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Vacation never tasted so good.
Enjoy more Zagat-rated restaurants than you can shake a fork at plus tastes from all over the world. -
Take culinary arts to new heights
Delight in the sights, sounds and smells of Sarasota’s many food and wine events. -
Our award-winning restaurants overlook beaches, skylines and downtowns
And sunshine is often served outdoors with our many food and wine events -
Dessert is even sweeter at Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week
Where multi-course meals from award-winning restaurants are a steal
Dine Events For the next 30 days
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Dining down the Cultural Coast
The Gulf Coast's natural beauty and active arts scene could easily overshadow Sarasota's culinary wonders, unless you are a foodie that is. A foodie could easily justify a culinary vacation with all the food and wine events here. To name a few, there's the Stone Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival and Taste of Sarasota in November, Forks and Corks Wine and Food Festival in January, the Taste of the Suncoast in March, the Florida Winefest & Auction in April, and Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week in June. Sarasota also has a thriving dining scene year-round that belies it's size, ranging from dockside fish shacks to award-winning fine dining, from exacting French cuisine to vibrant Peruvian fare, from soup to, well, nuts.
With the sparkling blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico right at hand, seafood is a focus for many Sarasota restaurants. Some take advantage of the setting by building restaurants over the water on docks and jetties, which makes it easy to unload the freshest seafood from day boat fishermen directly into the kitchen. That means that Gulf grouper or snapper can go from deep water to your waiting plate in hours, almost faster than if you caught it yourself. From October to May is Florida's stone crab season, a uniquely sustainable seafood harvest that takes only a single claw from each crab before setting it free to grow another claw for the next year. Smash the tough shell, dip in mustard sauce and enjoy before the season ends.
Head inland and you'll find that Sarasota also has a large Amish and Mennonite community, with many restaurants that cater to their hearty fare. These spots serve classic American comfort food like crisp fried chicken and gravy or fresh smoked ham with scalloped potatoes, but the biggest draw is the pie. Yoder's -- a 35-year old Sarasota Amish restaurant icon -- sells over 4,000 of their award-winning pies the day before Thanksgiving every year.
But man cannot live on pie alone. Those looking for something a little more elegant will find that Sarasota's fine dining scene is one of the best in Florida. Along with one of the highest concentrations of Zagat-rated restaurants in Florida, two local chefs -- Derek Barnes of Derek's Culinary Casual and Jose Martinez of Masion Blanche -- have been nominated for prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards in recent years. Sarasota is also home to two AAA Four-Diamond Awarded restaurants: Michael's On East and Vernona at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.
Beyond the awards, you'll find Sarasota's dining districts provide satisfy a wide variety of tastes. Downtown Sarasota restaurants are a melting pot of the world's cuisines, from Vietnamese pho to Moroccan tagine. Relaxed Gulf Gate is a breeding ground for independent restaurants, including incredible sushi and inexpensive late-night munchies. Out on the islands, you can cool down with an ice cream cone in Venice's historic downtown, nosh on barbecue while listening to Jimmy Buffet on Siesta Key Beach, eat classic French cuisine while people-watching on St. Armands Circle, and sample Asian-Jewish fusion on Longboat Key while enjoying a breathtaking view of the lights of downtown across Sarasota Bay.
The annual Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week offers an incredible opportunity to sample many of the area's higher-end local eateries on a budget. Dozens of local restaurants participate by offering multi-course menus for just $15 at lunch and $25 at dinner. Despite the name, the restaurant week actually runs for two weeks at the beginning of June, although some participants extend their deals throughout the month.
From laid-back grouper sandwiches to world-class tasting menus, Sarasota restaurants can fill any craving.
Dine Videos
Dine Articles
Festivals of Flavor
How do you get great, homemade ethnic cuisine without traveling abroad? Attend one of the Sarasota and Her Islands' three ethnic food festivals, held each February, and you'll feel as if you've traveled far from Florida, to a New York deli or street fair. Or even to...
Bunches of Brunches
Few things are more alluring than a long, relaxing brunch with mimosas and a copy of the Sarasota Herald Tribune. A Sunday brunch is the perfect way to relax mid-weekend before starting up another long week. At local brunch spots, you can satisfy all of your cravings,...
Nautical and Nice
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. Hungry Sarasota seafarers can satisfy their culinary cravings on the...
What to see, what to do
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A waterfront location offering superior food and service along with an excellent view. Featuring...
SKOB is a true "Landmark" on the Key. Considered the "Hot Spot." Live music nightly. Outdoor seating...
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For17 years on Longboat Key & now on St Armands sisters Ethna and Chris Lynch showcase Irish...
Located in the heart of downtown Sarasota, Mattison's City Grille is a local favorite and is perfect...
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Visit Florida's Sweetest Attraction. Voted Florida's #1 grove destination, Mixon Fruit Farms has...
