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Arts & Central

4.2 (144 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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ARTS & CENTRAL ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Upscale
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Arts & Central

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Reviews With Photos

Philly
Al W.

This is our go to stop in downtown Sarasota. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great seating both inside and out exceptional bar area and very friendly team at the restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. our waitress was exceptional.. Kelly also gave us good information regarding other local places to see. My wife had the lunch special, crabcake sandwich, which was massive and scale and very well-made.. she enjoyed a side salad with with her sandwich. I had their take on a Philly, which was very well-made. It comes served in a croissant. The french fries were spectacular.!

Chicken pita handheld
Richard S.

We returned with friends before attending the symphony. Located in the Rosemary district, this popular restaurant offers excellent American cuisine. My pan skillet trout was excellent , accompanied by a small salad; the choice of wines was numerous. Our waitress was efficient and friendly- a nice dining experience.

Smash Slider
Courtney C.

Had a great experience here! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The dining room and patio are both beautiful--perfect spot for lunch or dinner.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server Tom was super attentive and gave really solid recommendations. You can tell he knows the menu well. Everything we ordered was fresh and full of flavor. The poke bowl was really well balanced, and the French "Philly" was a standout--so good. Even the sliders were done perfectly. Overall just a really enjoyable meal with great service. Definitely will be back.

Caesar salad (split in two), octopus appetizer, tots appetizer
Diane K.

This was our second visit to Arts and Central. We sat at the second bar in the back of the restaurant that faces the kitchen. First, they have 3 or 4 mocktails on the menu, yay!! I've had two of them and they were very good. We ordered the octopus appetizer and the tots appetizer and they were both very good and came out pretty quickly, despite the restaurant being pretty crowded.

Me and Outside seating
Raye Z.

Flavorful, Fresh, and Full of Personality We had a fantastic lunch at Arts & Central in Sarasota, FL, made even better by the sunny outdoor seating. The setting had a great laid-back, artsy vibe with a beautiful view. We started with the Tuna Poke Tostado from the shareable snacks menu, and it was a hit. Crispy, colorful, super fresh, and full of flavor. Definitely a great way to kick things off. For the main course, I went with the Backyard Banh Mi and it was one of the most unique sandwiches I've had in a long time. The combination of smoked chicken, pork belly, and pâté was rich and satisfying, and the pickled toppings and chili crunch gave it a bold, spicy twist. Super creative and seriously delicious. Service leaned more on the relaxed side--not the most attentive, but not unfriendly either. Could've been a low-staff moment or just their laid-back approach. Still, it didn't take away from the quality of the food.

Sarah R.

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The environment here is nice and it has a great atmosphere[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], but unfortunately our experience with the service and food wasn't great. It was very busy, which we understand, but the staff didn't seem very friendly. Our waiter came to the table, saw we already had drinks, told us he'd bring water, and then disappeared. He returned about 15 minutes later. We ordered the scallop appetizer, which was actually very good. However, the cornbread that came with it was flavorless and very dry. After another long stretch without seeing our waiter, he finally came back and asked about dinner. We mentioned the venison sounded good. He told us it had been dry before but that this time it was amazing and had a better sauce, so he recommended we try it. Unfortunately, it was extremely disappointing. The venison was very dry, hard, and overcooked, and there was no sauce on it at all. The mashed potatoes were also cold. When we mentioned it to our waiter, he simply said "maybe next time it will be better" and suggested we come back. I will say the prime rib was very good, but again the sides that came with it were cold. After that, he brought the check and we just paid and left. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place has potential because the atmosphere is great, but between the service and inconsistent food it just wasn't a great experience for us.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

Naked and Famous
Sofia G.

Stopped by for a quick bite and cocktail at the bar. I made it towards the end of a live music performance. The young lady has such a pretty voice. They provide indoor and out door seating, great for any occasion. I ordered their Mushroom Spinach & Grueyere Crepe. Such a savory take on a crepe. It's was quite good. Would love to make my way back for dinner.

Pot pie
Connor M.

