Dining in Sarasota
 

We are going to be spending a weekend in Sarasota and would like to get some restaurant recommendations. We love to eat and will have a flexible budget. This does not mean that I want to throw money into the wind... we like value when we go out to eat: nice ambiance, adequate service, a good bottle of wine at a decent price and a well-cooked meal.

Friday and Saturday we will have DD with us (17yrs old) so perhaps fine dining would not be the best option. We arrive rather late on Friday evening so we will most likely like go for a light meal. A fun place would be nice as lont as it is not extremely loud, DH has hearing issues.

Saturday is completely open.

For Sunday it will be only DH and me so a nice, romantic dinner could be in order.

Anyone?

Anyone? Please...

Is this your only source of information or something? Surely you can find a website that can help you since nobody here is

A better resource might be the Sarasota forum on trip advisor. There are lots of nice places in the area but since I haven't been there for at least 1 year, I'm hesitant to recommend anything!

There are alot of restaurants around St Armands Circle. I really like Salty Dog as its right on the water (near Mote Aquarium). Good place for Food and drink. have also been to Marina Jack's which has a less formal downstairs, high-priced upstairs. Even downstairs is expensive though.

I agree with above post re: Salty Dog and Marina Jack. For a place with good food and good wine (and a good by the glass list) I like Mozaic located in the "downtown" area. It is casual enough for DD but certainly more upscale than Salty Dog.
For romantic dinner Marina Jack may be a good bet (upstairs) as most every table has a view of the water. Another place although no view is Michael's on East. Ir is a very good restaurant, again with good wine list and nice ambience.

Cafe Baci for good Italian cooking. http://www.cafebaci.net/

Daiquiri Deck for burgers, fish sandwiches, http://www.daiquiridecksiestakey.com/index2.html or the adjacent Siesta Key Oyster Bar http://www.skob.com/ -- note both are extremely casual and in the evening can be a bit of a drinking scene. Early evening is tamer, lunch perhaps best.

Thanks to all!

There's an outpost of the Columbia Restaurant at St. Armand's Circle.