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    Selva Grill

    4.3 (828 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Selva Grill Photos

    Business Info

    SELVA GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Selva Grill

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    Rachel L.

    Still one of my favorite places to visit when I'm in the Sarasota area. The food is absolutely delicious and beautifully presented, the staff is kind and welcoming, service is quick, the cocktails are excellent, and the ambiance is simply amazing. Highly recommend!

    Selva's Seafood Paella
    Vince H.

    Great food, service, and experience. We had a sampler of ceviches and they were all phenomenal! So fresh and tasty. For my entree I ordered the paella and it was great! I've had a lot of paella and it had good flavor and was a good portion size. I'd highly recommend Selva to anyone visiting and wanting fresh seafood!

    Ceaser salad
    Priyanka B.

    We came here for dinner one night during our vacation in sarasota. Our Uber driver said it was a must go to place. The Caesar salad was absolutely amazing. It had a chopped consistency with the perfect amount of addressing also had some nice pieces of crunch that was not your average crouton. I also got the tomato salad which the presentation for all the food it was impeccable. The tomato salad was more of a caprese salad it was pretty good, no complaints. My husband got the fish which had a type of polenta on the side. He enjoyed the dish as well. The ambiance was very nice and the service was great as well.

    Alex M.

    Came here with the wife for her birthday and had a fantastic dinner. The food was delicious and I had a espresso martini which was actually really good. I had the lamb chops and she had the New York steak sirloin and it was cooked really well since it was her birthday, they also gave us a nice dessert which we really enjoyed. Our waiter was awesome and gave us a lot of information about the food. The atmosphere was great we came a little bit early and everything was nice and just set up for a nice dinner.

    Mango key lime tart
    Michael G.

    I want to express my sincere thanks to Selva Grill Downtown, and specifically to Michael, whom I believe is one of the managers. My wife and I were treated to one of the most truly exceptional dinner experiences anywhere on our recent visit to Sarasota. We enjoyed Selva so much on our first visit 2 years ago, we made sure to plan dinner there again despite the vast array of restaurant options in the Sarasota area. The flavors are complex and delicious. Some places try this and don't pull it off, but Selva exceeded our expectations on every single item we tried. We sat outside by the warm heaters on a cool February evening, but the inside has a beautiful cool vibe. My sea bass was the most perfectly cooked I have ever had. The Chocolate mousse pot has a blend of chocolates, fresh fruit and exquisite flavors. Despite all this, the real capper was Michael tending to our every need despite having a tough night. The computers were down, so the billing and credit card payments weren't working, but more importantly, Michael had an employee who had to be taken by EMS from the restaurant after having a serious medical issue inside. He was noticeably shaken and we initially sat quite awhile not knowing why no one was attending to us. Eventually though, he made sure to correct the initial oversight of us sitting unattended and gave us an exceptional experience. Michael and his staff ultimately took excellent care of us. My only gripe is that he apologized for not giving us the "Selva experience" and I am here to tell everyone, he is incorrect in that. We truly had an exceptional experience, and we very much appreciate it. Can't wait to dine again whenever we visit again.

    Grilled Octopus
    Mike R.

    Food and services are very high end. Price is a bit on the high side of value / quality especially if you have a few drinks or bottles of wine. Definitely a great place for a special meal.

    Roly P.

    If you are in the Sarasota area, this place is fantastic, the service is spectacular and they do not miss a beat. The food is delicious with phenomenal flavors. You cannot go wrong choosing to dine at this established.

    New York Strip
    Jen S.

    Wow! We were actually looking for a steakhouse and saw this.... It exceeded everyone's expectations! Party of 8 with two kids and it WORKED! Ambiance is a little fancy, but it is what you make of it! You can be as laid back as you want, or as "fancy" as you want! Food was amazing!!! FOOD ART!!!!

    Tomato salad
    Christopher C.

