Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in Sarasota / Bradenton

OpenTable

Updated 05 November 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall cuisine 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.

Sophie's at Saks Fifth Avenue- Sarasota

4.9

4.9 (731)

$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

Lynettevip

Dined on 12 Nov 2024

Lovely lunch place to catch up with friends!! Food always good!!

La Dolce Vita Authentic Italian Cuisine

5.0

5 (344)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

We welcome our guests to an authentic Italian restaurant: here we offer traditional cuisine, with a modern take on northern and southern Italian recipes. Mauro, the chef, and his wife Tina, have an huge amount of experience behind them.

Mauro is from Naples, Tina was born in a little sicilian town near by Enna.
He began to learn everything about the southern cuisine by his experience in Naples since he was a child, from “Polipetti alla Luciana” to “Paccheri ai frutti di mare”. Furthermore he moved in Milan and he had the chance to learn the northern cuisine, from “Risotto ai funghi porcini” to “Polenta grigliata”, one of his favourite specialties!
From an ancient sicilian tradition, Tina learnt everything about the desserts by her grandmother and her mother, from “Millefoglie” to “Cannoli cake”.

We hope you enjoyed reading about us. but it would be great if you would have the chance to taste our fantastic dishes! It will be an amazing experience with no

Top review

Arthur

Dined 5 days ago

Delightful and authentic Italian restaurant with outstanding food and once you walk through the front door you would think you were in Italy intimate dining area. You are greeted with friendly smiles and superb service. All four meals, appetizers and dessert was top notch.

Dolce Italia

4.8

4.8 (591)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Dolce Italia was established in 2010 by Tiziana Di Costanzo who came from Ischia, an island in the Gulf of Naples. Using a combination of classic Italian dishes, family recipes passed down for generations, and warm hospitality, Dolce Italia has built a reputation in Sarasota as a destination for anyone seeking great food and ambiance. In 2015 Matthew joined as manager of the front of house and is now a managing partner of Dolce Italia. The kitchen staff trained by Tiziana from the beginning are still with the restaurant with Maria being the capocuoco.
Some of the specialities Dolce Italia has become famous for are the Napoletan Eggplant- a tender sautee eggplant with fresh tomatoes crowned with ricotte, the Trenne Dolce Italia- the signature pasta dish with creamy tomato sauce, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and mushroom.

Top review

Chuckvip

Dined 5 days ago

Another outstanding feast! Congrats to owner Matt— married and on their honeymoon!

Maestrale

4.7

4.7 (114)

$31 to $50

Italian

Gulf Gate Estates

About the restaurant

Our restaurant and pizzeria Maestrale it's the wind that brings good and bad weather in the Italian peninsula. Our small family owned place is open for dinner six days a week. Our dishes originally are from Puglia in south Italy: la puccia, focaccia, mozzarella, orecchiette, panzerotti and the sea food dishes, the famous Pugliese olive oil as well as the fine selection of wine are a must! The atmosphere is friendly, family style dining, and also for romantic and special occassions, inspired from the old style elegant Italian restaurants where you feel just like at home, alla salute!

Top review

clifordvip

Dined 5 days ago

Veal was good but not even warm. Wine list a little pricey.

Apulia Osteria Italiana

4.9

4.9 (330)

$31 to $50

Italian

Rotonda

About the restaurant

Apulia Osteria Italiana is located in Placida, Florida just a few miles away from the beautiful Island of Boca Grande and Manasota key just 20 minutes from Port Charlotte and Venice.
The warm hospitality and the professionalism you will receive at Apulia will make you feel welcome throuout your entire visit. Chef Dario Leo along with his staff will make sure you will be delighted with superb food and great service.
You will enjoy dishes from his native region " Apulia" also called "The hill of the boot", specialties such as Orecchiette with Rapini, Fritto misto di Paranza ( seafood) , Burrata, Baked Snapper, Beef Braciole, Pasticciotto Leccese and so many other dishes from all over Italy such as Ossobuco, Risotti, Gnocchi, Branzino, Ravioli, Tiramisu, Gelati and so much more......

Top review

dinavip

Dined on 8 Nov 2024

Wonderful experience at apulia, as always great food,great atmosphere,great people,the osso bucco,is totally recommended,very delicious, comes with a saffron risotto, you will never have a bad meal here food is always great, Chef Dario always serves the best!

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Popular dish

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese

Selva Grill Downtown Sarasota

4.9

4.9 (5776)

$31 to $50

Latin / Spanish

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Selva offers innovative, intricately prepared dishes, plated and presented as works of art. Selva has earned raves from all
over 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.”

Top review

William

Dined 6 days ago

Great good as usual. Friendly and accommodating staff.

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Bruschetta Fine Italian Cuisine

4.9

4.9 (40)

$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

Teresavip

Dined on 19 Nov 2024

The food was delicious. Pasta made fresh. Bruschetta tasty. Loved the limoncello.

Roessler's

4.9

4.9 (1831)

$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

Ninavip

Dined 2 days ago

Thurs is our favorite restaurant -lovely, quiet, excellent food & service in a beautiful setting.

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Popular dish

Wiener Schnitzel Holstein

Popular dish

Steak Diane

Ragù cucina italiana

4.6

4.6 (86)

$31 to $50

Italian

Palmetto

About the restaurant

The White House, with the red roof.
Mom always says:”the key ingredient in doing anything is passion”.
Ragù is an authentic Italian restaurant in palmetto, our secret is to bring the passion and fresh products on the table everyday

Top review

Stanley

Dined on 20 Sept 2024

Being new to the area we search out new places to dine other than a chain restaurant. We had a reservation for 6:00pm, decent time for dinner. When we parked there were a couple of cars in the lot, didn't seem to busy so we thought "maybe this place isn't that great?" Walked inside this quaint old house that has been converted into a restaurant, greeted by a very friendly gentleman who showed us to our table. Everyone was very attentive, very timely with water, drinks, apps and our meals. The food was fantastic! Very pleased with our meals. As we sat and ate the dining area was now full, all within an hour or so. Now we know why! We had an excellent time, we can't wait to go back again and try everything on the menu!

Clayton's Siesta Grille

4.9

4.9 (2222)

$30 and under

American

Sarasota

About the restaurant

At Clayton’s Siesta Grille, our motto is “If you give people good food that’s affordable, and love them, they’ll support you”. We promise that only the finest and freshest ingredients are used and you can be sure that attention to detail, quality, and customer satisfaction is and will always be our primary goal. Come and join us for dinner and see for yourself why Clayton’s Siesta Grille will be one of your favorite hotspots on Siesta Key.

Top review

Mitch

Dined 2 days ago

Friendly staff with great food in casual Florida key atmosphere!

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Popular dish

Scallops & Gnocchi

Popular dish

Macadamia Crusted Grouper

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