Best restaurant in town. The ceviche? Awesome. Anything with chimmichurri. Basically everything is great. Reserve early in season.

It was OK but not what I expected. Also overpriced. Service was adequate but not exceptional. Wouldn't go back.

MUST EAT HERE!!! PERFECT FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS!!! LOVE This place!! The food is AMAZING!! Every dish is better than the last! We tried a dozen restaurants during our trip to Sarasota and this was by far THE BEST!! We began our meal with an appetizer course of Empanadas (we did half Spinach and half Beef) and "Picante de Camarones" (Aji-chili-spiced Shrimp "piri-piri" with yucca). The Empanadas were good, but the SHRIMP WAS DELICIOUS!!! Our table shared the appetizers and we were practically fighting for every last drop of the sauce!! MUST TRY THE SHRIMP APP!!! For Our Meals, we ordered the: Mirin Roasted Sea Bass, Malbec Braised Short Ribs, the Steak and Lobster (a nightly special) and the Vegetarian Entree (Tofu Curry). Every dish was A-MA-ZING!!!!! The Steak melted like Butter in your mouth!!!! The Short Ribs fell apart when you touched it and the flavor was DELICIOUS!!!! The Sea Bass was delicious and the Tofu Curry was good (although admittedly I briefly tasted it because I couldn't wait to put another bite of the Short Ribs in my mouth!!!!) On drinks: I am a HUGE Self-Appointed Connoisseur of Pisco Brandy and the Pisco Sour. I inquired about the brandy they used and was told it was "Acholado" (which is perfect for Pisco Sours). I excitedly awaited the arrival of my drink, only to discover it was NOT Acholado Pisco, but something else.... and sadly not as good.... Two drawbacks to this venue: 1) The service is a bit unorthodox. I have never had waiters reach over me to other diners or fill some people's water glasses but not everyone's. Very odd. 2) Dinner service is VERY SLOW. Although the waiter (Shaun) was very sweet, you have to wonder what was going on in the kitchen that it took our meal ONE HOUR to arrive after we ordered it!! We placed our dinner order at 9.23pm (when the restaurant was at least half empty. Our meal arrived at 10.28pm. HOW? Our appetizers arrived quickly- 9.37pm, but were devoured quickly. Overall though, the venue is delightful. The ambiance is trendy yet romantic and intimate- perfect for special occasions. The food is GREAT!!!!! ***NB: My hubby has been obsessed with whole fried snapper (ever since his local spot closed down). I read that the whole snapper here was amazing (which is why we came!). We immediately ordered the fried snapper, but unfortunately our waiter returned to tell us they ran out. Thankfully, his "alternate" meal selection of Steak and Lobster was sensational. (Ironically, my husband ordered the fried snapper, proceeded to tell the story on how the fried fish is his favorite dish but he has been unable to get it since the restaurant closed down and every restaurant since has been out of the fish when he ordered it. The waiter returned in time to hear the the tail end of his story. I could tell from the waiter's expression what was coming next...). read more

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The restaurant is over-priced for the quality of food. I'm really, really surprised at how many five star reviews this place has received. I've eaten here four times and have always walked away paying a hefty bill for mediocre food that was presented well. Only thing that makes me feel better is the chocolate covered mint stick on the way out. I've had the sea bass, the chicken special, some steak entree, some other dish I can't recall, and while there were no complaints about the food, there's nothing to rave about thus the two star rating for this higher price range restaurant. I will mention the kitchen is extremely slow with the worst being a 30+ minute wait one evening. We watched them bring plates of food to the bar section, but we were left sitting for so long that other servers even came to apologize but no managers. As I mentioned in a quick tip, I'd only return to the bar side for a drink and an appetizer before a night out and skip the dinner in the dining room and just grab a mint on the way out. read more

