We were told we had a 2 hour wait, but we were seated a little sooner than what we were told. Our server, David, was friendly and extremely knowledgeable and answered all our questions. He made sure our 7 year olds meal was brought as quickly as possible, which made the meal more enjoyable for us. Our daughter ordered the Caesar salad with scallops and she really enjoyed it. My wife loved her catch of the day red snapper and I had the grouper cakes which were excellent. Overall it was enjoyable, even the wait was not too terrible for us, as we shopped a little, ended up in the park playing for about an hour, and tried to see the rocket launch from the bridge. I highly recommend this when visiting AMI. We got there Friday at 4:45pm, I'd recommend getting on the waiting list list a little earlier if possible. read more

Most delicious food on the Island! The calamari was so good!! We ordered four different dishes and they all had so much flavor! The waitress was attentive! The meals are big portions! The smoked margarita was refreshing! We were seated inside and it just has the calm and upscale beach ambiance! We did have to wait for some time to get a table but it was all worth it. They do not take reservations ahead of time! Get there early to get a table! read more

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We loved this place so much, that we went back the next day and ordered the very same thing. Which we have never done in our entire lives. The beet salad was amazing and I asked them to add pine nuts to mine. We all fought over the baked Brie. This place is so popular that I would not show up at 6 or 7, unless you are ok waiting an hour or two. We went at 5 and got right in. 10/10. read more

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The locals keeps telling us it isn't off season, but after reading terrifying accounts of the wait at this place, we walked in at 6 pm with a party of 6. My only feedback is things seemed like 15-20% "off." Like the pacing with staff was slow...waiting on drinks, to order, tab, etc. But just by a bit. Food was absolutely delicious. All of our party rated our food between 8-10. It's been our best meal of the trip so far. But the portions are a tad small. Mine was so good I wanted more (about 15-20% lol). I can't speak to the wait situation, but we had a pleasant experience overall! I felt like the main course was a bit small so they can get you to order other stuff. They do give bread, but I wanted more of the main dish! Yum! read more

WOW! This place was an A+ experience. The drinks, food, service and VIEW were top notch and exceeded our expectations. We ordered some cocktails that were a heavy pour so worth every penny. We ordered the local clam appetizer and mixed the garlic and marinara sauce as suggested. We also added linguine and it was like its own dish. We could have ordered 2 of those and called it a day. The sauce was so good we wanted to lick the plate. I ordered a fried grouper sandwich with coleslaw. The grouper fillet was HUGE, perfectly cooked and the breading was slightly and flavorful. We will definitely be back when we visit again. Totally worth the drive and wait! read more

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The food was great - we had 1) the "today's special wagyu steak" and 2) scallops with pork belly. Our server, Dave, provided excellent service. Some dishes are on the "high side", but we were celebrating so splurged. There are definitely choices not so costly, but we enjoyed it and will go back! Sangria was good too! read more

An AMI standout still pumping out great craft cocktails and top notch food to match !! We started with a smoked margarita and a super tasty cream of asparagus soup I had the maple mustard rubbed Scottish salmon with arugula and rice prepared perfectly and my wife had the black grouper which was the high light entree of the night !! Julian's service was just right and the newly redone dinning room provided the perfect setting for a truly enjoyable evening read more

The Waterfront Restaurant - Black grouper - Seafood Near Me - Anna Maria, Florida

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Stopped at the Waterfront for lunch on our way through town. It was really busy, but we managed to find two seats at the bar. My Lemon Drop was cool and refreshing. Hubby enjoyed his lobster bisque. I had a delicious salad and crazy good fried green tomatoes. read more

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Intimate but beautifully decorated space. So much charm and history in this restaurant and feels very classy. All the food is absolutely delicious. While it is a little on the pricier side, so is most everything else on the island, so this is very much worth it! Gorgeous view of the water, especially at lunch time. Really nice to sit outside this time of the year! (December) read more

