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Indigenous, Sarasota, FL

Indigenous

4.8
4.8
991 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 23 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Great for outdoor dining


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

  • True Blue Coastal Experience

    US$220.00 per person

    Mar 30, 2025 only
    Join us for True Blue Vibes: A Coastal Dinner Experience with Chef Stephen Phelps on March 30, 2025. Savor a multi-course menu inspired by the ocean, paired with wine and beer, in a stunning coastal-chic setting under the stars. Celebrate the relationships that bring food to life-from fishermen to farmers to chefs. Private Event. Tickets are $220 per person with a credit card hold, payment due at restaurant. Please add any seating requests in the "special request" section when booking.

What 991 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Tampa / Central Florida West

    American

  • Sarasota / Bradenton

    Innovative

  • Sarasota / Bradenton

    American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Indigenous in Sarasota offers an exceptional dining experience with creative, locally sourced dishes. Guests rave about its "professional service," "unique and creative" food, and "wonderful" ambiance. Highlights include the "incredible" mushroom bisque and "fabulous" pork chop, making it a "must-visit" for food enthusiasts seeking an extraordinary culinary adventure.

991 Reviews
  1. Stacey VIP

    New York City23 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    A Hidden Gem in More Ways Than One We arrived at Indigenous with high expectations, but our night started on a disappointing note when one of our party members fell ill and couldn’t join us. With a smaller group, the staff moved us from our original table to what felt like an afterthought—a dimly lit alcove that initially seemed like a downgrade. At first, we worried the night might not live up to our expectations. But then, everything changed. Our server (also the bartender) turned out to be an absolute star. She was warm, attentive, and made us feel like VIPs despite our less-than-ideal placement. She walked us through the menu with genuine enthusiasm, offering thoughtful recommendations that ended up being the best choices of the night. And the food? Absolutely phenomenal. Every dish was beautifully prepared and bursting with flavor. The mushroom appetizer was a standout, perfectly balanced and cooked to perfection. Even the smallest details, from the appetizers to the desserts, were executed flawlessly. By the end of the meal, we realized that what had started as a disappointment had transformed into one of the most memorable dining experiences we’ve had. The quiet alcove actually became a cozy, intimate space where we could truly enjoy the food and conversation without distraction. Indigenous proved that exceptional service and outstanding food can turn an unexpected situation into something truly special. We’ll definitely be back—and next time, we might even ask for that hidden alcove.

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  2. Vivian VIP

    New York City58 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food. Wonderful attentive service. Beautiful atmosphere.

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  3. Jennifer VIP

    Tampa43 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely service, delicious everything, and relaxing vibe.
    IndigenousResponded 5 days ago
    Thank you for dining with us!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Laura

    Chicago2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We love this restaurant! The food choices are so creative, delicious and beautifully presented. Great atmosphere, tucked away on a quiet side street. The staff were so friendly and professional. This was our second visit and the out of town guests agreed that all our hype about this place was well deserved. A lovely evening out and we will definitely be back. Keep up the great work — creating and serving such interesting and delicious meals. Thank you for being part of the SRQ food scene.
    IndigenousResponded 4 days ago
    We are very happy to hear your experience with your guests went well! Thank you for your kind words and we hope to continue to take care of you each visit!

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  5. Ridgley

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had an amazing experience for our Valentines date, 2 weeks later on a Thursday night. It was memorable because the vibe was intimate, the service was great, and the food delicious! And chef Sasha is amazing. We can tell he genuinely cares for his guests and the quality of food. We will absolutely be back for another special date night, and we will be suggesting Ingenious to friends who will appreciate fine dining and food !
    IndigenousResponded on March 3, 2025
    Thank you for sharing and your kind words!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Michael VIP

    New York City4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Creative entrees especially the green curry seafood!
    IndigenousResponded on March 1, 2025
    Thank you!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Jean VIP

    Atlantic City22 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is always our favorite place to go in Sarasota. We have been many, many times over the years and have had nothing but exceptional meals!
    IndigenousResponded on February 28, 2025
    This makes us extremely happy! Thank you!

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  8. debra VIP

    RP216 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nestled in a downtown neighborhood, Indigenous never fails to deliver a delightful dining experience. The Parmesan Beignets are a must indulgence....with Triple Tail the entree of our evening.
    IndigenousResponded on February 28, 2025
    Thank you for joining us for supper!

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  9. Louise

    New York City19 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had terrific service from Georgia, our waitperson and delicious food. One of us had a less than satisfactory main course which was immediately replaced by her choice of a substitute. The pork chop was extraordinary and enormous. Our table was comfortable and the noise level was not intrusive.
    IndigenousResponded on February 27, 2025
    We will tell Giorgia about your kind words! Thank you for dining with us!

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  10. Seashell

    Greater Boston10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Grew up in Miami and live in New. England. Seafood has always been the royalty of my diet. At Indigenous I ate the best fish sandwich ever. All else was great. Service 5 Star. Lovely environment. Friendly and casual to boot. Don’t miss this wonderful restaurant.
    IndigenousResponded 6 days ago
    That was a very sweet review, thank you!

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FAQs

Indigenous is rated 4.8 stars by 991 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 23 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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