50 Best American Restaurants in Sarasota

“Very attentive service, great outdoor seating, tasty menu with so many good options to pick from. Grouper catch of the day (blackened per server recommendation) added the scallop enhancement and sweet potato fries was phenomenal with a refreshing cucumber spritz mocktail“

“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!!“

“Love the food and the service“

“I love to share my food experience with other people, as local guide I write reviews and share photos of the best restaurants, bakeries, pizzerias and cafés I have tried during my world trips. I travel a lot and it allows me to try many places in US and abroad. Especially I love to try vegetarian dishes, even I’m not 100%, but only about 80% vegetarian. Surprisedly I found this very nice place almost next to my house in Sarasota. It’s not so easy to find restaurant with a very good sushi, colorful and 100% vegan in such small town like Sarasota. If you’re looking for a phenomenal not only vegetarian lunch or dining experience, look no further than LILA. Their menu is a culinary masterpiece, offering an incredible selection of dishes that cater to diverse tastes and preferences. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff is friendly and attentive, making every visit a true pleasure. I’ve dined at Lila several times and have never been disappointed – it’s truly a must-visit destination for any food lover (not only vegetarian).“

“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!“

“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.“

“Our family ate here multiple times on vacation! Food is delicious and service is friendly, fast and efficient. We miss it already!“

“Our family ate here multiple times on vacation! Food is delicious and service is friendly, fast and efficient. We miss it already!“

“Great food, great people.“

“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!“

“It has been a few years since we have dined at Ruth's Chris. This was our first time at this location and it did not disappoint!! Kathleen was our waitperson and she was VERY good. The manager checked in on us a few times to make sure everything was going well, which I thought was a nice touch. We each had the Ruth's Classics and honestly there was so much food we brought home cat bags. The steaks were cooked perfectly and everything tasted wonderful. Thank you for a nice evening.“

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

“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.“

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

“Food is good. I'd give it 5 stars but we have amazing places in Sarasota with extensive menu's. I like a good burger and theirs is simple and hearty. The atmosphere is old sarasota and I love the vibe. Service we had was from someone who most likely has years of experience because she was on point and non-intrusive. She read my mind on being a diet coke addict and had another glass ready for me before I finished my first one and made an assertive recommendation when I asked. Thats a win for me! What I assume was owner came by and greated us briefly to check in and didn't say anything more than how we were doing. Its similar to the look and feel of Siesta Key Oyster Bar. There is a great looking bar, good beach bar ambiance (not by the beach) and a stage for live music.“

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

“Stopped into Duff’s Famous Wings on Clark Road and had a great experience! We sat at the bar, and April was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our visit. The salad was fresh, the wings were outstanding, and it’s easy to see why they’re famous. Great food, excellent service, and a fun atmosphere. We’ll be back!“

“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.“

“Fantastic Food, Well Prepared, Always Fresh, Always Delicious Fantastic Gracious Owners we have become great friends with! If you live in this part of Florida This Should Be Your Top Choice!“

“We came back and this time came for breakfast Delicious! Loved that they had fresh fruit -including berries -instead of potatoes as an option! Also the homemade jam was awesome Omelettes were delicious Friendly and attentive staff ! Def a place to come !“

“This place is just amazing!“

“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!“

“Really like this place. Having a bar run and owned by a non-profit is just cool. You can tell by the better than average food price. Corn hole lege was playing in the big room. Inside bar with A/C and an outside bar with open mic night on a Monday.
See our YouTube channel Coolest Life.“

“Fresh flowers and living plants add charm and freshness to the ambience. The establishment is very clean and colorful. The food is fresh veggies, grains, and superfoods.Lots of Vegetarian option. Service was great Dante and Josh were friendly and genuinely nice. 5 ⭐️“

“great food like grandma and grandpa made it, great prices and friendly staff.“

“Simple, tasty home-style food at a great price“

“Came to this establishment after having a long day was seated quickly and had Emma as our waitress Emma was wonderful, she was very attentive and gave really good recommendations overall very happy with the experience an professionalism Emma provided! Keep up the good work and we shall see you next time!“

“Great Italuan waitress. Best salmon!!!“

“We had lunch today at Oak & Stone in North Port. Wellen Park! Great food service and pleasant atmosphere. 5 ⭐️“

