3 Sarasota, Bradenton restaurants make Southern Living’s 15 Best Seafood Dives in Florida

Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·4 min read

Fall is finally here, and that means many of the best seafood restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton will soon be serving stone crab, with Florida's harvest season running from Oct. 15 through May 1. But even before stone crab season begins, you can already enjoy plenty of other fresh and delicious seafood options on local menus.

Several of those places were featured in Southern Living magazine's article that ranks "The 15 Best Seafood Dives In Florida." Now, I would not call any of the three Sarasota-Manatee establishments "dives," but they are all charmingly funky and not the kind of restaurants that require you to dress up so you can dine off their white tablecloths.

The restaurants featured in the Southern Living article, which are also some of my favorite waterfront restaurants in Sarasota and Cortez, are presented below in alphabetical order.

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Old Salty Dog on City Island

Old Salty Dog on Sarasota's City Island overlooking New Pass Inlet photographed July 23, 2023.
Old Salty Dog on Sarasota's City Island overlooking New Pass Inlet photographed July 23, 2023.

1601 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota; 941-388-4311; theoldsaltydog.com/city-island

While the Old Salty Dog's original location is in Siesta Key Village, and their newest one occupies a waterfront spot on the island of Venice, Southern Living chose to spotlight the Old Salty Dog found on Sarasota's City Island, overlooking the New Pass Inlet next to boat retailer MarineMax. It's also my favorite Old Salty Dog for its views, food, and adult beverages. The menu features everything from excellent wings (get the ones with Old Bay hot sauce) to standout seafood dishes like the fresh grouper or fish 'n' chips made with haddock.

However, the most famous food item remains the Salty Dog. It’s a quarter-pound hot dog made by another Sarasota institution, Geier’s Sausage Kitchen, dipped in batter and fried to a golden brown. Feeling adventurous? Try the “fully loaded” hot dog Adam Richman devoured during an episode of his old hit show on Travel Channel. Southern Living ranked Old Salty Dog No. 7 on their list and recommended the mahi-mahi or grouper sandwich.

Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar

Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar is a landmark Sarasota seafood restaurant overlooking the creek of the same name.
Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar is a landmark Sarasota seafood restaurant overlooking the creek of the same name.

5353 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-925-4444; creekseafood.com

Founded in 1978 and located about four miles south of downtown Sarasota on its namesake waterway, Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar serves seafood in an Old Florida setting with lots of deck seating, in addition to the indoor dining room and expansive bar. Open daily for lunch and dinner, popular menu items include the signature combo pots as well as the fried or baked seafood platters. Of course, oysters on the half shell, paired with a cold beer or tropical cocktail, is another favorite combo.

Southern Living ranked Phillippi Creek No. 8 and noted "you could sit for hours at one of the picnic tables, feasting on a steamed combo pot."

Star Fish Company

Star Fish Company overlooking north Sarasota Bay in the commercial fishing village of Cortez photographed July 29, 2023.
Star Fish Company overlooking north Sarasota Bay in the commercial fishing village of Cortez photographed July 29, 2023.

12306 46th Ave. W., Cortez; 941-794-1243; starfishcompany.com

An Old Florida gem located on north Sarasota Bay in the commercial fishing village of Cortez, Star Fish Company places diners at wooden picnic tables overlooking the docks. Here, you can enjoy an amazing meal while watching commercial fishing boats return to A.P. Bell Seafood Distributor next door. Established in 1940, A.P. Bell supplies fresh seafood to Star Fish and various other local, as well as international, restaurants and businesses. It’s run by Karen Bell, who opened Star Fish in the ’90s and and is also co-owner of Tide Tables, which is nearby on the water and also excels at seafood.

Probably the best way to experience Star Fish for the first time is to order the combination platter “highliner,” which includes shrimp, oysters, sea scallops and grouper. It also comes with their outstanding Southern sides: cheese grits, slaw and hush puppies. In addition, consider the blackened mullet. Cortez has been called “the town that mullet built,” and I have yet to find a restaurant anywhere that cooks and prepares that gloriously fatty fish plucked from local waters better than the folks at Star Fish.

Southern Living ranked Star Fish at No. 12 and recommended, "Go for anything made with grouper, and order a side of cheese grits or hush puppies." They also reminded readers that Star Fish is cash-only; however, there is an ATM right by the window where you place your order.

Wade Tatangelo enjoys a cold beer while waiting for his food at Star Fish Company, overlooking north Sarasota Bay in the commercial fishing village of Cortez on July 29, 2023.
Wade Tatangelo enjoys a cold beer while waiting for his food at Star Fish Company, overlooking north Sarasota Bay in the commercial fishing village of Cortez on July 29, 2023.

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: Sarasota restaurants on Southern Living Best Seafood Dives in Florida