I'm not sure, after two dinners at Selva, what all the fuss is about. The annoyingly flashing lighting system (on the painted/mosaic wall), the noise in the main dining room, or the food. This is not Peruvian food - either casual or elegant. Other than some of the appetizers (ceviche, spring rolls) the main courses are so similar to other similarly-priced restaurants in Sarasota. The same seafood, red meat and chicken offerings - albeit, with some interesting side sauces and fancy sauce drippings on the plates. However, the red meat is overtenderized, the seafood a bit dry, and the chicken bland. And, the prices ala carte are unreasonably high. So many better, and more imaginative offerings, elsewhere. The six of us gave SG two, seperate chances to impress us and we came away unimpressed. read more

My husband and I visit Sarasota often because my husbands family lives here. We went to Selva Grill last night and had such a great dinner mostly in part to our server Devi. She was so attentive and charming. She really understood the menu and made such wonderful recommendations. We had the tuna tiradito and the sea bass based on her recommendation and we loved every bite of it! Come here for a nice dinner out! read more

Dinner was truly amazing , I've gotten the surf n turf now twice and it's absolutely amazing

Food and service were great. Had rack of lamb, lobster and sea bass. All dishes delightful. Waiter was prompt but not overbearing. Ate inside but nice street side patio area. Good wine list and excellent cocktails. This is the most improved restaurant in the area. read more

One word: superb! After about a 10year gap, the Mrs and I took an overnight trip to Sarasota and came back to Selva as we vaguely recalled a great evening a decade ago. Needless to say, we were not disappointed! In fact, this time may have been better, sitting outside where it was less noisy and more scenic: the drinks were expertly made (pisco sour and pisco passionfruit), the entrées were simply delicious (Carne asada, Chilean seabass), the dessert was the perfect ending (banana flan). Highly recommended! read more

1st Star - The waitstaff are friendly and attentive. We did not wait for drink refills or more bread. Each member of their team - from the hostess to the bus boys were polite and welcoming. 2nd Star - The drink menu was good. They had quite a large selection of red and white wine, including one of my favorite Pinot Grigio's Santa Margarita. Wine was available by the bottle and glass. Although we did not order a full bottle, several tables had so the wine selection was clearly stocked. No 3rd Star - The restaurant is listed as Peruvian and this is incredibly misleading. Having Peruvian heritage, I was disappointed. Yes, they serve ceviche and Aji de Gallina in an spring roll. However, nothing about the presentation, taste or combination of flavored accurately represents Peruvian food or culture. No 4th Star - Traditionally, Aji de Gallina is served with a bed of rice, pulled chicken and a creamy and flavorful Aji Amarillo sauce.The Aji de Gallina spring roll was lacking the Aji Amarillo flavor, had no rice, a very small amount of chicken and was tiny in portion size. Traditionally, ceviche is served on a plate or in a bowl with corn, potatoes and onions. Here it was served in a tall martini glass which makes it both harder to eat and also small in portion size. The corn and potatoes left at the bottom of the plate. I was not impressed with the presentation. No 5th Star - Although the atmosphere is beautifully decorated and outdoor seating is available - it is loud, crowded and not the type of dining experience you would expect or hope for at this price point. My boyfriend and I sat next to each other and could barely hear our own, private conversation. Even the waitstaff had to shout in order for you to hear their specials or about the menu. Overall, I was disappointed in their modern twist of traditional Peruvian dishes and was unimpressed with the flavor and quality of the food. read more