Came here on a whim on a Thur night. I made reservations but I guess it wasn't needed, hardly anyone here. Situated in downtown Sarasota. Parking can be a bitch, hence why i don't go to downtown places a lot, but tonight wasn't bad. There are two sides to this place. The right side is the dining room and it looks awesome. Like a contemporary classy look with a whole lot of yuppiness haha. The left side is the bar and they also have a lounge/dining area as well. Decent amount of seating. We sat in the bar side because they have happy hour drinks and appetizers that seem a bit cheaper than just the regular menu. There are some decent drinks available at the bar. I got a Victory Prima Pils, which tasted actually pretty fresh and went along great with my appetizer. My better half got some sort of martini that tasted gross to me, but I'm not a mixed drink guy and she liked it so that's all that matters. The menu is extensive and has what seems like a lot of peruvian influenced fare. We started off with little tiny duck sandwiches, which were absolutely delicious btw, and classic ceviche. The ceviche had a nice, big juicy citrus acidity to it, of which I'm a big fan, and big chunks of fish. Really tasty. The entrees were amazing. Totally worth the extra dolla bills. I got the chilean sea bass. It came with flan, I guess it's some sort of custard? Whatever it is, it's effing delicious and if you're a self respecting seafood lover, you need to try this. The bass is sweet, fresh, and tender. Just lightly seasoned enough to bring out the flavors, not to cover the flavor. And you get a decent filet too. My better half got the duck confit that came with a sort of polenta and pea side. The duck is seared medium rare, just enough of the fat to give a delicious, silky smooth texture, and man was it good. We destroyed that dinner. Nothing left. So yeah. Do yourselves a favor and come here to eat. A solid 4.25 stars. read more

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Prepping for my trip to Peru (now since past), I was happy to see this place with high marks. My daily meal allowance doesn't qualify me to eat here without going into my pockets but Groupon to the rescue - 19 for 40. The location is in an upscale neighborhood and the decor is what I would expect of a $$$ place. Since It's only my first visit, it is hard to tell if this place gets busy and if it does what time. We arrived to a pretty empty restaurant but it was close to 6 so, either we got very lucky or we didn't....come onnnnnnnnnn glass 1/2 full. We were greeted and sat by a very pleasant hostess and the waitress came over immediately to discuss specials and drinks. Since I'm a fan of the Miller beer of Peru, I opt for a Cusqenia. Going through the menu it's a fair mix of South American regions, not just Peruvian. I opted for the Tuna and watermelon ceviche and the pork tenderloin. The ceviche, isn't what I'd quite qualify as ceviche, but non the less very tasty, cool, and crispy. I'd order again and again. The massive portion of tenderloin with purple potatoes comes out and I start to rethink my appetizer. Unfortunately, it is just OK. The presentation is amazing. The pork is a bit dry and the potatoes add to the dryness. I can chalk it up to bad luck on my part. I'd would love to come back but would likely opt for another main course. read more

Selva Grill - Tuna and watermelon ceviche - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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We tried many restaurants during our Sarasota vacation. This was by far the best. The NY strip is delicious, tender and flavorful. The fish is super good. Service is excellent. read more

Selva Grill - Catch of the day. Sea bass and risotto - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Had a 7:30 reservation got there and all we had was water until 8:30. Server had been there one time in the whole hour. When she came back by we ordered everything and an hour later once more our food came. We were so tired of the bad service that we paid her when the food came hoping another hour wouldn't go by. Food was also average. read more

Hands down the best restaurant in Sarasota/Bradenton. Good quality fish and ingredients, on-target preparation that is novel enough to surprise you and make you go "hmmm!" Excellent service and very good wine list. Not cheap but definitely great food. read more

