Not my first visit, nor will it be my last. Consistently great food and service. Especially fond of their smash burger on a sesame seed bun, with great French fries, and the boudin balls! So nice to have this gem in Southside Village! read more

We came here for lunch and had a fantastic meal! The inside has both stool-top and regular table seating along with the bar. We got lucky at the time we went to get a table right away! The Caesar salad was great, and the crushed croutons were a lovely add. It doesn't sound like anything crazy, but it distributed nicely over the salad compared to pieces of croutons. The dressing was also very creamy and seemed homemade. The burger and fries were similarly amazing. The sesame burger bun was truly a SESAME bun (which you can see in the photo). The burger was cooked perfectly and everything was fresh. The fries were absolutely homemade were a great mix of crunchy and soft. read more

Lucky 8 - Caesar Salad - Sandwiches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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With great designations come great expectations. I was very excited to see this on the Michelin guide and I was very excited to take my family here to try it. We came on a weekday and it was still super busy for dinner, we had to settle for an outside high top. Still we were excited. We started with the Caesar salad. This was alright, nothing extraordinary about it, I felt it was a little dry. For my entree I got the chicken and sausage gumbo. It was deeply flavored, and not what I was expecting in a way that wasn't good or bad, just different. Very solid though, and I would say worthwhile. I was initially disappointed in the portion size but it turned out to be satisfying and I wasn't hungry after the meal. I stole bite of my husband's burger and I did really like it, all sesame seed buns should be that densely seeded! The staff was cool, and the atmosphere outside was alright, but we took what we could get. I would come back but I would try to come at an off hour. read more

Back at Lucky 8 (2nd time this week). I was just blown away with my first visit. So I had to come back. The food was just amazing. We had 2 orders of the fried chicken with Jasmine Rice & Beans. Several appetizers, beer & wine. Can we talk dessert? We had the most incredible bread pudding. And I'm a bread pudding snob. I've tried many and this one landed at the top of my list. Today we ordered several small dishes, 3 boudins, several smash burgers and gumbo. And surprise, surprise it WAS JUST AMAZING TOO. The flavors just tingle your tongue. I experienced a buzzing sensation in my mouth that was very stimulating. If you want to feel happy come to Lucky 8. And maybe you'll luck out and get Alisa as your server. She is great! read more

We stopped in for lunch and so glad we did. Given the New Orleans style cuisine we knew we had to try some of our favorites from home. The decor gave us the fell of a French Quarter bar with touches of New Orleans around. We sat at the bar and received excellent service. The muffuletta was very good although I would make the bread just a little thinner, a small critique. My wife had the shrimp only and it was outstanding, fresh and fried to perfection. Both the fries and potato salad were excellent. Prices and service will have Lucky 8 in our regular rotation. read more

Lucky 8 - SHRIMP PO'BOY - Sandwiches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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We were looking forward to having lunch at Lucky 8, Unfortunately we were turned away. It was busy, and there were a couple of tables still available. The hostess stated they are only for 3-4 guests not just two. When we arrived we noticed a friend and asked for him To join us and he agreed. That made us a party of 3.... And the hostess refused to sit us and just said no even after speaking to the manager no!! We walked out and felt completely disrespected I/we and our friends will never go back as we were treated so badly. Too bad as we would have easily spent more than $100 for lunch? My advice: don't go!! read more

I can't say enough good about this place. Awesome staff terrific ambiance and the food is next level Cajun. We had a bunch of sampler plates. The burger was excellent along with the boudin and the rest. Do yourself a favor and stop in. You won't be disappointed!!! read more

Well, I finally made it after a long time coming. I've been wanting to try this place since they've opened and it finally happened today stopped in for lunch and a place smelled amazing as soon as I walked in! Servers were amazing and very attentive and the food was amazing. We were the first ones there for lunch, but that soon changed as the place filled up quickly. I was told the chef is from New Orleans and the flavor certainly agreed this will definitely be one of my spots when I'm in the area! read more

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Oh my goodness, can not say enough good things about Lucky 8. The space is an intimate restaurant with indoor, outdoor and bar seating. The staff is extremely attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. The food was wonderful, I have eaten a lot of food this year but when I say the cornmeal crusted Gulf Oysters appetizer was in the top 5 of best things I have eaten this year I mean it! The perfect balance of salty and umami with grated cheese, sweet peppers on top of a crunchy base sprinkled with capers. My dinner mate and I literally could not stop audibly Mmm'ing as we ate it. The potato salad was delicious and a great accompaniment. I thoroughly enjoyed their happy hour selection as well which allowed us to try their muffuletta sandwich along with their boudin balls, two offerings we have never had before, without committing to the full size. Both were delicious and the bun on the mini Mufuletta was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside in all of the best ways (I would not be upset if they just served these buns as a side). Overall, Lucky 8 made me feel pretty Lucky to try their food. This is an awesome lunch/dinner spot in Sarasota and you definitely have to give it a try. Also if you like Abita Beer they have it on tap here! Highly recommend the TurboDog or the Pecan if you enjoy a good ale! read more

