It's ok. Not worth the hype in our opinion. We started with the pickled peppers and stuff. I love picked anything and it was very good to snack on. Be warned, they are hot though. Then we got the mushroom bisque. This was unreal. In fact if I were to go back I would literally just get two bowls of that for my dinner. Unfortunately that's where the good part ends. I had the cobia which was highly recommended. It's pretty bland. My wife had the swordfish and it again wasn't very flavorful. Our dessert was the passion fruit bar and that was very good. If we were to go back we would stick to the more savory dishes, skip the fish. Worth a try though. read more

Beautiful space and even better food. My favorite was the fish dip! I wanted to take it home lol

I'd give it 7 stars if i could - just moved to the area, and of course on the prowl for good eats. and this place was on lots of lists, so we gave it a try. started with some roasted mushrooms that were divine, as if a wizard concocted the tastes of the woods into an appetizer - could've eaten an entire plate of these. snapper and cobia also outstanding. service top-notch, polite, knowledgeable about the dishes, but not overbearing. will be back. thank you read more

For a year I was looking forward to dining here with my in-laws. What a disappointment. While the ambiance and neighborhood were charming the service (James?) could not be much worse. He was inattentive, rude and surly. The fish dish and burger was served almost as cold as the service. We won't be returning. Btw the bill with a 20% tip came to $297. read more

Finally went to Indigenous for dinner recently and yes: it is what everyone says... incredible. Start with the mushroom bisque. I know everyone says that. Guess what: there's a reason and that reason is WOW. Huge wow. You're going to see the light. I'd heard of their burger for years and was always thinking: why does such an upscale place have a burger? Folks, it's an upscale burger. Flavors are out of sight, what with the vinegar-esque Carolina sauce and the bacon jam, and it feels perfect with the toasted brioche, but where the difference comes in is the density of the meat. Be prepared for different, yet wonderful Also, for great service ask for Adam. He was fantastic. Also, see if you can't get into the cottage for dinner. Exclusivity reigns supreme in there. Apologies for "just-another-I-loved-Indigenous-review" but seriously they know what they're doing. :) read more

In the last three months, I've been to Indigenous twice. With the recent change in the menu, I have to say that the choices are less appealing. I'm going to review our most recent visit. Let me start off by saying how inflexible our waitress was - she's the one with the short, pulled back dark hair and the clipped speech. Everything we requested was a "no." It made me wonder why she's in the service industry. She was a big reason why the meal was less than the experience we would have hoped for. It was a birthday dinner, yet she couldn't even bother to remember to put a candle on the dessert that we ordered. The candle came on its own sad little dish AFTER our desserts came out - how impossibly lame is that?! This is after I made a point to mention to the reservationist that we were celebrating a birthday who actually confirmed to me that this would be accommodated. It was clear that she hated her job and all the people that she had to serve. As for the meal, the food was heavy without any standout dishes. We had the shrimps with the spaghettini - the noodles were dry and the shrimps tasted frozen. Gulf shrimp is one of the most rubbery types there is out there, but I was hopeful because on my visit in 2015, the preparation helped to make the gulf shrimp taste better than it is. The pork musubi had a good sauce but the pork belly was overcooked so parts of it was charred. The best dish was probably the Italian salad which I liken to a more upscale Olive Garden salad! LOL...but true. I was actually so relieved when dinner was over. And even more relieved when my guest picked up the check because I would be pissed if I had to pay for this meal. read more

