu with comfort foods such as chicken fingers and mac 'n cheese, while adults delight in devouring entrees such as shrimp and crab au gratin, North Atlantic salmon pasta and roast Long Island duckling. The Sunday brunch is a tasty array of treats and costs $8.25, about half the price of most area brunches.

Further south, at the Venice Inlet, the Crow's Nest Marina Restaurant & Tavern offers a full-service marina and ship's store, an award-winning wine cellar and a fun-filled calendar of events so jam-packed that the restaurant publishes an activities newsletter. Expect fine dining in a laid-back sports atmosphere with items ranging from a full raw bar and flame-grilled grouper, to ale-marinated Black Angus Rib-Eye topped with Stilton butter and daily-changing

Take a tour of Sarasota and Her Islands with Enterprise Sailing Charters

fresh seafood and chef specials. Monthly "Summertime Wine Dinners" pair featured wines with creative regional or national cuisine, including Italy, France, Spain, California and Washington.

Marina Jack has something for everyone, with venues ranging from a festive outdoor deck to quiet, intimate dining in downtown Sarasota. The seafood-oriented menu offers current, fresh fish selections as well as choice meat entrees for the most discriminating gourmand. Designed to showcase Sarasota's beauty, its theater-style seating provides panoramic views of the marina, downtown, Sarasota Bay, Big Pass and out to the Gulf of Mexico. The dining room features stunning architecture, a saltwater aquarium and dramatic use of fiber optic lighting. The open-air raw bar adjacent to the cozy Deep Six Lounge offers casual dining and cocktails dockside.

Lunch and dinner is served daily on The Marina Jack II, a luxury mega-yacht richly appointed in polished brass, warm woods and recessed lighting. The motion of the boat is barely perceptible but for the changing spectacular scenery along Sarasota Bay. Dress resort casual or get all "decked out" for this gourmet-quality buffet and a truly moving view. The lunch cruise is a feast of flavorful grilled chicken Alfredo and crabmeat-stuffed sole. Dinner is a sumptuous spread of salmon and prime rib au jus. Both include delicately seasoned, garden-fresh veggies and decadent desserts, all served in air-conditioned comfort.

Nature lovers embrace the opportunity to get up close and personal with dolphins, sea birds and sunsets on Enterprise Sailing Charters' leisurely tour of Sarasota and Her Islands. Enterprise offers a variety of cruises that range from two-hour trips to full-day excursions. The tall, double-masted, tri-sail 41-foot Morgan offers a smooth sail with a personable crew. While a full meal is not part of the package, soft drinks, snacks and appetizers are. Guests are welcome to pack their own picnics and beverages to enjoy along with the Gulf breezes, historic landmarks and celebrity homes.

If you go:

Sarasota

Philippi Creek Village Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Mile Marker 72
941-925-4444
www.creekseafood.com
Dockage: Boats up to 30 feet at high tide; nine-foot bridge clearance (from waterline)

Turtles on Little Sarasota Bay
941-346-2207
Marina: 941-349-9449
Dockage: Limited docking space for boats up to 35 feet; call ahead

Marina Jack and Marina Jack II
Between Mile Markers 8A and 10A
941-365-4232
www.marinajacks.com
Marina: 941-955-9488 ; VHF Channel 16/71
Dockage: Boats up to 120 feet

Enterprise Sailing Charters
Two Marina Plaza
941-951-1833
www.sarasotasailing.com

Venice

Crow's Nest Marina Restaurant & Tavern
West between Mile Markers 1 and 17
941-484-9551
www.crowsnest-venice.com
Crow's Nest Marina : 941-484-7661; VHF Channel 16
Dockage: Boats up to 140 feet

Originally posted 7/5/05