BLUF: Consistently exceptional food and service located at a dry dock (dry boat storage)…read moreoverlooking the water. I love Dry Dock Waterfront Grill and I always visit when I am in the Sarasota area. Dry Dock is always busy so I am also sure to make a reservation in advance using Open Table. Typically we sit inside but I know the back patio is popular too. If your timing and patience is perfect, you can also get a nice a nice window seat in the dining room that has sweeping views of Sarasota Bay. The inside atmosphere is bright and airy and although airy often translates to loud, Dry Dock thoughtfully put noise dampening panels on the ceiling. As far as food, I don't think you can go wrong. I always get something with grouper whether it be an entree, sandwich or tacos. On my most recent visit I got the grouper filet with coconut shrimp because I had originally been eyeing up the coconut shrimp as an appetizer. Ultimately, we decided to get the rock crab claws for an appetizer which were good but more work than I planned even though they were pre-cracked. I felt like a Neanderthal trying to eat those crab claws in such a nice restaurant. No offense to the Neanderthals, of course! I have no idea what my husband had as it disappeared. After entrees, apps and bread, we were too stuffed for dessert. I think our server was Cari and she was awesome! Attentive, friendly, funny and quite possibly a mind reader and magician. She saw the hanger in my eyes and made bread magically appear. I hope I got her name correct because she was superb! Shout out to all of the great staff members at Dry Dock -we've never had a bad experience. I love Dry Dock and it will forever stay in my Sarasota rotation.

Beautiful setting, lovely views, and great service. My husband ordered the scallops and crab cake…read morecombo and absolutely loved it. The portions were generous and everything was flavorful. I had the snapper. It was fresh and not fishy at all, but unfortunately a little overcooked and slightly dry. I always wonder why restaurants tend to overcook fish because it can be so amazing when done just right. We finished with key lime pie for dessert, which was delicious, although the slice was on the smaller side. Overall, we enjoyed our experience. The prices felt a bit high, but honestly, that seems to be the norm at many restaurants these days.

Best Steak I've ever had! This restaurant is beautiful and the service is Top Notch…read more It's pricey but always a fantastic experience. I've been here a handful of times and is a must go if you're in the Siesta Key area!

Amazing service, food, and atmosphere. It's one of my favorite places to dine on special…read moreoccasions. Most recently, we took our kids to dinner with us for Valentine's. Everyone enjoyed the food. Plus, our waitress was so friendly with them. They felt so special and absolutely loved the food! We were having such a good time. I forgot to take photos! My daughter had a Caesar salad and kids mac n cheese. My son had the chicken fingers. My husband and I both had the filet mignon. It was cooked perfectly. The restaurant is decorated with a modern coastal vibe with a large aquarium tank in the middle. Tables are made to be intimate so perfect for 2-4 people. Though they can accommodate larger parties. Needless to say, this is still one of my favorite places to dine.

Berry lemonade was delicious and refreshing. The Scallops…read morewere fresh, tender and tasty. Bar service was attentive and the decor was warming. No real parking but they have concierge parking.

The good things: I thought the place was clean, had nice…read moreseating, and the service was good. Everyone was very friendly. The cons: Unfortunately I was disappointed with my meal. I had the linguine with vodka sauce and added blackened chicken. The chicken was extremely dry and I was unable to finish it. The serving size of pasta I also found to be small especially for quite a high price point. The price point of the entire menu I think is also much too high for what you are getting. The edamame gyoza were only 4 in one dish and we also shared the hummus board which was very small for an expensive price. I think they should definitely be re-evaluating how their menu is priced for their portions and the meals themselves.

They have an Early Bird dinner menu with somewhat lower prices and smaller sizes. Plenty of choices…read moreand the portions are just the right size. This time I decided to try the Ragin' Cajun Flounder Melt ($19) Toasted sourdough bread slices with blackened flounder, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, and Cajun remoulade in between. It's all cut into four easy-to-eat squares and comes with fries. It was a very tasty dish, I really enjoyed it. Our waiter was very friendly and attentive. A new thing is a lunch menu for only $13.50. 2 choices out of 5 soups and salads and 5 half sandwiches. It's there for a limited time.

We recently visited for the first time for my husband's birthday, and overall I'd say the…read moreexperience was mixed. Right away, I was impressed by the hostesses. We got there a little early for our reservation and they were immediately ready to seat us. They even made an effort to place us near the fish tank so our toddler could watch the fish during dinner, which I really appreciated. The restaurant itself felt more intimate than I expected. I've seen reviews mention the awkward layout, but I actually thought it gave the space a cozy feel. Unfortunately, the food and service didn't fully live up to the prices. Our waiter was kind, but we barely saw him during the meal and waited quite a while for drink refills. I'd also mentioned in the reservation notes that it was my husband's birthday dinner and our first time visiting, but neither was acknowledged during dinner. Normally that wouldn't bother me much, but with the pricing and the restaurant's elevated presentation - polished uniforms, fresh seafood options, extensive wine menu - it felt like there should've been a little more attention to the overall experience. My husband did absolutely love the coleslaw that came with his fish and chips, especially the pineapple in it, which he'd never tried before. I ordered the grouper tacos and thought they were okay, but not especially satisfying. They came with a salad, and I found myself wishing I could've swapped it for fries or a heartier side. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing or misunderstood the menu options. Most of the crowd during our visit seemed older, and the restaurant definitely feels geared toward that demographic. While I don't think we'd personally rush back, I'm still glad we gave it a try. I also thought it was a nice touch that they offer a 15% discount to the ice cream shop next door if you bring your receipt.

