Great food and service! Large selection of daily specials! Grouper Amaretto was amazing.

My husband loves their Thai curry fish preparation dish. Currently this special is only on Saturdays. The lobster dinner is delish and plentiful. I can never finish the entire plate. Service is great, we have had the same male server the past two times we have been there. Not pictured is their key lime pie, which is my favorite in town! Crust is not too dense and the key lime is the perfect flavor of tarte and a little sweet. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have indoor seating in the dining room, bar seating and outdoor seating. I enjoy the outdoor seating the best when the weather is not too hot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Now that we have a baby the stroller fits better at the outdoor table.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We come here every time we are in town and will always return. read more

Lucky Pelican Bistro - Saturday special (Thai curry fish preparation) and lobster dinner. - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

A varied menu with excellently prepared tasty food. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Good table service with indoor and patio seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]My dissatisfaction is with the facilities.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]First-fix the constantly banging door closure mechanism on the rear door between the dining room and the patio. The door is constantly in use by the servers and closes with a loud bang each time[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Second- repair or replace the booth backs. Whenever someone seated in the next booth moves, it's like being kicked from behind[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. read more

We sat to a table near the bar last night. Larson is a great bartender and provides great service. His cocktails are great. The amberjack special and my blackened amberjack were incredible. If you want great seafood cooked to perfection come to Lucky Pelican. Ceaser is a great chef. It's our favorite seafood place with great seafood at great prices! read more

Normally I really enjoy this spot for dinner, I have to say that I had a sub-par experience for lunch with a group of 7 women. The waiter was mediocre. He didn't tell us what the days' specials were when he came over to take our order. The drinks were way too strong for lunch and the waiter didn't offer something else when he saw (or should have seen that they were not being consumed). We kept ordering juice to dilute the alcohol. Anyway, just an unusual lack of "service" at lunch. read more

Came here on a Friday at 5:15 with a party of 4 and we ended up waiting for 15 mins for a table. The host was a young man who didnt communicate clearly with our party and we had to ask him a few times to put our name down... [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is medium size and has a small bar area. They do not take reservations. Casual with mostly old folks.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered some margaritas on the rocks and it was large and strong for $13. I'm obsessed with the bread basket - they were very generous with that. I highly recommend the grilled octopus appetizer. I got the Seabass, which is their specialty, and it was delicious. The portions were huge. My fiancé got the grouper à la cart with a side of scallops and that was delicious as well. It came with a salad that was actually a full entrée....... There was a lot of food. read more

Lucky Pelican Bistro - Grilled octopus - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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We haven't been here for a year or two, and when we went in the past, always had good service. This time was no exception. However, we had made a large order to go, and upon my arrival, staff was very friendly and efficient. I think there was a small error in the order, but not a big deal. Food was amazing and fresh read more

Absolutely Fabulous!!! I love bris restaurant and the food is delicious. The service is always impeccable.

I am amazed at the high level of service that Lucky Pelican Bistro provides. Everyone in this restaurant offers Service with a Smile! Most importantly, I found the most delicious "Zucchini Boat" which adheres to all of my dietary restrictions and includes the best Lobster Tail that I have had during my 15 years living in Sarasota! I have already returned twice and I can't wait to go back for this delicious culinary experience! I am posting a photo, but you may want to try it! I give this healthy dish 10 Stars! read more

Lucky Pelican Bistro - Lucky Us to experience the Lucky Pelican Bistro. Four out of Seven in our group enjoyed the ZUCCHINI BOAT! - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

I'm very leary of fish and chips for fear of being served a donut with a little fish inside. Not the case at Lucky Pelican - very light beer batter on perfectly cooked cod - just enough for a crispy coating. Shrimp and oysters also had very light batter so the seafood and not the batter was the star! I picked the right place to chance it. Our server was also very friendly and helpful. read more

