Best Restaurants for Groups in Siesta Key

We’re always happy and well fed when we eat at 1592

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.

Cafe Gabbiano is our go-to restaurant on Siesta Key. Tucked away in the corner of a shopping area, we’re always greeted by friendly staff who always seat us at our before our reserved time. Our waitstaff has always been friendly, attentive and a pleasure to speak with. They have a large selection of wine, and the bartenders serve excellent mixed drinks. The selections of appetizers, to salads, entrees, to deserts provides an experience for even picking eaters (like our kids). We’ve tried many of their selections and while we have our favorites, we’ve never experienced a bad meal. My favorite, bruschetta for an appetizer, truffle ravioli for the main course and a chocolate martini for the closer.

The atmosphere is noisy but fun! Food is very good….just ordered something that was a bit too high in sodium for me. Service was good except we had to ask for water twice and it didn’t arrive until we were halfway finished with our entrees. To be fair, it was very busy. Also I ordered a drink that was described as using fresh fruit juice but it tasted more like simple syrup

Sage is probably the most beautiful restaurant in Sarasota or its environs, and the professionalism of the staff is the highest level we have seen in the area. Unlike most joints which stop serving by 9:00 PM, Sage serves dinner until 10:00 PM on weekdays and 11:00 PM on Friday and Saturday, with last reservation at 9:30. We walked there in 4 minutes from seeing the Ballet at the Sarasota Opera House, and I called ahead to say the performance was delayed (it was an actual world premiere). Bless them, they kept the kitchen open just for us, the last diners, and we had the best after-theatre experience since we've lived in Florida, like the old days when we lived on the Upper West Side and went to Lincoln Center.