Restaurants near River Pointe by Gulf Villa Rentals

The food was spectacular. The service was outstanding. The only issue was the restaurant had no hand wipes or finger bowls to clean your hands after eating a seafood tower appetizer. With small bathrooms, hand washing was not easy to gain access to. At this price point you don’t expect your hands to be sticky and engulfed in a seafood smell for the duration of your meal after ordering a $113 appetizer. They were out of handi-wipes according to the server. That should not happen at a restaurant charging this much. Will I return? Absolutely, I just won’t order raw seafood appetizers.

My husband and I I had a delightful experience at Christmas dinner at Pier 22. We found the atmosphere delightful the cheerfulness and the staff was amazing. The food was delicious and again we were quite pleased with everything. We have been coming to Pier 22 for several Christmases and will continue to do so thank you for making our holiday so pleasant and special.

Sat at the bar on Christmas Day and had a great experience! Melissa was our bartender and she was slammed! They were one of the few restaurants open on Christmas Day so it was packed AND during the chiefs game. She did an amazing job keeping our drinks full and was super friendly the entire time!

Everything was remarkable. Our waitress was very attentive and nice.

Traverna Toscana Finally, an upscale restaurant bringing a touch of class to downtown Bradenton! My wife and I decided to venture out last Friday night to try the newly opened Traverna Toscana, and it did not disappoint. The executive chef’s carefully curated menu was impressive, with the octopus standing out as our favorite dish of the evening. My wife, who rarely tries such cuisine, was pleasantly astonished by how delicious it was. The complementary lemon butter sauce? Simply unbelievable—so good! There are several other enticing items on the menu that have us eager to return. The main course was equally well-prepared and enjoyable. I opted for the 33-day-aged ribeye, which featured the perfect balance of a beautifully seared crust and a juicy, flavorful center. Cooked to perfection, it was a highlight of the night. To accompany our meal, we chose the 2021 Jayson Pahlmeyer Napa red. While the wine was delicious, it felt slightly overpriced—perhaps the Caymus would have been a better value. We ended the night with a lemon cheesecake, and all I can say is: WOW! If you’re looking for a wonderful dining experience in Bradenton, I highly recommend trying Traverna Toscana. This gem is sure to impress!