

It’s safe to say, there are no fish restaurants like it. You’ll also find a tire swing and live music (bluegrass). Their famous backyard has picnic tables nestled under a Banyan tree originally gifted by Thomas Edison. When it comes to local seafood and outdoor dining, nothing comes close. It’s a casual restaurant in the historic Burns Court neighborhood. Owen’s Fish Camp is one of the best places to eat in downtown Sarasota. Since Chef Steve Phelps is all about sustainability, you want to order local seafood. You’ll absolutely love this little restaurant in a quiet neighborhood. Locals love Indigenous and everything it stands for. If you’re looking for the best restaurants in downtown Sarasota… ask the locals. They source ingredients from Homestead Hydroponic Farm and other regional farms. The menu changes almost daily depending on what local seafood and vegetables are in season. It focuses on sustainable seafood & locally sourced ingredients. Indigenous is a farm to table romantic restaurant. Known for: Ceviche, mirin roasted Chilean sea bass, short rib spring rolls, rack of lamb, lomo saltado, skirt steak and crab cakes. Considering they have one of the best happy hour menu’s in Sarasota, Selva is a no-brainer. This is not one of those downtown restaurants that are “quiet”. While it does have a sophisticated atmosphere, it can get loud. Not to mention consistent and excellent service. Expect gourmet dishes and impeccable presentations. It’s like a red dress in a room of black suits. Selva Grill is a Peruvian restaurant that specializes in Latin fusion cuisine. If you’re looking for a new upscale restaurant that’ll beat all your expectations, make a reservation. Unique dishes with expert-level food presentation. The Kojo restaurant in Sarasota is honestly foodie heaven. Luxurious leather booths with Japanese inspired bamboo lights.įor many locals, it’s already the best dinner restaurant. Perfectly polished wooden tables with Instagram friendly wall decor. The interior design is a modern hipster’s dream. But, this is not your typical Japanese restaurant. They specialize in Asian inspired cuisine, sushi and other Japanese dishes. KOJO just opened in 2021 and it’s already one of the best restaurants in Sarasota.

Here are the best places to dine that we’ll talk about: You’ll find farm to table, locally sourced seafood, fine dining, foodie heavens and trendy new restaurants. COVID may have negatively affected some restaurants in Sarasota-we are aware of two that closed-but Bijou appears to be thriving.This is a list of the best restaurants in downtown Sarasota, Florida. For dessert, we were delighted with slices of chocolate mousse cake and pineapple upside down cake with coconut mousse. I enjoyed a grilled filet mignon with baby zucchini, roasted red potatoes, lobster bread crumbs and espagnole sauce. For an entree, my wife had a roasted rack of lamb with spinach gnocchi, tomato confit and pistachio mint sauce.

For starters, we had a colossal shrimp cocktail, Escargot Bouriguignon and a roasted garlic Caesar salad. Open from 5 to 9 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 5 to 10 on Friday and Saturday, it remains a popular gathering place for business people while also attracting the theater crowd and out-of-towners like us who remember how good the lunch menu was. Established in 1986, in a restored 1920s gas station, the 134-seat venue also offers two courtyards for outdoor dining. Located at 1287 1st Street, in the heart of the city's theater and arts district, near the opera house, this upscale cafe features a mix of French and California cuisines. After COVID, Bijou became a dinner/only restaurant. Before COVID, Bijou Garden Cafe in Sarasota, Florida, was one of our go-to destinations for lunch.