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Ok we had lunch here today and I would like to say it's a nice change to some of the other establishments around our area. Cute New Orleans style restaurant. The only negative and I would like to clear that up out of the gate is the service lacked a lot of attentiveness, not sure why but my guess is maybe they are understaffed who knows I'll live. The ambiance and food is definitely worth a four star review. We ordered a pot roast po boy with beans and rice, and a double smash burger with cheese. The burger was very good, nice crispy patties and unique bun. The rice and beans were very flavorful, and my pot roast po boy was a decent choice and also not lacking in flavor. I'm thinking of trying something different next time and add some bread pudding for dessert. Overall it was a decent experience and I will try them again in the future. Food 8.0 Ambiance 8.0 Service 7.5 read more

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This is a nice sit down restaurant. Service is professional and friendly. Restaurant is clean and hip. I ordered the crawfish etoufee. It was good and rich . The crawfish were small and not recently caught. My wife had the gumbo that was tasty. The potato salad was amazing. The red beans and rice was great with rich flavors. They have craft beers. read more

Lucky 8 - Crawfish Etouffee - Sandwiches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Really poor customer service from the hostess to the manager. They would rather let you walk out the door than seat you in a spot that may have an extra seat. Never to return! read more

We stopped in to try the place out and decided to go during happy hour to try a few items. The place is very clean and has a great vibe. We sat at the bar and ordered the pimento cheese, a mini smashburger and a mini muffuletta and a couple boudin balls off of the happy hour menu. They were the perfect size to share and try out . We also ordered a bowl of gumbo off of the regular menu. Everything was very delicious. And what we ordered filled us up pretty good. It I can't wait to go back and order a full size smashburger . It was amazing . We will definitely be back to explore some more of the menu read more

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Nice restaurant to go to customer service is very friendly. I believe it's got a little Cajun for people who like spicy food The gumbo was really delicious. Their sandwiches are awesome. Everything they did is very very good. I can't say how much I really do like this place. You gotta come and try it out for yourself. Bring your family and friends. read more

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Lucky 8 was THAT place, wonderful Louisiana style comfort food, great drinks and the staff was absolutely incredible! We had a pretty large party and they accommodated us to the highest level, I was actually shocked! Couldn't thank Mark the Chef and Naomi our server enough for their hospitality and love for the dining experience! This was an experience that I'll remember forever! The food was really wonderful as well, it's a bit more on the unique side I would say, flavors you probably haven't tried or aren't familiar with, but as you enjoy it the palette grows on you and everything comes together! My favorite was the Shrimp and Grits, the smash burger, and the appetizer salad! I'd absolutely recommend this spot! But as a warning it fills up FAST! We were so grateful we were there at 5 pm, by 5:45 the place was packed with a wait list on a rainy Thursday! Great staple in old town Sarasota, FL! read more

The wife and I went Saturday. The food was fantastic! We are from Baton Rouge - best Cajun food we've had in SWFL. We had the Boudin balls, the Gumbo, and the Red Beans. Only question I've got is....who serves Gumbo or Red Beans without French bread?! Service was Ok. Give 'em a try! read more

Went for lunch. Amazing inside great service and a delicious smash burger.I will be going back to try another great looking meal.

Went to Lucky 8 for a quick dinner and I had southern fried chicken thighs with jasmine rice and red beans. Chicken was very tender, a little heavy as deep fried but I love chicken thighs. Combined with jasmine rice and red beans was more like a chicken thigh jambalaya. A little spicy but not hot enough to stop eating. A cold beer to wash it down is perfect. A good amount of food and I was happy with my choice. Wife ordered the gumbo bowl which was a combination of chicken, sausage, jasmine rice and pickled peppers. A little spicy but very tasty. Serving would've been much too small for me but was fitting for her. Service was good, nice ambiance and food overall was good. Perfect place to watch a football game on a Sunday but a little small overall. I would return if I lived in this area year round. read more

Lucky 8 - Southern fried chicken with jasmine rice and red beans - Sandwiches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Smashburger was very good, different in that it had a tanginess to it that I would attribute to the Lucky sauce, but it was excellent. Coleslaw was also very, very good - an admirable sub for the fries. And... They definitely lead the league in sesame seeds. read more

Lucky 8 - Smashburger and Cole slaw - Sandwiches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

It was so good! Gumbo was rich and dark with flavor. Didn't expect the seeds on my burger bun but they were so good. Oyster po'boy was delicious! read more

Service and food very good, we will definitely return and we look forward to trying other menu items.

