Sarasota Dining
 

We are going to Sarasota, FL (Longboat Key) for a week in March and would like some suggestions on some great restaurants in the area for dinner and breakfast. We are in our 30s/40s, no kids and like all types of food, would like a few nights of really good seafood. Any suggestions?

Cafe L'Europe on St. Armands Circle is a very romantic small restaurant. The food and service are first rate. They serve both lunch and dinner. There are also some interesting shops in the immediate area as well.

there are many excellent restaurants on LBK and vicinity. On LBK--Pattigeorge's and Poseidon (both continental), Euphemia Haye (French-has an incredible dessert room upstairs), Mar Vista (nice for dining outside--seafood etc.)THe Colony (try Sunday Brunch) Maureen's (haven't been there but hear its good. Fun martini bar. She runs a place on Cape May that has a great reputation)Moore's Stonecrab (very casual/seafood) and Chart House. You'll find a good variety (plus lots of shopping) on St. Armands. I second Cafe L'Europe. There's also the Columbia (Spanish), Osteria (Northern Italian) and Charlie's Crab. You won't run out of good places to eat. You'll find that most restaurants in the area offer a good variety of seafood, no matter what their specialty.

All of the above are good suggestions with Cafe L'Europe being at the head of my list. If you are into Sarasota proper, do go to Michael's on East. Also Bijou is great. For a really funky lunch eat at Alley Cat Cafe in a sort of run down, but atmospheric garden. I'd personally avoid the temptation to eat at Charley's Crab on St. Armand's or the Charthouse which just looms and calls to you on Longboat Key. The Columbia on St. Armand's in pretty touristy, but the Spanish food is actually quite good and something you couldn't find everywhere. Actually I'm addicted to their house salad which I now buy the dressing for at their little shop and make at home a lot.

Patrick, I have to disagree with you on the Chart House--just had dinner there last weekend and it was excellent! Would agree that Michael's IS worth a trip into town, as is Mediterraneo. The last time I ate at Charlie's (about 9 mos ago) it was good, but you're the second person I've heard recently indicate that the quality may have slipped. By the way, I believe the house salad at Columbia you refer to is the 1905 salad. I have the recipe (from an old Southern Living cookbook). I never noticed that they sold the dressing, but will be sure to pick some up next time I'm out there, as that's the part of the recipe I can't seem to duplicate.