Brunch or Seafood Lunch between Anna Maria Island - Tampa?
We're looking to get brunch or maybe a seafood lunch on Anna Maria Island, or perhaps on the way back from Anna Maria to Tampa. Any suggestions? I've seen good reviews of the Anna Maria Oyster Bar (which apparently has 3 locations?). Any other places to consider? We went to Sandbar a couple days ago, which was okay - no problems with atmosphere, but the seafood was so-so.
We don't need any place fancy, and have a number of small children in tow, so a fancy place might actually be a bad idea. Mostly, we just want good food, and hopefully good seafood.
Any advice appreciated.
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Anna Maria Oyster Bar
6696 Cortez Rd W, Bradenton, FL 34210
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I would recommend the Anna Maria Oyster Bar highly. The food is excellent. Stick with the local Florida specialties: redfish, grouper, snapper, mahi-mahi, oysters, crabs, etc. I must admit that I haven't been to the Crab Trap in years, precisely because Anna Maria Oyster Bar's food blows the Crab Trap's away. Still, it may be time for a reevaluation. No doubt the chef has changed at the Crab Trap by now.
The Rod and Reel, located at the end of a short pier, has great views. The seafood is good and it is extremely informal. However, the tables are also close together. It's also on two levels. The level where you eat is the upper level. I think the bar is down below, as I recall. Anyway, if your kids are typical and get squirrely after about twenty minutes, you may want to choose somewhere else. If they are old enough that they could wander around the pier (a floor below you) by themselves, then this place would be ideal.
I've only been to one of the Anna Maria Oyster Bar locations, the one by the I-75 off ramp at the intersection of 301 (just before the Braden River) and 75. It's pretty informal too, with more running space for kids. There is a deck outside, overlooking a large "pond," if you are from the north and "lake," if you are from Florida.
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Anna Maria Oyster Bar
6906 14th St W, Bradenton, FL 34207 -