Michael's On East Celebrating 25 years of delicious memories! Outstanding service, exceptional food,...
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Great food, spirits & fun-This neighborhood grill & sports connection is locally owned/operated...
Award-winning, 1985-established restaurant in the heart of the downtown theater district. Great food...
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Wine and music lovers, romantics and epicures will discover fine dining at this charming hideaway on...
A taste for every pallet
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The Florida Keys with a British twist. Fun for family or friends. Enjoy the waterfront view or...
Roessler's classic continental cuisine offers the best steaks in town and the freshest seafood...
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Located at the Lido Beach Resort eight stories above Lido Key, Christopher's embraces a comfortable...
More than a Buffalo-NY style wing joint, we offer a complete menu featuring sandwiches, burgers, &...
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Michael's On East Celebrating 25 years of delicious memories! Outstanding service, exceptional food,...
An intimate, casual dining experience serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Where guests can...
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A favorite of locals. Grouper is a house specialty. Also, crab cakes, center-cut steaks and shrimp....
Under the watchful eye of Chef de Cuisine Greg Howe, Vernona's seasonal menus feature the freshest...
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Visit Florida's Sweetest Attraction. Voted Florida's #1 grove destination, Mixon Fruit Farms has...
An old tradition in a new setting since 1969. Troyer's Dutch Heritage serves traditional Amish...
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Cosimo’s Brick Oven, known for "seriously good Italian" cuisine, combines classic and new...
A small, intimate bistro-style restaurant, featuring an exquisite menu with a Continental to...
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Daily selections of Florida's freshest seafood have earned this local favorite Florida Trend's...
Waterfront dining, overlooking Sarasota bay, PG's offers an international menu of American favorites...
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Voted one of the top 3 best new restaurants in 2007, MacAllisters features a unique Scottish golf...
The "Grande Dame" of area restaurants, the award-winning cuisine of Cafe L'Europe strikes the...
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Wine and music lovers, romantics and epicures will discover fine dining at this charming hideaway on...
Enjoy Darwin-style cuisine. Experience the result of a fascinating evolution of foods and cultures....
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As Sarasota's original Amish restaurant, Yoder's prides itself in Amish home cooking made from...
Located in the heart of downtown Sarasota, Mattison's City Grille is a local favorite and is perfect...
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A restaurant that is upscale casual and serving contemporary progressive cuisine. A place for more...
The Caragiulo brothers graciously share their passion for traditional Italian cooking, wines, and...
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Venice's waterfront landmark since 1976. Famous for fresh-caught seafood, choice steaks and chops,...
In-house catering options feature a large waterfront ballroom, an Italian Galleria, and multiple...
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Owned and operated by the Seidensticker family that hails from the renowned Gasparilla Inn in Boca...
SKOB is a true "Landmark" on the Key. Considered the "Hot Spot." Live music nightly. Outdoor seating...
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Broken Egg's newest location is
Located in a tropical waterfront setting, this family restaurant features multiple seafood choices...
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MoZaic restaurant on Main Street Featuring the exquisite Western Mediterranean cuisine of chef/owner...
More than just a favorite for
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The Longboat Key Chart House is a favorite among residents, as well as vacationers. The restaurant...
A waterfront location offering superior food and service along with an excellent view. Featuring...
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Elegant indoor dining with a breezy, tropical outdoor patio, Mattison's Forty-One offers...
Award-winning, 1985-established restaurant in the heart of the downtown theater district. Great food...
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Coffee and Tea retailer located in
For over 50 yeas Morton's Market has maintained the trust and loyalty of generations of Sarasotans....
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Elegant waterfront dining on the southern tip of Siesta Key at Ophelia's on the Bay. Nestled along...
"Worth the trip to Longboat Key." A local treasure for 30 years. Enjoy classically inspired cuisine...
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Currents restaurant, the new upscale dining venue at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota, is now open and...
The hottest new restaurant in Lakewood Ranch to see and to be seen! Polo Grill and Bar is located in...
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Sarasota Magazine's "Best of the Best," Herald Tribune's "Best Steak House" and finalists in Florida...
Family-owned for over 100 years, Columbia Restaurant has earned acclaim for its old-world charm,...
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For17 years on Longboat Key & now on St Armands sisters Ethna and Chris Lynch showcase Irish...
Great food, spirits & fun-This neighborhood grill & sports connection is locally owned/operated...
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Fresh, Local Flavor! Dedicated group of more than 50 independently owned restaurants with a desire...
Restaurant features dining Al Fresco under the blue skies of the solarium with remarkable cuisine...
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Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is an ongoing celebration of exceptional food and wine. Enjoy...
Original 50s drive-in. Outside seating, hotdogs, hamburgers and daily specials. Celebrating 50...
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Sarasota's only waterfront Tiki bar featuring appetizers, salads, and sandwiches
