Best Restaurants for Special Occasions in Siesta Key

39 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Connors Steak & Seafood - Sarasota restaurant

1. Connors Steak & Seafood - Sarasota

4.8

Exceptional(8474)

Price: Expensive

• Steakhouse • Siesta Key

Booked 74 times today

Connors Steak & Seafood specializes in fresh seafood and premium aged steaks, as well as gourmet salads, pastas and more! Enjoy a memorable evening with friends and family in our well-appointed dining rooms, or stop by for the lunch you and your associates deserve. Our friendly service and flavorful fare will keep you coming back for more.

A photo of Tripletail Seafood & Spirits restaurant

2. Tripletail Seafood & Spirits

4.8

Exceptional(2138)

Price: Expensive

• Seafood • Sarasota

Booked 22 times today

FRESH SEAFOOD | SMOOTH SPIRITS | EXCEPTIONAL HOSPITALITYTripletail Seafood & Spirits offers a unique dining experience with a casual atmosphere and an elevated menu. An upscale nautical theme adorned with local artwork, creating an inviting atmosphere for guests to enjoy. Known for our fresh and sustainable seafood, Tripletail offers a menu that highlights the flavors of the Gulf of Mexico. To complement the exquisite seafood offerings, Tripletail is highly acclaimed for our inventive cocktails. The Smoked Old Fashion is a must try!Daily happy hour from 3 to 6 pm, offering discounted wine, house drinks, appetizers, and beer. The restaurant also accommodates all dietary needs, ensuring that every guest can enjoy a delicious meal tailored to their preferences.Overall, Tripletail Seafood & Spirits is a must-visit destination for those seeking a memorable dining experience that combines fresh seafood, innovative cocktails, and attentive service in a chic and welcoming atmosphere.

A photo of Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota restaurant

3. Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota

4.8

Exceptional(10503)

Price: Moderate

• Spanish • Sarasota

Booked 175 times today

Family-owned and operated for more than 116 years, Columbia has earned acclaim for its old-world charm and award-winning Spanish/Cuban cuisine. Casual attire is fine, but we don’t allow sleeveless shirts on men in the dining room.Join us for century-old family recipes like Paella "a la Valenciana," Roast Pork "a la Cubana,"and fresh seafood specialties. Don’t miss Columbia’s Original “1905” Salad®, prepared with our delicious, freshly-made dressing, a 100-year-old family recipe of fresh garlic, oregano, wine vinegar and Spanish extra virgin olive oil. Be sure to sample a fine Spanish wine like Montecillo or Campillo. Relax outdoors on our patio, or inside our Mediterranean-style dining rooms filled with hand-painted tiles and family heirlooms. We are a sister to the Columbia in Tampa's Ybor City, founded in 1905. Children's menu available. Open 365 days a year, including all holidays.

4. Cafe Gabbiano

4.8

Exceptional(3752)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Siesta Key

Booked 25 times today

Cafe Gabbiano is a casual fine dining restaurant in Sarasota Fl (Siesta Key). We source local ingredients and have a great blend of classic and modern Italian dishes. At Cafe Gabbiano everything is made to order as we want each dish to be fresh. All of our sauces and pastas are homemade. Cafe Gabbiano is a 4,000 sqft facility that offers intimate dining as well as larger rooms to host special occasions such as beach weddings and rehearsal dinners. We have an extensive wine list, signature crafted cocktails and a great beer list. We are open daily from 5 PM to 10 PM with Happy Hour 5 PM to 6:30 PM at the bar.

5. Sardinia Sarasota

4.7

Exceptional(1489)

Price: Moderate

• Italian • Sarasota

Booked 7 times today

Chef Carta brings the authentic simple elegance of the Sardinian dining tradition to your table. Sardinian cuisine is known for the purity of food and flavors. To insure the authenticity of the dining experience Chef has imported an authentic hood wood-burning oven for the kitchen. The menu is focused on farm fresh and locally grown food. Chargrilled meats and local fish will be cooked in the oven as it is in Sardinia. Taste the Sardinia bread, know as Pane carasau, baked fresh daily which welcomes you at your table. The pasta dough is also made fresh daily. Revel in the authentic Sardinian paella made with fregola and enjoy the unique flavor of bottarga. To maximize the pleasure of sharing good food with good friends, Sardinia has 45 seats- 24 in the main dining room, a chefs table for 10 and 13 seats in the bar area. Good food-good conversation-good friends. A true Sardinia experience you will not forget.

6. Michael's On East

4.8

Exceptional(5601)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Sarasota

Booked 14 times today

Michael's On East is a celebrated restaurant, known for its exceptional service and fine dining experience. It's often described as the perfect place for special occasions, with its elegant ambience, award-winning wine selection, and world-class service. It's not just about the food, but the overall experience, which includes a grand piano, intimate aura, and a stunning outdoor dining area. As one reviewer put it, 'This is a very beautiful restaurant and the food and service are outstanding! You don't need a special occasion to dine here, but we save it for special occasions because it wouldn't be special if we ate there every week!'

