35 Best American Restaurants in Sarasota

“Andrei! Was an absolutely fantastic waiter. So attentive too! The food was delicious from the French fries and salad to the pizza and pasta. A great experience! A special birthday donut with candles was delivered to our table as well. Highly recommend! Andrei made it more enjoyable too.“

“We had dinner last night and can’t stop talking about how much we enjoyed the food and service! We were celebrating my husband’s birthday and the host treated us to prosecco while we waited for our table. The filet, the halibut, the lobster tails, the desserts (especially the chocolate cake!) was all absolutely delicious!! Our server was wonderful as well! Very personable and had great menu recommendations. We will be back!!“

“Michael's on East (MOE) is one of the best fine dining establishments in Sarasota and has been in business for nearly 40 years. Ive been a customer for nearly 30 of those 40 years and despite its maturity, MOE is still hot, hopping and a crowd pleaser for those who enjoy great food, wines and service. During its nearly four decades, MOE has been wowing patrons with its fine cuisine, decor, and outstanding service. Don't be surprised if you see actors, comedians and musicians who might be performing at the Van Wezel during the winter season, sitting next to you because the concierge at their hotel recommended MOE as one of the desirable restaurants for a sensational meal, wine and service. MOE is rich in Sarasota heritage and is the perfect choice to celebrate a special occasion with that very special guest or guests. It's a delight in every way.“

“Excellent food and service! We will definitely be back. Highly recommend!“

“Amazing spot for large groups! We hosted a networking happy hour here for a group of 50! The service, atmosphere, drinks & food couldn't have been better!! Thank you Jason, Troy, Dana & bartending gals for your wonderful hospitality! Everything about your venue was a hit! Thank YOU!“

“Our favorite restaurant when we come to Siesta Key. Had dinner last night, my husband had the skirt steak, I had the pork tenderloin..Both were perfection. Be sure to make a reservation.“

“We have visited all (27) Ruth Chris within the state of Florida and this location was by far one of the best. The moment we entered the restaurant, we were met with a smile and a welcoming greeting. We were promptly seated, even though we arrived early for our reservation. Service was excellent. The ambiance and overall appearance were amazing! Steak was prepared with perfection. Certainly, will be returning to this location (Lakewood Ranch).“

“Really great food and portion sizes. Menu is 90% Ⓥ and has meat and dairy options for some reason, too. They swear they separate grills ect for meat vs veg prep. It’s in A swank part of Rosemary District in downtown Sarasota. Very active street with lots of cafes and restaurants nearby. Really liked their kale Cesar salad!“

“Having an stellar sandwich and excellent coleslaw, a must try if you are downtown SRQ.“

“Sage never disappoints and we love how the chef always loves to change it up. Not only is the inside beautiful but phenomenal rooftop bar. And the wait staff are always top notch.“

“Celebrated our wedding anniversary at Libby’s and this was the first time for my wife. We found the LWR location to be convenient, great atmosphere, with a broad menu! Portions were bordering on excessive! But we powered through some absolutely delicious food! The staff ensured we were well taken care! Carlos especially was outstanding and made sure we had a memorable and tasty anniversary dinner! She ordered the orange chicken I had the brisket burger with truffle fries You can be sure We’ll be back! Soon!! Thank you Libby’s and staff for a great evening!“

“Great food and ambience. Very professional and courteous staff. The Ribs and Salmon were both amazing!“

“the grilled fish sandwich with regular tartar sauce, fries and mushy peas. everything was wonderful“

“Great casual fare. We shared the delicious recommended Shrimpy fondue and followed with their dry rub ribs (The best in a long time) and a Cap'n Shannen's Pineapple Boat filled to the brim with deliciousness. A very friendly staff and 5 stars to our server Missy. Her recommendations were right on! The service she provided was top notch!“

“What an enjoyable night. The risotto was outstanding. Very busy and a little noisy but our server Traci made the night so fun and and enjoyable. Her attentiveness was outstanding“

“This place is just amazing!“

“Our server, Amber, was knowledgeable, professional and put the “S” in service. She made our time very enjoyable.“

“Station 400 is hands down my favorite breakfast spot in Sarasota. The food is always fresh and delicious with fun twists on the classics. It has that Cheers vibe—friendly, cozy, and family owned, so you always feel welcome. Megan and Austin are awesome servers and make every visit even better. If you want great food and a place that feels like home, this is it! Try the Lemon Curd & Fresh Blackberry Pancakes and Blood Orange Mimosa.“

