Sarasota restaurants
 

My husband and I will be spending the week in Sarasota in June. Any ideas for fun, laid-back restaurants on the water?
Thanks, Nancy

O'Leary's on the bayfront in downtown. It's right next to Marina Jack. Also, Old Salty Dog on City Island (near Mote Marine). Phillipi Creek Oyster Bar is very local and good. A nicer place, but still casual with decent food, is Dockside on Longboat Key. Take a drive to Anna Maria Island to enjoy a sunset at the Sandbar. Make sure to take an evening to walk down Main Street, and have a drink one place, an app another, etc. Lots of great places, and fun sights.

Hi all,
We just got back from Longboat Key...
Dockside quickly became our favorite
restaurant of the 3 or 4 we tried. The food was always great...and reasonably priced. We also tried Crab and Fin at St.Armands which was good but maybe a little overpriced.....and the Chart House which was also good but expensive....the food was as good as the Drydock.
Have fun....it's so nice down there!

Dockside on Longboat would be my first choice, with Ophelia's on Siesta Key next.
Phillipi Creek is always jammed-wwe never got there because we decided it wasn't worth the wait!
If you get in the downtown area there are some excellent restaurants. In Burns Court, the Citrus Cafe is terrific, and if you like Cuban, El Habenero is fun- also in Burns Court.And we loved 516 Burns- yes, in Burns Court.

We walk down the beach and cut in to Siesta Key village to have lunch at the Daiquiri Deck. Marcella Hazan says it has the best burgers in Sarasota, but we usually have fish sandwiches.

Is there a Dockside on Longboat Key or are you guys talking about Dry Dock?

Another fairly casual place on the water is Cafe on the Bay located inside the Longboat Key Club (bayside).
It's also a bit pricey but good food.
Another casual choice is Marina Jack near downtown Sarasota located on Sarasota Bay. if you want to take a drive past Longboat and up to Bradenton Beach there is the Sandbar located on the gulf. Very good spot to go and catch the sunset.

Yes...it is the DryDock WaterFront Grill
we are talking about (not Dockside.)
sorry for the confusion...

Try the Rod & Reel Pier on Anna Maria Island. Yes, it's a fishing pier so 'very' laid back, but great food. It's a local favorite. Great view of the Sunshine Skyway across the bay.