Best chicken sandwich of my life 10/10 great service nice young lady totally worth the 16 dollars read more

Lucky 8 - Best chicken sandwich of my life good service some young lady very nice 10/10 will Come back - Sandwiches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

What a terrific new restaurant on Osprey Avenue. Great menu with many different items. We had a Roast Beef Po-Boy and a Shrimp Po-Boy. Both were delicious. Service was spot on. Small area inside with counter service and tables. We will be back to try other menu items! read more

Lucky 8 - Menu - Sandwiches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Food was incredible and service was awesome! Posting a pic of this appetizer because I had no idea what it would look or taste like but it was incredible and everyone should try it. Cochon De Lait Nuoc Cham / cashew sesame crunch / Thai basil / coriander Pork shoulder + amazing flavor read more

Lucky 8 - Cochon De Lait - Sandwiches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

What an amazing lunch. My wife and I both got a poor boy. I got the catfish. She got the shrimp. Both were phenomenal. Had so much flavor. We also added two Boudin balls that came with an aïoli sauce that was to die for. I love Cajun food and this place did not disappoint. I will definitely be back. read more

Had the smash burger it was very good, wish I had a double, for sure next time. Smash burger comes a la cart. I had the coleslaw, it was very nice as well! Everyone else loved their smash burger with fries and were please! Everyone left with full bellies and very satisfied! The service was excellent. The place is not large, and they do have outdoor seating as well. I recommend! read more

Let me preface this by saying that I have had the pleasure of dining in many Michelin-recommended and One & Two Starred Michelin restaurants. My hopes were high for Lucky 8. Boy, were we let down. We arrived at 6:15 on a very busy, very loud Saturday evening. We were seated at the side bar, facing the wall. The decor captures NOLA ambiance. Three different waitresses came by to offer us water. It took a bit, but we finally got waters before she disappeared. More waiting and someone came by to offer drinks. We asked for unsweetened ice teas with lemon. Got teas, no lemon, no ice. She said she had to make ice tea especially for us, as they ran out. More waiting, more disappearing. Finally saw a chance to get our order in. Service was haphazard, inexperienced. On plus side, the coleslaw was excellent. The smash burger, while tasty, was extremely salty, and I have a high salt tolerance. I could not finish it. When I mentioned this to the waitress, she replied that next time I should ask for light salt on the burger. So I guess it was my fault that the burger was doused in salt!?! My husband got the shrimp po' boy. He said that the popcorn shrimp were very over-cooked and rubbery, and that his sandwich was very salty also. I don't expect to return any time soon. read more

We had a sample of Lucky 8's food at Forks & Corks, so we decided to try the restaurant! What an amazing experience. Our server Austin provided suggestions and they were all on point! The food was absolutely delicious our entire table enjoyed EVERYTHING (gumbo, crawfish cornbread, cornmeal crusted gulf oysters, shrimp po-boy, smash burger, muffuletta, fried chicken, fries with cheese and gravy, pecan pie and bread pudding) Can't wait to go back! read more

I'm always looking for a new delicious shrimp po'boy and have been eager to check out Lucky 8 since it opened a couple of months ago. A review in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune this week gave me the reminder I needed to come in and try theirs. It's quite simply amazing: nearly perfect: in fact, maybe even perfect! Let's start with the bread: slightly chewy, with a thin crispy crust. I don't think it's buttered or toasted but the texture and bite is absolutely excellent. (I hear it's baked locally.) The shrimps themselves are cooked exactly right. My server, Austin, told me they're marinated in Cajun spice before they are breaded. The spice is subtle but delicious, with a nice but gentle after-burn. They're also delectably salty--not a quality I typically notice in fried shrimp, but succulent here. The breading is thin, with a bit of crunch, but really tasty: I eagerly scooped up the crumps from my tray to eat them when the sandwich was gone. The roll has mayo on it (just enough) with shredded iceberg lettuce, fresh (plum?) tomatoes, and quite wonderful bread-and-butter style pickles. (Austin told me they are Nathan's brand.) The exquisite pickles raise the otherwise-traditionally-made sandwich to another level. I asked for hot sauce but ended up not using it: it might have interfered with an otherwise well-balanced whole. Po'boys are not usually served wrapped in paper or foil, but this one needs it, because otherwise the contents spill quickly out of the roll. The pickle spear on the side was a great accompaniment. (It's Schorr brand.) The Cole slaw I got as a side was nice and crunchy, with a slightly spicy mayo-based sauce that reminded me somewhat of Caesar dressing. The unsweetened iced tea was a nice accompaniment. The atmosphere on an an early Saturday afternoon was nice, with good-sounding modern jazz and a nice breeze coming in from the open front. It feels like a bar, but seems more food-centric...so let's call it a Nawlins-style tavern. (Beer and wine only.) I'll definitely be back to try the roast beef po'boy, the gumbo, and the crawfish ettouffe. read more