“Today, Saturday the 2ns of May was the first time I visited any of these Restaurants. So I read all the negative responses of other customers. I had quite the opposite findings. 1. It was lunch and not dinner but there was no waiting for a table for 5. 2. We had a student waiter and his coach that were very attentive. 3. The first thing I asked for was Unsweetened Ice Tea and they had it. 4. I had heard about their meatballs being so great, and they were great but small. 5. It was the best Spaghetti sauce I've ever had in a Restaurant. Most are under cooked, this one wasn't.. Being raised in an Italian family, this is the only one I would come back for. 6. The Wife had a Salad and enjoyed it with enough to take home. 7. The food came out in 15 minutes flat. The drinks were immediate. 8. The Men's room decor was perfect and clean.. While others had bad service and other problems, we had excellent service and good food.“

“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.“

“A wonderful experience. Great atmosphere and food.“

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

“The food and service did not disappoint. My wife had the mahi tuna salad. It was excellent and crunchy as described on the menu I had scallops. They were perfectly cooked and very tender. Service was very good. Everything arrived timely hot, and the waiter did not hover have eaten at hundreds of restaurants and this is one of the better onesnot exceptionally expensive and in a mall but quite good food and service and I highly recommend.“

“A very quaint and simple place, not too big of a menu which is greatly appreciated. Right off the bat he was very welcoming and was kind enough to give us a run down of the menu and suggestions as this was our first time getting lobster rolls. We decided on a classic and connecticut roll and they tasted as good as they looked! Great place for my first lobster roll :)“

“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 👍“

“This restaurant is ABSOLUTELY amazing!! The food is soooo good (and original) and the service is top notch. From the beautiful smile and warmth that we were greeted to by Marilyn, to the friendly and phenomenal service by Lauren, and to the wonderful conversation and love exuding from the owner Suzanne…this place is a GEM. We were so blessed to come here for Easter brunch. Looking forward to (ALWAYS) coming back in the future!!“

“Absolutely delicious food! Very pleasant and efficient wait staff. We used the Savor Sarasota menu, and it was impressive with options of sauces and choices. Wonderful experience. We ate in the comfort controlled temperature, outdoor covered patio. Very pleasant, and lovely, even on a very hot day.“

“I love this place for its elegance and great food. This is an upscale, casual eatery where the chefs are talented and the staff is not overbearing. Sometimes there’s a wait but it’s worth it. There’s a large bar area and the dining room oozes elegance. These guys know how to treat customers and are not confused as to what they’re doing—great meal, great atmosphere, talented chefs and professional staff. Can’t beat it.“

“This past Sunday while I was waiting for my flight i decided to stop by Mattison's Sunday around 5:00 PM. After sitting down and ordering drinks and food, our meal came out in a very timely manner with how busy it was in the restaurant at that time. The food came out hot and delicious. I had the stir fry and my husband ordered the chicken riggies. The food and service and was great. The only complaint we had was seeing the cook with his hat on sideways was vaping right in front of the grill which, in my opinion, was unprofessional. Hopefully this issue gets addressed. In addition to the great food, Becky our server was very attentive and very nice. Thank you!“

“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!“

“Our server and the chef were phenomenal and took very good care of us! We were celebrating our son’s 15th birthday. He has multiple food allergies and doesn’t often get to eat at restaurants. They assured him his dinner would be safe. And everything was perfectly cooked and delicious! We are very grateful!“

“We’ve had the pleasure of being served by Raymond several times, and every experience has been just as wonderful as the last. He has an incredible energy, a genuinely warm and friendly personality, and is always attentive to every detail. My husband and I have both commented on how much his presence alone makes our dinner more enjoyable. His energy is absolutely contagious, and his amazing, full-of-life laugh is truly unforgettable. He brings so much joy to the dining experience and has a special way of making guests feel welcome. Outstanding service is one thing, but his personality takes it to another level. He is truly a gem and a big reason we look forward to coming back!“

“Cod & chips to go was done perfectly, just like in the UK. They even have Heinz malt vinegar.
We’ve been to several higher-end sitdown restaurants in the area who have fish and chips on the menu and this is definitely the best we’ve had here.“

“Their food is really good! We eat there every week. The one exception is their Skillets Potatoes - they're usually undercooked, then topped with green onions and broiled until the green onions are burned. Every Single Time. Come on, Corporate, Pay Attention!“

“Absolutely stunning restaurant and the food and service match the atmosphere. Our server Julio was fantastic. He was knowledgeable, personable, and went out of his way to take some pictures for us. You have to go if you’re in the area!“

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

“🌟🌟🌟🌟the best family restaurant!“

“Love this place. Great live music.“

“The go to spot for breakfast is in downtown Sarasota“