I can't stop raving about Selva. I would call it an unexpected find in Sarasota, but also just a great restaurant all around. Serving South American-themed fare in an elegant and upscale setting, I am already looking forward to returning on my next visit to Sarasota. We started out with the fried yucca and the sea bass fritters for appetizers, and both were exceptional. The sea bass fritters were really a wonderful new thing for me and the presentation was beautiful. For my main course, I had the Osso Buco which was among the best dishes I've had in any restaurant anywhere. The meat was tender, fell off the bone and the presentation was again really nice. It was served on a bean stew which was an unexpected addition, but lovely. My friend and her mother shared the New York Strip steak which was served with truffle-parmesan fries and that was also amazing. What's nice is that they charge $5.00 to share a plate, but then present each person with their own plate with the item halved and arranged, so they give thought to customer service and care. Selva also has an impressive wine and cocktail menu which was really great too. I had the cucumber martini which was refreshing and light, as it should be. My friend's mother had the mojito which she loved and my friend had a martini which I forget the name of, but was served with elderberry liqueur and orange blossom vodka, and was excellent. The dining room at Selva is dimly lit with a blue-lit artistic wall and the sound of falling water. It serves an upscale crowd, and the prices are a bit on the high side, but the portions are huge and the service is impeccable. If you're in or near Sarasota, this is a highly recommended stop for a unique and delicious place to have dinner. read more

Food was very creative and exceptional. Our outside server was very welcoming, knowledgeable, and efficient. While it became packed with a much younger crowd, I would return there in a heartbeat. If you want the best in the area, this is the place. read more

Summary: the food is excellent, and it's the best fine dining I've had in Sarasota except for méLange. The salads we received were fresh, perky greens, house-made dressings, and great cheese. The menu is tapas-focused, so people were getting small plates and sharing, including the Cusco Corn Skewers. These are skewers of huge kernels of corn, the size of a quarter, with a meaty taste different to regular corn, and a great spicy fruit sauce. We also got "TaCaCho", an odd fried ball of mixed veggies, potato, and chorizo, really tasty but very heavy, well seasoned. My entree was the Arroz con Pato, a perfectly cooked rare duck breast with a great sear on it, a really nice acidic red pepper salsa, and a creamy risotto with firm green peas and a malty beer mixture. I'm a sucker for duck, and they really knew what to do with this one. The accompanying risotto nearly stole the show from it. Others in my party expressed many compliments for the Paella and the Seafood Duo, which came with a hot chorizo hash and delicious piña colada glaze. It runs a little expensive, but I don't mind that when everything ordered tastes great, which is what happened here. Every side, app, and entree was praised and everyone was constantly pushing the others in the party to try this sauce or that rice etcetera. The only gripe I have, which was not the general experience at my table, was that the Manhattan I received was way to sweet and watered down, a result of too much ice and vermouth in the recipe. Don't let that deter you. Everything we tasted was delicious, and it's nice to see a fine dining place that isn't afraid to offer some real spice in their dishes. It's supposed to be a Peruvian/American fusion. If you look into the negative reviews, the majority of complaints are that the food is not "authentic". If you break that down, it means that the diner didn't find the food exactly the same as their individual grandmother's cooking. News flash: this is a fusion restaurant, and we aren't in Peru. read more

Ok, you got your Maison Blanche, your Vizen....and your Selva Grill. What do all of these restaurants have in common. Great chef's that run these joints. We had the power play items. Tuna & Watermelon ceviche appetizer, the Sea Bass and the Skirt Steak. All were excellent. Service was some of the best I've had in the SRQ. I'm trying to understand how people gave this place bad reviews. The skirt steak was cooked medium rare and it was incredible. The plantains paired with the medium rare skirt steak is why I love restaurants like Selva Grill. It was a perfect combination. The Sea Bass was cooked to perfection and the polenta paired with the sea bass is a great move by the chef. The Tuna & Watermelon ceviche is a great original concept and a taste new to the palate. Every dish we had had such great flavor and variety. The presentation of the dishes were constructed well. I appreciate good plating techniques and Selva Grill is one of the best I've seen. You get what you pay for at Selva Grill. That's why it's always packed full of happy foodies... read more