    Arrived at the restaurant 45 minutes before reservation to have some cocktails in the lounge and get a feel for the vibe. The lounge is narrow, but perfect for a more relaxed setting while still elevated. The noise level coming from the restaurant side was like that of cafeteria noise. Once over to the restaurant side, the ambiance is well done for the space they are working with. Acoustic dampeners would be ideal in this space to bring the noise level down. Starters: ordered the empanadas & roasted tomato salad along with the Hawaiian Wahoo civeche. Plating and presentation was great. Food was well executed. Could have done without the sauce on top of the empanadas. A little bit of over editing. Entrees: I ordered the New Zealand lamb chops with asparagus and truffle risotto. Second entree was the Paella seafood risotto with white fish. The entrees again, were well plated and an elevated presentation. The paella risotto was very well balanced and energetic in its palette. The lamb chops had a different approach to the crust than the traditional pistachio in which rendered slightly underwhelming. There was no seasoning to the lamb chops. I had to add salt to the meat. To break the proteins down and render a better flavor this should be happening before it is fired. Truffle risotto was amazing as well as asparagus. Overall; I would return. However, would be a better experience in the bar area for ambience. I will have to try this place again to try their steak to find out if the lack of meat preparation continues through the menu. Service was fantastic! Seafood and risotto seem to be safe choices.

    Dan S.

    If this isn't the best restaurant in Sarasota, I don't know what is. A recent visit showed a restaurant hitting on all cylinders. Servers who are friendly and attentive? Yep. Cool vibes inside but without blaring music so you can actually talk with to your dinner mates. And the food? Outstanding. We got the wahoo ceviche which was a terrific specimen of what this should be with a mix of flavors. The short rib spring rolls were savory and a great compliment to the fish. The main dishes were also spot on. The swordfish with curry was so tender and bursting with flavor. I loved the seafood paella risotto. So much shellfish. Even the filet mignon was not to be missed. We finished with peaches and cream which is really a caramel bread pudding eith peaches. Loved this. We all agreed it is one of our favorite meals we've had in the area. If not the best. Not cheap, but Not to be missed.

    Plato Vegetarian $33
    Thomas L.

    Feb 18th 2024 Rainy Sunday - 4 for early dinner: TWO parking spots across the street for our friends from Pennsylvania and our car!!! Woo hoo!!! No charge on Sunday. Brisk business and we had EARLY 4 PM reservations as they opened for the evening. (line at the door!!) Seated promptly, ok seat but a little uncomfortable with two (we both have disc and back issues) in the booth with no back support. (gave the wives the sturdy chairs.) Service was TREMENDOUS and Christin was magnificent. Her "helper" was not too bad either (and took our joking and verbal abuse in stride) ----------- My review is mainly for the food, but I am going to do something I rarely EVER do in my many years as a Yelper....... I am putting the prices with the food items. ---------------- Why? Well because even after being at places like Bouchon, Per Ce, Peter Lugar, the French Laundry and some of the top restaurants in the world over the last 42 years of travel and working IN NYC for 16 years, there is always a fine balance between Quality and Value. And while I feel the quality, food product, presentation, preparations and culinary expertise here is magnificent and one of the best so far in Sarasota for me....... I just feel we got "zaberized" ( https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/gallery-a-look-back-at-zaberers-restaurant/collection_ceb89eee-0c71-11ee-ba6f-0762b12a7504.html#1 ) and fell into a tourist trap, in-season and the value was just not there? $115 per person tags, tax, delivered is at the upper range for what I would love/want to think would be my wife and my "goto" before the show or out with friends or romantic dinner a few times a year restaurant? This is at the moment in the once a year category for us. $467 for 4 people for a fairly light proportioned dinner and drinks is lofty. There was an almost $ 80 tip (well earned btw) We had a variety of beverages for the girls in the $14 to $16 per drink range on the high side even for Sarasota downtown. 8/10 Beck NA and Corona were a competitive $6 . .... $96 in drinks For appetizers we ordered the 4 item scallops $30 7/10 , chopped salad $14 9/10 , a single crab cake $21 5/10 , a summer roll $23 7/10 ..... $88 in apps A bass dinner $47 9/10, Swordfish dinner $42 8/10, Short Ribs $43 9/10, Plato Vegetarian $33 10/10 - $165 in entrees The presentation and the product was awesome!! Loved it and top of the stack for Sarasota, service world-class, and food fantastic......... but a bit overpriced with NYC prices.

    Special Chilean sea bass with octopus

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    2 months ago

    I really like selva grill. I had a great time ! Will come back soon. Service was great.

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    2 months ago

    Great food! Terrific service! Superb ambiance!! Always lived the location in downtown Sarasota but the restaurant in UTC is even better

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    7 months ago

    Perfect service. Great appetizers. Awesome crab cake. Looking forward to going back to try the rest of their menu.

