Diners' Choice: Best Ambience restaurants in Sarasota / Bradenton

OpenTable

Updated 05 March 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best ambience in Sarasota / Bradenton? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Sage SRQ

4.8

4.8 (1826)

$31 to $50

Global, International

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Sage is Sarasota’s premier dining destination, providing inspirational cuisine and original craft cocktails in an unforgettable setting. Award-winning Chef Christopher Covelli and his team curate seasonal menus, highlighting flavorful culinary creations from around the world. As a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence recipient, Sage also offers an extensive wine list. Housed in the stunning historic Sarasota Times building, Sage's decor and attention to detail is mirrored in the food and service they provide. Sage's rooftop bar provides a serene setting for viewing some of Sarasota's spectacular sunsets.

Top review

TriciaVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Amazing food and 5 star service. From the carefully crafted cocktails, great wine list and love the rooftop bar as well. The bouillabaisse is outstanding.

Pietro's Italian Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (702)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Italian Restaurant& wine bar in Sarasota. Where you are a stranger only once.
His philosophy served him well with his previous Sarasota businesses. Café Gabbiano located on Siesta Key was originated by the Migliaccio family in 2003 where is four sons grew in and out of the restaurant business.
A second venture in downtown Sarasota was opened and designed by Pietro in 2012 named Casantica, a small old house converted to a quaint homey restaurant. Both restaurants are now under new ownership.
Now, this small intimate place is where I can have fun serving and meeting new friends. Benvenuti.

Top review

RobertVIP

Dined 3 days ago

An outstanding meal. The veal chop parmigiana was certainly the finest tasting and most tender veal I have had in over 50 years of Italian dining. Great atmosphere and extremely pleasant staff.

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Popular dish

Lasagna Marinara

Bruschetta Fine Italian Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (69)

$31 to $50

Italian

Gulf Gate Estates

About the restaurant

At Bruschetta Fine Italian Cuisine , our history is rooted in family and tradition. Our recipes have been passed down for generations, and we take great pride in using authentic ingredients and techniques to create the flavors of Italy. From our humble beginnings in a small kitchen in Rome to our bustling restaurant today, we've always stayed true to our roots.

Top review

Kurt

Dined on 18 Feb 2025

Amazing authentic Italian cuisine and atmosphere....

Dry Dock Waterfront Grill

4.8

4.8 (9634)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Longboat Key

About the restaurant

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.

Top review

KennethL

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent food, service was superb and view spectacular.

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4.8

4.8 (287)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Discover the crown jewel of the University Park Country Club, The Park Grille, where you can indulge in gourmet dining while enjoying stunning views of the 9th and 18th greens and a serene, shimmering lake. Celebrated by Sarasota Magazine as the "Best of the Best Restaurant with a View," The Park Grille's renowned Sunday Brunch Buffet has also been honored by Sarasota Magazine, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and SRQ Magazine readers.

Dining Options:
Lunch: Open to the public daily from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. Please note that Mondays feature a lunch buffet only.
Sunday Brunch Buffet: Available every Sunday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.

**Dinner service is exclusively for MEMBERS.**

Dress Code:
To ensure an elegant dining experience, proper attire is required. Blue denim, cut-offs, tank tops, and workout attire are not permitted in the dining room.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 5 days ago

Absolutely lovely Brunch! The selection was a perfect combination of breakfast and lunch choices. The food was delicious and unlike most Brunches the food was hot! Our server Madison was attentive and very pleasant. Highly recommend.

Roessler's

4.9

4.9 (1911)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Sarasota

About the restaurant

WE CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU!
PLEASE NOTE WE CAN NOT ACCEPT RESERVATIONS FOR OUTSIDE DINING, PARTIES OVER 6, OR HOLIDAYS THROUGH OPEN TABLE. PLEASE CALL THE RESTAURANT IF YOUR TIME IS NOT AVAILABLE. THANK YOU!!! 941 966 5688

Top review

MeadVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Everything was delicious! The rack of lamb was the best we ever had. I highly recommend it. The service was also excellent. It’s our very favorite restaurant.

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Popular dish

Wiener Schnitzel Holstein

Popular dish

Steak Diane

Rumours Wine Bar

4.7

4.7 (125)

$31 to $50

Wine Bar

Englewood

About the restaurant

Rumours Wine Bar was brought to life from a vision that began back in 2019 in our living room. Dana had recently resigned from her Wine Sales position and wasn’t sure what she wanted to do next. She had always dreamed of opening her own Wine bar so we created our logo, our name, and our brand and simply followed our heart. We opened as a retail store in January 2020 and pivoted when the Pandemic started by creating an online store and offering curbside pick-up and delivery. In September 2020, we passed our final inspections and received our beer and wine license for “on-premise” consumption as well as a restaurant license. We have not slowed down since. We have won numerous awards from our local community including 2022 and 2023 "Best Local Cheers Bar." Our mission at Rumours Wine Bar is to simply embrace intellectual stimulation linked to wine in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 8 Feb 2025

Wine Club tasting was great. Pairings of food with wines were spot on. New owners are keeping the vibe that Rumours is known for.

La Violetta Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1126)

$30 and under

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Intimate and designed to provide a rustic Italian experience. Buonissimo!

Top review

KarenO

Dined 1 day ago

Both the food and service were excellent. The pace was nice and our server had good suggestions. Highly recommend the duck ravioli with orange butter sauce and the panna cotta di gorgonzola. Both had perfectly balanced combinations of flavors.

Ophelia's on the Bay

4.7

4.7 (6400)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Siesta Key

About the restaurant

Ophelia's on the Bay is one of Sarasota’s premier fine dining waterfront restaurants. Enjoy beautiful vistas of Little Sarasota Bay, from the floor-to-ceiling windows that line the dining room. Or join us for al fresco dining on our open-air patio, as the dolphins and manatee swim by. Winner of many awards both locally and nationally, including an Excellence rating from Zagat as well as being listed as the number one restaurant in America in Power and Motoryacht Magazine for dock and dine. Ophelia's on the Bay has also been voted most romantic, best waterfront and best restaurant with a view by its loyal customers. The menu changes nightly using fresh and seasonal ingredients, fresh fish flown in from all over the world and specialty meats. There is certainly something for every palate! We feature an extensive wine list, specialty martinis, as well as a full bar. Family owned and operated for over 22 years, we have an experienced staff that prides itself on exemplary service.

Top review

OpenTable DinerVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Excelente food and amazing service with an inviting atmosphere. Highly recommended.

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Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cakes

Sophie's at Saks Fifth Avenue- Sarasota

4.9

4.9 (747)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Sophie's offers globally influenced yet decidedly American cuisine in a luxurious intimate setting featuring an outdoor terrace, open kitchen and private dining area. Sophie's dining experience captures the style and elegance of Saks Fifth Avenue, with a passionate focus on outstanding food and drink. Sophie's Chef Andrew Thompson changes his innovative menu seasonally using the best locally-sourced ingredients. The menu is complemented by a selection of craft cocktails and a thoughtfully curated wine list.

Top review

Elise

Dined on 24 Feb 2025

Nice lunch. Server and host were friendly and service was lovely.

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