Beautiful presentation and taste and fantastic staff. I am not a critic of fine dining, but I find myself exposed to these incredibly unique and expensive places. For appetizers we had the empanadas and everything is drizzled with some sort of glaze and sauce that are just incredible mixes of things I would never have thought to do. There was also the Large Shrimp appetizer, which is a Huge shrimp that sits atop a cylinder of mashed potatoes with purple and yellow colors, with a sweet salsa and avocado slice. There was this sauce that was a little bit potent, a spicier sort of cilantro sauce. Mmmm. I love fresh cilantro. Then we also got an octopus dish as well, for the daring, which was the most tender and least rubber-like octopussy I have eaten in awhile. There was pretty much a full avocado on that as well. My friend got the Sea Bass and that was very nice. My other friend the lamb, and they were so tender, I cut little pieces off greedily with a fork. I decided on getting the Snapper, $37, which came out bent over itself, looking at me with its fried face. The meat flaked right off the bone, moist and hot, covered in a sauce that was lime flavored and sweet. I'll make sure to take pics next time. And we also enjoyed the pot mousse, with such rich rich chocolate I was actually astonished I was putting my fork down. Also had the peaches and cream, which, could never be chocolate in any contest in my eyes, but was also very delicious. Our waiter was fantastic, Aaron. he was very knowledgeable about the menu, was able to provide apparently accurate commentary on a very nice bottle of wine my friend knew to purchase, and provided some dialogue to my other friend which she found extremely enjoyable. : ) . The scenery itself, first being located in downtown Sarasota, your throwing distance from some of the finest bars and music around. The interior was amazing, dimly lit, with huge paintings in the background as almost murals with multicolored lights that change throughout the evening. I was distracted by my guests but the music and lighting enhanced the socialization. read more

YUM!!! We were town for a wedding and the hotel concierge at Hotel Indigo suggested this great spot in downtown Sarasota that was within walking distance of the hotel. We walked in and I felt a little under-dressed because of the white table cloths but they were very welcoming. Their menu is full of wonderful seafood. I started off with the crab spring roll - it was presented in a martini glass - and it was crispy and the crab was plentiful. I also had the Mirin Roasted Sea Bass. They ran out of the corn custard flan but they allowed me to substitute it with any other side dish. I chose the truffle chive risotto - wow, that was good. Selva Grill is a great spot and if I'm ever in Sarasota again, I'll be sure to visit! read more

We selected this restaurant for our day trip to Sarasota based on its Yelp reviews. We cannot express how much we enjoyed our dining experience here. The entire team was welcoming and professional. The specialty cocktails were heavenly and the food, to die for. We may be traveling to Sarasota often to sample more of the offerings! read more

My California friends and I had an AMAZING meal here tonight! The tuna and watermelon ceviche is TO DIE FOR - I would consider coming back to Sarasota just for that. The tuna was beautifully seasoned, just the right amount of saltiness to counterbalance the sweetness of the (very fresh) watermelon. The sauces (both in the dipping cup as well as the ones on the plate) were also really delicious - what an awesomely pleasant start to the meal! (The bread, along with the truffle butter, were also great starters). The drinks we had were pretty good, though I'd say that compared to the rest of the meal not quite as amazing. The mojitos were good, the bellini was ok (though strong and very sweet), and the capirinha was pretty good (great kiwi flavor). The entrees were also excellent. The Lomo Saltado had a great flavor to it, the juicy tomato slices still make my mouth water to think about it. The cod was really flavorful as well, with great presentation of the corn. In fact, the presentation of all the dishes were wonderful. The skirt steak was also really really tender (which is sometimes difficult for skirt steak), and the plantains were delicious. The desserts were also amazing, second only to the ceviche (and a close second, at that). We shared the mousses and the brulee something. Both were great (the presentation was beautiful!), but what struck me the most was the white chocolate mousse. Chocolate mousse in general can be good, but the rich and full flavor of the white chocolate mousse was splendid! Overall, this place deserves a full five stars in terms of quality of food. The service was a tad slow, but the quality of food makes up for it. If I ever come back to Sarasota, I have no doubt I'll be coming back! read more

A very nice decor, swanker than I expected, and very attractive. Good service. My wife had paella which was good but she said it was too rich, too much butter. I had the Caprese salad starter and it was different with some creative greens. My spareribs were outstanding, so tender you could hardly pick up the meat with a fork. Andean rack of lamb was very tender and tasty. Good risotto and asparagus with it. We all enjoyed the starter bread with garlic and truffle butter. It was pricy. I'd say not quite a good value for money. The food was good but not up to the prices. read more