I have been to Lucky Pelican at least half a dozen times and every time the food and service have been great. I love fish tacos so I gravitate towards the fish taco of the day, served with slaw and in my case sweet potato fries. Absolutely delicious! [[HIGHLIGHT]]I like the decor and the look of the place and the servers are really good and fast.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It's already a favorite on my list! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]It was okay! Super cute and I get why people love it.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Maybe we just ordered the wrong things which sucks because I want to like it from what I've heard. The people were so nice and I've heard too many good things not to write a decent review but our food was kinda sub par but the people are lovely and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the place gives home town vibes that Lakewood needs as its ever growing![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I do really like the Lucky Pelican and have eaten there many times. I especially like the side of scallops, sliders, and fish entrees. Here is the reason for my less than 5 star post. My wife and I were seated at the bar overseeing the kitchen, which was amazing and that team really knocked the food out quickly. They were hustling!! But.....I did see when things got real busy, food sat for quite a time and the microwave was used. My wife's blackened fish was ready and sat for a bit, then popped in the microwave for 1 minute. It came right from the micro to our bar seat. The side scallops had the same outcome. Not sure if you understand, but fish, especially scallops, get rubbery if reheated in the microwave. So very disappointing. The kitchen crew were busting their tail but the food served did not live up to the standards I have seen come out of that kitchen. I understand, things set and get cold, but microwaving fish and scallops, did not make me happy. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Wait staff was great, atmosphere, great.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Again, the food was not up to normal standards tonight. read more

Excellent! I had the baked cod dinner and it was excellent. The tempura vegetables are a must have!! The service was friendly and fast, but not rushed. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Casual atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Highly recommend - will definitely go back next time I am in the area! read more

We stopped in for lunch and both food and service were wonderful ;) they have great salads ! read more

Lucky Pelican Bistro - Just a little kitschy decor - I'll take food photos next time - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Had the Ocean Burrito for lunch. Had about three shrimp, could find two crawfish that were so tiny and two pieces of cod. Ended up getting sick the next day. read more

Let me start with the one positive: the bread was hot and good. And that was where the excitement ended. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We were seated in a cramped corner so tight I was basically in the lap of the person next to me.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I whispered to my wife, "Someone farted," and the lady next to us replied, "I heard that too." THAT'S how close we were. Now, the food. My wife ordered the grouper Oscar style, and what I got was a sad, fishy, mushy pancake smothered in something that tried to be a topping. I had the swordfish with bacon and a marsala sauce. The bacon was soggy and fatty, and the marsala sauce didn't taste like marsala at all, more like someone gave up halfway through and just dumped cream on top of veggies. Flavorless and disappointing. Service? Not much better. Our server (beard, backwards hat, never gave his name) didn't take a drink order, just dropped off waters. My wife had to ask for a Coke later. She requested her sauce on the side... it wasn't. He later tossed a check on our table, which turned out to be for the people next to us (again, basically part of our conversation by proximity), so I just handed it to them. The final bill for two of us, with tip? $97. For that, I could have gone to Owen's Fish Camp and had a fantastic meal in a place that I know has good food. read more

The food was delicious and perfectly cooked, but what stood out more than anything was the customer service. The wait was very knowledgeable of the menu and gave us wonderful recommendations. read more

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One of our favorites. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Local feel with fresh offerings.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our fav is mussels Rockefeller. The broth is amazing and we always ask for linguine added to broth. Perfection! Oysters yummy, peel and eat shrimp delicious. The cocktail sauce our last time wasn't as good as we are used to. Maybe just the way they made it that day. Haddock is so good. Always bring our out of towners here and it hasn't disappointed them either. read more

Lucky Pelican Bistro - Mussels, oysters, shrimp - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Stopped in for a late lunch on Friday. It was busy and our server was the hostess and the bartender. She was hustling for sure! We sat at the oyster counter and had a front row spot to watch the happenings in the kitchen. We decided on the buffalo calamari and shrimp tacos. Both were great choices. We haven't seen buffalo paired with calamari before- but it was delicious. Celery and blue cheese was sprinkled on top- so good. We also enjoyed the tacos. The shrimp were grilled perfectly and so were the tortillas. I liked the cabbage and sauce that was drizzled over top. They were tasty without being heavy. Great stop if you're in the area. read more

