Delicious dinner with great outdoor seating and live music! While visiting Bradenton Beach we stopped by here to grab a drink at the outdoor bar and decided to make reservations to come back the next day for dinner. We ordered a summer peach salad to split between two people, and it was perfect! For our entrees I ordered the Grouper and Clam plate while my mom ordered the Cracker Grouper special. The Grouper and Clam plate was delicious and served with a tasty white wine sauce (also gluten free). The Cracker Grouper was a southern style dish and served with collard greens and cheesy grits. Although the collard greens didn't have the best seasoning, the rest of the dish was very tasty and extremely filling. Overall, it was a wonderful meal with a great atmosphere to match it. I highly recommend this restaurant for either dinner or just grabbing some drinks and a snack. read more

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Adorable little resteraunt, pricy, (like everything on the beach!) but the food was great and the portions were good size.

The Blue Marlin is a little spot that has everything going for it. Great food options beyond your typical fish and chips, delicious cocktails, and great service. Our waitress saw a car getting towed and went around asking everyone in the restaurant if it was theirs. The restaurant even offered to help them pay the drop fee. Boyfriend and I have two of the grouper options. Both were fantastic . read more

Great place for dinner! Thai nugs were AMAZING! Can't go wrong with the specials. Ask for Sabine, friendly, attentive, great service!

Delicious Filet and cornbread. Environment is very friendly. Enjoyed my meal very much.

This place is a really nice spot. Sadly we missed the live music but we will just have to come back another day. They have an outdoor eating area with a bar and street food! Super cool! The shrimp and grits are by far the best thing on the menu. My husband had chicken, shrimp and rice! The chicken was grilled with a pineapple and was super delicious. read more

This is the 4th year straight we have celebrated my beautiful wife's birthday at the Blue Marlin. It has been perfect every time. From calling in for reservations to final desert and drinks nothing is short of incredible. The restaurant itself located in an old beach bungalow but you will never feel like a tourist. The service is excellent especially giving you their personal opinions. And then there is the food fresh, creative and darn right delicious. If you're on Anna Maria Island you have to give it a try. read more

When we first called to place a take out order they told us they were super busy and weren't taking take out orders until about 9pm. We told the Girl on the phone we only needed a couple grouper sandwiches and two apps and they accommodated us. Upon arriving, Hubby and I went in and ordered 2 draft beers while we waited and paid for our take out order. The manager and bartender greeted us and treated us warmly. The beer (Calusa pale ale out of Sarasota) was ice cold and what the doctor ordered. Upon getting home and trying the food it was super delicious and hot! Thai nuggets appetizer and the GLT sandwich was freaking awesome! We'll be back! Thanks for accommodating our take out order when you didn't have to and taking pride in your food! read more

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I have been coming to Bradenton Beach/Long Boat Key area since I have been 18 months old, and most of those trips have revolved around a trip to eat at Moore's Stone Crab house, but after a trip to the BLUE MARLIN I have found a new favorite place to eat on Long Boat Key. So, the other night, during a spur of the moment drive over from Orlando with my three kids (ages 9,7, and 4) husband, and disabled mother, we discovered that Moore's was closed on Wens. Nights. So, out comes my iPhone and Yelp and I found the reviews for the Blue Marlin. Sounded great, so off we went. IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT, WAS THE BEST MEAL OF OUR TRIP. Friendly, service from the time we walked in till we left. They wait staff knew the menu inside and out. Fresh locally caught seafood explained so that my husband the beef eater ordered fish as did my 9 year old, and both of them CLEANED THEIR PLATES. Complementary, edamame brought out to nibble on, but remember the kids, Well, so did the wait staff, they brought out Goldfish crackers. We loved the smoked fish spread that had been brought out by Rodney one of our servers gratis, that we had them pack us a quart to go. The main courses we spot on, but SAVE ROOM FOR DESERT. Both the Guinness chocolate cake and the tropical bread pudding made me want to pick up the plate and lick it clean. Plus, for the grown ups they have a varied wine selection that went well with the various dishes. Oh, and you need to try the braised rib appetizer. Just trust me on this one. read more

Blue Marlin - My Grouper with Saffron Sauce and Lobster nuggets with a side of roasted baby veggies - New American Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