A photo of Selva Grill Downtown Sarasota restaurant

7. Selva Grill Downtown Sarasota

4.9

Exceptional(5809)

Price: Expensive

• Latin / Spanish • Sarasota

Booked 49 times today

Selva offers innovative, intricately prepared dishes, plated and presented as works of art. Selva has earned raves from allover the world, including from the New York Times, which write that Selva is “serving possibly the best food in Sarasota,”and that “everything on the menu is worth trying.”

A photo of Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse - Sarasota restaurant

8. Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse - Sarasota

4.6

Exceptional(2754)

Price: Expensive

• Steakhouse • Sarasota

Booked 54 times today

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse is an award-winning prime steakhouse specializing in aged USDA prime steaks. Located in the heart of Sarasota’s pedestrian friendly downtown, Hyde Park is just minutes from Siesta Key, Longboat Key, and St. Armand’s Circle and 5 minutes from the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center. The restaurant offers a chef-inspired menu featuring variations of its legendary aged prime steaks, daily chef’s fresh fish features and great seafood. Award-winning menus, the extensive wine list and impeccable service are why Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse is Sarasota’s favorite fine dining restaurant and top pick for intimate dinners, special occasions, family gatherings, business dinners, corporate events and small receptions. Private dining rooms available. Complimentary valet parking (with validation).

A photo of Veronica Fish & Oyster restaurant

9. Veronica Fish & Oyster

4.9

Exceptional(2289)

Price: Expensive

• Oyster Bar • Sarasota

Booked 22 times today

A modern oyster bar with a nod to classic supper clubs of past featuring flavors from across the globe We save tables for walk ins as well as the bar, lounge and patio, if a reservation time is not available feel free to walk in and check out these areasPLEASE NOTE*** for parties of 5 and over, we ask that you call in in order for us to better serve the group's needs.OUTDOOR SEATING NON RESERVABLE ***Our outdoor seating is all first come first serve- we apologize for any inconvenience

A photo of Ophelia's on the Bay restaurant

10. Ophelia's on the Bay

4.7

Exceptional(6259)

Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Siesta Key

Booked 50 times today

Ophelia's on the Bay is one of Sarasota’s premier fine dining waterfront restaurants. Enjoy beautiful vistas of Little Sarasota Bay, from the floor-to-ceiling windows that line the dining room. Or join us for al fresco dining on our open-air patio, as the dolphins and manatee swim by. Winner of many awards both locally and nationally, including an Excellence rating from Zagat as well as being listed as the number one restaurant in America in Power and Motoryacht Magazine for dock and dine. Ophelia's on the Bay has also been voted most romantic, best waterfront and best restaurant with a view by its loyal customers. The menu changes nightly using fresh and seasonal ingredients, fresh fish flown in from all over the world and specialty meats. There is certainly something for every palate! We feature an extensive wine list, specialty martinis, as well as a full bar. Family owned and operated for over 22 years, we have an experienced staff that prides itself on exemplary service.

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

R
RyanVIP
Wisconsin •40 reviews
4.0
Dined today
Second time there. Great service and drinks..but food was average this time.
More info
Tripletail Seafood & SpiritsPrice: Expensive• Seafood• Sarasota
•
4.8
D
DebbieVIP
Dallas - Fort Worth •106 reviews
5.0
Dined today
We have eaten here many times over the last 15-20 years. Always a great experience. My husband who usual orders one of the Paella dishes said it was probably the best he ever had there and everything tasted fresh, not over cooked. I had their famous 1905 salad, very good! Locals and tourists eat here.
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Columbia Restaurant - SarasotaPrice: Moderate• Spanish• Sarasota
•
4.8
D
DianeVIP
San Francisco Bay Area •25 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
We love the mama Lucia scappotini special. We also had the best brussetta appetizer ever, so delicious
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Cafe GabbianoPrice: Moderate• Italian• Siesta Key
•
4.8
T
TonyVIP
Hawaii •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
Food and service is always excellent! Ariana is the best!
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Sardinia SarasotaPrice: Moderate• Italian• Sarasota
•
4.7
N
NancyVIP
Southwest Florida •25 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
I have lunch at Connor’s at least once a month. I view it as a combination of excellent food and reasonable prices. I’m particularly fond of their half price happy hour. It’s pretty easy to have a delicious meal and a beer for $20. That’s hard to find these days. Today our server was Frank and he couldn’t have been more attentive. He let us take our time before before ordering, checked if we needed anything during the meal and then wrapped up leftovers for us. If you haven’t gone already, treat yourself to lunch at Connor’s and I think you’ll be happy.
More info
Connors Steak & Seafood - SarasotaPrice: Expensive• Steakhouse• Siesta Key
•
4.8

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Siesta Key

Best Restaurants for Special Occasions in Siesta Key

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39 restaurants available nearby

1. Connors Steak & Seafood - Sarasota

2. Tripletail Seafood & Spirits

3. Columbia Restaurant - Sarasota

4. Cafe Gabbiano

5. Sardinia Sarasota

6. Michael's On East

7. Selva Grill Downtown Sarasota

8. Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse - Sarasota

9. Veronica Fish & Oyster

10. Ophelia's on the Bay

See what locals rave about

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