If there was ever a time to dine out in Sarasota, that time would be now. As our culinary scene continues to grow, restaurant choices are more diverse than ever. From Salvadoran to Korean and Indian to Italian, we can travel the globe right in our own back yard. We’ve scoured Sarasota and Manatee counties for the very best restaurants—the ones that reflect how we want to eat in 2026. These are our favorites.

Downtown

Indigenous

239 S. Links Ave., Sarasota, (941) 706-4740, indigenoussarasota.com

James Beard Award-nominated chef Steve Phelps is always on our list. He knows a thing or two about seafood and has been advocating for sustainable aquaculture for years. Since 2011, he’s been serving the best—and most responsibly-sourced—fish he can get his hands on inside his quaint downtown Sarasota restaurant. He also makes the most delicious mushroom bisque you’ve ever had. In it, a variety of wild mushrooms are caramelized with aromatics and puréed with just the right amount of cream to keep you craving more.

Jack Dusty

1111 Ritz Carlton Drive, Sarasota, (941) 309-2266, ritzcarlton.com

We’ll take any excuse to visit one of the region’s five-star hotels. The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota takes the cake at mealtime with its lobby-level restaurant Jack Dusty. Request an outdoor table for a view of the adjoining marina and Sarasota Bay, and keep the oceanic atmosphere alive with a seafood tower teeming with oysters, shrimp, smoked fish dip, tuna poke and a decadent half Maine lobster. Order the restaurant’s signature “Siren” cocktail, made with gin, lemon and elderflower liqueur over fruit-infused ice—it’s been on the menu since the restaurant opened, and drinking one is a well-established Sarasota bucket list item.

Kojo

1289 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota, (941) 536-9717, eatkojo.com

From Palm Avenue’s ubiquitous Hi Hospitality Group comes Kojo, which serves upscale Asian fusion cuisine. The sleek dining room gives way to an open kitchen, where cooks remain as cool as the cucumbers they fold into the sushi rolls. The tender bao selections are a unique interpretation of the Chinese street food, with options like crispy fried chicken and braised pork belly. Don’t skip the mushroom rice pot, with king trumpet, shiitake and maitake mushrooms tossed with bamboo shoots and truffle emulsion.

Owen’s Fish Camp

516 Burns Court, Sarasota, (941) 951-6936; 6516 University Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, (941) 951-5052; owensfishcamp.com 

With two locations, one in Lakewood Ranch and the other in Burns Court in downtown Sarasota, there is now finally enough of Owen’s Southern-inspired cuisine to go around. The downtown restaurant lives in a historic cottage, with an outdoor courtyard and live music to entertain you while you wait for your table—and trust us, you will wait. In Lakewood Ranch, the menu is only slightly different than downtown, but worth its own visit. While there, sink your teeth into the dreamy pimento cheese biscuits topped with pickle butter that are rich enough to call a meal. You won’t want to share them.

Sage

1216 First St., Sarasota, (941) 445-5660, sagesrq.com

At Sage, chef Christopher Covelli artfully arranges complicated dishes—like agnolotti stuffed with pork, prosciutto and Romano cheese with rich, reduced star anise demi-glace—in a way that will stick in your memory for years to come. An evening here is only made better by the bar staff, who mix equally complex libations to be enjoyed at your table or on the restaurant’s roof, which overlooks the ever-changing Sarasota skyline. Time your sunset visit and prepare to be wowed.

Pho Cali

1578 Main St., Sarasota, (941) 955-2683, phocalisarasotafl.com

Pho Cali doesn’t have regulars. It doesn’t have fans. It has devotees, some of whom visit multiple times a week and evangelize the pho to anyone who will listen. But the rest of the menu will delight you, too. Crisp bánh xèo (Vietnamese crêpes) are stuffed with roasted pork or shrimp and bean sprouts, and can be served vegetarian with tofu instead. And the spring rolls, made with folded rice paper, come in so many combinations you’ll struggle to pick (and eat) just one.

Project

538 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota; 1419 Fifth St., Sarasota, projectcoffee.us

Known by locals as the place for a coffee date, Project—which serves all vegan food and drinks—is so much more than roasted beans and oat milk lattes. In fact, the menu is so robust that you might wonder if the plant-based qualifier is a hoax. When visiting either of its two locations, keep the vibe in mind. Burns Court is the spot for a filling breakfast, while the Rosemary District makes lunch healthy and tasty. If you’re on the go, we can confirm that those enticing pastries in the glass case are as good as they look, if not better.