My husband and I are big foodies and try new restaurants all the time. I strive try to provide accurate descriptions of our experiences, but encourage everyone to try for themselves and make your own options as everyone's palate is different. My husband heard of this restaurant and booked a reservation that took 2 months to get in. We were super excited to try it. The restaurant is a small house that was converted into a restaurant nestled into a quiet residential neighborhood and is very quiet. When we were seated, they asked for drinks so we ordered a cocktail as we got settled, but were told the restaurant does not have a liquor license and therefore only offers wine and beer. I looked at the wine list while using my phone as a flashlight, and a bottle of Quintessa was $385. Seems a little high as this bottle is $100 at Total Wine. I understand a markup, but really?? I looked at wines by the glass, but the options were very limited, so decided to just order water. However, if you like champagne, they did have a bubble section as well. Our server was dressed in shorts, tennis shoes, and a restaurant T-shirt, which looked to be the approved dress code. The tap water brought out I couldn't see through, so obviously didn't drink that! They have a limited dinner menu that had 5 main plates on our Saturday night (March 2024) dinner reservations, but I understand this changes frequently. My husband ordered the red snapper ($40) and I ordered the baked scallops ($37). The snapper was plated beautifully with bright vegetables and a small perfectly cooked piece of snapper. The dish was very good, but the snapper was served at room temperature. The scallop dish was served with a white wine sauce, cut potatoes with Italian bread crumbs and garlic that was broiled in the oven. This was good with an overabundance of flavor. Our service and server were good as well. I really wanted to love this restaurant, but overall, it was just good. I didn't understand the concept. Our meal was good, service was good, the environment was good. Nothing was great! With all of the restaurant competition in our area, this restaurant experience was an overall 6/10 or "GOOD" level for me. read more

We absolutely love Indigenous. We called ahead about 3 weeks before we wanted to go. It was just a great atmosphere. The food was well worth the wait. read more

My husband and I had the BEST experience. The staff was very friendly, our server was absolutely great. Every single meal was incredible. We sat outside and it was such a wonderful experience. Highly recommend. read more

Very disappointed in the experience here. While the ambiance and service were lovely and unique (atmosphere, hostesses were welcoming & funny, server attentive & kind), the arrogance of a chef that prioritizes flavor profiles over the allergies and food sensitivities of paying diners is an "I could care less attitude". I asked for the truffle oil to be left off the mushroom bisque (it is added on top and not blended in) but was told that is not possible as the chef will not compromise the flavor profile of his creations. I declined ordering it. I then asked for the truffle powder (garnish on top again) to be left off of my red snapper entree. Our server kind of rolled his eyes and said he would ask but he doubted the chef would do it. He came back and said "no, the chef believes deeply in his flavor profiles and will not compromise them" he seemed embarrassed to even say it. I thought how bad could a little truffle powder be and just attempted to scrape it off. Admittedly my mistake - more on that later. Ironically the red snapper entree was mushy and had a very bland flavor and texture profile . There was no other texture other than soft (except for a tiny sprig of greenery for crunch) and I could not taste the citrus gastrique, leaving the parsnip purée as the predominate texture & flavor. Unfortunately I was up all night with very painful GI issues (first time in months) and cursing the said chef and my choices. The parmesan beignets were top notch & unique and the cappuccino (love that they offer a decaf option) one of the best - with the out of this world accompanying biscotti being the surprise winner of the night. The pickled blueberry dessert was incredible and the crunch berry crust brought me back to my favorite childhood afterschool Cap'n Crunch snack - the pastry chef (maybe the same chef?!) is amazing!! Kind of surprised that after reading some of the negative reviews - the main negative comment is that the chef will not allow substitutions/deletions. I go out of my way to look at the menus online before making a reservation and did not see anywhere that substitutions and deletions are not allowed. Assuming that as a business owner he cares to read his yelp reviews - it's seems that it's just the chef's ego still going strong as he obviously feels that his opinion rules over the allergies and food sensitivities of his customers. Otherwise this place would be one of my favorites in Sarasota. read more

i love that the menu is small for this place. they really focus on the quality of the food. certain items always changing to whatever is locally sourced and available. the servers are incredibly nice too! our server's name was Chad and he was very knowledgeable on the menu! if you're looking for delicious food i recommend giving this place a try read more

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The appetizer bennet was unique & delicious. The server highly recommended the tile fish. But after waiting quite awhile, it arrived warm at best. The cinnamon horchata ice cream was very good - we split it & because it was so sweet, that worked well read more

This place is AMAZING!!! The ambiance is SO romantic and beautiful and calming. The food is to DIE FOR. The mushroom bisque is orgasmically delicious. The parmesan beignets are light as air and the combination of cheese with pears is perfect. I am so glad that the chef is including "trash" Fish (=sustainable) in his menu. The Greater Amberjack with the truffle sauce was sooo good and the short ribs were fork tender amazing. Thank you, thank you Indigenous for this wondeful food! read more

