Simply the Best

The Best Restaurants in Sarasota

Our list of the 33 most fabulous restaurants in Sarasota and Manatee.

02/03/2026 By Lauren Jackson

Down the Trail

Mirna’s Cuban Cuisine May Have Moved, but Its Excellent Island Fare Remains Unchanged

The new space is a celebration of all things Cuban.

05/13/2025 By Lauren Jackson

10 Bucks Or Less

Sarasota's Antojitos Cuban Cuisine Serves a Crave-Worthy Cuban Sandwich

The restaurant makes big sandwiches with even bigger flavor.

08/21/2020 By Cooper Levey-Baker

10 Bucks or Less

Rincon Cubano Excels at the Basics of Habanero Cuisine

Rincon Cubano translates as “Cuban corner,” and that gets right to the heart of what this restaurant is all about.

11/06/2019 By Staff

It's Showtime!

At One of Sarasota's Oldest Restaurants, Great Service Matters

Columbia Restaurant assistant manager Richard Appelgren shares the secrets to the restaurant's success.

10/29/2019 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Weekly Planner

A Sangria Showdown and More of This Week's Top Food and Drink Events

Also on the menu: Oktoberfest makes its way to Venice and Pumpkin Stiltskin returns.

09/11/2019 With Sarafina Murphy-Gibson

Havana gold

Four Excellent Spots for Cuban Food (And One Excellent Recipe for Flan)

Chef Judi says there's no need to get on a plane to Havana to sample authentic Cuban cuisine.

08/26/2019 By Judi Gallagher

First Bite

Chef Judi Finds Authentic Cuban Fare at Rincon Cubano

This family-owned restaurant delivers big flavors.

08/20/2018 By Judi Gallagher

Cheap Eats

Mirna's, a Tiny Eatery on the North Trail, Is a Winner

The menu, which largely follows Cuban tradition, keeps the place packed.

07/25/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Construction

Demolition of Longboat Key Restaurant Begins Tuesday

Columbia Restaurant Group is demolishing PattiGeorge's to make way for a new restaurant, The Buccaneer.

06/22/2018 By Staff

Hospitality

Two Sarasota Restaurants Ranked Among America's 100 Best 'Al Fresco' Eateries

Columbia and Ophelia's on the Bay were both included in the list, published by the online restaurant reservation system OpenTable.

06/20/2018 By Staff

Best Restaurants 2017

These 5 Restaurants Have Stood the Test of Time

Others rise and fall, but these five remain.

01/31/2017 By Staff

Feast Mode

The 5 Best Things We Ate This Week - 1/17/17

Brisket tacos, grilled snapper and more of our favorite food finds.

01/17/2017 By Cooper Levey-Baker, Ilene Denton, and Hannah Wallace

Spirits of Sarasota

Cocktail of the Week: Columbia's Mojito

Stave off summer with a rum classic.

06/28/2016 By Hannah Wallace

Paladares

10 Bucks Or Less: Mojo's Real Cuban

Taste-testing an emerging Cuban chain before it arrives in Southside Village.

06/06/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

The Feed

Mojo's Real Cuban Opens On S.R. 70; Russian House and Lovin' Spoon Full Close

This month's dining dish from Cooper Levey-Baker.

05/02/2016 By Cooper Levey-Baker

New and Noteworthy

Mojo's Real Cuban Opens On S.R. 70

A second location will open soon in Southside Village.

03/28/2016 By Judi Gallagher

941CEO Daily

City of Sarasota Moves Ahead with St. Armands Circle Parking Garage

If built, the garage would sit to the north of the circle itself, behind the strip that contains Shore, Cafe L'Europe and Columbia.

03/22/2016 Research by staff

Biz Bites

Drago's Brings Cuban Flavors to Downtown Bradenton

Drago's is a great place to grab a quick cup of coffee or sit down with a killer hot-pressed Cuban.

03/14/2016 By Hannah Wallace

Article

Restaurant Review: St. Armands Circle’s Columbia Restaurant

John Bancroft savors classic Cuban at Columbia on St. Armands Circle and tasty Italian at Venice's Made in Italy.

05/30/2014 By John Bancroft

Sarasota Magazine

Cuban Food