Restaurants near Downtown

“I have dined in, and had take-out from this establishment and in short, "This is the best Asian restaurant within 20 miles!!! Regardless of price!!" Try the steamed dumplings, if nothing else! The flavor and textures are exquisite. It's definitely a treat!!”

“My husband and I stopped in March the 10th and Evan was our server. That young man had 16 people in line waiting to be served. He remained calm, engaged, and very professional. The service is quick and even though the line was very long this young man handling all these people alone didn't excellent job. Don't know who the owner is but you are quite lucky to have him. And no I am not a family member I am from Indiana visiting the area and was quite impressed with your choice of employees. The young man is going to go somewhere in this life.”

“This place is great. It's small and they don't take reservations. But the waits are reasonable. The food was really good, I especially enjoyed the lamb Saab.”

“Pancakes are HUGE! Grits are nice and creamy. $3. for a good-sized cup. Used to go to Skillets but they reduced the amount to EXACTLY 6 oz (said the manager when I asked). 6 oz for $5,95. I sent them back and Watched her throw them away. I told my waitress "Tomorrow I will order the LARGE SIZE. For more money. And send them back. And watch them throw them away. LOL (not really, but my waitress laughed and said "Do it!" Nope. Not going back. Max's Table for me!”

“I'm not kidding when I say this has been the best coffee we have ever had. The craftsmanship and quality of each drink and flavor is like no other coffee we have had! Besides being the best coffee we have had it has also been the nicest down to earth people we have met and so glad to say it is finally a good positive experience for us everyday going to see Gabi and Patrick. Our Daily drinks are the Blueberry Dream and New Orleans cold brew coffee which are dramatically different but equally amazing id order a flight to try all of them! Thanks for adding such a pleasant local place to Sarasota!Vegetarian options: They have all your milk preferencesParking: Easy little parking lot for all shops in the plazaKid-friendliness: Super nice People people welcome everyone (they have hot chocolate ;) )”

“Been many times over the years. Overall, I give it a high rating. Food is good. Most recently had the Blackened Black Grouper. FANTASTIC!!!! My only complaint is the service at the outside bar. The bartenders are completely oblivious to a new customer’s presence every single time I’ve been there. I literally had to wave my arms around to be seen and waited on after having been walked by multiple times by all the bartenders. I believe the older gal who has been here for years is Annette. I think she hates her job. Unfriendly. Never smiles. Not one kind word until it came time to fill the out the credit card slip and leave a tip. I tip generously, usually 30%. I have a really hard time doing so when I’m clearly not even somewhat a priority. Disappointing for sure.I hope she’s able to find some joy somewhere. Perhaps it will improve her demeanor while at work.”

“Excellent establishment. I decided to come in for a quick lunch today and I am glad I did. The Açaí Bowl Took a little bit of time to make which assured me all ingredients were fresh and made with care. Multiple items to choose from so I look forward to trying something new every time I come in. The Açaí Bowl will keep you full. Plus.. this is 100X healthier than any fast food lunch breaks you may take!”

“I just ate the best sandwich I've ever ever had! 9 ounces of meat on a 9 inch chunk of Cuban bread, nice and crispy on the outside, the cheese was melted, the meat was hot, and.....I just can't believe how incredibly good this Cuban sandwich was.I also had one of their little potato torpedo looking things, papas rellenas, I believe. Crunchy on the outside, inside is mashed potato that is wrapped around some spicy beef filling. It was a very cool snack, for sure! I'll probably never get back this way, as I am from the midwest, but if I do, for darn sure I'll be stopping back in here.I did read the reviews that said it was in a convenience store/gas station, but in my head I thought it meant that it was in the building of former convenience store/gas station, but it really IS inside a gas station store. You walk in the door and the food area is to the right. Ring the bell if the wonderful owner is not in view. It's a simple menu, very fast service, and just spaced on two things I had, I imagine everything else is incredibly good.There is a seating little area outside in the back, but otherwise it's take it with you.Absolutely worth the detour off the highway!!”

“Food was fantastic and our server Abbey was wonderful. Very attentive and gave us great suggestions. We had the lobster appetizer, followed by soup and salad. For entree my husband had the Steak Diane and I had the crispy duck. We finished with chocolate mousse for dessert. So decadent! We will definitely keep it on the list for special occasions. A little too pricey for every weekend option.”

“Wonderful food, best portioned Old Fashioned (for the money) I've had in years. Great appetizers, entree was wonderful, the Lobster Bisque was outstanding. 10/10 would recommend.”

“Lamb Phall, never had it, my go-to is vindaloo. Very nice spicy and that awesome blend of bold and delicate flavors together.Chilli naan was probably some of the prettiest I've ever had and the texture was wonderful crunchy light and chewy but not too chewy.Definitely have to go back for the buffet on the weekend I believe they said they have 20 plus dishes and it's $18. I'm not an expert on Indian cuisine but this is delicious and seems like it's not just Americanized. The staff were super friendly, attentive, and passionate.This is another no-brainer win if you're looking for Indian anywhere in Sarasota County I would drive there for it. It's also quite a bit more affordable than some of the places up in Sarasota.”

“Excellent Thai Food. Thai 2 Go is absolutely my favorite!! The curries, noodles, and soups taste wonderful with delicious flavor!! Ask for Thai Hot if you like spicy. I love it!”

“I came here with the intention of ordering a burger. They had gotten good reviews and I wanted to try them out.Our server greeted us pleasantly and then made up a table of my wife's choosing. As we were being seated, our server let us know about the grouper specials. My wife and I both decided to have the grouper Reuben sandwich with tater tots. The sandwiches were delicious and I recommend them if you are in the area.When it was time to go, my wife asked for something other than styrofoam for the doggie bag and once again the server was very accommodating. Overall a very good experience.”