North Sarasota

Bitia’s Taqueria

3436 17th St., Sarasota, (941) 366-8081

Despite having “taqueria” in its name, the undisputed stars at Bitia’s are the pupusas. Pockets of masa dough are stuffed with cheese and other fixings, like meat or zucchini, and then flattened into discs and griddled to golden brown. The result is a savory celebration of Salvadoran cookery, which is where these frisbee-shaped goodies originated. The pupusas are even better when paired with curtido, a vinegary, crunchy slaw. With eight pupusa combinations to choose from at rock bottom prices, you’ll find yourself making excuses to return for more.

Mirna’s Cuban Cuisine

2901 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 316-9793, mirnascubancuisine.com

Once a teeny tiny strip mall restaurant where guests would line up for a taste of authentic Cuban food, Mirna’s opened its much larger standalone restaurant in the spring of 2025. Although it’s big, shiny and new, it’s still dedicated to serving the best Cuban food around. If you want a quick lunch, grab a classic Cuban sandwich made with roasted pork, ham and Swiss cheese. Got a heftier appetite? Tuck into Cuba’s national dish, ropa vieja, in which savory braised beef is paired with olives, peppers, onions and cilantro. It’ll warm you from within.

Mid-Sarasota

Florence and the Spice Boys

4990 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 923-9920; 257 N. Cattlemen Road, Unit 90, Sarasota, (941) 359-8338, florenceandthespiceboys.com

This brilliant Middle Eastern restaurant opened its second outpost in April 2025, three years after opening its original brick-and-mortar in The Landings. The food is packed with thoughtful, punchy flavors; we love the chicken shawarma pita topped with pickled slaw, egg, tahini and the Middle Eastern condiments zhug and amba, which together build a matrix of salty, sweet, sour and bitter. Funky combinations don’t stop at the food; each restaurant showcases quirky décor with loads of pinks and teals and interesting trinkets everywhere.

Focaccia Sandwich + Bakery

2300 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, (941) 924-2268, focacciasandwich.com

A preliminary investigation may indicate that Focaccia Sandwich + Bakery is just a quick stop sandwich shop, and sure, its sandwiches are the star. But until you go, you won’t know how addictive it is. Fans of the restaurant don’t go just once a month, and many don’t even go once a week. They go all the time, over and over and over again. Is it the warm olive oil-soaked bread, or is it chef Nick Sammelman’s dedication to making every single ingredient, including the deli meat, from scratch? Probably both, and you can grab his best work in the prime rib sandwich, in which slow-roasted prime rib is paired with braised onions, white cheddar and smoked horseradish crema.

Marcello Ristorante

4157 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 921-6794, marcellosarasota.com

Forget about dinner theater. If you’re looking for a meal and a show, Marcello Ristorante is the place. Call ahead to request a table near the open kitchen, where you can watch chef Marcello Aquino entertain as skillfully as he cooks. No two nights are alike, since the menu changes frequently, but the shrimp and lobster pappardelle is a fixture—and rightfully so. In the dish, freshly made pasta is tossed with the shellfish and a light tomato sauce. It’s a simple creation, with luscious, complex flavors. To drink, choose from a wine list with 300-plus bottles, including five pages of Brunello di Montalcino. No wonder Aquino is known as the “King of Brunello.” 

Michael’s On East

1212 S. East Ave., Sarasota, (941) 366-0007, bestfood.com

Every city has its most famous fine dining restaurant. In Sarasota, that restaurant is Michael’s On East. Named for founder and co-proprietor Michael Klauber, the restaurant has seen our culinary landscape evolve while remaining true to itself amid the ebb and flow. Traditional fine dining options like filet mignon tartare, lobster bisque and sea bass with lemon risotto are ever-present, but when you’re in the mood for something new, try the monthly prix fixe “Epicurean Menu,” in which chef Jamil Pineda focuses on one distinct culinary region and celebrates its best dishes with a deft, confident hand.

