the 941

A couple of weeks back, I put out a call to Venice denizens asking for info about their favorite local restaurants, to help fill out our Venice Dining Guide. I don’t make it down south nearly as often as I should, so a little reader input could go a long way. We ended up with a lot of input, from just one reader: Hawaii Bob Peters.

Thanks, Bob!

Here is Peters’ rundown of Venice-area eats, in his own words:

VENICE FOOD FARE:

Beckhams Osprey Grill=Decent food for the money and some of the specials like tilapia & 7 bone lamb are hard to beat but not always on the menu. Large salads just so-so (English you know) so suggest to stick to the stick to your ribs fare. Going down some recently since some of the long term workers left. Sports bar in back with outside dining and doggie friendly area and pool table. Doggies a good touch too.

Bogey’s=Crow’s Nest sports sister and screens everywhere with bar food that’s is above par and never been disappointed but it is a man and his bar food. Chris likes trying different things while I like the wings, burgers an dpizza for watching the big games. Even have lacrosse on in season. Little outside area in front too.

Briandi’s Restaurant=”You’ll a fine girl”…but a fine place in a small building, with less than 20 tables and a bar you could fit in your pocketbook. Looks like crap from the outside but old and homey in the inside. the owner leads the prep of food than sits at the bar to chat. Good pizza, Italian fare and happy hour. Snowbirds and locals alike know of this.

Buddy’s Pizza=The pizza is ok with the normal salad fare and foods for the price. Get the coupon for the pizza, salad and beer deal.

Cafe 1660=In the Osprey Inn(Old Ramada) and on the list for one of the 5 jail recos locations. Pool in back and little tiki bar invites to swim and eat the fine pizza and wings they serve there or in the restaurant. Never tried much else than pizza, salad and wings (brew too) except a few sonsg at karaoke. I had a request, but I’m going to sing anyway. Chris can sing=was a professional. Cheater.
Go early, go soon.

Captain Eddies Seafood=Their saying is “The Place that the Locals Go” and they do too along with snowbird.. However, the locals don’t do much drinking there since Bud-style draughts run $3-4 during Happy Hour. Ouch. (Go across the street to Irene’s to drink) The seafood is above par with softcrabs, gators, and decent oysters and the like…. Specials can bring in fresh hogfish, mullet and the like. Served on paper and plastic but good for the price.

Crow’s Nest=Save and save for special events and like Ophelias on the Bay expensive but very good. You get what you pay for and I’ve had some wonderful seafood there but several times others were paying. Ha. Neat Irish bar downstairs and lots of boats right there for a good view. However, for special events I’ve been starting to lean towards the Ichiban all you can eat sushi on Clark Road.

Gold Rush BBQ=This is where you take the people who visit you that you don’t want to come back. Tried several times and even Joe agrees that the meat is overcooked and Joe can’t believe the frozen ears of corn they try to pawn off as a vegetable after soaking overnight. Can’t believe it’s still open and loved by the tourist who apparently don’t know goooood BBQ. Sarasota & Palmetto has many a better place than this. Why drive to Venice on the island?

Honoluana Island Grill=Before they were kicked out of the old place right on Dona Bay for a failed condo project, Dave and family put together a great place with lots of tikis and specials. It moved to the airport and all I can say is we stop there occassionally after a hard 1/2 say at Caspersen Beach and the wrap and burgers and light fare are good for the price. Airplanes watching is free.

Kingfish Cafe=Only breakfast and lunch there with out of towners. the food was reasonable priced, above par and good clean tasting. We should go again and take joe.

Left Coast Seafood=Ok, reasonably priced foods and seafood good but Capt Eddies does it somewhat better. Snowbirds flock there. Whole belly clams yum..

Mi Pueblo=Ok for the price for Mexican, just ok. Live in Venice you know.. .. Sarasota offers a much more authentic and tasty mix of places to try for the buck. Isn’t this one of the several too?

Ophelia’s Pasta House=Once the nephew of its name sake, about good everything for the price (it’s not the mother ship but it’s not the prices either) including meatballs, pizza and italian meals in general. Whole belly clams are yummy. Good happy hour with friendly folks including bartender Doug. (This is where you take people you like to come back).

