I am surprised at how much I like Grillsmith. I have now been here 3 times over the last 2 months. I was expecting decent but typical chain restaurant quality food. This is MUCH better than that. The atmosphere is stylish and inviting with lots of wood and stone. Everyone of the employees I've encountered has been especially nice and they genuinely seem to enjoy their work. William at the bar is fantastic. My #1 favorite so far are the blackened wings. I'm not certain how they are prepared but they are crispy without being greasy. Just the right amount of bite to the seasoning. The wedge salad is great with real fresh bacon as well as the insalata caprese and steakhouse wedge. I really liked my burger along with the jalapeno mac n cheese. I enjoyed the cajun shrimp & chicken pasta but I would prefer it to be a little bit thicker / saucier. They have an extensive liquor selection as well as a nice number of craft beer options. All in all, a wonderful place to eat or drink. I will definitely be back. read more

Staff and meal were excellent., But the lighting outside suggested they were closed .. I wandered inside the main door to find the staff .. Place has potential read more

The food was a bit underwhelming. I will note, I came in around 8:30p and due to COVID they're now closing at 9p. So, it was nice of them to not turn us away. They had good spaced out seating. We were sat ALL the way at the end by ourselves, which at first I liked but then it was very hard to get our server's attention. He only came once as we were getting our food and at the end to ask if we wanted dessert. I tried flagging him down so many times for a drink and he would never even look over. As for the food, it was just okay. I had the Coca Cola ribs with Mac & cheese and carrots. The sauce was great but the ribs were burnt and overcooked. The meat was not tender or juicy. My favorite thing about the plate were the carrots :/ read more

Grillsmith - Coca-Cola Baby Back Ribs - American Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Excellent Excellent Excellent. Always a great meal. The menu is diverse and yet simple. We started with the summer special watermelon salad. One word,,,,,outstanding . Then the Coca cola ribs.....phenomenal. The lemon feta chicken was outrageously good. For desert, try the blueberry summer special. The right way to top off the meal. Our server,, I think her name was Michelle. She was great.. We will definitely return. read more

A busy night after the hurricane and the staff was spot on!! Thank you for being open!! We all needed a break with great food!

Jan 17th 2024 Third time here and just as happy. Accommodated us with special seating request. Filet tip egg rolls and wings are always a good starter. Between the four of us we ordered, Baby Back Ribs. Husband licked his fingers. I had a chicken piccata which was a special, excellent. See picture. The arugula salad for me did not belong with the meal. Over dressed and did nothing for the rest of the dish. The meatloaf was well received. Fail to remember the 4th meal. Should have written this sooner. Always enjoy the cocktails read more

Grillsmith - Chicken piccata, arugula salad and Jasmine rice. Yum! Flavors were spot on. Should add to menu - American Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Have dined here several times each January visit but tonight's experience was not good. We arrived for 5:30 reservation and now we are still waiting for check at 7:49. Some drinks were not acceptable and some could not be refilled because bar gun is not working. Some food was excellent but some was not up to par. Very disappointed. read more

Menu has a wide range of options. Came here and orders brunch style items and was not disappointed. Good food at reasonable prices. Would come again. read more

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Jilyan was our server and did an excellent job. She took care of us and did several extras to make our experience wonderful. If you go and I suggest you try it, ask for Jilan. read more

I was with a party of 4 last night and we had only been to Grillsmith once before over a year ago. We made reservations and were seated immediately. Our server came to our table immediately and was a wealth of knowledge. She ontroduced herself as Gianna. She brought our drinks immediately and helped us with our orders. She even suggested an additional flavor on one of our choices which turned out to be delicious. Our thanks to the staff and especially Gianna for a great experience. We will definitely make Grillsmith one of our favorite restaurants. read more