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Make your way to Indigenous! I've been wanting to try this restuarant for a while but whenever I would call for reservations they were booked. So on a whim I called this evening & the sweet & friendly hostess penciled me in. I had a difficult time figuring where to park when I arrive but this it the cutest & most romantic restuarant I've been to in the Bradenton/Sarasota area. As soon as I walked up I was greeted by name & seated on the patio per my request. I order the mushroom bisque & Parmesan beignets and let me tell you that these are THE BEST two things thy I've eaten here in FL thus far. I have about a half dozen (maybe more) bug bites but it was totally worth it. Every bit of food was worth every bug bite...LOL! The servers were pleasant and knowledgable. The music they played was smooth and relaxing. I can't wait for my next visit. To date this is my favorite restuarant in the area! read more

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I recently attended this restaurant for the first time from a local recommendation. I am so glad I took a risk and went off the beaten path to give this place a try. I have to agree with a previous review that this is what fine dining is all about. Exceptional food, presentation, service that is well versed and a comfortable, intriguing atmosphere. Coming from the service industry I place a high value in the service I receive and directly impacts my view and experience on the restaurant. The server was on point the entire time. Now keep in mind this place is relaxed so don't expect the server to be all over your table constantly. They are absolutely there when needed but are not overbearing. Refreshing. Our server was extremely knowledgeable about the restaurant, food, wine and overall culture of the area. Five stars right there. We started with the Ceviche and ordered the two specials. The Ceviche consisted of Cobia and Red Snapper and was served in a cute mason jar. The flavors were light and citrus, a perfect starter to what we were about to experience. The specials were out of this world. The fish was perfectly cooked and extremely fresh. Its compliments were perfect pairings and consisted of many flavors that were pleasant and intriguing. The chef here means business and you can tell the passion and detail he puts into each dish. Did I mention the presentation?! It was like we were at a five star resort and the VIP's of the evening. Compliments to the chef on everything. I also enjoyed a beautiful Sauvignon Blanc from France that was a nice compliment to each course. This is the perfect hidden place to have a quiet, relaxing nice and enjoy the gems of Sarasota. read more

Indigenous Restaurant - Special - Red Snapper - New American Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

This was our first and last time here. The food was okay, but nothing to rave about. The prices are twice what they should be given the quality of the food. My fish was cold. I mentioned it to the waiter and he told me that it was supposed to be room temperature. I could understand that if it were crudo or ceviche, but a cooked dish? Save yourself some money and eat much better, for much less, elsewhere. read more

The food was heavenly! Great ambiance, very cute restaurant. The service was wonderful, would love to return!

The food was delicious and perfect portion. I had the Mushroom bisque, and pork chop, while my husband had the Cesar salad with shrimp and scallops. Tried it all.. delicious read more

This place is definitely worth the hype! The menu is well thought out and perfectly executed- if you want a large menu and tons of options this isn't the place for you. If you want flavors and quality that are unparalleled in this town you will be, like me, extremely pleased. Mushroom bisque and beignets were perfect, perfectly cooked pork chops with wonderful flavor combos and the most succulent scallops. Definitely recommend! read more

over rated food was ok it wasnt horrible but its just ok, parking sucks big song and dance about nothing special

We've been going here since it opened but our most recent meal was a real letdown. The menu almost never changes, and the service was just awful. Waiter kept rushing us to order, and a waitress asked me if I was finished three times when there was still food on my plate and I was chewing. Prices have gone up a lot, too. This has been our go to for a longtime, but now I'm looking forward to discovering the new kid in town, Meliora. read more

My new favorite restaurant in all of Sarasota. I'm a foodie that lives half the year in NYC where the food is outstanding and creative. Indigenous could easily open up next to some of New York's trendiest restaurants. Everyone at Indigenous is so friendly and each morsel of food was mouthwatering from the pork belly, beignets, and scallops. In two weeks, I've been back three times. That's says a lot given they only are open a few nights each week due to covid restrictions right now. Reservations are probably a must. Love!! read more