“Dog approved and kid approved, what more could you ask for? The service was great and they both loved their ice cream. They even offered free ice cream scoops for the pup!Kid-friendliness: Kid friendly and pup friendly!”

“Real Italians, real homemade food with tomatoes imported from Italy. The real deal here and so far the best Italian food in Venice. Sorry downtown spots, La Botte in strip mall is awesome. The gnocchi was so perfect the sauce and lasagna was great. The veal was great, the eggplant appetizer was so wonderful. Don't miss this place when in Venice”

“Stopped after a Venice beach day on a whim and so glad we did! Absolutely delishous food and wonderful staff! We will be back, Their breading coating is abs amazing, We tried fried mushroom, shrimp and chicken and wow just amazing! great atmosphere!”

“I got the double chocolate muffin, it was good, people were nice, environment was goodKid-friendliness: There are good basic things on the menu that the kids love”

“Food was amazing, the Cuban sandwich was one the best sandwiches I’ve had in my life, service was phenomenal, workers were extremely nice and caring, finally you get to eat your meal with a great view of planes taking off!”

“Such a cute and delicious breakfast spot! We split the quiche Lorraine and the bachamel croissant sandwich. She had a vanilla latte and I had a mocha. Both meals came out with a small side of fresh fruit which included raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, julienned apples soaked in a fresh and sweet fruit juice. The quiche was one of the best we’ve had anywhere, and the croissant sandwich was delicious and didn’t seem heavy, which we anticipated.We want to return soon to try their beautiful assortment of baked goods and treats.”

“We were a group of six, sat outside. The ambiance was not the greatest but the service, wine and appys were great. The appy tray was wonderful and the brie was second to none. We had received a gift cert to go here and took a few friends to try it. No one was disappointed. When we return to Florida next year we will definitely schedule another visit. Something different and fun if you are a wine drinker. The cost I considered very reasonable and the wine flights were a lot of fun. I recommend you give it a try and don't let the location in a strip mall chase you away.”

“After being let down by the "local" places on Siesta Key, we were recommended to this place by some locals and it was our best meal of the entire trip!! Mike the manager was absolutely awesome. Our server Olivia was unmatched and should be promoted immediately. She made our awesome food experience 10x better with her awesome service experience! We did not have a single disappointing thing with our meal and all 6 of us will be back every year during spring break!”

“Whenever we can, we eat breakfast or lunch at Mango Bistro. We sometimes contrive to do something in Englewood (like go to the post office there instead of our local one) specifically so we can go to Mango afterwards. Their food is all fresh and well-prepared, plus they have a wide selection of fresh juice concoctions with or without alcohol.We love just about everything on the menu. Their quiche is great and is accompanied by a huge side salad. All of their wraps, tacos, and sandwiches come with blue corn chips and fresh fruit slices, when available. The staff are warm and welcoming. And we've found the other people who eat there to be friendly as well.Thank you, Mango Bistro, for doing such a great job so consistently!Vegetarian options: They have a separate vegetarian menu.Dietary restrictions: There are many options for those who have food sensitivities. If you tell your server what issues you have, they will either recommend something for you or they will ask one of the food prep people what options they can recommend.”

“I messed up my reservation and accidentally booked a table of 5 for the following weekend. They were super understanding and accommodating despite how busy they were. the food was phenomenal and the ambiance was great. I got the branzino and it was incredible. 100% going ”

“Adana Kabob was terrific. The hostess worked hard to find us a table to our liking, the waiter was informative and attentive and the wall art was interesting and for sale. Ezme was a tasty appetizer and the entrees were excellent. Highly recommended!Parking: Busy location.”

“Cute little boutique bakery with the absolute BEST key lime pie and coconut cream pie EVER !!! Nicholas thank you so much for offering to wait for us when we couldn’t make it before store closing. You have gained a customer for life !!!”

“Decide at the last minute to stop here to avoid some traffic and parking downtown. Wasn't sure if we wanted to stay because of the limited menu. We all had the quiche Lorraine which was amazing! So glad we stayed! It was fluffy and creamy and was an unexpected delight. It is a cute little French cafe. I really wanted to have a cappuccino and forgot to order it when we left so I will need to come back! A nice surprise.”

“Since there was a wait, we sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by the bar tender. She took our drink and food order and it arrived in no time. Cool friendly place.”

“Good quality and tasty food and drinks, fast and friendly service, great competitive cheap prices. Really best fish&chips in town, salmon bowl is creative and awesome, taco bowl good portions and unique, tempura shrimp a must have, get the meatloaf if hungry, Irish stew will fill you up, burgers and home made mashed potatoes and mushrooms sauce, don't forget the jumbo all natural wings, onion rings, shrimp scampi, ..”

“This is a very nice High end Restaurant on Sarasota Bay and Siesta Key. Atmosphere was phenomenal. Somehow we ended up with a premier table on the edge of the water overlooking the Bay, with the giant fish entertaining us at the Fish lights. The service was very good, we always felt attended to. The Quality of food and drinks was excellent, we were extremely satisfied with our meal.Would highly recommend for a high end restaurant experience.Parking: Parking lot is Valet only.”

“Very good spot with an expansive menu of margaritas that goes way beyond the standard well tequila and sour mix. Surprising item is veggie quesadilla, the carne asada and bisteka are well done as are the tacos, burritos etc. My go to is Pollo Zaragoza. Only thing missing in my mind is carnitas. If you go around 630/700 be prepared to wait a bit, but you grab a margarita and sit in the beautiful courtyard.”