Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in Lake Sarasota

32 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Dry Dock Waterfront Grill restaurant

1. Dry Dock Waterfront Grill

4.9

Exceptional(9221)

Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Longboat Key

Booked 160 times today

The Dry Dock Waterfront Grill is a “polished casual” restaurant over looking Sarasota Bay. We are located at the south end of Longboat Key behind the gas station. We are north of St. Armand’s Circle, and minutes from downtown Sarasota. Best known for Local Fresh Grouper and Red Snapper. Enjoy the second story dining area with a panaramic view of the bay, or enjoy dining outdoors on our dockside patio.

A photo of Cafe L'Europe - St Armand's restaurant

2. Cafe L'Europe - St Armand's

4.8

Exceptional(2434)

Price: Expensive

• Modern European • Sarasota

Booked 1 time today

This season marks Café L'Europe's 51st year in its iconic St. Armands Circle location. Whether celebrating life's most meaningful moments, or the end of a long week, we welcome lovers of food and drink for a five-star experience inspired by Europe's finest bistros.Spring 2024 brings a reimagined restaurant interior and new dining menus. European culinary tradition inspires scratch-made dishes using local, sustainable ingredients. An exquisite Old World-meets-New World wine list, craft cocktails, and music greet you from our newly renovated "Wet Bar".We aim to graciously walk the tightrope between past and future: To honor the beloved traditions of Sarasota families, to welcome new visitors to our beautiful destination, and to celebrate the legacy of a place once housing the sales office of Sarasota’s most famous resident - John Ringling!

A photo of Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota restaurant

3. Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota

4.8

Exceptional(10425)

Price: Moderate

• Spanish • Sarasota

Booked 124 times today

Family-owned and operated for more than 116 years, Columbia has earned acclaim for its old-world charm and award-winning Spanish/Cuban cuisine. Casual attire is fine, but we don’t allow sleeveless shirts on men in the dining room.Join us for century-old family recipes like Paella "a la Valenciana," Roast Pork "a la Cubana,"and fresh seafood specialties. Don’t miss Columbia’s Original “1905” Salad®, prepared with our delicious, freshly-made dressing, a 100-year-old family recipe of fresh garlic, oregano, wine vinegar and Spanish extra virgin olive oil. Be sure to sample a fine Spanish wine like Montecillo or Campillo. Relax outdoors on our patio, or inside our Mediterranean-style dining rooms filled with hand-painted tiles and family heirlooms. We are a sister to the Columbia in Tampa's Ybor City, founded in 1905. Children's menu available. Open 365 days a year, including all holidays.

A photo of Kona Grill - Sarasota restaurant

4. Kona Grill - Sarasota

3.7

Very Good(1386)

Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • Sarasota

Booked 10 times today

Welcome to Kona Grill Sarasota at the Mall at University Town Center. Kona Grill is a classic American Grill with great steak and seafood - complemented by the best choice of sushi and margaritas at any grill in America. Kona Grill features a global menu of contemporary American favorites, award-winning sushi, and specialty craft cocktails in a polished, casual atmosphere. From brunch & lunch to dinner & happy hour, the restaurant offers a range of freshly prepared dishes from the grill, seasonal menu items and fan-favorite dishes across all dayparts. Kona Grill offers both indoor and outdoor patio dining at all its locations, $3, $6, $9 happy hour offered weekdays & NEW weekend brunch, guided by a passion for quality food and exceptional service.

5. Indigenous

4.7

Exceptional(860)

Price: Expensive

• American • Sarasota

Booked 19 times today

Opened in 2011, Indigenous has earned a reputation for being an inspirational and educational restaurant. For years, Indigenous has been known as one of America’s top restaurants, renowned for its passion for food, the community, and the planet. Indigenous’ menu of seasonal American cuisine changes progressively throughout the year based on peak ingredient availability. With a focus on sustainable seafood, we work closely with local fisherman, artisans, and farmers to maintain the highest quality. At Indigenous, we are always working our best to create a better food system. Owner Chef Steve Phelps has been a James Beard Foundation Semi Finalist for Best Chef South in 2014 & 2015, an Ambassador for Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Blue Ribbon Task Force, and a founding member and Chef for the EDF Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture.

6. Michael's On East

4.8

Exceptional(5560)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Sarasota

Booked 10 times today

Serving "inspired cuisine" since 1987, the celebrated Michael’s On East restaurant takes fine dining to another level, offering award-winning cuisine and outstanding service, in an exceptional 1940s supper club atmosphere. Michael's On East has been inducted into Nation's Restaurant News Fine Dining Hall of Fame and recently received their 34th consecutive AAA Four-Diamond Award. The 350+ bottle wine list has been awarded the Best of Award of Excellence by the Wine Spectator!Upon entering the dining room, you are immediately dazzled by the plush design and inspired décor. The restaurant’s intimate aura, along with its contemporary flare, world-class wine cellar and incomparable service, create an unparalleled dining experience.Michael's Lounge, complete with a grand piano, is a guest favorite with its signature cocktails and award winning wine selection. Michael’s Atrium for outdoor dining is a stunning glass-covered, plant-filled courtyard with a beautiful flowing fountain.