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    4 months ago

    Great atmosphere and options wre plentiful and food fantastic. I had the roast chicken and would go back tomorrow and get it again :)

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    Page 1 of 21

    Selva Grill Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Selva Grill

    Is this a good place for a first date? Looking for a cool vibe but want to be able to hear each other talk.

    yes cool and romantic

    Do they allow us to bring wine with a corkage charge?

    They actually do allow you to bring in wine for a corkage fee. :-)

    Good for kids?

    I wouldn't take my kids here if they were little. This is more of an adult setting in my opinion. My kids are 15 and 18, so I would take them along, but not if they were little.

    Happy hour pricing?

    New Happy Hour Pricing as of 1/14/22 : Signature Drinks 10… Read more

    Is this a good spot for happy hour?

    Absolutely!!!

    Looking for a restaurant that serves whole fried snapper. Love to eat this on Caribbean vacations...Any recommendations?

    Selva Grill Actually EVERYTHING IS OUTSTANDING AT SELVA GRILL. INCLUDING THE SERVICE.

    View All 8 Questions

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    Columbia Restaurant

    3.7(2k reviews)
    2.4 mi
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    Locals were trying to tell me this place is overhyped but I think it's hyped for a good reason…read more The food here was SO good. As a Cuban from the Miami area, this is good Cuban food. And the portions are HUGE. We had a reservation which was well used as it was pretty packed. We sat inside. It was pretty warm inside, though, from the heat so just be prepared for that. We got a pitcher of sangria and they make it right beside the table. It was SO good. Wow. Each person got about 1/4 a loaf of warm bread. They did say it was cuban bread but it wasn't really. But hey the bread was good. We got their famous salad to try (one side order for 2 people to split and one person got it as their entree) and it was very good. They also make that table side. For our meals, we got the lechón, salad, and fish. The portions were HUGE. So much pork. It came with great tasing yucca, beans, and plantains too. For desert, we got the guava pastry and the natilla. The guava pastry was actually kind of amazing. Warm and so so good. The natilla was good but it was closer to a crème brûlée. It was still good, though. I'm excited to go to another (closer) location of theirs again. It was really such good food. We were also able to take our leftovers with us since they gave us so much food. The lechón plate is definitely splittable.

    A beautiful lunch experience in every way. The open air interior is stunning, especially nice as it…read morewas a pretty 82 degree afternoon. Fun and friendly server (cute and smiling Gabby) who made our red sangria tableside. Great Cubano sandwiches, tapas (especially the scallops), and yellow rice. That bread and butter...say yes. And the Saint Armand's circle location is so classy. I want to buy the sangria pitcher but will use that as excuse to return next time!

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    Table side prepared Sangria!

    Columbia Restaurant - Churro dessert

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    Cuba 1958 - Ropa Vieja

    Cuba 1958

    4.3(85 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Happy hour at its finest. Stopped in on a Friday afternoon for happy hour. What a delight. The food…read moreand service is amazing. Not only are they attentive, the owner came and checked on us twice. The drinks were delicious and made fresh right in front of us and not premade. The appetizers were authentic and delicious. One of my new favorite spots!

    Will return. Many…read moreblack and white photos on the walls are beautiful and interesting. Girls in the bathroom walls are provocatively enchanting. 1958 was the last year that the Cubans existed as a whole on the island. Since then, one million plus hit the roads around the world for a new home. This owner came to US. The stems look nice but are rather thick. Good service with delicious food: Empanada with spinach & cheese Marquitas con Guacamole Croquetas de la Casa Cod sandwich Guajiro - pork All three are great, except the sandwich is tasteless. No hooks under the bar counter. The only handicap is the regular high ceiling. The two men band plays before we left for our opera. Next time Will return. Many black and white photos on the walls are beautiful and interesting. Girls in the bathroom walls are provocatively enchanting. 1958 was the last year that the Cubans existed as a whole on the island. Since then, one million plus hit the roads around the world for a new home. This owner came to US. The stems look nice but are rather thick. Good service with delicious food: Empanada with spinach & cheese Marquitas con Guacamole Croquetas de la Casa Cod sandwich Guajiro - pork All three are great, except the sandwich is tasteless. Using cigar box for bill is cool: The Library in St. Pete uses book No hooks under the bar counter. The only handicap is the regular high ceiling. The two men band plays before we left for our opera. Next time

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    Vaca Fritta

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    Cuba 1958 - Great atmosphere at Cuba 1958

