As tourist season finally slows down and the spring weather remains gorgeous, it’s the ideal time to dine with a view, which is why I recently spotlighted the 10 best waterfront restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton.
Four of those local dining destinations have been chosen for our USA TODAY Network Florida Dining & Entertainment team’s newly published story: “What’s the best waterfront restaurant in Florida? 17 favorites for food, drinks and fun!”
You will find restaurants selected from Sarasota as well as Manatee County, with places overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, Sarasota Bay, and the Intracoastal Waterway.
Presented in alphabetical order, here’s information on all four of my favorite waterfront restaurants located in Sarasota-Manatee.
Best waterfront restaurant in Sarasota: 10 favorites I love to recommend
Best waterfront restaurant in Florida: 17 favorites for food, drinks and fun!
Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news and reviews plus info on things to do every Friday
Beach Bistro
6600 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach; 941-778-6444; beachbistro.com
Boasting decades of history and numerous honors, Beach Bistro excels at fine dining done Florida-style. Secure a table on the soft white sands of Anna Maria Island and watch the waves gently crash on the shoreline while indulging in a fabulous five-course tasting menu. It begins with a mini cocktail and an equally sublime shot of ice cream, and somehow, only gets better from there. Choose from iconic dishes such as Lobstercargots and Bistro Bouillabaisse, and be sure to consider my personal favorite, the grouper grenobloise.
10 best romantic restaurants for fine dining in Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice
Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant
760 Broadway St., Longboat Key; 941-383-2391; marvistadining.com
There might not be a more enchanting waterfront dining experience in Florida than being seated at the wrought-iron tables located under the buttonwood trees overlooking Sarasota Bay at Mar Vista, which also offers a charming covered deck for seating that overlooks the restaurant’s 14-slip dock. To complement the Old Florida setting with more than 100 years of history, Mar Vista serves delectable Southern cuisine including the Lemon & Herb grouper entrée that features a fresh filet of fish covered in a superior beurre blanc, served with a side of smartly seasoned rice and delectable sausage made from Florida wild boar via Shogun Farms in Seffner. Local resident Ed Chiles, son of former Gov. Lawton Chiles, owns Mar Vista along with the nearby Anna Maria Island waterfront restaurants Beach House and Sandbar.
Oldest restaurants in Manatee County? 10 historic dining destinations
Pop’s Sunset Grill
112 Circuit Road, Nokomis; 941-488-3177; popssunsetgrill.com
Pop’s offers a tropical getaway along the Intracoastal Waterway by the Albee Road Bridge connecting Casey Key to Nokomis. Originally opened as Urbanek’s Fish Camp in 1954, Pop’s produces a winning combination of Old Florida charm and modern features, such as the three-level, full-liquor tiki bar. While stopping by Pop’s for libations and daily live music is always fun, be sure to bring your appetite. Personal favorites include the smoked mahi spread, fresh grouper cooked on the open-flame grill, and a veggie skewer that is not to be dismissed.
Bucket list: Discover Sarasota County’s 100 best restaurants, fun things to do, places to visit
Star Fish Company
12306 46th Ave. W., Cortez; 941-794-1243; starfishcompany.com
Nestled along Sarasota Bay in the fishing village of Cortez, Star Fish Company offers exceptional Gulf seafood with a generous serving of Old Florida charm. Credit Karen Bell, a third-generation Cortezian dedicated to preserving her family’s commercial fishing heritage. She not only owns Star Fish and its adjoining fish market, but also a fleet of commercial fishing boats and the adjacent “fish house.” While dining at her dockside restaurant boasting a century of history, you’ll be captivated by the fishermen working alongside seabirds and the occasional dolphin. Star Fish serves expertly prepared Florida favorites like grouper, shrimp and oysters. However, the restaurant is particularly renowned for its mullet, a fish best enjoyed fried or blackened with a side of cheese grits.
Star Fish Company in Cortez named one of the best restaurants in U.S.
Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Best waterfront restaurants in Sarasota Bradenton