Good casual waterfront recs in Sarasota?

[CapeCodGuy]

Living on Cape Cod one usually has to choose between good food or the ambiance of a waterfront location. Unless you go very high end it's hard to get both. We'll be staying on Siesta Key for a week in October. Our splurge night out will be Ophelia's on the Bay. We could really use some recs for decent lunches and or dinners which are casual and with a view, Have read the threads on this board but most here seem to post about fine dining options rather than casual chow. Help!

[ellimac13]

When you get here on Friday, go to the village and go to Blase Cafe. It sits back in a little shopping plaza. You will be able to spot it by all the plants and flowy curtain things outside. Not on the water, but the ambience can not be beat. Sit at the bar, originally from the Don Cesar in St. Pete, order a martini and ask the people around you where to go. You will be flooded with responses. The food at the Blase is really good, and now they have some less expensive items to choose from. Also, ask for Todd. He's a server there and grew up on Cape Cod. Ophelia's is an awesome pick for your splurge night out. Captain Curt's really does has the best Clam Chowder, Ever! Was the first non-northeast restaurant to ever win the Rhode Island chowder comp. O'learys out by Marina Jack's is a must if you've never been. Agreed, that the view is the best and the food is cheap. So many great, locally owned restaurants in Sarasota, sorry you only have a week.

[keysdax]

Since this is a very old post, just wondering if there are any updates or new places to check out.

[wheaton24]

Try Waterfront and Waterfront Too on Route 41. They're on the water (on inlets) -- not the prettiest view, but it'll pass. Very casual and decent food with terrific beer batter rolls. Enjoy your visit.

[smokedbutt]

You're usually safe with Irwin's recommendations. If you are not a total treehugger and don't mind burning a couple of gallons extra of fuel, try the Casey Key Fish House, Blackburn rd., about 10 mi. south of downtown Sarasota.. It's got everything from burgers and the ever-present grouper sandwich to Boullabaise (sp??) and Rack of Lamb. Great waterfront views, very good food, prices in line with quality (e.g. not overpriced and crap). Note: closed September, until the 26th, and open-air, ie. no a/c. No matter. Try it!

[cuffster]

Dry Dock on the south end of Longboat Key is a great casual place (usually very crowded) with both entrees and reasonably priced sandwiches/seafood pasta dishes and nice view -- right on the water, you can eat outside if it's nice. Good fish chowder. I beg to differ on Marina Jacks -- great views and atmosphere, but I would stick to drinks and maybe appetizers rather than a meal -- we've had many office lunches/events there, and the food has always been mediocre, but it's fun for happy hour. I second the rec on Phillippi Oyster Bar -- we always take out-of-towners there. Also, Capt. Curt's on Siesta Key recently won a big award for best clam chowder --- we go to cape cod every year, and Capt Curt's chowder actually stacked up to some good ones on the cape, so you may want to go there just to compare or if you get homesick! The rest of the menu is traditional fla. touristy seafood.

[KiltedCook]

BeachCracker - try Walts on Tamiami Trail just south of Bee Ridge on the west side of the road. It's a Fish Market and Restaurant. GOOD food, very fresh (the family are fishermen), in a picnic table sort of venue. Definately casual; no waterfront though...

[Longboat]

I would drive past New Pass Bait Shop and Grill (I was actually there today at the bait shop) and go another 100 yards and dine at The Salty Dog. http://www.theoldsaltydog.com/default... The New Pass food service is basically a stand where you get your own food and then find some uncomfortable place to sit. (I've not tasted the food, it may very well be excellent.) The Salty Dog is also on the water but it's a real restaurant and there's a much bigger menu and and waitress/waiter service. During Tampa Bay football games and in season it's hard to get a table. There's a Salty Dog on Siesta but it's not on the water. You can see photos of the place on the website (above) as well as the menu. The food is what you would expect -- decent, and the ambiance is a lot of fun.

[Nick]

Star Fish Company in Cortez, north of Siesta, is another good option. It's a fish market and restaurant. You order from a window and then sit out on their covered dock which overlooks the mangroves and the bay. It's a little bit of a drive from Siesta, but a very pretty drive.

[irwin]

New Pass Bait Shop and Grill just before going over the Longboat Key (Blue) bridge on the right. Best view, best Sarasota hamburgers. Ask for the bun to be grilled or toasted because sometimes the bun comes cold. What a view !!
Another nice view is Turtles on Siesta Key, and the food is ok...
Marina Jacks probably has the best view in Sarasota, and food is decent.
Next to Marina Jacks is the town park, with a very small fast food stand, but the view is breathtaking.
You can go to Lido Beach Hotel, and they have a snack shack on the beach by the pool. Or if you want good breakfast or lunch go to Yoders on Baiha Vista for excellent food in Amish Country, but no view. Try it--its different. Another favorite of mine is the Citrus Cafe on the corner of Pineapple and Coconut for lunch with the best salads in Sarasota. The owner is from Maine which is were I live in the summer months.
For Pizza you must try Dometrio's on 41 South, or El Greco on Main St. Both places have pizza's that will blow your mind. I can keep going, but I don't want to put you to sleep. Have a wonderful trip, and report back to us.....

[CapeCodGuy]

Thanks for the post! I look forward to trying a few of your recs and will report back. If you have more, lay them on me, no worry of me getting bored. If you're ever planning a visit to Cape Cod or the Islands I'll return the favor! Is there any place of note on Siesta Key itself? (We're staying on the south part of the key so Longboat isn't terribly convenient and we've tried many of the places there on past vacations. Thanks!!

[BeachCracker]

Siesta Key has plenty of casual chow, but the views are virtually all dedicated to condos and residences. If simply waterfront is what you are after, the closest is Coasters, just across the Stickney Point bridge. Unfortunately my experiences there have not been that good, though I haven't been back in several years.

A little north of Stickney Point Road on Hwy 41 is Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar, with good food and waterfront, though not what you'd call a spectacular view. We usually get there at least once each visit to Siesta.

If a terrific view is important, you can't beat Marina Jack, about 15 minutes from Turtle Beach. They also served me the best roast beef sandwich ever.

If you find yourself in Venice, check Sharky's At The Pier. As implied, it's on the pier and definitely waterfront with a view. Even better in the evening where it's the best place I know to watch the sunset over dinner. Tiki casual on the deck or a little more upscale indoors.

[CapeCodGuy]

Waterfront is always nice, but am also interested in chowish places without that requirement. More recs the better!