Local sourcing at its delicious best. This quaint setting offers delicious seasonal local sourced food and a great price. Make sure you make your reservation because folks are waiting diligently to get a taste of this local heaven. Prepare to be fully pleasured with their indigenous taste of Sarasota and surrounding areas. Enjoy folks read more

Fantastic food. Fantastic service. Did I say fantastic food? I can't wait to go again. And again. A true Sarasota gem. read more

Terrible meal, dined there on 12/22 party of 4. Shrimp and scallops was not good, all meals at the table not up to standard. Restaurant received a James Beard nomination years ago. Was very god them, but menu hasn't changed in many years and food has gone down hill. After this meal Cracker Barrel would be a better choice. This isn't French Laundry.....not close. Very disappointed. read more

My review is based on two failed attempts. I heard great things about the chef and his food. I have no reason to doubt the quality. But I have have never eaten it. My experience is based prior to the staffing issues now faced. It started after lockdown when I was told rudely I could not order a burger for pickup and I was ordering in total around $110 of food. The reason is there was only enough meat to serve people that would come in and buy alcohol. Next time I was told no pickups as they no longer needed that business. Every time the hostess or server talking to me was rude and the chef seemed to report that. Granted if this had been recent I would give a pass as Restaurants are hurting. But this was twice post lockdown. I'm not telling anyone to not eat there just sharing my disappointment. read more

Superb quality, service, and sustainable ethical food options. We ate at Indigenous twice in one week. The complimentary thyme/gruyere crackers are awesome. My favorite appetizers include the pork belly and the everglades fish bake. For main courses I have always been pleased with the Hook To Fork and Plentiful but Bountiful fish options. Uncle's Joe's burger is really good if you are very hungry. The duck fat roasted potatoes are incredible. The wine list is varied and reasonably priced. The wait staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. read more

I read such great reviews about Indigenous...We were excited to finally give it a try. Sadly we had a super disappointing experience. Our waiter was nice and helpful but our food was mediocre at best. I ordered the baked shrimp and they were so overcooked and tough that you couldn't get a fork in them. My husband had the lentil bolognese which he enjoyed. read more

A real pearl tucked away in Sarasota, hidden but worth discovering. We have often dined at Indigenous and we decided to try their sandwich night. This evening it was Duck Confit Everything Bagel, Bing Cherry Caramelized Shallot Cream Cheese, Arugula, Crispy Beet and Pecan salad and a glass of Pinot Noir - We shared the beignets as appetizer. Every morsel was delicious and showed the dedication Chef Steve has to culinary perfection. Our waiter Matthew was attentive and personable...the only negative to the 5 star experience, was being seated in the Terrace right behind the reception desk We arrived at 6 o'clock and were finished with dinner at 7:30...we watched diners arrive and all (no exceptions) were accompanied either to the side patio or to the inside dining room...we sat alone in what, after awhile, we considered the 'Indigenous Tundra'. When we dine out it is not just for the food but also for the whole dining experience...sitting alone with empty tables around you, for one and a half hours, is a bit disappointing. read more

We came on July 25th 2014 for a birthday dinner. We were seated in the main house, but prefer the wine house better. The main room is beautiful, but tends to get very hot with the constant door opening in the summer. As for food, it is always awesome. I went vegetarian this time and the polenta was AMAZING!!! I tasted everyone's plates and the two fish dishes were very large and flavorful. The meat was another huge portion and also very good. Also try the ice cream when you go because it is home made and really great! Also BYOB of wine for a $20 corkage fee. Or you can select one of their amazing wine selections. read more

Indigenous Restaurant - Polenta and salad entree - New American Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Pleasantly surprised at this tucked away gem in Sarasota. The mushroom soup was amazing as a starter. I had the speared kobia entrée's which is a thick cut of cod also delicious The menu changes nightly and everything is FARM to table. The wine selection is also one of the best in Sarasota. I will be returning soon. read more

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I couldn't wait to experience this eatery. Its "My Uncle's Burger" ($16) got top rating in Sarasota Magazine...whaaaaat? It was barely edible. Two very thin - and overcooked - "burgers" were like skinny hockey pucks. Grey and tough. Ambiance nice but food my wife and I ate was awful and extraordinarily overpriced. read more

