10 best romantic restaurants for fine dining in Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice
While my favorite restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton include many casual places, today's list of the 10 best romantic dining destinations focuses on upscale establishments.
These restaurants — boasting elegant settings, often including a waterfront view, and excellent cuisine — are perfect for special occasions. They are the kind of places where you don't worry too much about prices because you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or even a holiday such as Valentine's Day — still observed every February 14th and quickly approaching, gentlemen!
This list features restaurants spanning from Venice to Anna Maria Island, and from downtown Sarasota to downtown Bradenton, with a couple of stops in between on Longboat Key. Presented in alphabetical order, here are my 10 favorite restaurants in Sarasota and Manatee counties for those special occasions.
Top 10 restaurants I recommend when asked 'Where should I eat in Sarasota and Bradenton?'
10 best restaurants in downtown Sarasota, from fancy to casual
Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news and reviews plus info on things to do every Friday
Beach Bistro
6600 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach; 941-778-6444; beachbistro.com
The crown jewel of waterfront restaurants in Sarasota and Manatee counties, and perhaps the entire west coast of Florida, Beach Bistro situates guests on the sugary white sands of Holmes Beach overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The postcard-perfect setting is ideal for the five-course tasting menu, featuring iconic dishes such as Lobstercargots and Bistro Bouillabaisse.
Restaurant reviews: Best waterfront spots for seafood on Anna Maria Island
Château 13
535 13th St. W., Bradenton; 941-226-0110; chateau-13.com
If you're in search of a spot that is both hip and romantic, with a menu steeped in the flavors and traditions of Western Europe, make sure to reserve a table at Château 13 — and prepare your palate for the chef's three-course prix fixe experience. Located in downtown Bradenton, just south of bustling Old Main Street, Château 13 landed at No. 40 on Yelp's latest list of the Top 100 Florida Restaurants. During a recent visit, I fell in love with the filet mignon featuring maître d'hôtel butter, red wine jus, truffle potato purée, fresh asparagus, and a side of Petrichor Mushrooms grown right here in Sarasota. I also crushed hard on the greatest truffle parmesan fries you will find in town, especially when accompanied by Château 13's expertly prepared hollandaise sauce.
10 best restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton to impress out-of-town guests
Crow's Nest
1968 Tarpon Center Drive, Venice; 941-484-9551; crowsnest-venice.com
Opened in 1976 and overlooking Venice's South Jetty with indoor and outdoor seating, Crow’s Nest was named one of the “100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America for 2019” by OpenTable. Popular menu items include the raw bar selections, such as oysters and clams, the Grouper Key Largo, and the filet mignon served with circus legend and longtime Venice resident Gunther Gebel-Williams’ steak sauce.
Best waterfront restaurants in Venice, North Port, Osprey, Nokomis area for awesome views
The Doctor's Office
5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach; 941-213-9926; doctorsofficeami.com
If your loved one appreciates an exceptional cocktail or two paired with elevated cuisine such as prime tenderloin, fresh seafood, and one of the best desserts that I've tasted in recent memory (the Praline Alexandra), make an appointment at The Doctor's Office. The bar area, where muted black-and-white movies are played along with recordings by the likes of 1950s titans such as Frank Sinatra, is a delightful place to drink and dine. But for special occasions (like Valentine's Day — hint, hint), be sure to call ahead and secure a table in the garden, where a chandelier and twinkling lights dangle from the outstretched tree limbs, creating a truly enchanting setting located within walking distance of the beach.
Ticket Editor: Beach Bistro founder cancels Sarasota restaurant, expands on Anna Maria Island with The Doctor's Office
Euphemia Haye
5540 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key; 941-383-3633; euphemiahaye.com
Open since 1975 and occupying a historic cottage on Longboat Key, Euphemia Haye serves beloved dishes such as Euphemia's Prime Peppered Steak, the roasted duck filled with bread stuffing, and the prepared-to-order Caesar salad. Plus, and this is a big "plus," all of the pies and pastries are made from scratch in-house, are among the best around, and can be enjoyed downstairs after dinner or upstairs in the adorable Haye Loft.