Lucky Pelican Bistro - Buffalo calamari - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

We lived in Sarasota for 30 years, having moved away several years ago. When we moved there in the early 1990s, a good friend from NY explained to us that 'after a while the restaurant food improves significantly from when you arrive.' And he was totally correct. You get used to the lower quality of dining compared to restaurants in cities that have excellent food. Not to sound like a food snob, though as I read my review this is exactly how I sound. We came to Lucky Pelican a lot when we lived here. Of course, even before Lakewood Ranch was built it was truly challenging to secure a table during season, we visited friends and came here for dinner. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I will never understand why restaurants in FL cool the inside of their places so that people wearing T shirts and shorts need to put on a sweatshirt. But this is the typical experience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The fish was disappointing. I had the Redfish special. The fish was just OK, with a curry sauce that did not really complement or enhance the flavor of the fish. My wife chose swordfish which she requested be grilled. The flavor of the fish was good, but the texture was really 'meaty'. We all know that swordfish is not flaky, but it is not supposed to be chewy. Our Pelican salad was very refreshing and enjoyable, but this is a fish restaurant, not a salad place. Oh well. We don't live in Sarasota anymore and likely won't return to LP. read more

The food here was incredible. The fried shrimp plate had the best fried shrimp I have ever had. My husband had the grouper tacos and he said they were well worth the money. The service was amazing. We had our food in no time at all. It was well worth the trip. We would definitely recommend this to anyone! Interested in excellent food and fantastic service. read more

great seafood offerings. service is great. [[HIGHLIGHT]]the setting is nice, friendly, and clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]busy on Friday and Saturday nights so get there early[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

This is always a stop for us when we're in Lakewood Ranch. The seafood is fresh, the portions are ample and the servers are so friendly. The bonus is the relaxed atmosphere here. There are all kinds of groups that come in from date night couples to families to girls night dinners and a single diner here and there. Try the Brussels sprouts they won't disappoint and the haddock is incredible. If you like key lime pie, save room. The fresh whipped cream on top is a bonus and not something sprayed from a can. There's outside dining if you like that but it's nothing special. There's a tiny bar when you first walk in and the drinks aren't anything special but you're there for the food so come hungry. Make sure to check out the specials too. There are always great choices on the menu. read more

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We love this restaurant. Not your typical tourist spot for seafood where they fry everything. They have great seafood options and daily specials. It's a little on the pricey side but well worth it for what you get especially the fish, all fresh. read more

Lucky Pelican Bistro - The oysters and octopus plate served up first don't pass this up - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

The fish is always fresh, all the food is delicious and the service is excellent. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The only thing I didn't like was the loud music.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Absolute hidden gem near the UTC mall tucked around the other side of I-75. Been coming here for years. Tons of regulars. The seafood is excellent. Service is consistently great. Don't be afraid to use the bar for dinner seating since wait lists can get long during peak dinner times. They have a giant chalkboard on the wall with all the specials listed and most of the time I find myself just ordering off that menu. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Excellent food and great atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Great service, too! [[HIGHLIGHT]]This is a very cool place![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I would definitely return! read more

It was our first visit to Lucky Pelican. It was sub par. Our order took over an hour to get. The fried shrimp was overcooked and had no flavor. Some of the food was good but not worth its value. We will not return. read more

I love the Pelican. It's pricey. It's a little "dive-y". But it's consistent, the staff is amazing and, honestly, the food is immaculate! Full disclosure..... I'm leaving the house and headed there right now.....again! EDIT Okay...I'm back. I had the Mahi and she had the Grouper, And 10/10 as usual. There's nothing on the menu that I would skip, even the burger is great. read more