Zero Stars where are you?! Came here on a Friday night for a special occasion after reading all the obviously fake reviews. I wanted to like this place. The location is neat, a little hidden gem with great decor, and cozy interior. Where this place turns south is on Food and Service. Service: To say it was awful is an understatement. For starters, the people that work there just look miserable to begin with. From our waitress, to bus boys, to the people refilling water...it's obvious that the staff is either overworked and underpaid or they all just got a severe case of resting Mutt Face Syndrome. This special evening started with my waitress literally walking away from me as I was ordering a bottle of wine... simply turned around gave me her back and walked away. Needless to say, my g/f and I were both shocked at her rudeness but laughed it off as not to ruin the evening. I guess she decided that night that we were only meant to drink water. I should've left then because things got worse. I asked my waitress to recommend a good dish, and her suggestion was the catch of the day which had been sent back by tables next to me. The table to my left was complaining of how the fish was dry and sent it back, the table right to me sent it back after the first bite, and yet this GENIUS decides to recommend the same stink bomb that every one else is sending back. Common sense where are you? Ahh good luck with people coming to your table every 3 minutes extending their hands over your food to pick up table items or refill water. No "excuse me" or "are you done with that" or nothing, just grab and go like vultures pecking at your table. Nearly impossible to have a conversation with your date. It's like they're rushing you out of there! In short, don't eat the fish, be prepared for poor service, and everyone there looks like they hate life. Just know it's not you it's really just them. read more

Nice quaint place downtown Sarasota. Great atmosphere, great food and a great time with friends.

Had my bday dinner here back in July and seriously wow! This was a date to remember. Our service experience was incredible. Super attentive. Sexy vibe. And the food...best culinary experience in Sarasota hands down. If you want fresh local conscious and sustainably sourced ingredients this is the place. You will not be disappointed. Oh and the house fermented pickles (my bday gift) we're sooo good. Thank you for making it such a special occasion! read more

My family has been here several times, but this was my first. Truly an enjoyable experience. Wine & beers only. No cocktails. Exceptional fresh food. I had Arctic Char over a bed of sliced veggies. Excellent. The mushroom soup is a must, but I didn't have that. I got a spoonful from my bro tho! Will be back on my next visit! read more

Amazing food! For starters we had the Pork Shoulder and the Parmesan beignets, both were excellent. For entres we tried the rudder and the swordfish, excellent as well (this review might not be very relevant considering they change the menu quite often) both dishes were delicious! We tried the llama mama tart and the sweet corn pots de creme.. really good! read more

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We went to Indigenous upon seeing on TV with Bobby Flay. Amazing food and service! Perfect restaurant to celebrate a birthday. Everything we ate was cooked to perfection. Best fish I have ever had (kanpachi) My boyfriend had the burger and he loved it. He said it was juicy and best he burger he has has. My cousin ordered the pork chop which was cooked just like he likes. Had a sear and I had a bite which was tender and so flavorful. Also had the black garlic Caesar salad and famous beignets. Delicious. Saved room for dessert . The honey pie was more like a cake and had a very nice lavender whipped cream on top. Also had the blueberry deliciousness. We were all stuffed but found room to finish both desserts. Outstanding. Our server was Matthew and he was very knowledgeable and personable. Hostess was also friendly. Thank you again for the best meal we have had in Florida. We will be back and recommend to our friends. read more

Atmosphere was great - we sat on outside patio. The music playing out of the speaker was a perfect mix for what we like. The food was great - maybe not for everyone as the menu is created with great creativity. We loved it! My wife had the burger and it was amazing. I had the hook of the day which came on top of corn chowder - it was out of this world. The peppers were also amazing for $5 - see picture. Our server knew the menu front and back - which goes a long ways. I'll def be back read more

Indigenous Restaurant - New American Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Excellent dinner. We sat in the wine bungalow that is cute. It is a smaller room so it feels intimate. The Parmesan beignets are amazing. Airy perfectly fried and a hint of sweetness from the honey. Although known for its fish, the burger is amazing. Perfectly cooked patties and huge. The fresh fish options are great. I they use local season ingredients. We shared the olive oil lemon cake to finish. Slightly deconstructed with the crust as a crumb topping. Wow! read more