I wrestled with this rating for a few days. What it really came down to was value. Ambiance is a 5, food is a 4.5, and service is a 4. Value? Not very good. I came here as a party of 6. I ordered a bottle of wine for the table. The waiter poured me a taste and spilled wine on the glass and on the table. A little peeved, I expected him to at least wipe the glass down, but he just smiled at me and motioned for me to try. We each got a ceviche, since that seemed to be the major attraction. Portion sizes seemed to vary wildly. Mine was a Pulpo al Olivo, which I felt was the perfect size. About 8 bites of perfectly tender octopus with a heavenly puree. Others, like the ceviche de choros looked like an entree. However, all were presented with the utmost artistry. My compliments to the chef there. A small miss on each ceviche was slight over-aggressiveness with the salt. My entree was the Mirin Roasted Sea Bass. You couldn't cook it any better, and I actually appreciated the simple, clean presentation. Again, a little trouble with the seasoning-- this time I felt the fish was slightly under-seasoned. With the dish came this corn custard flan. Great concept, great flavor... just wish it were even a little smoother. My dessert was a coconut and guava sorbet with coconut shavings. I won't lie-- the thought of a guava sorbet finishing off the meal was what attracted my attention. What I didn't realize is that the coconut would overpower the guava. One of my dining companions disagrees with me, but I thought the coconut did a disservice to the dessert, rather than complimenting it. Was the food great? It had some minor, but overlook-able flaws. So, why the 4 stars? At about $85/person, some of those formerly overlook-able flaws become a little bit more glaring. If you're going to charge that much, you better execute flawlessly. Still memorable though. And most importantly, we absolutely had a good time. read more

Truly outstanding food, served with pride by folks that don't dumb flavors down for tourists. Selva Grill has at least one genius in the kitchen, pushing out magnificent plate after magnificent plate. The service was very attentive and thoughtful, taking their time to explain the dishes and give recommendations. I had a full water glass throughout the meal, feasted like a king and walked out absolutely stuffed. I cannot recommend this place enough. read more

I want to give Selve 3.5 stars. Not that the food and drinks and service don't deserve 4 - they do - but the prices are outrageous and value for your money is terrible. However, since I can't give 3.5, 4 will do. Lets begin with the most important part - Starburst Martinis. If you go to Selve, have one of these. Then 2, then 3. (This reviewer is not advocating alcoholism or getting stupidly drunk and should you follow my advice, then please have a designated driver take you home). These martinis are awesome. Have a lot of them, have someone carry you home (again, please don't drive, I live here), then have some more the next day. They have a great happy hour, though I forget at this point if its $5 martinis or half off (probably the same thing actually). The bar is a bit dark, so not a place for boisterous happy hours, but its cozy and romantic and definitely a date place. They have couches and some privacy in the back of the bar if you're lucky enough to grab it - just a warning though, they keep it insanely cold back there. The crowd is also a bit older, but then again, this is Sarasota so what would you expect? We're old. The food is delicious, too, but here's where I take points away. Let me give you a couple of examples. I have never actually eaten anything other then appetizers here because their menu is so pricey. My favorite appetizer is their empenadas (sp?). My girlfriend and I will order a beef and a spinach (order comes with 2 total, and you can mix and match). The appetizer is $12. They also have a crab spring roll for $10. Yes, a single spring roll. I know it has crab, but that's still obnoxious. You know what the bartender told me and my girlfriend? I quote, "It's one spring roll, but they cut it into 3 pieces." So the value for what you pay for sucks. That said, this is one of our favorite happy hour spots and my girlfriend and I come here as much as possible - though typically only when there's a groupon or living social deal. Word of warning though, you can't use those certificates for happy hour specials, which is fine, because happy hour is the only time when the value is worthwhile. Finally, and I highly doubt she's reading this, but to the older woman wearing the horrible white and floral pattern dress who was there on Saturday, June 8 and ordered the $38 NY Strip steak, ate half of it, and then had them throw it away - someone should punch you in the face. I'm sorry, but how much more rich and entitled do you have to be? Give it to your dogs for pete's sake. Have it in a sandwich for lunch the next day. Something. Don't throw out half a $38 steak you miserable cow. Sorry to everyone else who had to read that, but witnessing that really pissed off me and my girlfriend. read more