Arrived at 6:15 pm, had a 45-60 minute wait. Checked back in at 45 minutes and was next to be seated. Had a booth in the bar area which was fine except the server had at 7-8 tables, so initially waited at least 10 minutes before he stopped by and I'll just say it was slow service especially for 2nd round of drinks. Salmon and sirloin were good, however, the burger was under cooked and had to wait for it to be cooked more. The sweet potato shoestring fries were delicious as was the salmon! Really think management needs to be mindful of the bar area and number of servers! Really hope this place is successful but it has been a jinxed location. Make sure to call before 4pm for reservations!! read more

Grillsmith - Candy Bar - American Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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BEST HAPPY HOUR from 4-7 . Appetizers are great, drinks are great, ambience is great, and customer service is fantastic. I love coming here whether it's for a casual drink at the bar with an appetizer, or a sit down dinner in the dining room. The bartenders are specifically amazing read more

Amazing! Easy to find, ample parking, no reservation required Came during happy hour on a Thursday. Friendly wait staff and food to die for. Will return!! read more

Came here while visiting Sarasota in a party of 3. We chose it based off the high star ratings and reasonable prices. I also liked the menu options because there was a lot of variety to choose from. When we were sat, the waiter was quick to take our order and he was overall a pretty pleasant guy albeit long winded. He knew a lot about the menu options and shared something about each area of the menu. I asked if they could make a garden salad because it wasn't on the menu and he was very accommodating. When it came out, it looked great and was pretty large. The house made dressing was super tasty but as I made way through the salad it was apparent there were some old looking lettuce pieces I decided to pick out. After continuing to eat - there were many brown, slimy pieces so I sent it back. We got a cheese burger w sweet potato fries - A+ Thai Noodles (which the server said I pronounced wrong, that they call it noonoos. Idk if it was an Asian joke but just weird) A+ super tasty And Thai flatbread A+ food was super yummy but the service just left a lot to be desired. The waiter was nice but his attempts at jokes fell flat and at one point gasped and said "what's that on your arm!? ...oh it's just a tattoo... I thought it might be some kind of infectious disease." I was literally speechless... like "ok" :/ Out of nowhere, another waiter stopped to talk to us later in the meal and made some kind of sexual innuendo to my friend about her flatbread pizza paddle "don't go getting any ideas..." we didn't. It was odd and off putting. Food was good though with the exception of the weird lettuce. read more

Tonight was my last night in Sarasota so I wanted to try have a nice dinner. Saw this place driving and had to stop in! Outside looks great! Found out it's still very new. Went inside and thought the same, everything was clean, modern and smelled great! Only took a few minutes to get a table, and for a Monday night it Haaretz a good crowd! I took pictures of the food for you guys to see. Rating of the table Lettuce wraps - 7.2/10 * chicken and sauce tasted amazing! Maybe would be better with a stronger lettuce and could have done without the pickled cucumbers but that's just me. The farro was amazing tho! New favorite! Sirloin - 8/10 cooked just as asked and seasoned well. Nice cut of meat. Crab cakes - 7.8 they were really good But would have fathered broiled then fried. Meat was nice and flavorful though! Okay okay Justin, finish this review off already. Would I go back? Yes Price point? Great! (66 dollars for 3 people) Atmosphere? Very nice Service? Attentive 4/5 **** read more

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Loved this location. Our waiter was very attentive and the bartender was spot on. Food here was delicious, we will be back! read more

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My family stopped in yesterday and the report was that there was a huge lack of flavor in flat bread and Sarriche (sp) shrimp yet the pretzels were good. The salmon was good too. The service was also good. They brought home for me a blue crab and shrimp burger and jalapeño Mac and cheese. They both were swimming in a pool of grease and the flavor or both was wayyy off! I tossed the burger in the mangroves and a dog quickly came by to take it. That was enough grease to make a even dog sorry. Hey... No offense. True story. We will not return. read more