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The Waterfront Restaurant in Anna Maria Island is another one of my family and I's go-to places for a bite to eat on the island. The restaurant is located at the top of the island, where the pier used to be. There is a decent amount of parking located around the restaurant, so that is never a worry. There is also indoor and outdoor seating available. This is a spot where you can dress up or down, as the restaurant has a really casual, yet chill island vibe. Recently, my family and I went for lunch and I ordered the grouper tacos. They were super yummy and came with a side of fries, which were also delicious. My dad ordered the grouper sandwich and also enjoyed his meal. On another dining experience here, my mom and I each got a mai tai, which were so good! One thing to note is that this restaurant does not take any reservations, so there can sometimes be a high wait time around popular dining times. read more

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Service took forever. It wasn't that busy. I recommend subbing any bread for the croissant. That greatly improved the sandwich. Was disappointed that lobster meat wasn't added on top of the bisque. It is across from the beach and on the patio you can people watch. read more

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An excellent view of the Gulf of Mexico from the outside seating is just the beginning of this amazing restaurant. The service was outstanding from start to finish. We got the calamari.as a starter and it was delicious. I had the fried shrimp dinner and my wife had the shrimp and grits. Both meals were cooked and seasoned just right. The portions are very fair for the cost of the food. They do not take reservations so plan on waiting, but don't be put off by the crowd. The place is always busy for a reason. It's the kind of dinning experience you won't soon forget. read more

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The espresso resposado tequila was delicious & a must order. Everything else I'd give this place zero stars. The food is terrible. Do not get the chicken club it was absolutely terrible. Chicken was rubber hard & small. It took the server 30 mins to bring us water... we had to ask another server if we even had a server & when she finally arrived, didn't even bring water we had to ask & it took her another 15 mins to bring water. My friend had to ask for a water refill. It was not even busy lots of empty tables so not sure why the service was so awful. My friend had the tuna salad sandwich that she said reeked of onions galore. She said the side pasta was terrible. Asked for mayo & the server brought it out an hr later which by that time she said she didn't need it anymore. It took 1.5hrs for the food to arrive. This place is awful. Wasted 2 very long hours here, the service is the worst I've ever had in Florida. Will not be back. read more

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Yes, yes, yes, 100x YES. 10/10 recommend. This was hands down the best lunch/dinner we had in AMI. Our waitress was incredibly sweet, they took us as a walk-in, and both the drinks and ambiance were chef's kiss. We started with the baked brie (an absolute must) and I ordered the burger, another 10/10. Drinks were Aperol spritzes and a spicy margarita... SO good. Honestly, just go. You won't regret it. read more

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Excellent food and service! The ambiance was incredible! This was definitely the best restaurant in the area! Hands down the best seafood! We will be going back read more

The Waterfront Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Anna Maria, Florida

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Lovely ambiance with turquoise water views of the Gulf. Cozy indoor seating with a fireplace and fully stocked bar. Outdoor seating also available. Service was friendly and prompt. The lunch menu was mostly salads and sandwiches. The lobster bisque was delicious enough to want to lick the bowl! Charlie's delight is a tuna salad sandwich on marble rye with avocado and melted cheese. It was so scrumptious. And the pickles it came with were sweet and savory, and I ate them all..which is something I usually leave behind. Great place for lunch and probably dinner!! Will be back!! read more

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Stopped in for a bite on our weekend get away. Quickly were greeted by the hosts, and offered a table got there around 5pm. Waitress was very friendly and personable. My wife and I ordered calamari as an appetizer which was very fresh, lightly breaded. Main course meals were two specials offered this night Blackened Mahi which was originally served over cheddar cheese grits, which I substituted for veggies. My wife ordered a Gorgonzola Wagyu steak special which was served with mixed veggies and mashed potatoes. Drinks were refreshing and well crafted. Highly recommend as a nicer dinner option either for family or date. Enjoy!! read more