Overall both the food and presentation was very good with the exception of the empanadas. I had the short ribs, very tender and juicy. The asparagus were perfectly cooked. The truffle risotto was average. I barely felt the truffle to be quite honest. My husband had the seafood paella/ rice. It had plenty of seafood and the presentation was elegant but in my opinion the it tasted too much of tomato sauce. The octopus and crab cakes good. For Dessert we had the banana flan and the bread pudding. I don't live in Sarasota but if I lived there I would go from time to time. read more

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Best ceviche I've ever had. What I recommend: Wahoo ceviche Lobster ceviche Tuna tiradito nikkei Whole fried snapper read more

I Never thought I'd find such great restaurant in west side of Florida! When it comes to the sunshine state, people dominantly think about Miami! To be honest, I'm sick of hearing about Miami and I believe that Miami has lost its groove since several years ago! It has become so commercial that I think it lost its original taste. But this review is about Selva so I'm going to stay on the subject. So finally after I was sure that Sarasota was going to be the destination for my birthday travel several weeks ago, I searched for the best restaurant and came Across this fine establishment. I noticed this place was top rated and the reviews were excellent. I asked my friend whom resides in Sarasota to join me for Friday night dinner as her and I hadn't seen each other in a long time. It was an opportunity to catch up and learn about this beautiful tropical town of Sarasota! As we entered the restaurant we were immediately greeted and we're sat at our table. As we were being walked to our table I noticed this restaurant was packed! The ambiance of the place is very contemporary and has a very cool beachy like atmosphere that can only be pulled off in Florida! My friend and I decided to start off with their Tartara De Atun (Tuna Tartar) that came with this delicious cilantro and balsamic glaze sauce that was Devine. Their cocktails are also amazing as we both tried their wild berry mojito. Just perfect cool drink for warm tropical nights. Then came their empanadas, just amazing! This place also has a cool trendy bar in the back with a DJ and that caters to the late night crowd! Even tho it's a lounge, and a lot of times you can't find good drinks at clubs and etc, this place surely knows how to accommodate dinning patrons as well as the late hour guest who just simply want a drink! If I lived in Sarasota, is be eating here EVERYDAY! read more

Selva Grill - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Going to Selva used to be a look forward to in terms of food,atmosphere and drinks. We could not find room at the bar during happy hour and are now clear why. We sat outside and payed 2 1/2x the amount of money for food that quite frankly wasn't very good. Ceviche was good as an app but my wife's steak was of poor quality and tasteless besides being delivered cold.My skirt steak was also cold and was not very good. The kitchen has lost a few steps here. $150 later we regret to no longer recommend this spot unless u go exclusively for Happy Hour. Entree prices are overpriced. read more

Selva transports you into a great feeling atmosphere of lively fun with beautiful lights, pretty art, and an awesome decor. Selva is consistently great and a must visit for anyone traveling to sarasota. It has a chic vibe and a very accomodating staff. The only issue is that it does tend to get noisy. We eat here probably a little more than every other month and we have never been dissapointed. The welcoming hostesses help set you at ease when you come through the doors. Then the wait staff is usually very friendly. Selva is pretty much the gold standard of restaurants that my friends and I compare places to. Such as "well it's tasty but not as good as selva" or "you have to try so and so, it's the new selva" etc. So selva itself is definitely a stand out winner. To start the bread they give you is soooo warm and the truffle butter makes you eat way more than you should. The appitizers are good as are the drinks. We love the pisco punch for a drink and the rack of lamb or skirt steak best for food recomendations. the salmon is incredible too. You can't go wrong here. read more

Selva Grill is a perfect sample of Sarasota, a beautiful destination where families go to catch some rays on white sandy beaches and old people go to die. The service we poor to medium. I think our server was having a bad day and she let it reflect with her service. We went on a Tuesday night, which is wine night. Lots of wine bottles were half price! The food was presented beautifully and tasted great, if not a little rich. Dessert was fantastic and also presented beautifully with crystallized sugar garnish. Price was a bit steep. Overall good experience with a little room for improvement on the ambiance and service. read more