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I had this place bookmarked based on previous reviews and finally had a chance to try it. I went with my wife and a visiting friend on a weeknight. We called ahead for a reservation and I'd suggest doing that. It's a cool space, in an old cottage that has been restored. There is also a large outdoor area where they have bands Th-Su, that they call the Trap Yard. When we came in our table wasn't ready so we got a seat at the bar in the back. If I remember correctly it's beer and wine only, but they have great selections of both. Not only that but the bartender gave us samples of three different drafts with advice on each. They were all craft beers and already the service was looking very good. We started with the Cortez Cracker Shrimp. They were huge, and had a dusting of breading on them and were served with a seasoned mayo sauce, delicious. I had the shrimp and grits. I think I remember something about there being 4 types of cheeses in the grits, and they also contained bacon. More jumbo gulf shrimp on top and the grits were out of this world. I'll attach a picture. This was seriously the best shrimp and grits I've ever had. I'm sort of craving it right now. I wasn't able to eat it all, because my dining companions ate as much as I did. It was by far our favorite dish. My wife had Thai Style Grouper which was also good. Our friend had the lobster linguini, also very good. Everything was fresh and seasoned and cooked perfectly. But the standout was really those shrimp and grits. We will be back here for sure, the service and food was top notch! read more

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We chose to eat at the Blue Marlin Grill based on the reviews and we were not disappointed! Parking is tricky, their parking is a few blocks away at a local church, they have a golf cart and will shuttle you back and forth if you pull up in front of the restaurant and then follow them to the parking area. Our waitress was very nice and knowledgable on how each dish is prepared. They also have a variety of options that can be prepared gluten free. The owner served our food and was very nice as well. For appetizers we had lobster bisque which was delicious, not overly creamy. We also had the taters and gravy which was red potatoes smothered in pulled short ribs with a BBQ onion gravy. It was to die for. Could've made that my meal alone. For entrees we had fresh caught red snapper prepared Fulford style. Lightly breaded with a very light lemon flavor. For veggies I substituted the peas for Brussels sprouts. We also ordered the shrimp and grits which was out of this world as well. We regretfully skipped dessert due to our food comas but will definitely be returning! read more

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My family and I visited this past Monday, reservations were recommended so we made one for 7:30. Running a bit late we call and they were able to switch our party of 4, to our new requested time of 8:30. When we got there our table was waiting for us with menus already for us. It is a funky little joint with tons to look at, overall it was pretty laid back. We received edamame for the table instead of bread, which was a nice change. My father ordered the Cortez Chowder as his appetizer which he loved. I ordered the Filet (it was super tender, could of used a bit more seasoning for me) and the Lobster Mac and Cheese (BEST I HAVE EVER HAD). My mom ordered the Shrimp and Grits, which she raved about. My father ordered the Pecan Crusted Grouper, he thoroughly enjoyed it along with his green beans and sweet potatoes with pesto. My boyfriend ordered the Tuna special which came with wasabi mash potatoes that were to DIE FOR! I have never seen him enjoy a meal more then this one. To finish our meal off we ordered the Guava Key Lime Pie and the Bread Pudding for dessert, both were good. Overrall the prices are a little high, but we were in AWE of how amazing everything tasted and we can't wait to come back. read more

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Don't let the quaint exterior mislead you into thinking that the food here is mediocre. My wife and I had a fantastic dinner here: the filet mignon appetizer was amazing; we shared a Caesar salad (excellent house made dressing); I had the GLT which came with expertly cooked garlic green beans. My wife had the burger...which was fantastic. Can't wait to go back... read more

Blue Marlin - The GLT was amazing... - New American Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

We had a hard time finding a good meal until we found Blue Marlin. Top 5 meal ever. Clams apps delicious and the blackened grouper with Alfredo ( perfect ). Thank you for a great night. read more

Blue Marlin - Outdoor Patio and live music - New American Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

We were looking for a fun, interesting place to enjoy some local seafood and stumbled upon this place by using Yelp. This quaint little blue house smack in the middle of Bridge Street is a hidden gem. The place is decorated with photos of the owner and his family fishing the area. The food is fresh and the sauces exquisite. We started with the clam appetizer. If we could have bottled the sauce to take home I would have. We requested extra toasts to dip into the sauce and were pleased when they came right out. We also tried the corn bread which was equally delicious. Next, I sampled the special for the evening--a Florida lobster linguini. The lobster was succulent. The sauce was fresh and light. The serving was enormous! Enough to take home for lunch the next day. Unfortunately, they ran out of the dessert special right before we ordered so we tried the creme brulee which was yummy. The chocolate cake was average. Overall, I would happily go back again and again to experience this delicious food and charming atmosphere! I'd love to go sit out side one night and enjoy some live music too. read more

Excellent food, service and ambiance. Pricey, but I would definitely go back!Pecan Crusted Grouper was amazing!