“A wonderful experience. Great atmosphere and food.“

“My husband and I recently had the pleasure if dining at Sophie’s, in Saks Fifth Avenue in Sarasota. What an amazing experience. The decor both inside and outside so chic. We had Matty as our waitress. She was spot on with top notch service and a wonderful personality. We started with a bread basket of assorted toppings, delicious. He had the Tai chicken. Well prepared and perfect with seasoning. I had on of the best burger ever. Cooked and seasoned perfectly at medium rare with tasty fries. The manager checked on us several times, a nice touch you don’t see anymore. If you happen to be in the area at the mall, I highly recommend this restaurant. You will not be disappointed. We will be back.“

“It’s such a fun place to go! Food is great! Our bartender Mackenzie was AWESOME!!!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Drift at Lido Beach Club continues to set the bar for exceptional service and consistently delicious food.

I was trying to book a New Year’s Eve reservation online and everything showed as unavailable. A bit desperate, I called in and was warmly greeted by Patrice at the front desk. She could hear the concern in my voice and immediately went above and beyond. When I learned the restaurant was very popular and that I would need to leave a voicemail, Patrice took it upon herself to help — she kindly texted me her information so I could share my request directly.

Two days later, I received an unexpected call from Patrice letting me know she personally passed my information along to Dejon, the restaurant manager. That alone exceeded expectations — and then, just a few hours later, I received confirmation of our New Year’s Eve dinner reservation. I was thrilled.

We stayed on Lido Beach for two months last year and are excited to return for three months this year. Whether it’s breakfast or dinner, The Drift never disappoints. While we enjoyed great food throughout the area, The Drift truly stood out as one of the most consistent and delicious restaurants we visited.

The level of service says it all — Patrice’s care and follow-through, and Dejon’s professionalism, are perfect examples of what makes this place so special. We can’t wait to return, enjoy many more meals this winter, and continue making memories here.

Thank you Patrice and Dejon for truly going above and beyond, and for the leadership at Opal properties…their commitment to service starts at the top! highly recommend Opal properties all along the east coast (From the Wentworth Hotel in Newcastle, New Hampshire to the West Coast in Florida!).“

“My boyfriend ordered the double smash burger and I ordered the Cuban. Both were excellent and came out very quickly. Shoshanna was very attentive and took great care of us. A man who I assume to be the owner checked in on us and thanked us when we left. Very friendly staff, great food, and great atmosphere. Hope to come back and check out live music!“

“I’ve been here several times and always a great experience. Today I had to wait a little longer on my plate. The managers each came over to let me know and also offer me a free drink. I will come back regardless, but it was nice to have great customer service.“

“The unique setting of a train car decorated with lots of memorabilia from both stage & circus, offer a one of a kind dining experience. Kudos!“

“Amanda is absolutely amazing!! Always have a great time when she’s our server“

“Love the atmosphere! visit every time I'm in town.“

“Absolutely amazing experience today! Delicious food and cocktails! Thank you Danielle for exceptional service. You made my day“

“Stayed in and ate here on a Tuesday night. I just got a salad and came out quick. The place really got busy, and Paul could hardly keep up. They really need a second person for these busy times as there was always someone waiting at the counter or on their food.Ate here again and pizza was very fast!“

“Hi this is the first time I had wrote a review on a restaurant because it's totally worthy it's the best pizza in Manatee County hands down fantastic homemade dough real quality mozzarella brick oven beautiful it's worth driving 30 miles for in my opinion University and whitfield's Sarasota 👍“

“Love this place. Great live music.“

“The best dining restaurant in sarasota florida me and my family went this past Christmas we love the food the drinks and the live music and bartenders and waitress are so charming we love this place wow 🌴🇺🇸😘🌞“

“If you like a good reuben sandwich and don't want to make it home culvers has the best! Food has been excellent, not overly expensive. Senior so I don't have children with me. But is a family oriented restaurant. My compliments to culvers!“

“We had a wonderful lunch here! We’ve been staying at this Ritz for over 3 years in Sarasota and decided to try here for lunch and it did not disappoint! Fried shrimp was delicious as well as the Greek salad. Finished it off with the lobster rolls and they did not disappoint. Lindsey was amazing and showed Stellar customer service! We will be back again for sure!“

“Nice atmosphere & food was delicious“