5 stars all the way to this wonderful, trendy, delicious restaurant in Sarasota. I'm looking forward to coming back here on our next trip to Sarasota and have recommended it to friends and family. My husband and I consider ourselves somewhat of foodies so by giving this place a 5 star means it's really amazing. Everything we ordered was fresh, beautiful design on the plate and the tuna and watermelon appetizer melted in my mouth. The best raw tuna dish I've EVER HAD. That's saying a lot since I've eaten at quite a few wonderful sushi restaurants. The setting is trendy/modern and looks a bit out of place in downtown Sarasota on Main Street. Feels more like a place in Miami-South Beach you'd go to. It's pricey but worth every penny. Go here and ENJOY. read more

Great late night dinner and dining spot. The atmosphere is terrific and the food is unique and fresh.

We went there last night on the 'Savor Sarasota' plan ($25 flat rate for a 3 course meal), and the food was amazingly good. Had the Wild ceviche (white fish in lime and cilantro, the have other ceviches, too) and the skirt steak with marvelously roasted plantains. Fantastic flavors! Hubby and friends had desserts, chocolate creme brulee and a coconut / guava sundae, which they said were excellent. We shared a bottle of merlot the waiter (Nathan) recommended, very, very nice. The service is wonderful. We'll be going back. What a find! Just as good, if not better on the 2nd visit. Don't bring your parents, tho, they don't get it. read more

Went with another couple for Date Night. Upscale. Amazing food. Loved sitting in the open air and people watching on Main Street on a Saturday night - a show in itself! Our server Joanna was exceptional. The food was a melding of flavors and textures and beautifully plated. All 4 of us savoured our appetizers and main courses. Bar drinks were strong - perfect. Ceviche was tangy and fresh. Salmon was fresh and cooked to perfection. Steak was tender and flavorful. Dessert was out of this world - chocolate mousse. The entire evening was full of delectable flavors and a fun atmosphere. Thanks for a great date night with our husbands Selva! Note: We went last October - just getting around to posting on Yelp now...) read more

Ceviche heaven! My husband and I ordered almost all the ceviche apps just so we can try them all. Their food is delicious and the atmosphere is romantic. The staff was great and helpful with questions about the menu. I had the short rib entree, which was so tender and delicious. read more

Salmon Chileno might be one of the best dishes I have ever eaten - If you knew me, you would realize how big of a deal this comment is. Toss in some Blueberry Pisco for good measure, a $850 tab later, and you have a solid start to a Friday night in Sarasota! read more

I used to live in Sarasota. By reading that, you can see that I know longer do. But sometimes I miss this city and some of the country's best food that is made here. Passion isn't the only thing that makes Selva Grill deliver an evening that people only dream of experiencing, because a lot of chefs have passion when it comes to creating an exciting menu. It's the execution that seals the deal. I've eaten here more than fifteen times, and I've yet to ever have something that wan't perfectly cooked, perfectly garnished, and served piping hot, or cold for that matter. The servers at Selva Grill not only enjoy the food, but they know exactly what they are serving. That in itself is more than words can describe. The drinks are festive, the ceviches are amazing, and the entrees reflect a Chef who put his life into his career. These are a few of the reasons why Selva Grill is the best restaurant I have ever had the pleasure of dining. If you haven't eaten here, you are missing out on something that you don't want to miss out on. read more

Enjoyed a delicious meal. I loved my appetizer of pressed watermelon and tuna. I had the sea bass which was very good. My husband's paella was ok. Very dark and loud atmosphere. If it had been warmer, I would have dined outside. But, overall, a enjoyable evening. read more

Selva Grill - Pressed watermelon and tuna was awesome! - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

This place can be pricey, but it's all on point. The presentation plus the quality and deliciousness of the entrees will not disappoint. It's a very nice place to celebrate someone or something special. It's also a nice spot to relish the deliciousness of life. Any day at Selva is special. PS: Don't skip the cocktails. They're delicious! read more