A favorite during our week trip to AMI. I only wish we'd been able to go back again. All the fish is fresh and local, and when you're on a gulf island, that's what you want! Shrimp and grits was phenomenal - probably the best I've ever had. Crab cakes were 95% crab meat and I could easily have eaten those until I popped, also the best I've ever had. Even my husband's burger was insanely good (don't ask why he ordered this at a seafood restaurant, but I can't say I minded taking a couple bites of it). This will be a must stop during our next visit. read more

We were very excited to try this place. We get there and have to wait and hour and 20 minutes to be seated. They were not crowded at all. Then we order and have to wait another hour for food that is under seasoned and bland. We order several different things to try. On top of that... our bill was $124.00. Ridiculous!!! Not worth it. read more

Cute little place , might not be too noticeable , however this place has the best food and a great staff . Best grouper sandwich in town, amazing Thai nugs and guava lime cheesecake is delicious . Got to give it a try , you won't be disappointed read more

Great local establishment. Attentive but very casual service. Food was excellent. I had the shrimp and grits--large portion has 7 shrimp, small portion has four...I went large. Delicious. My wife isn't a seafood fan got the filet and loved it. Teen daughter stuck with a burger and it was a great quality burger. Good selection of local beers. Small and quaint with quiet atmosphere. Only downside--like most good restaurants on AMI--is price points. 4 entrees (one was a $14 burger), one app (house made potato chips) and one starter (steak ajillo), 2 local craft beers and 2 soft drinks, with 20% tip we were just shy of $200. read more

The food is consistently fantastic. The service and staff is so personable. The ambiance is the best!!!

SO GOOD! My husband had the delicious fresh black grouper and loved it. I had the shrimp and grits and it was amazing! Great service. Quaint, cozy atmosphere. Would definitely return. read more

Blue Marlin - New American Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

Three words: SHRIMP AND GRITS. You need this food. Parking on Bridge St. is tight but guess what? They have a golf cart to shuttle you right to the door from a lot around the corner. Shepherd was our server and he was laid back, friendly and fun. The food was superb. The sunset awaits across the street. Amazing! read more

Pecan crusted Grouper is amazing! Very quaint establishment in the heart of Bridge St. Service is great and very pleasant atmosphere. Might need to call ahead for a reservation. read more

First off, this is a $$$ not a $$. Secondly, the food is delicious and the service was good. Entrees go from a $15 burger to $27 salad, then 2 or 3 options for $29 before the majority of the options are $39 or more. That's why you can't see the prices on the menu at their website. The food is very good and this is a great place for a couple. Not sure why it came up when I searched for 'fun dining' as there were some kids in our party. Either way, great food and good service. read more

First time to Blue Marlin. We very much liked it. Food was good. As well as the service. Drinks were the best! We will definitely be returning. read more

Amazing outdoor ambiance & fresh seafood! Picked Blue Marlin based off of Yelp reviews and friend recommendations. We were not let down. We were seated outside under soft lighting, no bugs. Waiter was extremely personable, offered up explanations & favorite items on the menu. Great service and delicious food. Perfect night. White Wine Sangria is dangerously good. Must try food items are Sopchoppy Crab Cakes, Cortez Cracker Shrimp, Blackened Grouper (fish of the day) & Cortez Chowder. The Hush Puppies are out of this world! read more

Best restaurant and meal we experienced on the island! Small but inviting space that felt much bigger, we both agreed the crab cake app was by far the best we've ever had! They somehow made meals we've eaten several times at other restaurants taste better. The grouper was amazing along with the guava dessert, which had a tart yet sweet taste. Definitely worth the price-I'd recommend making a reservation in advance if going on a Friday/weekend. read more

Blue Marlin - The aftermath! - New American Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

This has been my favorite area restaurant for the last several years, but on a recent visit I left feeling very flat by the experience. First off all, as some previous, recent reviews have pointed out, the Manatee county mask mandate is not enforced. Roughly half of the employees were not wearing them. It's surprising, given the cozy and intimate layout of the interior, along with the fact that many clientele come from places that have been consistent in enforcing covid protocols. Overall, the seafood was very good, but we were disappointed to find our favorite appetizer had been changed. The shrimp ajillo used to be heavenly, but was just meh. Not sure why they changed a recipe for something that was so well executed. It was also served with only one tiny piece of crostini bread, which for a dish shared with others, made it awkward to reach for. Our server was generally good, but the front of house was disengaged and without charm. The manager/host also did not wear a mask. I am writing off this experience as an "off night", except for the lack of concern for cdc guidelines regarding covid protocols. We will return again, but if our experience is similar to this last visit, we will find a new favorite restaurant. read more