Pelican Alley=We will line locals up to tell you the tales of over cooked, over priced seafood. 4 yuks. They ruined several meals for several of us and we wonder how they been in business so long or even stay in business. Oh, tourist, oh great view on the intercoastal. Oh we rather go to Pops Sunset Grill two doors down and get what we pay for. (I’d only go back if someone else paid)

Saltwater=Get to see a real TV chef. Food good and good happy hour and some music too. Just a little pricy for the fare but acceptable. Seems crowded a lot.

Sharky’s on the Pier=Decent food but a little pricy but “right dab on the gulf”. A rarity right dab on the beach. Had lots of good food there. I like to go around 6-7pm on Friday/Saturday and take a swim and go dance and if lucky get a seat on the fringes for a burger and brew. Great Halloweene party. Some decent bands too.

Snook Haven=A one of a king and good food there esp. their fish sandwiches (which I almost always get). Come by boat, take a boat, hear all kinds of music all times of the day and night. Great parties abound. Where locals do hang out. This is true-original Florida that is disappearing. A must. The boat a charm too for $10-12 bucks. Tell them Hawaii Bob sent you and they will charge you more.

TJ Carney’s=Go for dancing once in awhile. Gets crowded fast with the senior crowd mostly. Food was acceptable 3+ years ago then the chef went bye-bye and so did the food. Chris ranks it as some of the worst food (more than once) she has had. Maybe we would go again if someone else paid but with all the great eats around and about Venice, why, unless it’s free..

OTHER PLACES:

Pop’s Sunset Grill=(right down the way from the Pelican Restaurant) Flip-flops and a t-shirt and you’ll overdressed. Great outdoor bar w/good prices, food just ok but priced just about right if you know what to get, good hamburgers and all u can eat fish on Fridays. Entertainment some Fridays or Saturdays. Watch the boats drift by on the intercoastal (one of the last places left in this area) and the bridge go up and down. Near Nokomis Beach. Good catch after the Saturday night drum circle on Nokomis Beach.

Luna’s on the Island=Near the Venice theatre and if you like New York the walls are filled with it & more. The food is good for the price including very good pizza and Italian dishes. Great before or after a show. (Joe likes the Jacaranda location better but Chris and Hawaii BOB like the atmosphere here better)

Schmolt Restaurant=End of the small strip mall across the street from the Venice theatre and a little more pricy than Luna’s but friendly. Local feeling and excellent pizza and salads. Neat outdoor area with heaters. (Steve #1 bartender from Pops of Nokomis turned us on to this.)

Curry Creek=(across from Eddies next to Irenes Bar) And the only time we ate there it was 2 pieces of chicken backs & a wing for a dinner. Should have complained. Got a 2 for 1 coupon recently but it didn’t say anything about making reservations so we bugged out to search out another eating place.
Not sure if will ever try even though a few friends found it acceptable.

Rosebuds=(on 41 in Nokomis) We can walk there but we won’t since going there. Snowbirds and those who like cheap go there and we believe you get what you pay for and it’s not food, service or kindness that drives this place. Some friends say to try it again.

Aqua Restaurant=Only had apps and beer at happy hour and one of the better deals for that. One day we may clip a coupon and try it out. Kinda on the water near Casey’s Grill.

Wally’s Pour House=(a smoking bar across from Lowes in Venice) Only serve bar fare chalkboard style till 4pm 6 days/week but killer chicken wings, ok perogi (Chris says “no thanks I’ve had my cardboard for the day”) and a good burger (little pricy, though).

N’Tino’s=At the Goodwill mall on the island where Food Lion used to be. Cheap cafeteria food for the masses esp. old folks pinching them pennies. None of us would go back.

Mama Leone’s=the Nokomis branch (other Jacaranda) that use to be this cute little white house all it’s own. It was destroyed and replaced with this big brick building, actually nice. Only had pizza there and it was good. However, one of the serving staff irritates us. We do take-out now and then.

Waterfront Too…(across from Mama Leones) Decent happy hour but only ok for the price on the regular menu. Big place that looks like you are inside of an upside down Noah’s Ark. I’ve had ok steak, duck and coconut shrimp but a little pricy for what you get.

Bookmark to:

Posted in Food and Drink, News | Leave a comment