The scallop appetizer was amazing! We had the paella, which was excellent. I had the whole fish, I forget what kind it was but it was cooked to perfection. Great service, too. read more

Okay, so I wrote this review about Stephen Pyles in Dallas, " If I could eat and drink here every night, I would... ceviche and martini... "nuf said." Same is true if you are in Sarasota Florida...the chef, grew up in the mountains of South America and learned to cook outside.... The ceviche is amazing... my fav is a tower of tuna and watermelon, with a sauce poured on top... amazing stuff. read more

The skirt steak is one of the best dishes in all of Sarasota. The jumbo scallops over sweet potato purée is also fantastic as a starter!

Decent food. Lackluster service. I started with the truffle fries and was seriously disappointed. It 's hard to mess up truffle fries but they had a very odd "earthy" taste to them. My hubby started with ceviche which was excellent and the Caesar salad with shrimp which he described as very "tasty." I had the short ribs and they were marginal. The glaze made the dish. Our disappointment with Selva was definitely the lousy service. Our server was not friendly at all. She seemed irritated to be waiting on us and she kept disappearing making it difficult to order. When another waiter brought out our food he spilled my martini on my lap and didn't even apologize. The service made it very difficult to enjoy this meal. read more

Pros: - the food is delish - my fave is the duck with risotto and the skirt steak. I've also had a rich chocolatey dessert that was scrumptous - good wine - decor is okay, clientele is older and moneyed but I've also seen young people, so not just older loaded Sarasotans and tourists. -my Peruvian special place now that Darwin's on 4th closed and left a trail of broken hearts ... Cons - expensive - service is inconsistent - some staff seem to size you up openly when you're in the restaurant, no good. Wait till I act like a dick before you give me an attitude, especially if you expect a tip. - parking is a pain, as to be expected in that area of Sarasota read more

I've been here twice, mostly because of some deals from I think Groupon. The place looks awesome, great atmosphere, food plating looks amazing, however there really weren't any wow factor especially for the price. The service could definitely be improved. Both visits, we waited a long time when we request things such as an extra spoon/plate, etc. or if just forget to get things altogether. Would I come back? Not really unless there's a really good coupon and even then I'd still have to think about it... It's just really expensive for just an ok meal... read more

This is my favorite restaurant in downtown Sarasota. The food is fantastic - lots of fish, veggies, and some creative entrees. We've been several times over the past year and it's always been a pleasurable dining out experience. The service staff here is fantastic - cheerful, professional, and knowledgeable about the menu and ingredients. My only complaint is that on one side of the restaurant the lights change colors very slowly and this, unfortunately, makes me dizzy. Not a big deal as they always sit me away from these rainbow lights when I ask. It's a great spot in Sarasota! read more

We were looking for a place to remember our 5th anniversary and Selva Grill nailed it. The atmosphere is great and the service was even better. I had the rack of lamb and my wife had the chicken, words can't explain the flavors we've experienced. This is definitely a place you'll have to try. Thank you again Selva Grill for a wonderful experience..!!!! read more

Selva Grill - Amazing..!! - Spanish Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

I love this restaurant for its consistently tasty cuisine. I often bring friends here when they are visiting Sarasota. Its nice to take them to a hip, trendy place that has great food. The sides are as great as any of the entrees especially the Ta Ca Cho (a plaintain side) and the truffle risotto (enough said). I always order the tuna/watermelon ceviche (which is beautifully prepared and served with a fresh vinaigrette) and usually order the Heleah for my meal (not on the menu but the chef will prepare it if asked) which is a lovely lightly flash fried symphony of seafood. Service is great and consistent, the wait staff is almost always the same which I like seeing in a business. A must try! read more

Everything we ordered was delicious and cooked to order. Tried the cheviche, surf and turf, salmon and New York strip. The service was exceptional! Never had to ask for a glass to be refilled or hunt down a sever. Will be back for sure! read more