OK, Tell me your favorite restaurants. Besides Euphemia Hay, which restaurants really have good food. We've been to a few a couple years back which were very mediocre at best, particarly in the St. Armands Circle area. Thanks for any help

Beach Bistro, Holmes Beach area. Excellent. Reservations a must.

Agreed, the restuarant I believe you are referring to on St. Armand's Circle is living on it's parent restaurant's (Tampa) reputation.

Patti George restaurant, or PG's, is consistently wonderful. Located on the bay side of Longboat Key. Great staff and service. Highly recommend the signature dish of the Sea Bass. Better have everyone order it...or...don't let anyone try yours! It is wonderful. Pretty water view, lots of windows. Appetizer of chicken in lettuce wraps also very good. Enjoy.

You might take a 10 minute drive over the causeway to Sarasota where most of the better restaurants are. A lot of the restaurants that are on Longboat Key and St. Armands are overpriced and cruise on their location. You didn't mention what part of the year or your price range and there is a pretty wide variety: Bijous (downtown, expensive and excellent food), Michaels on East (expensive), Alleycat (moderate, casual and great food) is very funky and known mostly to locals, Phillipi Creek Oyster Bar (casual, great seafood and moderate prices). Two that are excellent on St. Armands are Osteria (Italian) and Cafe L'Europe. Both are very expensive with great food.

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT. HAVE ALREADY MADE A RESV. FOR PGEORGES NEXT WEEK. HAS ANYONE HEARD OF LYNCH MARINA OR LYNCH RESTAURANT? SOMEONE MENTIONED IT WAS VERY GOOD. ALSO SANDBAR HAS A GREAT VIEW, BUT LAST TIME WE WERE THERE FOOD WAS NOT GOOD (NOT ANYONE'S AT OUR TABLE) HAS THIS CHANGED?

Triston, We had lunch at the Sandbar in March and all 4 of us were more than happy with our meals. I was surprised therefore, when looking through a Zagat guide for the area, to see they'd only been given mediocre grades for food.

We live in Tampa and enjoy afternoon getaways in that area. Have plans to eat at the Sandbar next week when our son is here vacationing. Hoping for better weather, too, as the normal afternoon showers have become day long rains, very un-Florida like. Anna Maria in particular has been hit hard...12" last Saturday, then another 4 the beginning of the week with accompanying flooding.

just returned from LBK, was wonderful! thanks for the great restaurant help, we loved PG's! You were right the seabass was incredible. Also went to Beach Bistro, which was top notch but too expensive, save for a very special occasion. Have to go to Sandbar every time, just for sunset - the most beautiful on the island. Sorry but the food is still so so - stick w/ appetizers. Mar-Vista also a great favorite for the best grouper sandwich. What a great place! Beats Sanibel any day (IMO)

Being a resident of LBK, we most often make the trek into Sarasota for food.
Food pricey out here on this island and in season you can't get a seat, anywhere! We like Carrabba's Italian Grill on Stickney Pt. Rd. Sarasota.
About 10 miles south on 41 I'd guess.

Triston...we were at the Sandbar again Friday and this time food was just "OK". Maybe it depends on how hungry you are and 1st time we were famished. gt; Love the location and that certainly contributes to the overall perception of the restaurant.

Beach Bistro is fabulous--but yes it's pricey. Last year they opened Bistro at Islands End (also on Anna Maria). It's consistenly wonderful and less expensive than the original Bistro. The owner is attentive to both, hence the quality. I haven't tried Maureens on Longboat, but hear great things. She's owned restaraurants on Cape May for years. I hear it has an excellent Martini bar and intend to try it soon. Osteria is excellent, as is Pattigeorge's. I haven't heard of Lynch's. For some real old Florida Beach flavor (sandwiches, burgers and such), try Duffy's on Holmes Beach or Salty Dog near Mote. You can go to either in flip flops and ssim suits. I have gotten good food at the Sandbar, but we always eat out on the patio.