The Waterfront Restaurant - Calamari - Seafood Near Me - Anna Maria, Florida

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As with anything on the island, it's pricey. However, it is rated #1 for a reason. Hot tip, we went on a saturday to the beach with my friends . We were a large group but they decided they wanted to head out so my husband and I wanted to go get a bite. We both went to The Waterfront restaurant as its the best rated on the island and had to way about an hour to be seated outside (we had our service dog and it was just 2 of us) next time I recomend during busy season to send someone to get on the wait list about an hour before you actually want to eat. They text you confirming you are on the list, go back to the beach enjoy a little bit more beach time, clean up put everything in the car except a couple of chairs, and enjoy what's left of the day. By the time they text you all you have to do is put the beach chairs in the car and walk over to the restaurant! Drinks: get the japaleno margarita, the best margarita ive had in a LONG TIME. I had 2 Food: we ordered the calamari as an appetizer, wasabi crusted tuna and grouper tacos as an entre with the gouda Mac n cheese as a side! Oh lord was the food good. I would have skipped the grouper tacos and shares the tuna because they sevre large portions! The grouper tacos are amazing though but I wasnt super hungry and ended up taking some home. We had the creme brule for dessert because we wanted something not too heavy. It was perfect. Overall had a great day on the island. Disclaimer: dogs aren't allowed on the island, we have a certified service dog and we have her license and papers with us. She never went in the water on the beach and is trained as a service animal. The police will stop you and ask for papers if you go and claim you have a service animal. They treated her very kindly at the restaurant and brought her water. read more

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Had a late lunch here on vacation. Nice staff, great outdoor seating (if not too hot), and good food. We had the king pao calamari for appetizer. It was probably the favorite of the table. Then we had grouper sandwich, grouper tacos, and gulf shrimp. All were very good. read more

The Waterfront Restaurant - Grouper Tacos* - Seafood Near Me - Anna Maria, Florida

My family and I had an excellent dining experience at The Waterfront Restaurant. The atmosphere is very relaxing with lots of beach decor and a beautiful view of the water and Anna Maria Pier. The service was excellent with a quick turn around. For appetizers we ordered: lobster bisque, calamari with peppers and cheese in a Thai chili sauce, and a strawberry arugula salad. We really loved all of these dishes! Our dinner orders included the salmon lunch special, blackened shrimp, Caesar salad, and the portobello sandwich. All dishes were packed with flavor. I really loved the pineapple Cole slaw side as an option. Very refreshing! read more

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While spending the day on Anna Maria Island, we stopped by for a light bite, and I'm so glad we did! The location is fantastic--you can see the water just across the street, creating a perfect island vibe. Plus, the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. We started with the calamari, which was perfectly crispy and not overly chewy--so tasty! The sangria was also delicious and refreshing. I couldn't resist ordering an espresso martini, but it was missing a bit of sweetness and didn't quite hit the mark (hence the one less star). Thankfully, our server worked some magic by adding Baileys, which saved it! To top it all off, we had to try the crème brûlée, and it did not disappoint--absolutely delicious! And I have to mention the bread--warm, toasted just right, and so good. Overall, a great stop with beautiful views and some standout bites! read more

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Definitely a must go if you are visiting the island. They don't do reservations, so if you go during peak dinner hours, keep that in mind and be prepared to wait. One of the nights we tried to go we were told we'd have to wait for 2 hours for a table for 2. The night we did go they told us 45 min to an hour yet ended up seating us 5 minutes later. There's plenty to do around the restaurant, so the time does pass by quickly. I would recommend sitting outside as the patio offers a fantastic view of the bay! The server we had was ok, she seemed to be busy and didn't give us the most attention, but nonetheless we had no issues and didnt really mind. The food was fantastic. We started with the baked Brie which was absolutely delicious. A great and light starter. Baked in puff pastry and served with crackers and honey it's actually kind of a nice sweet dish. My wife had the grouper cakes, which were delicious! It seemed to be a popular dish as most of the tables beside us had at least one person ordering them as well. I had the wasabi crusted tuna and ordered it rare per the chef's recommendations. It was sushi grade and melted in your mouth! The crunch of the wasabi crust gave it a nice contrast to the soft tuna. Would recommend to go, though we did like other options on the island better. read more