Quite an amazing meal. Appetizer of crab rolls and tuna/watermelon/soy special - followed with Argentinian salad and then for the entrees - sea bass in lime ginger sauce and whole fried snapper. We also had an Argentinian cab which was full bodied and spicy finish (dry). The only dish that didn't measure up to spectacular was the sea bass - we think the kitchen missed the proper amount of sauce as it came out bland but tender. Thanks Yelp for another great find read more

A very chic dining experience with great food, craft cocktails, super wine list, and excellent service. Great bar, but hard to find a seat unless you arrive early. read more

Great food! Interesting and unique options. The happy hour is great and includes discounts on some food items.

What a special place! 6 of us had the best time last night. Very busy but top rated in all categories; ambiance, food, service , value, presentation etc.. Save it for special occasions or just go and enjoy! read more

Great spot on Main St. Peruvian cocktails and appetizers including many seviche choices. I went right at 5 and there were already tables seated and place filled up quickly. Make reservations! Dark black and red theme with colorful wall. Separate bar area is pretty large. Noise not so bad. I wouldnt bring kids, but its not super romantic, so I guess you might. Menu is great- all the proteins in some form. Dishes look amazing. Hostess, wait staff and busers were so polite and professional. The wild seviche was great- large! Ask for chips. I had a special grouper dish which was perfectly done with a wonderful light lobster sauce. Downside- $42...Not all that! When I return I will try out some of the other apps because they all looked wonderful and unique. read more

Selva Grill - Black grouper filet w lobster sauce over a quinoa something or other. Delicious, the special, overpriced at $42. - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Okay. Hands down. This is one of the best restaurants I've been to in Florida. In fact, at the moment, I can't think of a better one that I've been to. The service is impeccable and the interior decor is smart modern - New Yorky, if you know what I mean. Since this is sort of a Peruvian - pan South American restaurant, we started with a caipirinha, the Brazilian national drink, which I love. For an appetizer I had the watermelon & tuna ceviche - kind of a fusian ceviche, but it was fantastic. For dinner we had the Snapper and the Rack of Lamb. The presentation was exquisite and the meals were delicious and "cooked to perfection!" We drove up from Fort Myers to dine here and it was worth every mile on our carbon footprint. read more

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We came here because of Yelp! reviews. We were very satisfied with this place and it lived up to the reviews. We decided to go here first because of the 'early bird' special on Sunday - Thursday Early Bird Special Order by 6pm, 30% off check Order by 7pm, 20% off check They open at 5. So we got there around 5:30. Even without the discount, we would go back. But the deal definitely helped us decide where to go that night. We had empanadas, Salmon and the Skirt Steak. The Empanadas were great, we did one of each, beef and spinach. The salmon was good, but the spaghetti squash was not what I thought it would be, the crab was mixed into it but I couldn't really find it. The skirt steak was good and the fried plantains were delicious. The skirt steak was off the waiters reccommendation, so there may have been something better on the menu, but it was still good. read more

Selva Grill - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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While on vacation with our amazing friends they bought us to this great spot located in the heart of Sarasota. They are following guidelines and maintaining distance between tables and all staff is wearing masks. This was very comforting. Its a Peruvian Fusion place that has a very trendy look. I felt like as if I was sitting in Manhattan, and this was nice. We ordered some Sangria both red and white. The red was delicious, had a distinct flavor that make you order more. I felt the white was bland, a little watery. We ordered the Shrimp Ceviche & Empanada as appetizers. The ceviche was delicious with large pieces of shrimp & avocado. It has a hint of orange, which is very refreshing and I recommend this to anyone who comes here. The empanada was a short rib & it was very good. For entrees hubby got the Lomo Salteado( it's like a pepper steak) with onions & tomatoes, rice and yucca fries. The meat itself was good, the yucca fried were cold and unseasoned so not a fan. I ordered the Sea Bass but was informed they had run out, I was sad. But then I noticed this other gem on the menu so... I had the Malbec Short Rib with couscous & asparagus. I am so glad I ordered this! The short rib was like butter and melted away once eaten! The couscous was flavorful and the asparagus was crisp. This plate definitely had all the right elements! I was soooo satisfied with this plate my friend(who is a frequent guest here) stated this will be her new plate. For dessert I had the Port of Mousse which is a mix of chocolate mousses plated beautiful with edible chocolate. Next time we're in town will be returning to try the mojitos & paella. read more