Sardinia Restaurant

5770 S. Tamiani Trail, Sarasota, (941) 702-8582, sardiniasrq.com

The Italian island of Sardinia prides itself on its autonomy from the mainland. With a unique rocky topography and distinctive language, the island’s one-of-a-kind identity also comes through in its cuisine. Bottarga (dried fish roe) is a staple ingredient, shaved over many dishes for an added briny kick and touch of funk. At Sardinia, the restaurant, chef Dino Carta makes the bottarga himself and grates a generous helping of this complex ingredient over octopus carpaccio, linguine alle vongole and paella de fregola, and many more.

Walt’s Fish Market

4144 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 921-4605, waltsfishmarketrestaurant.com

The Wallin family, owners of Walt’s Fish Market, has roots in Sarasota dating back to the early 1900s, when their ancestor, Claus Wallin, landed here by way of the circus train. Since then, the family has been fishing and selling their fresh catches to locals and visitors alike. In an effort to feed their many customers, the Wallins began selling fried fish sandwiches, and the rest is history. Today, Walt’s continues to serve an exceptional fish sandwich, like the grouper Reuben—but it’s the complimentary smoked fish dip that’s handed out to every table that keeps us loyal.

South Sarasota

Capo Pazzo Pizzeria + Kitchen

2053 Reynolds St., Sarasota, (941) 487-8677, ordercapopazzo.com

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a million times: Sarasota doesn’t have great New York-style pizza. That changed when Capo Pazzo opened its doors in 2023. The little pizzeria in south Sarasota will make any New York transplant relieved about their decision to move here. Its pizza is perfectly thin, with charred edges and New York pizza’s signature flop, and best enjoyed folded in half. Grab a pie topped with whatever your heart desires, and pair it with an order of arancini, fried risotto balls stuffed with cheese and a tomatoey bolognese that would make your nonna grin.

La Violetta

4837 Swift Road, Sarasota, (941) 927-8716, laviolettasrq.com

Inside most of Sarasota’s Italian restaurants, you’ll find devotion to Italy’s central and southern regions like Tuscany, Naples and Rome. La Violetta’s owners hail from Parma, in northern Italy, and bring the region’s best flavors to their menu—think Parmesan cheese, prosciutto di Parma, truffles and Gorgonzola. Northern Italy’s food is rich with butter, cream and other indulgences, and dishes like polenta fritta lardo e tartufo—fried polenta with sliced, cured pork fat and truffles—and panna cotta di gorgonzola (blue cheese pudding with pears and walnut) will warm you from within.

Napulé

7129 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 556-9639, napulesarasota.com

Sarasota is filled with food lovers,  but if we had to choose just one type of cuisine, the flavors of Italy win us over every time. At Napulé, order an assortment of salumi (like charcuterie but Italian) to start the meal on a high note before you move on to a pasta dish, like pappardelle with pistachios and crisp speck, and a meat course (don’t sleep on the lamb chop or veal scallopine). Or keep it simple with a wood-fired pizza with blistered crust and a glass of prosecco. You can’t go wrong.

Thai-Licious

5755 S. Beneva Road, Sarasota, (941) 487-8551, thailicious.com

Some of Sarasota’s best restaurants have sacrificed an address in one of our dining districts (which come with inflated rent) for more modest accommodations inside our many shopping plazas, hoping the word gets out. The word is out about Thai-Licious. Chef Joy Dilbert ramps up her Thai flavors with lashings of fish sauce and loads of chilies and other Thai aromatics in ways we haven’t experienced here until now. Alongside your typical pad Thai, pick up an order of som tam, a green papaya and shrimp salad that shines bright with acid and is spicy with lime and chilies. Topped with chopped roasted peanuts, it’s a bold balance of flavors we can’t get enough of.

Tikka Indian Cuisine

525A U.S. 41 Bypass N., Venice, (941) 303-5073; 5445 Fruitville Road, (941) 413-4691, tikkaindian.com

Tikka regularly ranks in the top five of Yelp’s list of 100 Best Restaurants in Florida, attracting food enthusiasts from around the county looking for a chance to sample some of the best Indian food around. Whether you prefer a mild, medium or hot spice level, Tikka will create a dish around your preferences. If you’re brave enough to try the hottest of the hot—it hurts so good— just be sure to order plenty of cooling raita (herbed yogurt sauce) to cut through the pain. The saag paneer, made with farmers cheese and creamy spinach, is an excellent choice. 