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Beautiful view right on the shore. Nice ocean breeze. Service was top of the line. But here is what puts it a cut above the rest. Restaurants on the shore are obviously a dime a dozen in a resort area like Anna Maria Island. Usually the food is passable, but not stellar. Good, but not memorable. I'm not exaggerating to say this is a place I will always come back to when in the area. First, the Kentucky Breakfast was an expresso martini with Kahlua and other libations. Not too sweet, not at all bitter, but very potent. I wanted another, but I had to drive, so I didn't. The calamari appetizer was perfection. Calamari can be so good when prepared properly, bust most fail to do so. Tender, perfect amount of batter. I was concerned it didn't come with sauce until I realized it was covered in sauce. If I'd eaten this as both the appetizer and entree, I would have been happy. Next came the grouper sandwich. Huge piece of fish with truffle fries. Homemade bread and butter pickles, lettuce, and were those garden fresh tomatoes? I think so, not sure, but sure tasted like it. Too often when doing reviews, we try to come off as professional reviewers, myself included. So let me just be blunt and simple. THIS IS A DAMN GOOD PLACE TO EAT. read more

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Truly an amazing experience. The food was amazing. We got the peak and eat shrimp and the lobster bisque to start and then my husband got the pork belly. The drinks were also tasty. The inside is rather small but they have a huge outdoor space. Be prepared to wait to get a table. It's worth the wait! We would 100% go back. Service was wonderful as well. read more

Historic cottage lovingly designed to be a waterfront eatery. Food was delicious. Red snapper special creatively combined jack fruit and other flavors over a bed of mashed potatoes. Shrimp and grits was also tasty, with a bit of a twist on the traditional. The service was very attentive which was so nice. We sat outside and really appreciated the ceiling and floor fans to keep the bugs away. read more

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Great food and craft cocktails. Service was good with inside and outside dining. Small bar with talented bartenders.

The waterfront was awesome! Highly recommend if you're on the island. The food was delicious, drinks were yummy, and service was great. This is a long wait so be prepared, especially if you have a large group. We only had 2 people and it was an hour wait. The night before was about a 90 minute wait which we went somewhere else. It's great food so I would say put your name down and maybe go back to your place to chill until about 10 min within the time they suggested. read more

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I have eaten here twice. The first time, several years ago, the food was quite good. Creative, upscale, and a lovely atmosphere. This time, the food was just ok. Not very creative. Scallops were small and dry. Food and drink ran $60 per person, with 2 cocktails and without wine. The wait was about 1:40, which we expected, but the waitlist system seems flawed. We saw a few parties of our size seated before us, even though we were "next". I will say our server was attentive and lovely, and cocktails were generous and tasty. All said, I just did not feel this place was worth the wait. Not sure if it was an off day, but I don't feel the need to rush back. read more

Waterfront remains as good as ever -- perhaps better! We were so glad they were open this week after the hurricanes. They've repaired the inside/renovated and it seems like nothing ever happened -- except the inside got a lighter paint refresh, new light tile flooring, and it really jazzed the place up. And the food is as top notch as ever. The service was great. They accoadated our large party of 10 well both visits in the past week. Very kid friendly and nice options on their menu for families. Get here early or you'll be waiting a while peak times, as there's still no reservations even for large parties. The fruiti de mare still stands out as the one of the best seafood pastas I've ever had including in Italy. It's well balanced -- not too creamy or acidic. The seafood is plentiful and all cooked just right. A nice al dente noodle. Amazing. The pork belly and scallop dish was new to us this trip. The pork belly are two long thick strips glazed in gojuchang. The accompanying kimchi and fried rice is surprisingly great. The rice is not too greasy or heavy and the kimchi is light, flavorful, and has great bite. Wow. Keep thinking about it. All the food dishes are a hit. You can't go wrong eg Tropicale salad. I missed their Bay Cooler and 1944 Mai Tai. All the cocktails. Still refreshing and substantial. Given the price hikes around the island, the restaurant isn't that expensive anymore. So an even better deal! Any visit to AMI is incomplete without a trip to Waterfront. read more