A photo of Selva Grill Downtown Sarasota restaurant

7. Selva Grill Downtown Sarasota

4.9

Exceptional(5776)

Price: Expensive

• Latin / Spanish • Sarasota

Booked 41 times today

Selva offers innovative, intricately prepared dishes, plated and presented as works of art. Selva has earned raves from allover the world, including from the New York Times, which write that Selva is “serving possibly the best food in Sarasota,”and that “everything on the menu is worth trying.”

A photo of Seasons 52 - Sarasota restaurant

8. Seasons 52 - Sarasota

4.8

Exceptional(5123)

Price: Expensive

• American • Sarasota

Booked 88 times today

Seasons 52 is a Fresh Grill and Wine Bar offering a seasonal menu that is naturally lighter and always flavorful. Our seasonal menus feature ingredients at their peak of freshness, oak-fire grilled or brick oven roasted (without a fryer in sight) to be naturally lighter and more flavorful. We also offer an extensive list of wines by the glass and bottle. Here, you'll always feel free to enjoy every bite, every sip, every moment. Lunch and dinner daily with happy hour Monday-Thursday from 3-6PM.

A photo of The Rosemary & Thyme restaurant

9. The Rosemary & Thyme

4.9

Exceptional(4372)

Price: Expensive

• American • Sarasota

Booked 52 times today

Welcome to Rosemary & Thyme! Downtown Sarasota American Bistro serving traditional and contemporary dishes with an emphasis on healthy options. Savor made-from-scratch selections for breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared with fresh ingredients from regional farms.

A photo of Duval's Fresh. Local. Seafood. restaurant

10. Duval's Fresh. Local. Seafood.

4.7

Exceptional(5456)

Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Sarasota

Booked 42 times today

We are an eclectic eatery with a passion for stunning seafood, superb service, fine wine, and creative cocktails.We are committed to serving only the freshest dishes to our guests. We receive fresh fish daily from our local suppliers and filet everything in house to ensure the best possible quality.Together with our unique menu, our focus on excellent service allows us to deliver a one-of-a-kind dining experience in downtown Sarasota. Every menu item is prepared to order to allow for customization and personalization of each dish and to ensure you are getting the freshest possible meal.Voted Sarasota's Best by Herald Tribune Readers:Best All-Around Restaurant (2019-2023)Best Seafood Restaurant (2016-2023)Best Sandwich for our renowned Po' Boy (2016-2022)Best Lunch (2020-2022)Thank you, Sarasota!For parties of 8 or more, a gratuity of 18% will be added to the check.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

B
Bo
Cincinnati / Dayton •10 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
We come down to Sarasota 1 or 2 times a year and one of our favorite places to dine is Dry Dcok Waterfront Grill. Tonight we had a table overlooking the bay. The service was great. Food outstanding as usual. I had Tuscan cream sauce over linguine with grouper. My husband had the grouper boathouse tacos. Both were delicious. The grouper is always fresh. Also had the lobster bisque, very good! Can't wait til our next dinner there!
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Dry Dock Waterfront GrillPrice: Expensive• Seafood• Longboat Key
•
4.9
R
R. Lee
New York City •45 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Only our second visit, we now luv, luv Indigenous. We were greeted promptly, seated promptly and serviced promptly by polite, friendly and attentive staff. The pickled vegetables were delightful, the burger with the duck fat roasted potatoes were delicious and vanilla bean ice cream was scrumptious. We will absolutely, positively both recommend and return. Thx…
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IndigenousPrice: Expensive• American• Sarasota
•
4.7
K
Kathy
Tampa / Central Florida West •3 reviews
4.0
Dined 3 days ago
Great menu. Service great but we had to wait 45 minutes for our dinners
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Kona Grill - SarasotaPrice: Moderate• Contemporary American• Sarasota
•
3.7
A
Andrea
Austin •2 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
The food and ambience were top notch, however, our server, Lucy, was the best part of our night. She was kind, informative and extremely accommodating! We had the most amazing dinner and even better service and we cannot wait to come back!!
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Columbia Restaurant - SarasotaPrice: Moderate• Spanish• Sarasota
•
4.8
V
Virginiavip
Charlotte •123 reviews
5.0
Dined on Sep 25, 2024
Lovely experience. The amazing food, excellent service, and gorgeous style of this restaurant are truly wonderful
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Cafe L'Europe - St Armand'sPrice: Expensive• Modern European• Sarasota
•
4.8

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Lake Sarasota

Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in Lake Sarasota

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32 restaurants available nearby

1. Dry Dock Waterfront Grill

2. Cafe L'Europe - St Armand's

3. Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota

4. Kona Grill - Sarasota

5. Indigenous

6. Michael's On East

7. Selva Grill Downtown Sarasota

8. Seasons 52 - Sarasota

9. The Rosemary & Thyme

10. Duval's Fresh. Local. Seafood.

See what locals rave about

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