Came here on a Thursday night for their boozy Bingo and totally enjoyed my experience…read more As I was looking for this restaurant based on their address and couldn't find it, a restaurantaur noticed our confusion and said make a right and go down the alleyway. Oh wow, this is going to be interesting. Off we went and yes, there was the speakeasy bar we were looking for. We walked in and were like, OK, this is cool. It was dark with a cool vibe and friendly service. We had a hard time deciding on what cocktail to get because they had so many that looked great. My friend got the espresso martini and I got the Thin Mint. Both were very good. Had a ton of fun playing bingo too. Would definitely go back

Always a great spot to visit with my girl! Usually a wait but don't stray or go too far once you…read moreplace your name on the list, people are always filtering in and out. Strong drinks and bartenders are friendly and their attentiveness is refreshing. Inside is quaint dark and moody atmosphere. They have a light menu but fries are on it! Top hidden gem in Sarasota in my opinion. Check out this joint in the alley!

We celebrated a family birthday dinner at Beso, and it was such a good experience! We did the…read morefamily-style dinner, and there was plenty of food the dishes just kept coming! Everything came out fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. The service was excellent, and the staff kept everything flowing smoothly throughout the evening. And I have to mention the sangria, it was SO good! Definitely a favorite! My personal favorite was the grilled cheese, but honestly, everything we tried was delicious. We also had a private room for our celebration, which made the evening feel extra special and comfortable for our family.

Beso Sarasota was a really great dinner with our close friends and our kids, and it ended up being…read morea very smooth and enjoyable experience. Service was excellent--the pacing of the food was especially well done, with dishes coming out at just the right intervals so we could actually enjoy everything as it arrived. Cocktails were well made, and our friends were very happy with the wine selection. We ordered a large portion of the menu, and most dishes were really flavorful and well executed, very true to what tapas dining should feel like. The only two things that didn't quite work for me were the vegetable paella and the mushroom toast, but everything else was solid to excellent. They also did a great job accommodating us with kids. We had a nice semi-private table upstairs, which made the whole dinner feel comfortable and easy for a group. Overall, it's a great place for both groups and date nights, and I'd happily return.

Came in after touring Siesta Key rum distillery at the suggestion of Shane the head distiller and…read morecouldn't have enjoyed it more. We walked in to an empty bar (slow offseason around 3pm) to Abby behind the bar. She was PHENOMENAL! I have become a rum snob and she made me 3 delicious daiquiris that all had their own character and really let each rum shine. She was personable, funny and super helpful. Thank you Abby for an awesome experience and we will be back whenever we are in Sarasota/Venice.

Been here many times over the years and this place is awesome. Ambiance, food (from Koyo) and craft…read moredrinks are always excellent. Prior to today's visit, I would have given this place 5/5 stars. Today, the music was not only too loud (losing its established sophistication, but also the type of music they were playing is different from the past repertoire of music). It cheapened the place and IMO lost a bit of its luster. Hence, my 4/5 rating.

A five star first dining experience at 1592 Wood Fired Kitchen. The amazing Greek food met with…read moreattentive service by our waitress, Shannon made it an enjoyable night. We were impressed with her recommendations. She made us feel very welcome, which added to our fantastic meal. We enjoyed all of the appetizers - spanakopita, grilled octopus, spicy fries with feta, and dolmades. All were delicious, however, my favorites were the dolmades and grilled octopus. For dinner, we ordered the beet and feta salad and open face lamb and chicken pita. Absolutely delicious! To end our meal, we shared the carrot cake with pecans and cranberries. The combination was out of this world. Looking forward to dining here again. Thank you for the great meal and service.

Came back for a second time and liked it even better than the first. The atmosphere is relaxed adn…read morethe waitstaff treats you wonderfully. We had the three's company appetizer (3 different dips) to start and then had the spicy falafel. It was so tasty and so much food we ended up taking some home and had lunch the next day. My husband had the salmon tartare and loved it. Will definitely come back again!

We heard from the grapevine, Element had a good happy hour. Our group consisted of two couples. We…read morewere early enough to snag seats at the bar. Wine and martinis were priced at $7.00 ($10 for espresso martinis) and appetizers were priced at $7.00 and they were very tasty, especially the steak tacos and chicken parm sliders. Bar service was outstanding, our bar tender, Faith never allowed us to run empty!

George was the best bartender, so much so I went 2x in a week. The first night, he was so welcoming…read moreand such a great conversationalist, I had to go back ! On Wednesday night, I woke up from a nap and found myself in downtown sarasota looking for a late night snack, and what I found was my new favorite spot. George was not only personable, but he makes excellent drinks. I had a fantastic smoked old fashion with Jameson. The whole presentation was so beautiful. George also recommended the Brasstown Dry Aged Burger. It was so delicious! Even though I was one of the last people to order for the night, the presentation and temperature of the Burger were simply perfect!!! I had a whole potato cut into quarters as my side , an awesome version of fries , they were seasoned so well too. The quality of the ingredients made my taste buds tingle!!! On Friday, I stopped in for a drink and once again was delivered impeccable service! George made me fantastic tequila drinks with fresh ingredients like blueberries! He has a way of bringing drinks and people together, and the whole bar was lively filled with strangers laughing and talking with each other. I also enjoyed the steak toast , it was so flavorfu! As a solo traveler, I love such a lively place where everyone was chatting and having a good time, and the food is absolutely out of this world!!

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!

Took a group of friends visiting from Jax for a girls' night out and definitely picked the right…read moreplace. Food: delicious and creative. Every one of the five different entrees merits the five-star rating. Service: exceptional. Our server, Mr. Lenza, was beyond what even the most demanding of customer could want. Engaging, knowledgeable (about many, many things that extended beyond entree questions), fun, and attentive (but not overly so; he hit the perfect mark). Ambiance: upscale-fun meets modern-artisan. Bonus was meeting one of the owners who entertained us with hidden "duck" tales [lol; intrigue intended]. This will be my go-to spot for guests in the future (as well as for me when I'm craving creative & tasty cuisine). Well done, SSEH, well done (& I'm not just talking how to prep my burger )!

Came here for drinks/ dinner/ the view. The sunset and…read morestunning views did not disappoint. Rio, our server/bartender, was extremely personable and very attentive. Drinks were great- extensive bar menu. Our food was excellent and quick to arrive . Many items if not, all are from the main restaurant downstairs. We ordered the hummus, Israeli salad and chicken, and margherita flatbread all outstanding. No room for dessert.

We celebrated my sister's birthday at the rooftop and had such a fun night. The views were great,…read moreand the live salsa music was amazing, the band was great. The cocktails were delicious too. Huge thank you to Nicky, the manager. She really made our night with her hospitality and how attentive she was, and thank you for the tequila shots for my sister's birthday! Rolando, our server, was super nice as well. Such a great staff all around. We'll definitely be back.

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!

Wow. I am impressed. I think I'm coming back for dinner tomorrow. This has by far been the best…read moremeal I've had on the island in a while. We have a house here and are here a few times a year. Lobstercargot was so good and the bread they serve with it is amazing. The chicken special I had was also so fresh and flavorful. Pineapple martini was so yummy. Cannot wait to come back.