Neighborhood Eats: Our Longboat Key restaurant guide
July 30th, 2009 by Brian Ries in Food and Drink
Sarasota’s longest, most insular island is home to the area’s best waterfront dining options. Here’s a selection:
CAFÉ DON GIOVANNI 5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 383-0013
Casual but elegant Italian cuisine featuring gherbs grown by the chef and some homemade pastas.
CAFÉ ON THE BAY 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 383-0440 or cafeonthebay.com
Part of the Cafe L’Europe and Celebrations Catering group, Café on the Bay serves island fare that ranges from cheeseburgers to veal forestiere, with the occasional Asian influence thrown into the mix.
CHART HOUSE 201 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 383-5593 or chart-house.com
Although a national chain, this upscale seafood and steak restaurant has been a fixture on Longboat for decades, with expansive and gorgeous views of the Gulf on the south end of the island.
CIAO ITALIA 5370 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 383-0010
Casual Italian fare featuring straightforward pasta, meat and seafood dishes.
THE COLONY DINING ROOM 1620 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 383-5558 or colonybeachresort.com
Known locally for the expansive Sunday brunch, great views and proximity to the beach, the Colony’s Dining Room has been serving locals and guests of the resort for almost four decades.
DRY DOCK WATERFRONT GRILL 412 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 383-0102 or drydockwaterfrontgrill.com
Situated with a view across Sarasota Bay towards the mainland, Dry Dock has typical seafood and American fare and a easy access by boat.
EUPHEMIA HAYE 5540 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 383-3633 or euphemiahaye.com
Chef Ray Arpke’s old-school longboat spot is still a big draw, thanks to the restaurant’s high-end cuisine, the cozy and warren of rooms decorated with decades of memorabilia and artwork, and the dessert room upstairs that acts as a gathering spot for folks who want a more casual experience.
HARRY’S CONTINENTAL KITCHENS 525 Saint Judes Drive, Longboat Key, 383-0777 or harryskitchen.com
Opened by Harry Christensen in 1985, this restaurant has long been a destination for people who wanted fine food in a casual island setting. Now Harry’s son runs the place, along with a neighboring deli and a soon-to-open convenience store catering to North Longboat denizens.
MAISON BLANCHE 2605 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 383-8088 or maisonblancherestaurant.com
Chef owner Jose Martinez once had a Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris. Now, he serves modern French cuisine that aims for perfection in what is quite simply the best restaurant on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
MAR VISTA DOCKSIDE RESTAURANT 760 Broadway St., Longboat Key, 383-2391 or groupersandwich.com
Situated on the water in the historic district of North Longboat, Mar Vista features straightforward seafood dishes.
THE MONKEY ROOM 1620 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 383 5558 or colonybeachresort.com
This casual restuarant is situated next to the Colony’s Dining Room, with more casual fare and a direct line to and from the beach for hungry folks with sandy feet.
MOORE’S STONE CRAB RESTAURANT 800 Broadway St., Longboat Key, 383-1748
If you want the Gulf Coast’s prized native seafood, Moore’s is the place to go. This restaurant processes tons of stone crab claws throughout the season, dropped off fresh from boats daily. Although they ship much of that elsewhere, you can reap the benefits in the dining room, dipped into tasty and classic mustard sauce.
PATTIGEORGE’S 4120 Gulf Of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 383-5111 or pattigeorges.com
Although Tommy Klauber’s other restaurant — Polo Grill — gets more press these days, Pattigeorge’s is still his baby. The menu is eclectic, with a lot of Asian-influenced dishes and the occasional Jewish comfort food thrown into an otherwise modern entertaining menu.
October 27th, 2009 at 1:08 am
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