Love this little place. Looks like a dive from outside but very nice inside. Great menu and food never disappoints. Higher prices but a great experience read more

We found this place and absolutely LOVED IT!!! We had the pecan grouper, a breaded grouper, and a multi-seafood dish...in addition to a crab cake appetizer and drinks! Everything was amazing....the food, atmosphere, and our server, Tim (kind, knowledgeable of the menu, and attentive)! read more

Blue Marlin - Atmosphere! - New American Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

This was our second visit to Blue Marlin and it wasn't as good as we remembered. Parking is difficult however they offer a shuttle to a church parking lot. Pull up to the restaurant and let them know you need a ride. You follow a golf cart to the lot and then give you a lift back. The meal starts with edamame instead of bread, which was a nice touch. We had the Cortez Chowder which is a tomato saffron broth with grouper cheeks and shrimp. This was the highlight of the meal. It was really tasty with a lot of grouper. I had the catch of the day, black grouper, prepared fulford style. It was sautéed with lemon butter and served with rice and peas. I got the smaller, 4 oz portion and I didn't feel like it was a great value. It was good but not amazing. My husband got the blackened fish alfredo. Again good, but nothing completely stand out for the price. We got the pecan pie to go and that was pretty delicious. I don't think you can go wrong with pecan pie with bourbon whipped cream! read more

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Beautiful outdoor ambiance with live music, slow service , pecan crusted grouper very dry and bland with not much flavor , and for $44 a plate that was pretty disappointing. Hush puppies hard as a rock with a weird sauce served with them. read more

Wow. Just wow. Amazing service. Friendly staff. And the food is mind blowing. Fresh and amazing fish. Great chowder. Great beer selection. Nice desert wine. Amazing desert. We sat outside and the ambiance was phenomenal. Highly recommend. The best place we have experienced on Anna Maria Island. read more

The food was very good, service was good. Great atmosphere. We enjoyed sitting outsiders, the band was setting up right before we were getting ready to leave but I'm sure it was great. We'll definitely be back ! The only reason I'll give it a 4 out of 5 is because I thought the food was a little pricy but other than that excellent little quaint place. read more

Wow. My mother-in-law and I were looking for dinner on a rainy night and decided to try Blur Marlin. What a treat! Great atmosphere, amazing food and good service. Particularly fantastic were the house made chips and the catch of the day linguine. Will definitely be back. Yummy. read more

We celebrated my wife's birthday yesterday with dinner at the Blue Marlin. The wait staff was great and the food was excellent. A definite 5 star experience. read more

Terrible Terrible Terrible! I have been there several times last was in December went there tonight probably one of the worst meals ever and definitely worst on the island! Prices have gone up selection and quality has gone down and portion size was a complete joke! It was my parents 50th anniversary and it was awful thanks for ruining a special night read more

Very disappointed in our meal. Grouper Pecan was over cooked and very dry. Grouper sandwich overpriced and my Alfredo sauce thick and pasty. Expected more for our $300 plusfor 3 people . read more

We dined here on a Friday, about 8pm. If you are coming by car, you should consider coming a little earlier, as it is not very easy to find a place to park in this little downtown area. You also have the option of taking a trolley, and in the case that you do drive and park far, blue marlin has an attendant driving a golf cart to pick you up.. A great little extra, if you ask me. The restaurant takes reservations, which are probably recommended if you want to sit inside, but you totally shouldn't. The outdoor area has the most adorable ambience in town. It is the perfect date spot, with a big tree, great lighting, and some spectacular low key live music. Service is extremely attentive and friendly.. Now on to the food. We ordered a (not your average) green salad to start that was fresh and delicious, with arugula and other greens in a light vinaigrette. For entrees, we had the fresh fish of the day (red snapper) in the picatta preparation. This was exquisite. The fish was the most fresh fish we had had on the island, and nearly melted in your mouth. My friend got the highly recommended shrimp and grits. These were very tasty, but in my opinion, the flavor of Andouille sausage really overpowered the dish.. I didn't take the stars away because my friend LOVED this dish and I think would have licked the plate if she could have. We skipped out on dessert because we were too full, but thoroughly regretted it at the thought of that key lime crème brulee. We will definitely be back next time. Best restaurant in anna maria. read more