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Fantastic interior design & a fun location to dine. The staff was delightful & processional. I had the Creole chicken & it was delicious, with a big piece of chicken. My wife had the muffaletta sandwich & she Loved it, with a fantastic pickle. We will return and try something new, maybe the pecan pie with vanilla ice cream. read more

We really enjoyed it there really authentic food fairly priced. Great atmosphere if a little loud due to no soft furnishings.

We were hoping for a muffuletta similar to the ones at Central Grocery. Unfortunately this did not compare. The bread was hard crusted and very dry. It wasn't a baked sandwich. The Sicilian Sesame Bread should be softer. read more

Great pimento dip served in a quaint atmosphere. However, the temperature in the restaurant was unbearable. No excuse for that in Florida.

Intimate place. Terrific smash burger and fries. Welcoming and warm servers. Thank you for a nice night!

Excellent menu, food @ service! A local gem you don't want to miss. Everything there is amazing! read more

Lucky 8 - Sandwiches Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

I'm always looking for a new delicious shrimp po'boy and have been eager to check out Lucky 8 since it opened a couple of months ago. A review in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune this week gave me the reminder I needed to come in and try theirs. It's quite simply amazing: nearly perfect: in fact, maybe even perfect! Let's start with the bread: slightly chewy, with a thin crispy crust. I don't think it's buttered or toasted but the texture and bite is absolutely excellent. (I hear it's baked locally.) The shrimps themselves are cooked exactly right. My server told me they're marinated in Cajun spice before they are breaded. The spice is subtle but delicious, with a nice but gentle after-burn. They're also delectable salty--not a quality I typically notice in fried shrimp, but succulent here. The breading is thin, with a bit of crunch, but really tasty: I eagerly scooped up the crumps from my tray to eat them when the sandwich was gone. The roll has mayo on it (just enough) with shredded iceberg lettuce, fresh (plum?) tomatoes, and quite wonderful bread-and-butter style pickles. The exquisite pickles raise the otherwise-traditionally-made sandwich to another level. I asked for hot sauce but ended up not using it: it might have interfered with an otherwise well-balanced whole. Po'boys are not usually served wrapped in paper or foil, but this one needs it, because otherwise the contents spill quickly out of the roll. The Cole slaw I got as a side was nice and crunchy, with a slightly spicy mayo-based sauce that reminded me somewhat of Caesar dressing. The unsweetened iced tea was a nice accompaniment. The atmosphere on an an early Saturday afternoon was nice, with good-sounding modern jazz and a nice breeze coming in from the open front. It feels like a bar, but seems more food-centric...so let's call it a Nawlins-style tavern. (Beer and wine only.) I'll definitely be back to try the roast beef po'boy, the gumbo, and the crawfish ettouffe. read more

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Best cheeseburger I've ever had. All the foods great. Staff members are always so friendly and service is great.

While our visit here was unplanned it was so worth it! The portions were fantastic and well worth the prices. Our waiter was very attentive.The flavours were fantastic and the atmosphere was so embracing. I would definitely come again, more towards the night when I can imagine the scene is fantastic. read more

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Love Lucky 8! Best smash burgers in Sarasota. Their appetizers are delicious too, I love their Pimento Cheese, spicy! Great service too. Cozy and unpretentious. read more

After driving by Lucky 8 many times we decided to visit. Inside it is eclectic, charming and somewhat intimate. We arrived at Happy Hour but ordered off the regular menu except for the beer. We had two draft beers, two, quarter muffulettas and an order of pimento cheese. The muffuletta were huge, the beer cold and the pimento cheese was delicious. We took home about half of the muffuletta and the remaining pimento cheese, which after in our refrigerator overnight tasted even better. The fried saltines are simply great. We sat at the bar and service was spot on. All for $40 before tip read more