Yes, yes, yes, 100x YES. 10/10 recommend…read more This was hands down the best lunch/dinner we had in AMI. Our waitress was incredibly sweet, they took us as a walk-in, and both the drinks and ambiance were chef's kiss. We started with the baked brie (an absolute must) and I ordered the burger, another 10/10. Drinks were Aperol spritzes and a spicy margarita... SO good. Honestly, just go. You won't regret it.

WOW! This place was an A+ experience. The drinks, food, service and VIEW were top notch and…read moreexceeded our expectations. We ordered some cocktails that were a heavy pour so worth every penny. We ordered the local clam appetizer and mixed the garlic and marinara sauce as suggested. We also added linguine and it was like its own dish. We could have ordered 2 of those and called it a day. The sauce was so good we wanted to lick the plate. I ordered a fried grouper sandwich with coleslaw. The grouper fillet was HUGE, perfectly cooked and the breading was slightly and flavorful. We will definitely be back when we visit again. Totally worth the drive and wait!

Loved the food and cocktails and wine…read more Service was good not great. The vibe upstairs was cold, decorations meh, lighting meh. But the food is great. Do not pass this up.

Came here for dinner while In town. Sat at the bar and had…read moregood service. Nice ambiance. Ordered a beer and a Ceaser salad to start. Came with warm Bread. Salad very good. Ordered linguine frutti di mare. Decent amount of seafood but the medium red sauce was bland. Prices were reasonable however.

We shared the two smash burgers. I liked the Classic one better. Two smashed burgers with a slice…read moreof red onion, cheese, pickle slices, smash sauce, tomato and lettuce.Very good and quite sloppy. The Whitney burger was very similar, but it had caramelized onion and garlic aioli sauce. This was also good, but it was a bit salty. There were huge servings of fries on our plates, and a good sized cup of ketcsup for dipping.

Whitney's was recommended by friends for their smash burgers. There are 2 on the menu, the Whitney…read moresmash burger and the Classic smash burger. We decided to order one of each and share. They are pretty similar. I liked them both with a little preference of the Classic over the Whitney. The Classic has 2 patties, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, shaved onion, dill pickles, smash sauce. The Whitney has caramelized onions and garlic aioli sauce. Both come with a generous serving of crispy fries and a cup of ketchup.

Would love to see view during the day. Sitting outside was so nice with amazing water view and a…read moredock you are able to walk on. Food was good - prices a bit steep but all of Long Boat Key is higher than some other locations. Staff and service from valet to waitress and host were just great. Sit outside as bar and indoor area were a bit bland so worth the wait if there is one.

Our first visit here and it was great. I had the grouper…read moretacos and they were terrific. I had the heavily blackened, other choices are broiled, fried or lightly blackened. The fish had a nice seasoned finish, but it could have been a little bit stronger. As a side you can have fries, Cole slaw or chips. I had their home made chips, very crunchy, very good. The staff were really, really friendly.

New to Sarasota, got treated to lunch today, and was very pleased. Great variety of options on the…read morelunch menu, made it hard to choose. I got the crab cake and chose sweet potato fries as my side. The crab cake was so very good, nice big pieces of crab with delicious sauce/seasoning holding it together. It was nicely breaded, like just the right amount so as to not take away from the deliciousness of the crab, and cooked perfectly. Sweet potatoes are a go to for me, they were great! Finished off with the homemade Oreo ice cream, which was a great end to the meal, tasty and comforting and a generous portion! Overall a great experience, with a nice clean inviting atmosphere and excellent service! Would love to visit again!

Valentines 2026…read more First time at Connors and it didn't disappoint. He, Gary, had the Prime Rib with Garlic Mash and side salad. I had the petit filet, 6 oz, with lobster bisque and asparagus. Connors did not disappoint. My filet was a perfect medium rare with a fantastic char. Let's face it we can get such a fantastic char on our home Weber without over cooking it. Those professional grills are wonderful. Gary's prime rib was perfectly medium rare as well. Gary enjoyed a few Stella's and I enjoyed a red sangria. Finished our meal with strawberry icecream that we shared. The restaurant is configured so that privacy for those intimate meals as there are numerous cozy booths. Service was excellent with our server checking back to see if everything was delicious and asking if we needed anything. Best part, they do take reservation. Sorry, no photos. I prefer to concentrate on our meal and each other.

Love love love this place…read more We started off with cocktails and they were delicious. Large martinis served up cold. It was a little strange cuz it was New England night and that's where we come from but we ordered the clams and the asgar go and both were delicious. Cute restaurant even if it is in a strip mall and the waitress was attentive and welcoming. I went with the shrimp and grits and they were the best I've had. I did sample off of a few other plates. The blackened shrimp with pasta and lobster sauce okay was also a big hit. The owner dropped by the table to say hello and make sure everything was okay. We told him it was and they were the best clams we've had and we come from New England. If you're in the area, I strongly suggest going to mean Dean's local kitchen.

We stayed in the area with a nearby Airbnb to attend a wedding and found this place was close and…read morewanted to give it a try. We really enjoyed our cocktails, especially the peach spicy margarita. My husband and I both ordered the short ribs over peanut butter noodles. It was OK, they said it was going to be spicy and it was not. After a few bites of the noodles it was very thick, like we were eating a jar of peanut butter. The short ribs were very tender and was super good. Margarita, peach spicy margarita, bourbon, maple, short rib over style peanut butter, marg