Sarasota’s dining scene is as varied as the city itself. You can linger over Spanish and Cuban favorites on St. Armands Circle, watch the light change across Sarasota Bay or head inland for pie, pancakes and a wonderfully eccentric taste of Old Florida.
These eight restaurants stand out not only for what is on the plate, but for the setting, history and sense of place surrounding the meal.
1. Columbia Restaurant: Sarasota History on St. Armands CircleVisit restaurant →
Columbia Restaurant has welcomed Sarasota diners on St. Armands Circle since 1959. Its Mediterranean-style rooms, colorful tilework and shaded patio make the setting feel inseparable from the Spanish and Cuban menu.
The tableside Original “1905” Salad, Cuban sandwich, paella and sangria are part of the restaurant’s long family story. Stop for lunch after Lido Beach, celebrate over dinner or settle in for a leisurely meal before strolling the Circle.
2. Chart House: Sunset Dining on Longboat KeyVisit restaurant →
Chart House Longboat Key pairs seafood and prime rib with breathtaking views of the water. The dining room and terrace make it a natural special-occasion choice, especially when your reservation lines up with sunset.
The atmosphere is polished but relaxed enough to feel like a coastal escape. Requesting a view is worthwhile, although a particular table can never be guaranteed.
3. Ophelia’s on the Bay: A Romantic Siesta Key EveningVisit restaurant →
At Ophelia’s on the Bay, the menu changes with seasonal ingredients and the day’s seafood, while the bayfront location supplies the drama. It is the kind of place that turns dinner into an evening rather than a quick stop.
Outdoor seating is weather permitting, and the restaurant notes that an indoor backup may not be available when it is fully booked. If dining outside matters to you, call on the day of your reservation to confirm.
4. Selva Grill: Artful Latin Fusion DowntownVisit restaurant →
Selva Grill brings Latin fusion—with a particular emphasis on Peruvian influences—to downtown Sarasota. Ceviches, seafood and steaks arrive with bold flavors and beautiful presentation, while the lounge adds energy later in the evening.
Selva also has a University Town Center location, but the original downtown restaurant is the one to choose when you want to pair dinner with a night on Main Street.
5. Shore Longboat Key: Coastal Style on the WaterVisit restaurant →
Shore Longboat Key delivers modern coastal dining in a breezy waterfront setting at 800 Broadway Street. Seafood, cocktails and a relaxed, stylish atmosphere make it an easy choice for a long lunch, sunset drink or dinner near the northern end of Longboat Key.
The former St. Armands location closed in 2025, so be sure your directions lead to the operating Longboat Key restaurant.
6. Yoder’s Restaurant & Amish Village: Sarasota Comfort FoodVisit restaurant →
Family-owned Yoder’s Restaurant & Amish Village has served Sarasota since 1975. The restaurant is known for Amish home cooking, pressure-fried chicken, hearty breakfasts, homemade baked goods and a pie case capable of changing your plans for dessert.
The adjoining market, deli, gift shop and coffee shop make this more than a single meal stop. Yoder’s is closed Sundays, and the different parts of the village keep their own hours.
7. Linger Lodge: Wonderfully Weird Old FloridaVisit restaurant →
Linger Lodge sits on the Braden River in Bradenton and dates its campground story to 1945. The dining room is lined with taxidermy and a few deliberately outrageous creations from a former owner—including the jackalope, Alaskan fur fish and walking catfish. The menu ranges from burgers and smoked meats to Florida specialties such as alligator and frog legs.
It is quirky, scenic and completely unlike a polished beach restaurant—which is exactly the appeal. Reservations are available, and the restaurant is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
8. The Breakfast House: A Colorful Sarasota MorningVisit restaurant →
The Breakfast House serves breakfast and lunch inside a collection of colorful bungalows on Fruitville Road. Pancakes, omelets, Benedicts and changing specials make it feel playful and personal rather than predictable.
The restaurant does not accept regular reservations, so arrive with time to spare. It remains open at 1817 Fruitville Road while its owners work toward a future move to a new property farther east.
Before you choose a table
Think about the experience you want as much as the cuisine: sunset or history, polished or playful, downtown energy or wonderfully weird Old Florida. For waterfront restaurants, ask about outdoor seating and weather policies. For small dining rooms, large parties and peak-season weekends, plan ahead.
Finding the Sarasota table that fits your mood
Sarasota can take you from a sunny St. Armands patio to a romantic bayfront table, a historic cottage, an Amish pie counter or one of Old Florida’s quirkiest dining rooms. Choose the setting that suits the day—and save room for the story that comes with the meal.
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