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We really like it here. The place was packed on a Monday night so we sat at the bar, which is maybe 8 seats. The two bartenders were working their butts off efficiently and were very knowledgable about the craft cocktails that they were making at lightening speed. (Bonus of sitting at the end of the bar is being directly across from the fresh herbs they use for the cocktails. The mint and basil were so refreshing!) So the drinks were expensive for the amount of ice used but delicious and homemade. (No margarita mix or corn syrup in sight.) We opted for the charcuterie and key lime pie. The charcuterie was very good, and we hadn't had the two cheeses presented, which was great. Fortunately, I like pickled/brined things, because there were caper berries, spiced jicama, homemade pickles, and assorted olives. There was also a balsamic dipping sauce and a honey mustard one as well. The surprising star was the homemade bread the bartender offered when we ran out of the small baguette that came with the charcuterie. It was warm, herby, soft and dense. Truly wonderful. The key lime pie was good with a generous amount of homemade whipped cream. We left absolutely stuffed and happy. All in all, it was expensive but delightful. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants to visit when I'm in the Anna Maria Island area. The water view is beautiful and the food is always amazing. The scallops with pork belly and kimchi fried rice is delicious the fried rice is on the spicy but I was able to handle it. I will be definitely come back when I'm back in the area. read more

The Waterfront Restaurant - White sangria - Seafood Near Me - Anna Maria, Florida

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Excellent food and service. We love the atmosphere and the diverse menu. I have always love my entrees whether it be lunch or dinner

Let's start with the view - just lovely on a sunny January day! Friendly and helpful staff, and our lunch was delicious! No wonder there wasn't an empty table outside! Grouper tacos and pineapple slaw are must haves! read more

The Waterfront Restaurant - Grouper Tacos* - Seafood Near Me - Anna Maria, Florida

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Sarah was amazing! Food was phenomenal - we had the chicken parm., Snapper and gulf shrimp. Everything was amazing. The key lime pie was the best I've had so far on the island. read more

Extremely rude host. Came in at 6:30pm and the moment the host saw our group of 4, she ignored us & engaged in a long conversation with the ONLY waiting party. After we finally got her attention, she cut me off before I could even finish my sentence. She then claimed that they were fully booked for the entire evening, with no option to put out names down. Very disrespectful as there was only one party of 4 ahead of us, there were clearly guests who were closed out, AND it was only 6:30pm for a restaurant that only does walk ins! read more

Best place on the island for lobster bisque. Other diners had grilled romaine salad with grilled salmon and beet salad with salmon. Atmosphere is always wonderful. Nice to eat here for lunch to take in the water view-just spectacular. Service is always excellent. read more

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Very cool place with a view of the Bay. The restaurant is well decorated inside as well. Now for the most important part - the food. The Pork Belly and Scallops was delightful. Everything was cooked perfectly. My wife had the shrimp and grits and they were flavorful as well. The wagyu was excellent as well along with the mashed potatoes. Well seasoned and cooked to perfection. The kids steak bites were excellent as well. Staff were friendly and attentive. read more

The Waterfront Restaurant - Pork belly and scallops - Seafood Near Me - Anna Maria, Florida

This is definitely the best place to eat on Anna Maria. I can't say that that's a great compliment because the island restaurants are really not that good, frankly. However, this really is a good place....great choices. Even better service. read more

We had a great meal here. I wish they took reservations and they need the fly fans for outdoor tables.

Come here for a more upscale beach al fresco dining experience. This doesn't mean dressy, just a fresh menu, a solid bar selection, and great service (thanks, Dave!). Catch of the day sandwich was a grouper. It was recommended to get fried and it was was fresh and delicious. Lobster bisque was also a pleasant surprise. Dave was outstanding and helped us best navigate the menu. read more