Best Fun Restaurants in Siesta Key

If you want authentic Spanish/Cuban food, Columbia is the place to go in Sarasota. We tried a number of things from the menu, chopped tomatoes, Cuban black bean soup (vegan), stuffed shrimp, key lime pie, and white chocolate bread pudding. These items, along with the crispy bread and an Andulusian Gimlet with fresh strawberries were fantastic. Our waitress has quite friendly and extremely prompt, which added to the overall experience. We will definitely be visiting again and hoping to have a cozy table inside. We were seated on the sidewalk (which was the only availability when we made our reservation), and the constant parade of cars, people, and dogs often distracted us from the wonderful meal before us. Note to self: reserve early, this restaurant is extremely popular!

Tripletail is hands down the best seafood restaurant in Sarasota. I should add that one of friends had the medallions of steak and was very pleased. The other three of us had the scallop special which had 8 scallops on delicious rice with a citrus sauce of some kind. Just delicious and we couldn’t eat it all and all three took a few home. We came to Tripletail last Christmas Eve and will come next year that’s how much we like it. We send out an extra thank you to Matt our wonderful server. We ask for him special.

This restaurant has been open 3 days but it runs smoothly. We sat outside on the upper deck and had a lovely view of a courtyard, surrounded by high rise condos, and a large canal that opened out onto the Sarasota Bay. I had the 8 oz filet mignon (extremely tender and flavorful). My husband had the blackened snapper and found it delicious as well. Everything we ordered was excellent (wedge salad, onion soup, whipped potatoes and chocolate peanut butter pie with Ethiopian French press coffee). My. Old Fashioned was very good as well. My husband ordered a non-alcoholic beer which they had run out of but someone ran to the store and got him one without delay. Brendan was our waiter and he couldn't have been more attentive. All the staff was top-notch. We will be back, especially when we have guests who are steak lovers!

I have lunch at Connor’s at least once a month. I view it as a combination of excellent food and reasonable prices. I’m particularly fond of their half price happy hour. It’s pretty easy to have a delicious meal and a beer for $20. That’s hard to find these days. Today our server was Frank and he couldn’t have been more attentive. He let us take our time before before ordering, checked if we needed anything during the meal and then wrapped up leftovers for us. If you haven’t gone already, treat yourself to lunch at Connor’s and I think you’ll be happy.

This hidden gem, inside The Modern hotel, is literally the best food we’ve had in Sarasota over the past year of dining out. Cocktails are great, staff is attentive and accommodating, and make very helpful recs when asked. Sit on patio. Don’t forget to order the Brussel sprouts. Lots of options for vegan/gf as well as a fantastic burger for meat lovers. Free parking. Walkable to Fogertyville. We love this place!