I was very excited for this place as it looks great but I genuinely got the most sick I've ever gotten after eating their pot pie. Very disappointed and it's too bad because I had a feeling when eating it something was wrong. Looked great but when you crack it open it was sewage and I can't believe I trusted eating it. Big regret.

"Dirty Rotten" Fruit basket with chicken.
Ana E.

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance, drinks and service was immaculate![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] However I did find a piece of hair in my food... as I said- this place was immaculate overall but I've never had to send back an entree or report anything a miss in my life aside from DoorDash. I thought about it possible being mine but if it were mine, it would have been more so on top. I had to PULL IT OUT OF MY FOOD, that's all the indication I needed that it belongs to someone who prepped my meal... This really ruined my appetite. I contemplated on ordering a different dish as I sipped the wine which was incredibly affordable and tasty but I couldn't do it. It was my husband's birthday and he wanted to come here so I didn't want to ruin his experience and I'm not the one for creating a scene however I was disappointed.

Menu featuring a local artist where
Bobbi H.

Beautiful evening on the patio of Arts & Central! With multiple opportunities for seating you can find yourself on the main deck enjoying the outdoors and vibe of the Rosemary District, on the side patio for a more intimate cafe setting, inside in the cool, at the bar or at the casual couch area for a beverage before seating. Live music Thursday- the weekend. Food is well presented and delicious! Menu features a local artist where you can learn more and purchase their works. Our server was friendly and appropriately attentive. We shared dishes. While I wanted the tuna poke so reviewed, we opted a bit different. (I love tuna poke!) The poolside tots were recommended by our server and were very good. The bites of brisket the highlight. A bit heavy for the warm evening so will order during cooler times again. The Seared Scallops were melt in your mouth after the excellent sear crust! Definitely a highlight! Only note is the red curry may be a bit spicy for some. Not too but a note for those who don't like a slight kick. The Pickled Pear & Burrata salad was wonderful! Beautiful in both presentation and flavor and texture! Will make this place a go-to!

Poolside Tots
Ed A.

Sat outside on 3/29. Poolside tots were very good and a huge portion. Swordfish was excellent but the salmon was too charred and over cooked. My smoked old fashioned was very smoky but lacked bourbon. Good service by Joe.

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3 months ago

First time dining here. Everything was good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Service, food & atmosphere was excellent.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We will be coming back.

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This place is great. They have an awesome bar on one side and restaurant on the other. We sat in…read morethe private room with our larger group. All of the drinks are great and interesting (shout out to Diors, the bartender!). For apps, we had the mussels, bread service, and duck wings. Do not skip the duck wings - they were a great portion, the meat fell off the bone, and the flavor was phenomenal! For dinner, the group ordered the ribeye, shrimp and grits, chicken sandwich, pork ragu, and fish sandwich. The crowd favorites were the fish sandwich, chicken sandwich, and shrimp and grits. Great spot in downtown Sarasota!

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5 Star update- same great craft cocktails but adding that they have wonderful outdoor seating and…read moresome lovely dishes. We grabbed reservations for the outdoor area to enjoy the weather and were thankful for the shady tree cover. This time we opted for some bites and though the menus change seasonally, I would recommend anything featuring tomatoes. They use truly fantastic heirloom tomatoes that remind you what you're missing with the watery ones we get at the grocery store. Also recommend the Mediterranean Platter. It's full of veggies and the dips are YUM. As usual, the cocktails didn't disappoint. It's never a weekend in AMI without a visit here! Previous Review: 5 Stars for the best cocktails on AMI, and a craft cocktail bar vibe you wouldn't necessarily expect here. (Plus, the service is AMAZING) We walked in (no reservation) after dinner one weekend evening and we were greeted by Matt, who found us a spot at the bar. He gave us menus and a "wellness shot" -- delicious little concoction to wet your palate! Right away I was blown away by the interior and the menu. This looked like it belonged somewhere in Denver or Chicago, but I was thrilled to find it on the island! Matt helped guide us to drinks we'd like on the menu. I ordered the Purgatory, made up of Bourbon, chocolate bitters, agave and premium mezcal. It was divine!! We also ordered some warmed olives, and they were hot and so fragrant. Definitely something I'd order again at the bar. I was stoked to see they have a veggie-specific section on the food menu and can't wait to go back for dinner. I'll definitely make a reservation though, as it was pretty full. Next time, in terms of drinks, I have my eyes on the espresso martini (off menu, but saw a pic on Yelp), and the kiss kiss bang bang. Thanks to Matt and Emily who helped us with our drinks along the way. Sometimes these fabulous craft bars can be pretentious, but the service here was a huge standout. Can't wait to return!