Our server, ISABELA, made our most recent visit special, what a WONDERFUL PERSONALITY! This was our third visit to the restaurant, and it did not disappoint. Old Fashion made the classic way and at a very reasonable price (half the price of a recent restaurant we visited, and slightly less than the least expensive). Salads were great, and they were willing to substitute Swordfish for the standard Salmon Salad. The Chicken Gorgonzola Flatbread was excellent, and at a great price for happy hour. read more

Bourbon salmon salad delicious! Chicken sandwich overcooked! Shrimp and crab burger delicious! Server excellent! read more

Always great food! You can't go wrong with anything you get! Gratin potatoes are a must. The price is right an always great value! Our waitress Jillian was spot on with attentive and knowledgeable service. She made the meal and evening special. Best personal service with an awesome personality. Wish all waiter staff were this professional and detail oriented. Thank you your impeccable service and food. We will be returning often! read more

This restaurant is very good for service, price and service. There's a long bar and large dining room, and its not overly crowded or noisy. Would recommend for brunch and dinner. For vegetarians, they have a delicious bean burger. Also, the portions are better than average. A dependable local restaurant that doesn't disappoint. read more

This place was wonderful from the start. The only reason I give it 4 stars is because the appetizer (Filet til egg rolls) was a little disappointing. Other than that, the food, drinks, and service were AMAZING! Will definitely return next time. read more

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Not enough help, food just so, so!! I wanted to really love it-but, nah!! I think I was at the one in Tampa before, and it was great..

Great cocktails and wine and food during their happy hour. Always consistently good!

We frequent Grillsmith typically twice each month, arriving 7:30 or so on Friday. Our preference is to sit at the bar and enjoy the efficient and friendly service from Alex (she really needs a bar back on busy nights!). Menu options and preparation of food is good to very good, with Chocolate Decadence earning a strong excellent! However, our experience last Friday evening deserved to be brought to the attention of Grillsmith Management, and not the restaurant GM or Floor Manager, both of whom were present. An obviously inebriated gentlemen (who loudly claimed to be friends with the owner/and or investors) was served 2, if not 3, more drinks after we arrived. His behavior toward Alex resulted in her leaving the floor, with no presence at the bar for several minutes. Eventually the previously mentioned 'management staff' appeared, as did a new server who picked up the slack left by no bartender. Watching the management staff pander to this inappropriate guest with the additional drinks and loud conversation, rather than quietly escorting him to the door, made for an uncomfortable experience for us and the guests at and near the bar. We will consider other options before we return, and hope that the necessary training of management occurs - just giving someone the title isn't enough to expect strong yet hospitable behavior. And I would worry about the overserving of any guest who obviously has met his/her limit. Thank you. read more

Very disappointed with reservations waited two hours, fish and chips overcooked swordfish overcooked ribs dried out burger bun very dry and stale , great flat bread, will not be back read more

We came in on wed night with no reservations. They got us a table pretty quick. The server was very friendly but list our order. The manager can after an hr and redid the order .it took another 30 minutes for our food to come. It was pretty poor service. The food was great though. read more

Food was great - service was okay but didn't cause any issues with dinner. Happy with the experience would definitely come back. read more

Grillsmith - Sirloin with grilled shrimp and mashed potatoes - American Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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I have been to the restaurant many times and never had a bad meal. I love their flank steak with chimichurri sauce. Keep up the great service food! read more

Food is Nothing special for the cost. I know they just redid the place, but ambience could use some help. As for service, they see his service seem to do better when they're busy than when they're slow. read more

My husband and I decided to go here to celebrate a recent promotion. (woohoo!) I'd driven past it a few times, but had never heard anyone talk about it as it's fairly new. When we walked inside we were greeted right away and sat down 2 minutes before happy hour ended. We quickly put in a drink order to meet the deadline and they graciously honored it. The interior of the place looked really nice. It had an elevated look for a nice dinner with friends or to celebrate a special occasion. The food was great. We had the 18 oz. ribeye with a side of Cajun fries and Cajun pasta. We split the two meals which was very hearty. The steak was done to the correct doneness and the presentation was eye catching with the nice big bone in it. The pasta was nicely flavored and it was filled with chicken, shrimp, and sausage. They did not skimp on the meat. Service was great. We were in and out in no time. For those that was a nicely crafted cocktail and some apps during Happy Hours , the bar area has several TVs to catch a game. read more

