Can anyone recommend some medium priced restaurants near siesta Key & Sarasota please? We are visiting in may

Read through this recent thread as there are some good suggestions, including mine (Siesta local) -

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...ta+restaurants

Hope you have a nice visit to our little paradise!

I'm not sure that thread will do a whole lot for Diane as it started out about a search for the best French restaurant and overall focused on more upper end places.

I like the buzz at the rather trendy restaurants in the area behind the hospital, just south of town. Osprey and Hillview area. Fred's is good and quite reasonable, but feels like a more upscale place. There are a couple of others in the area that are even more casual and less expensive. Just north of downtown on 41 is Cuocco Pazzo, which is very popular and extremely reasonable. We've been a little turned off last couple of times, but only because we go late, after theatre and they start cleaning up -- the smell of disinfectant ruins it for us, but earlier in the day it would be good. They have what they list as "lamb chop" which is actually an entire rack of lamb served with salad and pasta for something like $16 -- it's a major bargain.
Walk along Main Street downtown. There is an ever changing array of restaurants and you can pick out what looks good and busy. Patrick's is a sort of sports bar type place, but has good food at really reasonable prices.

I have to respectfully disagree with Patrick. How can he recommend Fred's after saying that the other recommendations are mre upper?

My recommendations list some of the fonest places with main dishes ranging anywhere from $12-$20 per.
Maximo's
Fandango's
Jo-To's

There are ofcourse some less expensive spots on Siesta Key, but they are very easy to find and they are more of a local/beah type spots.
Gilligan's
Daquiry deck
Old Salty Dog
Siesta Key Oyster Bar
Beach Club

They are all located in the Village on Ocean Blvd. These places re ok for your typical hamburger/seafood type places.

I was just trying to recommend something more upscale, yet nothing expensive.

Posted again to correct ALL the mistakes

I have to respectfully disagree with Patrick. How can he recommend Fred's after saying that the other recommendations are more upper/expensive?

My recommendations list some of the finest middle of the road places with main dishes ranging anywhere from $12-$20 per.
Maximo's
Fandango's
Jo-To's

There are of course some less expensive spots on Siesta Key, but they are very easy to find and they are more of a local/beach type spots.
Gilligan's
Daquiry Deck
Old Salty Dog
Siesta Key Oyster Bar
Beach Club
Chubby's

They are all located in the Village on Ocean Blvd. These places are ok for your typical hamburger/seafood type places.

I was just trying to recommend something more upscale, yet nothing expensive

If I'm wrong I apologize. I've mainly had lunch at Fred's which was a big bargain. But we had a great dinner there and I thought the entrees were primarily under $20, except for the steaks. Am I wrong? In any case, it sure isn't in the same category as Cafe Europe, Michael's on East, and some of the other places talked about on the "French thread".

Hi

I'd agree with Patrick as to the restaurants on Main Street. Most of them are good, some are innovative and for the most part they're reasonable.

Did you visit any of the restaurants in the area when you cam down to Longboat Key?

Thank you AAflyer & Patrick, we will have a look at them when we visit Siesta Key & longboat key in May. Any other recommendations are welcome as we are staying a fortnight.

Message: Diane--Here are my recommendations for that area.

Breakfast: Broken Egg (Siesta Key)

Lunch: Marina Jack (Sarasota) We ate there in the evening and it was more dressy; lunch is more casual. Beautiful view!

Dinner: Phillippi Creek (Sarasota), Crow's Nest (Venice), Flying Bridge (Osprey), Caroline on the Bay (Osprey) and if you tire of seafood and want Amish cooking, try Sugar & Spice (Sarasota)--save room for dessert!

Most of the places I've suggested are quite casual because that fits our vacationing style. We like basic seafood, nothing fancy. Hope this helps. Have a great time in Siesta Key. It is one of my Florida favorites!

Whoa, be careful with Marina Jack. The food would be okay for a mid-priced place, but there's a substantial "view" surcharge. Lunch only.

You might want to try the Dry Dock on Longboat Key as well.

thank you everyone for all your helpful suggestions. We have always found restaurants by trial & error when we have visited before, but I have to say that we have never had a bad meal . I am really looking forward to going back to Florida again in may

Some of my favorites include Chutney's on Hillview (Indian,Middle Eastern and Greek) run by a husband and wife. It's a very friendly neighborhood place. Bonefish Grill has wonderful food, if you can stand the overly-enthusiastic wait-staff! Cafe Epicure on Main and Palm has nice Italian food, Citrus, in Burns Court area is my favorite lunch spot (Good shoping as well!) Tropical Thai, located on Main Street, and my favorite, for it's wonderful food, service and ambiance is Lavonda's in Towles Court. In May, you'll be able to dine on the porch!
Have a great visit!

dabrah, which would you suggest for a Saturday lunch before Asolo in a couple weeks -- Citrus or Lavanda's? One of our guests is a vegetarian by the way. Had hoped for Alley Cat, but hear it is closed now?

My last question never got answered, but today was the day for the show at Asolo, and we opted for lunch at Lavanda's. It was a wonderful place which we thoroughly enjoyed. Our only regret was we didn't have any time to browse the galleries thanks to the bumper to bumper traffic going an average of 45 miles an hour (no, I'm not exaggerating) nearly the entire way from Naples to Sarasota.

We visited Sarasota two years ago and ate at two of the recommended places. Sugar and Spce is very homey with very good food, reasonable prices, and outstanding pies. It is a fairly large facility, so, although there may a wait, it should not be excessive. It is located in a shopping center and is not pretentioujs. On the other hand, Mariner Jack's is more pricey; we were there for lunch on a gorgeous December day and enjoyed the ambience, view, and the food.
Go on the early side to avoid crowds.

Thanks Patrick, we'll give Lavanda's a try this week