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Indigenous, Sarasota, FL

Indigenous

4.7
4.7
892 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 14 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Charming


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.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Bistro, Contemporary American
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Sun 5:30 pm–8:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (941) 706-4740
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Steve Phelps
  • Neighbourhood
    Sarasota
  • Cross Street
    Adams Lane and South Links Ave
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Ringling Blvd
  • Additional
    Beer, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • New Years Eve

    US$125.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Dec 31, 2024 only
    Ring in 2025 with our family at Indigenous! Allow us to be the place you go before the clock hits midnight. Wine pairings are PER PERSON. Please include all guests who want to participate when selecting this add-on. Reservations ONLY. Max party size up to 8 guests.

What 892 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Sarasota / Bradenton

    Innovative

  • Sarasota / Bradenton

    Healthy

  • Sarasota / Bradenton

    American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Indigenous is a culinary gem in Sarasota, offering "excellent food and professional service" with a fresh, ever-changing menu. Diners rave about the "remarkable" mushroom bisque and creative, locally-sourced dishes. The cozy, charming atmosphere and attentive staff elevate every visit, making it "one of the best dining experiences" in town.

892 Reviews
  1. Katherine

    VIP

    New York City

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    We’ve eaten at Indigenous a few times and consider it a favorite in Sarasota. However, something was off last night. In particular the two fish preparations — the cobia, which was not well served by a bland base of “chowder” and oddly paired jicama, and especially the undercooked salmon with an unfortunate medley of bitter-tasting root vegetables, an offering the waiter pushed hard — were disappointing. There was no brightness — citrus anyone? Serving the fish pate in a jelly jar — wasn’t that a thing ten years ago — made it hard to retrieve and the green curry wasn’t much in evidence; my husband characterized this appetizer as flavorless. On the other hand, the mushroom soup was its usual good self and the bottle of Chablis excellent. We came away feeling that it is time to explore other restaurants rather than relying on Indigenous for great food.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Axel

    VIP

    Tampa

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food is exceptional and creative, service is excellent and attentive, even on an unusually cold night outside seating was fine.
    IndigenousResponded 2 days ago
    It was a pleasure to have you join us again and we look forward to your next visit.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Lloyd

    VIP

    Tampa

    7 reviews

    3.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Where we would typically rate this restaurant 5 Stars, we had to lower the rating this time to a 3.5 Star rating. We think the primary Chef must have been on vacation, as the food presentation and quality of "cook" was down just a little. This doesn't mean we won't be back... we were just a bit disappointed in the overall quality of the food on this visit. 3.5 Stars isn't bad, but Indigenous will rate 5 Stars most days!!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Rebecca

    VIP

    San Diego

    41 reviews

    5.0

    41 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I hadn’t been here for a few years and was happy to see that it’s just as good as it’s always been. Three of us enjoyed delicious meals. The Parmesan beignets were amazing! One in our group raved about the mushroom soup. Also – I always recommend getting their homemade ice cream for dessert. 
    IndigenousResponded 2 days ago
    Thank you for sharing. We hope to see you soon!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Frederic

    New Orleans

    14 reviews

    4.0

    14 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We had a nice dinner at Indigenous. The staff was very friendly and the restaurant offers a nice setting for an intimate dining experience. We were surprised that the menu only offered fish options from half way around the world: salmon from New Zealand and kampachi from Hawaii, when we are literally a few hundred yards from the Gulf of Mexico. How about using fish from local fishermen? This being said, the chef did a great job and the food was delicious. We particularly enjoyed the green curry fish dip even though we were not sure where that fish was from…

    Is this helpful?

  6. Nathan

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Indigenous is an absolute culinary masterpiece in Sarasota. From the passionate hosts and servers to the ever changing and exquisite meals. You will never have a meal that misses here. Chefs are top notch and always deliver masterpieces. Can’t say enough about this fantastic place!!
    IndigenousResponded 6 days ago
    Thank you for your kind words! We love wat we do here and glad you can feel that! Happy Holiday's!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Sean

    VIP

    Chicago

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on December 19, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our favorite restaurant in Sarasota! Chef Phelps is incredible. He cares about his fish and food sourcing, supports local farms and is an amazing Chef!! Highly recommend Indigenous!
    IndigenousResponded 6 days ago
    Thanks for joining us! Apparently you were not with Gloria Lugo! ^ (review above you) We cant wait to see you again, happy holiday's!

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  8. Joanne

    Tampa

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on December 19, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Superb dining experience in every way! Highly recommend!
    IndigenousResponded 7 days ago
    Thank you Joanne! We wish you happy holidays and hope to see you all again soon!

    Is this helpful?

  9. AlisaK

    VIP

    Tampa

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 19, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Incredible combinations of flavors. Indigenous consistently come up with creative and delicious dishes. The staff is attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Superb dining.
    IndigenousResponded 7 days ago
    We are so happy you enjoyed your evening. Wishing you all a great, safe holiday season!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Gary

    VIP

    Tampa

    49 reviews

    5.0

    49 reviews

    Dined on December 18, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Anniversary dinner. Everything was fantastic! Great food. Great service. Highly recommend!!
    IndigenousResponded on December 19, 2024
    Thank you for choosing us for your special night. We look forward to seeing you again. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Indigenous is rated 4.7 stars by 892 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 14 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Indigenous

239 S Links Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236-2155

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Adams Lane and South Links Ave
  • Neighbourhood
    Sarasota
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Sun 5:30 pm–8:30 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Bistro, Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Public transit
    Ringling Blvd
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Chef Steve Phelps
  • Additional
    Beer, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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