10 Best Local Restaurants in Sarasota

Shore is a beachfront restaurant that specializes in al-fresco dining with a mid-century feel and dedication to delicious dishes perfect for a beach day and evening. They utilize creative recipes to put modern spins on classics like Key West shrimp and scallop risotto.

When you visit this restaurant, you'll find a relaxing atmosphere along with an impressive drink list. In fact, their signature cocktails are particularly popular with those looking to wind down after a day at the beach. You'll find it all in St. Armands west of downtown.

Owen's Fish Camp is an old Florida-style restaurant located on the beach and serving delicious seafood that utilizes only fresh and local ingredients. The restaurant has decades of experience and a profound history that includes a Banyan tree out front that was gifted to the original owner by Thomas Edison.

On the menu here, you'll see stunning seafood dishes that are as delicious as they are unpretentious. You'll find fish sandwiches like the Florida signature grouper sandwich as well as crab legs, shrimp, clams, and mussels, among others. Try it for yourself near downtown on the west side of Laurel Park.

Duval's Fresh. Local. Seafood. is a unique restaurant that offers top-tier seafood alongside an extensive choice of wines and creative cocktails. As the name suggests, they source their ingredients from only local fishers and farmers, ensuring freshness and helping the community.

When you visit, you'll find a variety of seafood dishes available alongside unforgettable handcrafted cocktails and an award-winning wine list. Plus, the happy hour menu is particularly popular for those looking for taste and savings. You can try it all out for yourself right in the heart of downtown.

Indigenous Restaurant offers seasonal American cuisine that utilizes only the freshest ingredients during their peak availability period, and the restaurant has sustainability practices in place. This restaurant works with an array of local farmers and fishers to ensure that they're utilizing fresh ingredients and supporting the local community.

Sustainability plays an important role in this restaurant's operations. That's why they don't work to get out-of-season ingredients. Instead, they change the menu to incorporate ingredients that are in season, so you can expect unique items depending on what time of year you visit. You'll find it all right downtown.

Marina Jack is a waterfront seafood restaurant that lets you enjoy stunning views and fine-dining-quality dishes, along with a piano bar and a lounge area. The attention to detail in all the dishes is top tier, so you can always count on delicious taste and impeccable presentation.

When you visit this restaurant, you can enjoy a refined experience, as the sounds of piano fill the air with tranquil melodies. Live music is offered nightly, and the outdoor patio area lets you get close to the beach for your meal. You'll find it all on the west side of downtown on the waterfront.

Sun Garden Café is a breakfast and lunch café that focuses on delicious and hearty food made with an artisan twist and using fresh ingredients sourced locally. The casual, family-friendly atmosphere here is an inviting way to enjoy food crafted from locally grown produce and fish caught just a short distance away from the restaurant itself.

On the menu, you'll find a wide variety of items, but they're probably best known for their chicken and bacon dishes. They've gone out of their way to make exceptional healthy options too, if you're concerned with any dietary restrictions. It's located on the west side of Siesta Key across the bay from South Sarasota.

Lucky Pelican Bistro is designed to be a relaxing experience where you can enjoy a casual environment and delicious seafood with New England flair. This is the place to go if you're looking for seafood that brings out as much sweetness as possible from their fresh ingredients.

Some of the items available on the menu here are fish tacos and lobster rolls, both of which have been critically acclaimed. You can also enjoy sweet potato fries and their version of a New England clam bake. It's all available a few miles northeast of downtown.

State Street Eating House + Cocktails is a mid-century industrial restaurant that offers delicious American food alongside stunning original signature cocktails. The decor here is positively industrial, with exposed rafters and reclaimed lumber being used among iron and concrete features to create a unique look.

In terms of food, you'll find some of the best in town, including burgers that have impressed the local critics time and time again. The cocktails are the local pride and joy, however, with unique, award-winning flavors to try. You'll find it all downtown in between Laurel Park and the Rosemary District.

Walt's Fish Market is a town staple and has been a prominent part of the local dining scene for decades offering seafood under its thatched tiki hut roof. The food here is crafted using ingredients caught right off the Sarasota coast, so you can always count on freshness.

When you visit this restaurant, you'll find a tiki hut roof-style building that lets you embrace a Florida ambience with tropical flair. It's all easily accessible around South Sarasota right off Tamiami Trail.

Casey Key Fish House is a fun beach bar where you can enjoy delicious food, plenty of drinks, and live music in a welcoming and upbeat atmosphere. You'll find a large bar with plenty of local and imported drinks on offer, including specialty cocktails you won't find anywhere else.

The food here is simple, yet delicious, showing off how good seafood can be without resorting to pretentious preparation and presentation. Don't hesitate to give it all a try yourself on Casey Key several miles south of downtown.