Lakewood Ranch/University Town Center

Dim Sum King

8194 Tourist Center Drive, Bradenton, (941) 306-5848, fldimsumking.com

Our only complaint about Dim Sum King is that sometimes it gets so busy that it can be hard to place a takeout order. But the jammed phones are proof that everyone else knows what we do: The food here is outstanding. The dim sum menu overflows with small plates, and we love the steamed barbecue pork buns, all of the dumplings (particularly the Shanghai-style ones) and shrimp and scallops tossed in spicy XO sauce. Even simpler standards like fried rice are a cut above.

Korê Steakhouse

1561 Lakefront Drive, #111, Sarasota, (941) 928-5673, koresteakhouse.com 

Korean barbecue has come to Sarasota by way of Korê Steakhouse at Lakewood Ranch’s rapidly growing Waterside Place. Each table has its own grill, where guests can sear an assortment of meats. Beef bulgogi (marinated ribeye) and galbi (boneless short ribs) are the best selections. But don’t stop at the do-it-yourself portion of the menu, because the rest of the offerings are fantastic, too. Dolsot bibimbap, made with rice, bulgogi and vegetables, sizzles the entire time you eat it, developing a crispy crust on the rice kernels that’s a textural revelation.

Osteria 500

1580 Lakefront Drive, Sarasota, (941) 866-8962, osteria500.com

From the moment you open the door, Osteria 500 captures your eye. A mezzanine overlooks the main dining room, and the ceiling is covered with lush greenery and hundreds of dangling lemons, making you feel like you’re dining beneath the branches of a citrus grove. And, yes, there is an actual namesake, cherry-red Fiat 500 fused to the mosaic-tiled, wood-burning stove. The menu is as eye-catching as the interior, with traditional offerings and a few twists. The calamarata con crema di burrata al pistacchio e salsiccia is the biggest hit, in which large pasta rings are anointed with a burrata and pistachio cream sauce, dotted with mild sausage and then buried beneath a blizzard of chopped pistachios.

Zōtō

190 N. Cattlemen Road, Unit 5, Sarasota, (941) 359-9517, zotosushi.com

With a menu consisting of only small plates, Zōtō makes it easy to munch on a myriad of different dishes, each with complex flavors that harmonize throughout the meal. The restaurant’s simple but indulgent wagyu fried rice is worth the splurge, with bite-sized pieces of wagyu that melt with each bite. Alongside hot menu items, you’ll find cold refreshing sushi rolls and crudo dishes, the best of which is the “Hirame Usuzukuri,” made with thinly sliced flounder cured with kombu. And for the best mocktail in Sarasota, try the “Cordial Affair,” a concoction of carbonated lychee and lemony Asian yuzu.

Bradenton

Château 13

535 13th St. W., Bradenton, (941) 226-0110, chateau-13.com

Order the mussels. You’ll be tempted by trout amandine, escargots and other Continental classics, and they’re all great, but don’t forget to order the mussels. Served Belgian-style with frites, these bivalves are prepared in several different selections of broths, but keep it simple with white wine and garlic, or try them with fennel, cream and Pernod (anise liqueur). If shellfish really isn’t your game, the rest of the menu is fantastic, especially the roasted quail, which is tough to find anywhere else.

Hong Hot Pot

445 Cortez Road W., Bradenton, (941) 213-9972, honghotpot.com

The origin of hot pot dates to the Chinese Zhou dynasty, circa 200-280 C.E., and today, even in Bradenton, hungry diners still gather around large pots of broth flavored with fragrant spices, dunking proteins, vegetables, dumplings and rice noodles into a constantly simmering pot before devouring them. Everything about dining here feels like a party. When you pull into the parking lot, you’ll hear loud pop music and rap pumping, a sign of the fun taking place inside. When you walk in, you’re greeted with an alluring bright red décor, with robots (yes, robots) that follow the servers from table to table, carrying silverware, chopsticks and bus tubs. It’s a trip.