Lucky Pelican Bistro - Bar Vibes. Ask for Heather, Christian or Jimbo. - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Food was average. The problem was the waitress with short blonde hair. She was the worst waitress I've ever had, especially at this restaurant. My husband got the wrong meal, she didn't offer to rectify the problem at all, so he just ate it. No offer of beverage refills. Disaster. The hostess was also a nightmare. I told her I'd be at the bar, never got me gave the table away. Get your shit together. read more

Absolutely fantastic fish. Super casual vibe, in fact when you walk in there is a fish market. They seem to have rotating specials, a couple of regular things, and then a lot of catch of the days that can be prepared different ways. Which is great for keeping things fresh. My mother loved her mango mahi with crawfish special. My father thoroughly enjoyed his Cajun extra blackened mahi. I loved my Cajun blackened amberjack. The fish was cooked perfectly. The vegetables were cooked perfectly though they could have used just a little seasoning. The potatoes were excellent. Started out with a salad and a drink. Service was excellent, prompt and friendly. It's certainly not a romantic date night ambience what it has is a very friendly inviting feeling providing a place I could see myself coming to (and which my parents go to) frequently. Pricing was very reasonable Will definitely be back in future visits! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Food, service, and ambiance was and always is exceptional!!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Every time my husband says it's lucky pelican day it's the best day ever read more

Very good service and food. The dinner time food was better than the lunch time. And I suggest to go early because it has long waiting for the dinner time read more

Sea Scallops sliders! Wonderful! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Welcome to LWR. Feel Lucky if you come here as this place is very charming with a menu you will want to sample many items.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Raw bar! Oysters were really great and so fresh! Lobster roll, I'm a fan. If you love seafood, put this one on your rotation. Oh and I can't forget the 'KEY LIME PIE' amazing! Enjoy! read more

Had dinner at the Lucky Pelican Bistro in Sarasota tonight. We've been here many times and it always provides great meal. Tonight I ordered the Shellfish Puttanesca and it was very good. Gulf shrimp, clams, mussels in a marinara sauce with olives, capers, parmesan cheese and served over linguine. I would get this again. read more

Lucky Pelican Bistro - Shellfish Puttanesca - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Disappointed in today's dining experience. Waitress Mary Margaret, was the most negative person to my table. Every question was answered with, No! Her negative attitude was noticed by not only me, but my husband as well. There are ways of answering your guests questions without being rude. We have dined here many times. I have bought gift cards for my customers from here. The food was mediocre at best. Premium prices should provide quality food and excellent service. Mary I give you a D- for costing this restaurant any further opportunities for visits or referrals from these former customers. read more

Feeling lucky enough for fresh fish in Lakewood Ranch? Dive straight down into the Lucky Pelican! Nestled in a strip mall just south of University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch, the Lucky Pelican serves as a fish market and sitdown restaurant. I ordered the grouper bites over fries. The portion size was generous and the batter flakey and fresh. A unique house sauce with a bit of tang is included. The grouper itself was good if not outstanding--some bites were a bit too "fishy" and others were better. The food was a bit salty and I was thirsty in the ensuring hours. The fries were thick and tender. The house cole slaw which was included was vinegar based and a cool compliment to the fried fish and fries. The atmosphere was pleasant with windows, traditional Florida decor, and background music that is not too loud. The service was prompt and professional. Overall, a good choice for those East of Interstate-75 and want to avoid the traffic on the other side of the Interstate! read more

Lucky Pelican Bistro - Inside - Seafood Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Wow has the service gone downhill at this place. Dinner took an hour plus to be delivered from ordering to presentation. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place was busy to start but pretty much cleared out by 8 PM when the food we ordered at 6:45 finally arrived.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 5 years ago when there were fewer options in the area this might have been acceptable but not any more. I'd go elsewhere if they are busy because you aren't gonna get the service that the prices they charge are worth. Go to Owen's or Deep Lagoon as an alternate if you are in Lakewood Ranch. read more

The food was delicious, service was excellent. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We enjoyed the time there.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was a busy place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Will visit it again. read more