Best Restaurants for Special Occasions in Siesta Key

37 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Connors Steak & Seafood - Sarasota restaurant

1. Connors Steak & Seafood - Sarasota

4.7

Exceptional(8390)

Price: Expensive

• Steakhouse • Siesta Key

Booked 107 times today

Connors Steak & Seafood specializes in fresh seafood and premium aged steaks, as well as gourmet salads, pastas and more! Enjoy a memorable evening with friends and family in our well-appointed dining rooms, or stop by for the lunch you and your associates deserve. Our friendly service and flavorful fare will keep you coming back for more.

A photo of Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota restaurant

2. Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota

4.8

Exceptional(10426)

Price: Moderate

• Spanish • Sarasota

Booked 130 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.

3. Cafe Gabbiano

4.7

Exceptional(3740)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Siesta Key

Booked 26 times today

Cafe Gabbiano is a casual fine dining restaurant in Sarasota Fl (Siesta Key). We source local ingredients and have a great blend of classic and modern Italian dishes. At Cafe Gabbiano everything is made to order as we want each dish to be fresh. All of our sauces and pastas are homemade. Cafe Gabbiano is a 4,000 sqft facility that offers intimate dining as well as larger rooms to host special occasions such as beach weddings and rehearsal dinners. We have an extensive wine list, signature crafted cocktails and a great beer list. We are open daily from 5 PM to 10 PM with Happy Hour 5 PM to 6:30 PM at the bar.

4. Sardinia Sarasota

4.8

Exceptional(1482)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Sarasota

Booked 10 times today

Chef Carta brings the authentic simple elegance of the Sardinian dining tradition to your table. Sardinian cuisine is known for the purity of food and flavors. To insure the authenticity of the dining experience Chef has imported an authentic hood wood-burning oven for the kitchen. The menu is focused on farm fresh and locally grown food. Chargrilled meats and local fish will be cooked in the oven as it is in Sardinia. Taste the Sardinia bread, know as Pane carasau, baked fresh daily which welcomes you at your table. The pasta dough is also made fresh daily. Revel in the authentic Sardinian paella made with fregola and enjoy the unique flavor of bottarga. To maximize the pleasure of sharing good food with good friends, Sardinia has 45 seats- 24 in the main dining room, a chefs table for 10 and 13 seats in the bar area. Good food-good conversation-good friends. A true Sardinia experience you will not forget.

5. Michael's On East

4.8

Exceptional(5560)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Sarasota

Booked 14 times today

Michael's On East is a celebrated restaurant, known for its exceptional service and fine dining experience. It's often described as the perfect place for special occasions, with its elegant ambience, award-winning wine selection, and world-class service. It's not just about the food, but the overall experience, which includes a grand piano, intimate aura, and a stunning outdoor dining area. As one reviewer put it, 'This is a very beautiful restaurant and the food and service are outstanding! You don't need a special occasion to dine here, but we save it for special occasions because it wouldn't be special if we ate there every week!'

A photo of Selva Grill Downtown Sarasota restaurant

6. Selva Grill Downtown Sarasota

4.9

Exceptional(5776)

Price: Expensive

• Latin / Spanish • Sarasota

Booked 42 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 Ophelia's on the Bay restaurant

7. Ophelia's on the Bay

4.8

Exceptional(6227)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Siesta Key

Booked 29 times today

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.

A photo of Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse - Sarasota restaurant

8. Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse - Sarasota

4.6

Exceptional(2722)

Price: Expensive

• Steakhouse • Sarasota

Booked 54 times today

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse is an award-winning prime steakhouse specializing in aged USDA prime steaks. Located in the heart of Sarasota’s pedestrian friendly downtown, Hyde Park is just minutes from Siesta Key, Longboat Key, and St. Armand’s Circle and 5 minutes from the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center. The restaurant offers a chef-inspired menu featuring variations of its legendary aged prime steaks, daily chef’s fresh fish features and great seafood. Award-winning menus, the extensive wine list and impeccable service are why Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse is Sarasota’s favorite fine dining restaurant and top pick for intimate dinners, special occasions, family gatherings, business dinners, corporate events and small receptions. Private dining rooms available. Complimentary valet parking (with validation).

A photo of Veronica Fish & Oyster restaurant

9. Veronica Fish & Oyster

4.8

Exceptional(2280)

Price: Expensive

• Oyster Bar • Sarasota

Booked 16 times today

A modern oyster bar with a nod to classic supper clubs of past featuring flavors from across the globe We save tables for walk ins as well as the bar, lounge and patio, if a reservation time is not available feel free to walk in and check out these areasPLEASE NOTE*** for parties of 5 and over, we ask that you call in in order for us to better serve the group's needs.OUTDOOR SEATING NON RESERVABLE ***Our outdoor seating is all first come first serve- we apologize for any inconvenience

10. Indigenous

4.7

Exceptional(860)

Price: Expensive

• American • Sarasota

Booked 17 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.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

E
Eric
Las Vegas •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Fantastic meal and experience. Thank you! Will be back.
More info
Cafe GabbianoPrice: Moderate• Italian• Siesta Key
•
4.7
K
Kristyvip
New York City •18 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
As always, a wonderful dining experience. Our waitress, i think her name may have been Avely, was amazing. We were impressed with how quickly this restaurant recovered after the recent hurricanes. We loved the mojitos made tableside, and as always, their salad was delicious. Highly recommend this restaurant for both the food and amazing service!!
More info
Columbia Restaurant - SarasotaPrice: Moderate• Spanish• Sarasota
•
4.8
J
Julievip
Tampa / Central Florida West •103 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Our lunches were delicious as always. The server was outstanding. My ONLY complaint is that they keep the background music too loud. Makes it hard to talk. We did ask them to please turn it down but they didn’t. I go to lunch with friends to socialize- not to listen to music.
More info
Connors Steak & Seafood - SarasotaPrice: Expensive• Steakhouse• Siesta Key
•
4.7
M
Marshavip
Tampa / Central Florida West •48 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
We have been to this restaurant many times now and always have a good experience.
More info
Sardinia SarasotaPrice: Moderate• Italian• Sarasota
•
4.8
C
Carolvip
Tampa / Central Florida West •139 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
We had another wonderful dining experience at Michael's on East, and because of the delightful weather we enjoyed our meal in the lovely outdoor atrium beneath the twinkling lights We decided on the monthly Epicurean menu, so this month we enjoyed menu options inspired by the cuisine of South Africa - what a treat! We always enjoy the regular menu options, but it is so special to be able to enjoy flavors from around the world as an alternative. The food, as always, was freshly prepared to order and every bite was delicious. The recommended wine pairings made the perfect match The service at Michael's on East is always wonderful, and this time was no exception - so many thanks to Freddy, Katie and the rest of the team for a wonderful service that added greatly to our enjoyment of the evening.
More info
Michael's On EastPrice: Expensive• Contemporary American• Sarasota
•
4.8

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Siesta Key

Best Restaurants for Special Occasions in Siesta Key

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37 restaurants available nearby

1. Connors Steak & Seafood - Sarasota

2. Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota

3. Cafe Gabbiano

4. Sardinia Sarasota

5. Michael's On East

6. Selva Grill Downtown Sarasota

7. Ophelia's on the Bay

8. Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse - Sarasota

9. Veronica Fish & Oyster

10. Indigenous

See what locals rave about

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