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Upscale and trendy. Selva features an extensive menu comprised mostly of seafood and beef prepared with a Peruvian emphasis. This does not mean that the food is prepared in a way that is overly spicy or extremely ethnic. There would certainly be something on the menu that would please even an unsophisticated pallet. The restaurant serves many varieties of ceviche all of which are extremely good. The best is the sushi grade tuna. The lump crab meat appetizer was slightly less than exciting but was acceptable and the presentation was nice. The Sea Bass was high quality and fresh. The preparation was spot on. The chef prepared black bean purée and maize based flan to compliment it. The skirt steak was of exceptional quality and was very tasty. Besides the ceviche I would say this is one of the chef's strong suites. Prices are fair considering the location and the quality of provisions the chef chooses. The dining room was a little noisy with chatter but certainly wasn't considered a negative. Maybe just not a quiet place for a romantic dinner. read more

Selva Grill - Sea Bass at Selva - Sarasota - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Excellent meal from start to finish. The Pisco sours are perfectly made with real juices. This was probably the best Pisco sour I have had since Chile. For an appetizer I had the Octopus Ceviche which was extremely tender and delicious. My entre was the Inca code which was slighty spicy with chorizo and rice wrapped in plantain, very flavorful. My wife ordered the Andean Rack of lam which came with truffle risotto and a macadamia nut pest (even better than the Cod). If you want interesting food presented well I recommend Selva Grill. read more

Selva Grill - Inca cod - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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One of my favorite stops in downtown Sarasota. Location is great food is amazing and the staff is friendly. Always enjoy my meal in the environment when I come to this restaurant read more

We were in Sarasota for an event, and we needed a place to dine. After reading the other reviews, this place was the place to go! We sat outside which was nice because it was shaded from the sun. Our server was awesome, very nice and informative. He also made sure to check that everything we ordered was vegetarian! (Believe it or not, there are sometimes a ton of hidden and unexpected ingredients). He recommended the caesar salad which was the best I've ever tasted. I'm a sucker for caprese salad, so I had to try that as well. It too was amazing. We also had the veggie plate which was incredible, especially for a restaurant that doesn't specialize at all in tofu or veggie friendly meals. We topped it off with dessert, which were both elegant and delicious (peach bread pudding and tres leches). We found out while we were there that they knock off 20% of your bill before 6pm, do make sure to check that out! read more

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Great overall food and service. Had the NY strip which was cooked well. Came with a side of truffle potato wedges which were great as well. Drinks were also solid. Would recommend coming here for sure read more

Selva Grill - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

I am so impressed by Selva Grill. I was in town on business and wanted to have dinner somewhere nice. I yelped up Selva Grill and saw fantastic ratings and for good reason! I sat outside because the weather was just gorgeous out that night in beautiful Sarasota. I ordered the Mirin Roasted Chilean Sea Bass which was fantastic (check out my photo, it's award-winning)! So tender and moist the fish would fall apart with the stroke of my fork. It was marinated so nicely too with the sweet touch of Mirin. It was accompanied by a corn custard flan which added sweetness and blended together so magically. Bok choy was the choice of vegetable under this plump juicy fish as it all sat on top of a black bean sauce which added texture to the dish. I saw the table next to me had ordered their Peruvian Spring Rolls which I was told unanimously by the three ladies next to me that it was amazing! I will definitely be back to try more of their amazing food. In addition to all the memories that make Sarasota so special to me, this just added another reason why I love Sarasota so much!!! read more