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    Latin Quarters - 3. Beef Stew

    Latin Quarters

    3.5(125 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    Such an amazing place in Sarasota. My partner is Dominican and we have been to the Caribbean…read morecountries a good bit. We were visiting Sarasota and stopped in to grab some late dinner to go. (Para Levar... my tiny bit of Spanish!). Luckily, my partner is fluent and it helps a lot whenever my Español es muy mal. We checked out the reviews and as a long time Yelper my experience told me that some of the bad reviews were not something we would worry about. It's really interesting considering the place is really authentic. Everything we had was delicious. The only tiny thing I would change is a little less garlic in the mojo on the boiled yuca but that's a personal preference and most people would probably love it! I'd ask for it on the side next time. They have a special lunch and dinner every day and I got the special for $9.99. Picadillo with 2 sides (I got boiled yuca and black beans). I added some maduros. My partner got pork chops with 3 sides. Salad, morro rice, and maduros. He also got a tamarind juice which is one of his favorites. While we waited they brought us both a cup of homemade chicken soup. It was delicious. The vibe is so Latin and that's a compliment. I could feel the love and felt so welcome. It was like hanging out at a family party with yummy food. They had karaoke with everyone singing Latin tunes. I barely understood a word but loved it and they had some really good vocalists! The food was delicious! We couldn't finish it all. I had lots of green olives in my picadillo! If we lived in this area we would be eating here every week or several times a week! I only passed on the Mofongo because I was worried I'd fill up fast and didn't want to waste so much food. If I were here a few more days, I'd be going back to try it. If I come back to Sarasota, I'm adding them to my must visit list! Thank you Latin Quarters' staff and the fun patrons for helping make my last night in Sarasota a lovely one!

    Wow! I was in the area with family and wanted to have Puerto Rican food. We found this restaurant…read moreby chance and I'm so glad we did. The food was incredible - great reasonable prices, LARGE portions, perfectly seasoned and so authentic. The ambiance was great too - cozy and friendly. I've gone to more expensive restaurants and the food was not as tasty as this. We had the Sancocho, Pastelon, Bistec encebollado, the Canoa as appetizer. They bring you plantain chips and a cup of soup to start your meal. That soup was so amazing and unexpected. What can I say, the food was so good, the wait staff was so nice.... Will definitely be back!

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    Latin Quarters - Bar area

    Bar area

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    Bohemios Wine & Beer Tapas Bar - Pataconcitos

    Bohemios Wine & Beer Tapas Bar

    4.6(128 reviews)
    5.2 mi

    This was our first visit to Bohemios Tapas Bar, and we picked a good day to stop by. The first…read moreweekend (Fri & Sat) of each month they have Seafood Paella, and that was what we ordered. While Bohemios is tapas, they also offer some full plate dishes such as the Paella and our other dish, Bohemios Churrasco. We definitely liked the food. The Paella had a mild familiar flavor. It could have used more seafood but for the price, I was more than satisfied. The Churrasco steak was cooked perfectly for me and their zesty chimichurri sauce made it excellent. I didn't try the side of Gallo Pinto, I don't really like most beans, but my wife seemed to enjoy it. The fried sweet plantains were delicious. Another thing I did enjoy was their Mediterranean Bruschetta, three pieces stacked high, what a great start to the meal. Bohemios is a smallish place with about 8 tables and maybe a dozen bar seats inside, a few more tables outside. Reservations are recommended. Our server was a fun, outgoing, memorable guy and we loved all our interactions. The pace of the meal was good, about 10 minutes for the Bruschetta, another 10 after we finished for the main course. We picked a bad day for only one reason, the guitar player was out with an injury.

    Four of us tried Bohemios for the first time and everyone agreed we would go back! We started with…read morefour tapa, one with white anchovies, one with grilled octopus, and continued trying 8 tapa all together! We loved all of them and asked for more bread to clean the plates of their delicious sauces. We enjoyed Barra of Mendocino Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon which complemented all the flavors. The owner is very welcoming and very proud of his fare! And rightly so! We enjoyed learning about his roots which have influenced his cooking. Hope his restaurant thrives!! Thank you, Martin, for a lovely evening!

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    Bohemios Wine & Beer Tapas Bar - 5J Iberian Ham

    5J Iberian Ham

    Bohemios Wine & Beer Tapas Bar - Seafood Paella

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    Selva Grill - spanish - Updated May 2026

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