Taverna Toscana

1301 Sixth Ave. W., Bradenton, (941) 357-7772, tavernatoscana.com

“Top Chef” contestant Fabio Viviani brings his rustic Tuscan Italian expertise to Bradenton by way of Taverna Toscana. There’s no shortage of pasta and pizzas, but proteins dominate the menu, and you would be remiss not to try something big and meaty, like the enormous double-cut pork chop that’s brined for days, then grilled and plated with a bright pistachio romesco (red pepper pesto), stewed broccolini and chickpeas.

Star Fish Co.

12306 46th Ave. W., Cortez, (941) 794-1243, starfishcompany.com

What really is Florida’s “state food?” Is it Key lime pie? Is it a Cuban sandwich? Is it a fish sandwich? If all fish sandwiches were like the ones made at Star Fish Co., the answer would be clear. Located in the historic Cortez fishing village, this dockside restaurant hearkens back to simpler times, when the skyline was smaller and the roads were empty. Still, despite Southwest Florida’s many changes, Star Fish remains the same, bringing diners Florida seafood the right way: fresh, simple, expertly cooked (fried, sauteed, grilled or blackened) and served in a cardboard box. Just be sure to stop by the ATM before you go—the restaurant only takes cash.

EnRich Bistro

5239 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, (941) 289-1299, enrichbistro.com

EnRich Bistro’s menu draws on flavors from around the globe with hints of Latin America, Italy, France and Japan infused into chef Rich Knowles’ modern American-style menu. Knowles isn’t trying to recreate any important cultural dishes. Instead, he’s allowing the best parts of those international cuisines to weave through his own creations, enhancing the meal without muddying it. A skirt steak, for example, is crusted with umami-filled black garlic and paired with a smoked poblano chimichurri and charred shishito peppers, simultaneously calling upon the flavors of Mexico, Argentina and Japan and marrying them together in a singular, unforgettable dish.

The Keys

Maison Blanche

2605 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, (941) 383-8088, themaisonblanche.com

Located on the first floor of a vintage Longboat Key motel, Maison Blanche doesn’t look like much from the outside. Don’t be fooled. Inside the restaurant, diaphanous white fabric hangs from the ceiling, covering the restaurant’s walls and cocooning its guests. The kitchen is helmed by Michelin star recipient José Martinez and offers a nightly prix fixe menu composed of three courses in which Martinez showcases French fine-dining techniques you would expect to find in a much larger city. No two nights are alike in terms of menu offerings, except the restaurant’s mainstay chocolate soufflé. Tip: Before the second course arrives, you’ll be asked about your interest in the dessert, topped with Grand Marnier crème anglaise, which takes longer to prepare than the other desserts on the menu. Order it and thank us later.

Blu Kouzina

25 N. Boulevard of the Presidents, St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, (941) 388-2619, blukouzina.com

St. Armands Circle’s Blu Kouzina opened in 2015, and its success hinges on straightforward Greek cuisine with simple, high-quality, fresh ingredients. Fresh is the key word here, as Blu Kouzina has nary a freezer in sight, a quiet promise that whatever you’re eating—be it tender charred octopus, roasted branzino or a simple Greek salad with feta, called horiatiki—hasn’t been in the restaurant long. Even shelf-stable ingredients are of the highest quality, like extra virgin olive oil produced on a small estate in Greece.

Euphemia Haye

5540 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, (941) 383-3633, euphemiahaye.com

Eupehmia Haye, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025, has proven its staying power. After a brief closure following hurricanes Helene and Milton, its new owners have preserved the restaurant’s legacy of fine dining by maintaining the intimate atmosphere and elevated yet accessible menu, which includes the customer-favorite roast duck with seasonal fruit sauce. After dinner, head upstairs to the Haye Loft, the restaurant’s charming dessert room, for cocktails and sweet treats like chocolate mousse and a banana cream pie so good you’ll be dreaming about it until your next visit.

Ringside

233 Benjamin Franklin Drive, Sarasota, (941) 413-5992, opalcollection.com

Inside the Cirque St. Armands Beachside hotel, shrouded by a red velvet curtain, Ringside opens into a spacious dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto Lido Beach, right across the street. The New American-style menu is approachable yet interesting, especially the lamb, which is cooked to medium and served with potatoes gratin, pickled red cabbage and a deep port wine sauce; and the enormous pan-seared scallops atop toasted farro tossed with caramelized fennel and blistered tomatoes.