Have been wanting to go to this place for years and finally went and unfortunately it was…read moreunderwhelming. I feel like the drinks used to be a lot more creative from what I saw on their socials and from what my friend said who went back in the day it used to be more of a speakeasy elevated cocktail vibe versus a tiki/dive bar vibe. We had to ask for the chips that are supposed to be given complimentary and then we ordered bread and soup which literally took an unnecessary like 30 mins or more to come out as we watched the people on both sides of us get their full meals before us when we got items that just had to be reheated. The tomato soup was very good once it finally came out, the rolls were good but nothing as great as the hype in my opinion for the menu. The drinks were good but honestly the starter shot given at the bar was my favorite which was a hibiscus Pom margarita which I ended up getting fully as my second drink. Service started out hot but then went downhill but that is unfortunately the standard of when gratuity is already included in a check. Then when it came time to pay it got weird when there was a simple mix up when my friend intentionally overpaid even with gratuity involved in her check and the bartender asked her if she wanted change and she said yes but never brought it back. My friend gave 3 - 20s on a $38 check (gratuity) already in but she wanted to tip a few more dollars because she is a very generous person and then when she asked about her change that's when it got weird and the bartender made it seem like she didn't understand why she wanted change instead of just apologizing for the mistake and they went back and forth for a few minutes with the bartender ending up just giving her the extra $20 back. Just left a weird taste in our mouths for the experience when I feel like any bartender would understand what she wanted to do with giving extra larger bills to split especially when she said she wanted change and it was a massive overpayment or if the thought there was a very generous tip like 30% would make sure with guest that's what they want and show appreciation if that were the case. It was just weird how it all was handled. The decor was on point for Christmas and the vibe was very casual but oldie vibes which makes sense for it being in Anna Maria island.

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Dude who stayed too long
Dude who stayed too long
Praline Alexandra with homemade ice cream!
Praline Alexandra with homemade ice cream!
Old fashioned, cinnamon stick that looks like a cigarette

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Wink Wink Food & Drink

Wink Wink Food & Drink

4.3
(54 reviews)
0.1 mi

What an absolute gem of a restaurant. The ambiance is artsy, whimsical, fun--and it all just works…read more Really well. Our server, Juliana, provided absolute perfection. She was bright, effervescent, eager to please, extremely knowledgeable about every drink and food item on the menu, always present when needed but never hovering. She has perfected her craft and it made for a wonderful experience. The menu is written with flair and verve, and every offering seems irresistible. We wanted to try everything, but of course couldn't, so we made do with a couple of their signature cocktails (wonderful), a flatbread appetizer (also wonderful) and the very delicious meat loaf and the gemelli pasta entrees. I 10 out of 10 in every respect. We were quite concerned that we were the only patrons in the restaurant during our entire meal. It was early on a Tuesday evening in low season, but still. I hope more folks discover Wink Wink as it would be a shame to lose such a treasure. I would think they might want to consider offering a happy hour to boost things a bit. On the other hand, they could be doing very well and we just hit an off night. Go. Try it. The whole experience will be very entertaining with the art and whimsy of the decor and the menu. Great vibes. and the service and food were wonderful.

There's a floral pop up event of some sort going on The food…read morewas great! And the drinks were unique and tasted even better! The charcuterie was like a dream, and the Popsicle champagne drink wasn't too shabby! The service was good, and it wasn't too busy when I went. There's definitely photo ops for days for all my fellow content creators! The manger was friendly as well, and was nice enough to check in on all the guests here and there. Will def come back soon!

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Arts & Central - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

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