50 Best American Restaurants in Sarasota

“My sisters and I recently ate brunch at Classico. The food was delicious, the presentation was lovely, and most important to note, our server Brody was awesome! How refreshing it was to have such a genuinely polite and pleasant server. He really added to our dining experience. If you dine at Classico, be sure to ask for Brody!“

“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.“

“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!“

“Love the food and the service“

“Great food, great people.“

“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).“

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

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

“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 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!“

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

“Nice bar atmosphere, with friendly service. The wings are good and they have good cocktails with beer if you want. The real star is the cheese steak. This thing is good. The wings are good, don't get me wrong, but I can not get enough of the cheese steak. They have plenty of seating and we have never had to wait even though it has always been pretty full of people. The bathroom has all of these pictures of famous people eating duffs wings, it's funny. I really like this place, I wish they were closer, but I don't mind the drive.“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“The hostess Megan handled the reservation and made the start and end of the atmosphere so enjoyable. We dined and had Zoe and she was amazing. beyond exceptional service. she made our dining experience feel at home and unique and had great recommendations. The food was fantastic and handled with great care. The managers were also so kind and very attentive. Would one thousand percent be back to this location for the great service and great food.“

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

“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.“

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

“This place is just amazing!“

“Ari and Avery were absolute awesome at the bar, entertaining and fun.
What started as a normal expectation afternoon turned into that other kind of afternoon. Their energy was high, and they gave the place energy. Glad it’s what I wanted to expect 🍻“

“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.“

“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 !“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“Great Italuan waitress. Best salmon!!!“

“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.“

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

“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 ⭐️“

“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!!“

“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.“

“A wonderful experience. Great atmosphere and food.“

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

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

“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 :)“

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

“We stumbled on Yard House, after shopping late in the area. Not sure how we slept on this restaurant before this, but it's our new favorite place. The vibe is awesome. They have 80's classic music and videos playing, along with multiple sports screens. Although, it wasn't too loud and we could still easily enjoy good conversation throughout dinner. Everything was very clean, and I'm super picky. The menu had something for everyone's taste. We tried the Lobster Garlic Noodles, Sesame-Crusted Ahi Tuna, Truffle Fries and Whiskey Caramel Butter Cake. The noodles were beyond expectations. The flavor profile was so unique compared to anything similar that we've tried elsewhere...hands down the best noodle dish we've ever had! And it was loaded with huge chunks of real lobster, as well as shrimp. The ahi tuna was so tender, it could be cut with a fork...it literally melted in your mouth. Typically, I'm not a fan of ponzu sauce, but there's was incredible and went perfectly with the tuna. I also appreciate that they served it with broccolini, which had an amazing grilled taste and wasn't over salted. We also tried a horseradish aioli and wasabi sauce - both were great. The server was very upbeat, friendly, accommodating and attentive from beginning to end. It couldn't have been a more pleasant experience. We will be back and will bring friends!“

“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 👍“

“We had a great meal on the day after Thanksgiving. Abdullah was our waiter and he was the sweetest most helpful waiter we’ve ever had. We have 4 young kids and he took such good care of us.

Food was good. Prices were fair and view was fantastic.“

“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!“

“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!“

“Great friendly place, best thin crust pizza ever“

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

“WOW if I could give it more stars I would. Had dinner at the Drift Kitchen & Bar Sunday night with friends visiting us from NJ. From the hostess Stephanie, to our server Stephanie (different person just same name) and Joel the Manager were outstanding; friendly, professional, knowledgeable, the food was excellent, and the dessert define, and the view just beautiful seeing the Gulf and full city view from our table, our friends are still talking about it. Absolutely recommend just because, to celebrate special occasion.“

“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!“

“Recently visited and enjoyed my TBone Steak. It was so good I finished the whole thing. As usual, it was cooked as I ordered, seasoned to perfection. I also ordered the mushrooms to go with it, as I feel it compliments the Steak. I did not like the Corn on the Cob as the sauce really killed it but hey, that just my taste buds.
I always recommend Longhorn for Steak besides the usual high-End Steak Houses but Longhorn has always had good quality meat.
This location has GREAT SERVICE and I highly recommend.“

“Love this place. Great live music.“