Grillsmith - Agreed ribeye with blackened fries and asparagus - American Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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This place is amazing! Great service. Started with the pumpkin crab soup. Delicious! I had the aged ribeye. Cooked to perfection. My wife had the chicken Milanese. The most tender and flavorful chicken dish we've ever had. read more

My boyfriend and I have been there about 4x and we always have a great experience until last night. I ordered the skirt steak, and Yukon gold mash expecting it to be like it is every time I order. My plate came out with what looked like Mac & cheese, and a not very well done steak. The steak had a funky taste to it, and the "Yukon gold mash" was actually not cooked scallop potatoes. When I asked our server if they changed the Yukon gold to whatever this was, she said "that is the Yukon mash" and I said "but it's not... I've ordered that a few times and I've never seen this." It was greasy, and very cheesy and just gross, I couldn't even eat it. Then the server decides to tell us that they ran out of the Yukon gold mash, so they substituted it for those. Which is fine! But, why wasn't I told this while ordering? It felt like they were rushing to get out to enjoy their night which is great, I understand I worked in the customer service industry for 12+ years. But while people are there, you still have to provide good service. I just was not impressed and left unhappy about my meal. We learned that we won't go here past 7pm if we want good service and food. read more

Lost my card after charging me for my dinner. found it in the trash 2 hours later. Wouldn't recommend if you want to keep your card

First visit was last night. It was early so no trouble getting a table. Service was friendly and timely. We had the ahi app, pasta carbonara, and meatloaf. All were excellent. In fact some of the best meatloaf I've had. Took some time to get the entrees which we really didn't notice but the proprietor stopped by the table and apologized. Apparently the bacon got overcooked. She then comped us a dessert which was unnecessary but appreciated. This won't be our last visit. All in all a very good experience. read more

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My meatloaf as ok. Wife like her chick Marsala and some liked his seal cooked perfectly. The bartender was spot on point with efficient service and friendly. Please keep her. 5 stars basically for the bartendress read more

One of our favorite places to eat! We stop in 3-4 times a month. They have a great happy hour and rewards on their app. Thier appetizers are a meal in themselves. We always start with Spicy Thai shrimp, and finish with the Wings and drums. Last night I had the Fish Tacos and they were excellent! All our food came out perfect and delicious. Wait staff were plentiful and attentive, we always have a great time at the Smith. read more

order: appetizer margherita flatbread with martinis entrees: ribeye, au gratin potatoes and salmon with mashed potatoes wine: Michael and David Freakshow server: Izabella The decor of the restaurant is very nice and there is one painting in particular that I would love to smuggle out near the bar we visited for our anniversary in may. upon arrival, we were greeted and seated quickly in Izabella's section. she was professional, attentive, informative, kind and efficient. always smiling and courteous. our selections were served in a timely fashion. everything that we ordered was cooked properly and tasted wonderful. this was our second visit and we will definitely be back again Michelle B read more

Lenny gave us excellent service. The drinks were good, my Ahi tuna portion was smaller than last time but still delicious. Definitely a favorite place to go, read more

We love Grillsmith. The food, the wine selection, the friendly atmosphere, and the excellent bartender. Everything on the menu is delicious. I had the Valentine Special filet with a blue cheese crust, and it was so tender no steak knife was needed, even though one was provided. Their salmon is my favorite and is always perfect. I can honestly say we have not had a bad meal. The prices are reasonable based on the quality and quantity of the meals. Alex is an excellent bartender. She is always cheerful and very attentive. Always a good experience. read more