Selva Grill - Mirin roasted sea bass - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

I guess its ok for Sarasota but for any normal city, it wouldn't stay open. Extremely overpriced. Service is too fast, bringing all 7 of my ceviches and starters at the same time and my entrees before those were even done. Average and overpriced. read more

Amazing experience from the appetizers to deserts - the food was impressive as was the presentation - save room for deserts - we got one of each and shared - highly recommend read more

They are suppose to close at 11:00 we arrived at 10:20 and they had already closed the kitchen.... ??? Then they should post they close at 10:20 or10:30, not 11:00.... Sad They do have good food, I have eaten there before,but their service is poor. I will think twice before going back. read more

Loved everything about this restaurant, patio seating, friendly and hospitable service and large menu! read more

Selva Grill - Patio seating is lovely - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

We were invited to dinner here. Pricey, but a true culinary experience. Food is art and delicious! read more

Selva Grill - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

The meal was absolutely excellent. The service, however, was not. I had the Lomo Saltado, a wok fried sirloin that was cooked and seasoned to perfection. The meal presentation was beautiful, and the food was the perfect temperature. Those who I was with also enjoyed their meals very much. The service was not quite as good as I hoped from a place of this reputation. While my water glass was promptly filled and my napkin folded when I got up for the restroom, the waiter was lacking in the helpfulness department. My friends and I felt like we got no attention. Maybe they were trying to flip the table quickly? Or maybe since I'm not from around here I expect different things. Nevertheless, I did enjoy my experience. The decor and ambiance was just right and the food was spectacular. Overall, I recommend it, and I also suggest making a reservation. read more

Selva Grill - The Lomo Saltado (sorry for the poor quality) - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Was craving ceviche while visiting Sarasota and found this spot. Ordered a ceviche sampler which barely had any seafood in it and was very small amount. Also ordered another octopus plate and it was ok. Not what I was expecting. I've had much better ceviche in other Peruvian restaurants. Expected better for the price. read more

As a Peruvian, I can say the food here is not authentic. It's overpriced and overrated. I ordered the seafood paella risotto and it tasted mainly of lime. The shrimp was good, but the calamari and octopus was chewy, just like eating a rubber band! My family ordered the lomo saltado and the rice was cold and the fried yuca was dry. You want good, authentic Peruvian, drive a few hours to South Florida instead. read more

Tofu , they have vegetarian option. There service was good and so was the food. I dont rate the restuarants unless they deserve 5 stars . This one deserves full 5 stars. You can see the pic it speaks for itself. read more

Selva Grill - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Used to be better. Service is declining and food has drop in quality. Try to get a table outside, inside tends to get noisier.

What a wonderful spot, the staff is so friendly and helpful. The food is amazing!!!! I ordered several appetizers and I still could eat more , the different flavors combined in the dishes are so spot on. I would highly recommend coming here. read more

Selva Grill - Lemons drop martini - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Wow!!! Wow!!! wow!!! First time in Sarasota and I am so glad I came to eat dinner at Selva!! The lomo saltado was amazing and the Short rib spring roll was delicious too. Atmosphere was very nice. Staff was very nice and polite. Loved my experience here. read more

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Hip decor in downtown Sarasota locale awaits you. Had one of the best Skirt steaks and Ceviche I have had in the United States for sure. Steak was cooked perfect and full of flavor. My wife had Ceviche Mixto (shrimp, mussels, calamari, fish etc...) that was fresh and delicious. I didn't give it 5 stars due to price points being a little high for the portions. I would return the next time I come into town, but be prepared to spend $125 to $150 for 2 with drinks. read more

Selva Grill - Ceviche Mixto - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Service was great. Wahoo cervice was delivered. Octopus cause was a bit chewy but cocktails were excellent so all was good. read more

Selva Grill - Jalapeño margarita and white cosmo - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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