Restaurant News: Longboat Key landmark opened in 1975 has been sold to a longtime employee
Indigenous
239 S. Links Ave., Sarasota; 941-706-4740; indigenoussarasota.com
Occupying a cottage in downtown Sarasota's charming Towles Court neighborhood, Indigenous is where owner Steve Phelps, a two-time James Beard Award semi-finalist for Best Chef: South, serves sublimely tasty cuisine with a focus on sustainable seafood. The menu changes regularly, with recent entrees including creative presentations of scallops from Massachusetts, steelhead trout from Idaho, and Cheshire Pork from North Carolina.
Indigenous also offers a superior burger featuring two thin, grass-fed patties made with beef from the family-owned Providence Cattle Company in Hillsborough County. In addition to the upscale Indigenous, Phelps recently opened the counter-service PigFish restaurant inside the new Calusa Brewing taproom at 5377 McIntosh Road, Sarasota. I ranked PigFish No. 1 for my story on best new Sarasota and Bradenton restaurants of 2023.
10 best new restaurants of 2023 in Sarasota and Bradenton: My top favorites, ranked
Maison Blanche
2605 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key; 941-383-8088; themaisonblanche.com
While "Paris is always a good idea" for those seeking a romantic getaway, few of us can make regular visits to The City of Light. Fortunately, for those craving its cuisine, there's no need to travel far — just head to Maison Blanche on Longboat Key. Chef and owner José Martinez earned a Michelin star for his restaurant, La Maison Blanche, in Paris before relocating to Sarasota and opening his current version of Maison Blanche more than two decades ago. Martinez's many accolades include being named a James Beard Award semi-finalist for Best Chef: South in 2010.
Must-try entrees at Maison Blanche include the beef short ribs braised for hours and the sweetbread (throat) served with caramelized endives and beet puree. And, of course, leave room for dessert —options like roasted pineapple with banana mousse and coconut ice cream or the chocolate soufflé with crème anglaise are tempting choices.
Restaurant News: Celebrated Longboat Key chef, owner to lead new restaurant inside Sarasota car dealership
Meliora
1920 Hillview St., Sarasota; 941-444-7692; meliorarestaurant.com
If your loved one considers themselves a foodie, I can't think of a more romantic evening than securing a couple of seats at Meloria's "chef's counter," where guests can enjoy an intimate view of Chef Drew Adams and his talented team working their culinary magic. The best new Sarasota restaurant to open in 2022, must-try dishes at Meliora include the thinly sliced raw scallop bathed tableside in its warm, briny juices, accented with chives and basil, as well as the best gnocchi that I've ever tasted. Meliora placed at No. 87 on Yelp's Top 100 Florida Restaurants rankings, which is great, but it should have ranked higher and earned Adams a James Beard nomination.
Restaurant review: Meliora for everything from a raw scallop to an orange creamsicle
Michael's on East
1212 S. East Ave., Sarasota; 941-366-0007; bestfood.com
If your loved one appreciates a premium aged steak paired with a world-class bottle of wine, then please reserve a table at Michael's on East. A Sarasota icon open since 1987 and one of the most acclaimed fine dining establishments in Florida, Michael's on East offers a luxury dining experience with indoor seating featuring a 1940s supper club atmosphere, as well as outdoor tables in the atrium under a canopy of twinkling lights.
Ophelia’s on the Bay
9105 Midnight Pass Road, Sarasota; 941-349-2212; opheliasonthebay.net
Featuring three gorgeous beaches, Siesta Key is an ideal spot for a romantic getaway — one best experienced with a gourmet dinner at Ophelia's on the Bay. Located across from Turtle Beach and overlooking Little Sarasota Bay, Ophelia's offers outside patio seating as well as two glass-walled dining rooms. Open since 1988, the restaurant specializes in seafood, such as the recent entrée highlight Key West Yellowtail Snapper with a coconut and macadamia crumb crust, tropical fruit jam, sriracha potatoes, and crispy plantain chips. In addition to fish, the menu routinely features creative beef, lamb, and duck entrees.
Best waterfront restaurants with outdoor seating in Sarasota and what to eat, drink there!
Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Best romantic restaurants in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice
