Excellent atmosphere and good service. Food was very well prepared. I would recommend the wild mushroom bisque for an appetizer...and for desert. I can see why this place was nominated for a James Beard award. read more

Setting is a charming old house w/ lots of cool lighting and simple, yet tasteful decor. A large window allows terrific views of the kitchen. When a chef is a James Beard semi finalist you expect something extraordinary. Indigenous lived up to those expectations. Outrageously good flavors and presentations on everything. But my highest complement goes to the fact the entrees were served hot!! I mean right off the grill hot. And stayed hot the entire time. Micah, our server, was second to none. Friendly, helpful...can't say enough. We ate here twice during our month in Sarasota and will be back next year! Can't wait. read more

This has been the best meal I have had in the Tampa region in many years. Intelligent, attentive service, great menu and food that reflects a mastery of simple, fresh ingredients. We tried many things and all were just incredible. Cute high top table outside. Thank you and we will be back wish you were a little closer to Tampa! read more

Oh my god! What else can I say. We had one of the best meals we have ever had. Our waiter was perfect and the food from start to end was perfect. You can't go wrong here. Best place in Sarasota read more

The food was excellent, the problem was the place is so dark you need a flash light to see it. We sat near the bar. Service was excellent and they even gave me a flash light so we could see the food which was very pretty and well set read more

Service is outstanding. The wines are very reasonably priced. Hook to plate equals the freshest of fish. To sum it up, without going into a longwinded review, one of the best Sarasota has to offer except in making a reservation as they will try to push you back to 6:30PM or earlier so that in season they can squeeze in that second seating. Don't let them play that reservation game and go elsewhere where the hostess answering the phone is more accomodating. read more

This is a special restaurant for a special night. Don't go if you have to rush through dinner or if you have tickets to a show. Allow yourself time to enjoy a fabulous dinner and time after to reflect on it. Can't wait to return. read more

Overpriced overall. The food was good but the final bill was very high taking away from an otherwise delightful evening. Be prepared.

Absolutely lovely setting - romantic ambiance. Nice wine list (wine & beer only) - reasonably priced. A good selection of wines by the glass. Attentive and efficient service. Ambitious and limited menu, but the elevator didn't make it to the top floors. We tried five of the "starters". The mushroom bisque was okay-lacked the intensity of flavor that you would expect from the description. Mango, lime, cilantro salad was refreshing and nicely presented - but again, lackluster flavor. Parmesan beignets were not fully cooked. Porkbelly and Hoppin' John - had high hopes here - meat wasn't crispy enough and the peas were bland. The crispy duck was just okay. Two of us had skirt steak entrees. Skirt steak was tough. Two had cobia - not pristinely fresh. Snapper was fresh but slightly overcooked. The accompaniments were uninspired. Desserts were a little overwrought and without the flavors in the descriptions. Overall - Trendy - trying hard - not covering the basics. read more

I have never written a review on a restaurant experience, and I wanted my 1st review to be about a pleasant experience. This restaurant is a joke. We waited an hour to be seated when the restaurant was half empty. The staff was inexperienced, the table was not cleaned properly. The utensils were dirty. Our waitress forgot the specials and some of the menu items were unavailable. I am surprise by some of the glowing recommendations for Indigenous on yelp. read more

I'm pretty stingy with 5 star reviews. Every course was near perfection. The Wild Mushroom Bisque-WOW...not sure if the truffle oil is what set it apart from all the other mushroom soups I've had, but I wanted more..and the portion was quite generous. The coconut ceviche was bright, fresh and had a great palate pleasing cilantro and lemongress essence along with nice bites of fresh fish. Main course..here's where things might get tricky. I had the "Plentiful and Abundant Fish" on this particular night it was a Cobia fillet, on a jalapeno grit cake, with perfectly cubed fresh peaches and topped with a frisee garnished with extra virgin olive oil. The contrast of the heat from jalapeno, the acidity of the peach the perfectly cooked Cobia , loved it , cudo's to the Chef. I wondered what 'Hook to fork" on the menu would have been! The menu choices change based on what's fresh and available that day. I love the concept, and I wasn't dissapointed. read more

Three couples celebrating TWO birthdays selected Indigenous for this very special occasion. The menu is extremely limited and they allow NO flexibility. The waitress was extremely arrogant and unaccommodating to my request for a veggie assortment; so since I am a vegetarian my only option was a Salad for my birthday dinner. Really? There is one vegetarian entree on their menu, but it did not appeal to me. The Cobia and Snapper were just OK. The shrimp dinner was dry and tasteless. Not even a birthday dessert! Requested to see the Manager, he never appeared. I was so infuriated that nobody cared, I decided on a zero tip which I never do, (I am usually a 20-25% tipper). The other two couples did leave tips. As we were pulling out of their parking lot, the manager ran out and shouted that I stiffed the waitress and not to come back. HUH ? What happened to customer service at an "upscale" restaurant? read more

The best meal that I have ever had was the shrimp dish from Indigenous. Can't remember the name, but I would come here again and again for that dish. The entire menu is unique and the flavors of everything I have tried here have all been incredible. Just be sure to make a reservation! read more

Quite possibly the best restaurant I've ever been to... very unique menu options and the food was absolutely delicious, great atmosphere and service as well. read more

This restaurant was extremely disappointing. The menu was very very small and every item on the menu had a spice profile that was not adequately explained on the menu. For example, the gazpacho was laden with cumin to a point that it was inedible. The burger consisted of two flat patties that seemed like a MacDonald's double burger. I must admit that others in my party were not as disappointed as I was but I am a plain eater and the spices in every dish was overwhelming. read more

I ordered carryout. Mushroom bisque, beignets, brussel sprouts: all excellent. Really amazing flavors

This place is AMAZING!! Such unique and delicious food... really great ambiance (twinkling lights, lots of ivy, good outdoor seating) I can't say enough good things about this restaurant! read more

Snagged an early table and had delicious meal. Mushroom bisque, gazpacho, original recipe shrimp dish. Excellent service.

One of the best meals of my life. Excellent wine choices. Listen to the waiter's suggestions. You will not be disappointed.

I have always heard great things and finally got a chance to check it out. The restaurant itself is a house and the ambiance was amazing. They have a cool little wine bar in the back too which was nice to check out. The food was delicious and the service was perfect. Adam and Ted were both very professional and made sure we had everything we needed to enjoy our evening! I will definitely recommend this spot to everyone. Thanks for a great night! read more

You don't get better than this restaurant. I live in NYC though I spend a lot of time in Sarasota and this place could easily take on any of the best places in NYC. I've been here numerous times and without exception, it's always been a wonderful experience from all angles - food, ambiance, service. Yes it's pricey, but you definitely get what you pay for in this case. read more

This is a great date spot as well as great for a group. My boyfriend and I shared the mushroom bisque (amazing) and Parmesan beignets (still dreaming about these). He had the cobia special, which was delicious and a ton of food. I had the vegetarian special which was very tasty. I am surprised that Yelp gives them three $$$, everything including wine was very reasonably priced. The food here is incredible and I would highly recommend. read more

Went there for my birthday in early July. Wanted to love it but it came up short. First, the good. The fish -- Cobia -- was perfectly cooked. Loved it. Now the less than ideal. The table was in a very dark room (I couldn't read the menu) and it was freezing. My husband was parking the car, so after several minutes I decided I needed another table. Went to the hostess and asked for a different location and explained why. She gave the nastiest look and no reply when another hostess finally offered a different table. Dinner was okay. As I said, the fish was cooked to perfection. But it was very bland and it was served over angel hair pasta. White fish on white pasta? Did not work for me. The color, textures and tastes were unappealing. Finally dessert -- skipped altogether. The choices were overly sweet and not appealing. Finally, when my husband made the reservation, he said it was my birthday (a big one). Absolutely no mention during the dinner. Wasn't expecting anything major, but a recognition would have need appreciated. Overall, a blah experience. May go back sometime but it's not high on my list. read more

Small little place side outside of down Sarasota. The food is outstanding and the service was friendly. I will return

What a great experience! The food was out of this world. Steve Phelps is an incredible chef. Will come back for sure!

Chef Phelps' menu is thoughtful and creative. Preparation and presentation are both fulfilling. The ambiance is definitely enjoyable and the service fully supports the food. read more

This is, unsurpassed, one of the best dining experiences in Sarasota. Knowledgeable staff serving thoughtful, sourced food put together very intentionally! Daily seafood specials are fresh and well prepared, I was lucky enough do have the flounder with sweet corn pudding amd a tomato jam...delicious! Burger is divine! Double grass fed pattis, house sauces on a slightly sweet brioche. Add duck fat fried and who's not happy with this plate?!?!?! From wine to dessert, everything is intentional, thoughtful and beyond to delicious! read more

This place has food that is well prepared and nicely presented. The service is swift and attentive, without hovering. The menu is not large but should be able to satisfy a variety of tastes and wants. The Winter Strawberry Salad and Crispy Pressed Duck were great starters. For the entrees we had a burger and the daily veggie special, which in this case was a quinoa dish. Both were very good, with the sauce on the burger making it a standout. However, the veggie dish was a bit overpriced for what is was. We shared the Brioche (bread) pudding dessert and it was tasty. When we made our reservation we were informed we needed to be seated inside as the porch sitting was already booked. This seating was in the front parlor near the main door. While not too many folks opened/closed this door, the only other table in the room, a four top, was so close that everything said by the other party was clearly heard by us. It was a minor annoyance and i would NOT sit in this area when i eat at this place again. Otherwise a most enjoyable experience. read more

Just took my girlfriend to this restaurant last night. I have to say the landscaping and the building are amazing. However, the food is sub-par. It was very bland, and over-priced. The desert menu, is lackluster, and there is not enough entree choices. The staff was great. However, I will not be returning to this restaurant. Its to bad the decor is great. read more

The bill that our waitress presented to us was EXACTLY double the actual dollar amount of our bill. When we questioned the waitress she didn't seem to know why it happened, and she NEVER apologized for the error. The next day we called and spoke to the owner about the error and he seemed to agree that what happened was strange. BE VERY CAREFUL TO CHECK YOUR BILL BEFORE PAYING!!!!! read more

Very very good. Lovely atmosphere, wait staff was great, wine was wonder, food was absolutely delicious. Definitely going back again...soon. read more

In my top 5 restaurants in sarasota, fresh as you can get and always delicious, even their hamburger is to die for! Steve is an amazing chef! read more

Love this place. Every meal has been fresh and flavorful. Appreciate the unique menu and farm to fork options. Great wine selection. Waitstaff is always excellent. Love it for a romantic meal or outside with friends. read more

Food was ok but service was dreadful. The chef or the staff will not adapt the recipe for specific needs.. Not even putting a sauce on the side. Their excuse is that offends the chef. Never will we return read more

My wife and I are locals and prior to tonight considered Indigenous Sarasota's gem of a restaurant. We have dined at some of finest establishments across the world and Steve Phelps' stands up against any Master Chef we know. That said, the acclaimed Beard Award and others can't substitute for good customer service. Tonight we dined with family visiting from St. Louis and both guests have food restrictions for health reasons. When we asked about menu accommodations both our waitress and reportedly Chef Phelps made our guests feel like they had ruined a famous Monet or Picasso. As an admirer of famous Florida Chef Sean Murphy, owner of Beach Bistro, what I have learned from Sean is that the dining experience is much more than food. It is about service, accommodating guests and going the extra mile. Yes a meal at the Beach Bistro can run $100+ a person, but the memories are priceless. Chef Phelps should make a reservation at the Bistro and remember his roots. And oh by the way, my shrimp entree left a horrible aftertaste. Perhaps the shrimp was meant for bait not fine dining. read more

We live in the area, and we wanted the experience of dining at Indigenous to be a rewarding one. The staff was inattentive, and food was over rated in comparison to reviews written. We met the chef (Steve), and he was a charming individual. I found him to be too passionate about his menu which borders on arrogant. We also met his partner (Rob), he seems to be in it for the money. We had the Key West Shrimp, Braise Pork Belly, Parmesan Beignets, Wild Mushroom Bisque - The items we order sounds inviting, but they manage to make taste bland. Overall the service was inadequate and the food was below average. read more

Everything about our dinner experience was fabulous. The ambiance is understated yet warm, and it appears to be immaculate. The service, beginning at the bar, was all excellent. Arctic char and short rib entees were both very, very good. We are foodies and serious about restaurant choices; would definitely go back to this one. read more

My husband and I made reservations for Valentine's Day and our 26th Anniversary for dinner. It was our first time eating at this restaurant. The atmosphere was very quaint and cozy. After a short time it did get a bit noisy, so I am sure that the outdoor seating would be nice. Everything we ate was delicious and cooked perfectly. We didn't try any desserts because we were too full. I would for sure go back again. read more

Visited with my boyfriend and we were very impressed with the quality of our meal. I tried the kimchi Caesar salad and it was the best salad I've ever tasted. I wasn't sure what to expect with the Thai fish burger but I was blown away by all the flavors. The service was great and it's a beautiful location. Quite possibly the best restaurant in Sarasota. read more

To start..pretentious management who require you to eat in the dark. Not talking sane, low key, dim lighting, talking can't even see your food dark. And the dimmer switch by your table is literally encased in locked glass. Like ya think if you have to lock the switch then people might want light ? Duh. Grouper dry as the Sahara. Other fish...like an episode of Top Chef where they say "take trash fish and do something with it" Lemon grass shrimp...an incredible OD experience of herbs. If you want to overdose on cilantro to drown out the shrimp taste try it! They made the hamburger sound great on menu and I think for the first time ever saw my son only eat half a meal. Do not eat the herb crackers...no way could anyone on staff ever have tasted them...very bad tasting. Arugula salad...very light on mozzerella and almost zero dressing. Trying to think of bright side.the cooked green were delicious read more