View Full Version : Eating Out on the Gulf Coast
Any chance that this section can be widened out to include restaurants in Sarasota, Englewood, Port Charlotte, Boca Grande, Naples etc? Those of us with Gulf Coast homes do eat.
Clare R
http://www.orlandovillas.com/villas/1367.aspx
andrewmckay5
11-08-2006, 21:56
Good idea Clare, a seperate section would be ideal.
andrew
Katys Grandad
11-08-2006, 22:03
Good idea though not good for my waistline
andrewmckay5
11-08-2006, 22:08
Snap [msnsmile2]
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Katys Grandad
Good idea though not good for my waistline
[/quote]
Mo Green
11-08-2006, 23:12
Good idea Clare. There are so many excellent restaurants - where do we start?
Sarasota - Cha-Cha's on St. Armands Circle
Phillipi Creek
Englewood - Howard's
Mama's
Tiffany's - very good value
Prime Time
Johnny Leverock's
Steamer Crab and Ale House
La Stanza
New Faull Inn
End Zone - more of a bar
Fisheries
Boca Grande - Loose Caboose - excellent crab cakes
Port Charlotte - Nav-a-Gator (on the road to Arcadia)
- Red Lobster
- Sam Seltzer
- Mel's (excellent value)
Punta Gorda - Harpoon Harry's/Smugglers at Fishermen's Village
Mo Green
12-08-2006, 17:30
There are some on your list I have not tried yet Clare but I can also recommend
Palm Island – Rum Bay
Englewood – Farlows, Lickerty Split Café and Gulf View Grille
Boca Grande/Gasparilla – The Pink Elephant (for a special treat) and South Beach Grill
Venice – Crowes Nest and Sharky's on the Pier
Think I had better start the diet before our next trip
[msnwink]
You go to posher restaurants than we do, Marion.
Conch Cafe near Englewood library is an 'experience' especially Sunday brunch
Clare R
http://www.orlandovillas.com/villas/1367.aspx
Mo Green
12-08-2006, 21:59
We only do lunch or sunset specials at the 'posh' ones Clare - really great value.[msnwink]
Johnny Leverocks is open in Englewood it is on the road towards Boca Grande. Disregard my DM the system seems to have caught up with you!
Clare R
http://www.orlandovillas.com/villas/1367.aspx
mfairhurst
13-08-2006, 16:13
HI CLARE We were on the gulf coast in JUNE and LAVEROCKS was gone in TREASURE ISLAND AND CLEARWATER and SHELLS have got all the building so I think they have all gone .We loved them as they were the best for fish meals and all looking on the inland waterways .Is the one in ENGLEWOOD STILL OPEN ?.
MAUREEN
www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/1683.aspx
Longboat Key Sarasota
Dry Dock Waterfront Grill [clap][clap][clap][clap][clap]
Hemingways Just of St Armands Circle [clap][clap][clap][clap][clap]
Couple of recommendations if your down Sarasota Way. Both these restaurants are on Longboat Key
We ate in an interesting restaurant on Longboat key - can't remember the name, but you just drive till you can get no further on the coastline and park. Outdoor restaurant where everyone goes to sit at the tables on the beach and watch the sun go down. They even have a sweep for the exact time and present a bottle of bubbly to the winner. Now just need to get the memory working for the name?
Joyce
jackie greaves
14-08-2006, 21:18
We are staying in Naples at Christmas, so does anyone know any great restaurants there?
Leverocks in Englewood is still open, we ate there 3 or 4 times in our visit last month[msnembarrased] The Captains Table is brilliant, looks expensive but works out no more than the other ones like South Beach etc. It is at Fisherman's village. As mentioned Farlows in Englewood is great. The Blue Lagoon was nice for a change too.
gulfcovefl
03-11-2007, 21:38
Here is my list-
Englewood /Cape Haze area-
Brand New One (Oct. 07) for every guest and owner to try in Englewood-
The Braemar- British Pub and Rest. is part-owned by a little Scot (Jim)
Great food, many beers from around the World and great live music!
Other great recommendations-
Sharkey's (Venice)
Daniels' Steak & Seafood (Rotonda/Cape Haze)
Compadre's (Mexican) (Old Englewood)
Farlow's on the Water (Englewood)
Gulf View Grill (Englewood Beach) Sunsets and piano bar.
Johnny Leverrocks and Rum Bay! (Placida and Knight Island)
Nicola's (Englewood, east) (Best homemade Italian)
Palmetto Grill (Placida)
Prime Time (Rotonda/Placida) Get your special Margarita here!
End Zone- (East Englewood) Best original Philly Cheesesteak!
Kurt
Mo Green
04-11-2007, 01:12
A good selection there Kurt especially our new favourite Daniels - great cocktails and excellent food.
Mo
gulfcovefl
05-11-2007, 22:01
The owner, (Keith) is really great. He orders nothing but the best for his place.
Always look for the 'green flash'!
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/Data/gulfcovefl/2007112172328_Boardwalk.jpg
In Sarasota I like the Amish restaurants - Sugar and Spice and Yoders are worth a visit. Cheap proper home cooking and huge portions. Very different from my normal preferences.
I'm going to bump this up a bit.
I was there just over a week ago and had a great lunch at Howards. I miss the place 9was it Sam's) that used to be on the bridge to the beach.
When I pop over for a few days in early Jan, I will be trying out the Gulf View Grille and the Lock and Key. anyone know if the Lock & key dies breakfast? Perfect after a walk on the beach I think. As my offer on a house was just accepted, I'll be spending more time in the area. Guess I'll be giving up all those little trips around FL that I used to take lol.
All the others above will be going on my list of ones to try.
Andrea
I like Howards but it gets the thumbs down from most if not all Rotonda owners. Sam's as you saw has gone, Gulf View Grill I have never tried but others say it's OK, Lock and Key I am pretty sure don't do breakfast, Tiffany's opposite Wal Mart do a good breakfast.
Well at howards I just had a crab cake sandwich, son ahd a different one. Both were good. Haven't tried any of their more complicated dishes- perhaps this is where it falls down? I'm sure I'll eventually find out.
I liked that they give out a free soup. I had the seafood bisque, and although the flavor was fine, I'd rather pay a couple of bucks and not have them thicken it so- it was a bit 'floury' for want of a better word.
Will have to do a self serv bkfst before or after the beach then lol.
A
Mo Green
05-12-2007, 02:48
We have always liked Gulf View Grill but was disappointed when taking friends there that they had 'run out of' white wine! Our friends still insisted on picking up the tab and left a tip but just to add further insult they discovered a further $10 had been added before it reached their credit card.
I'll keep a lookout for that little trick when I go, thanks Mo.
gulfcovefl
13-12-2007, 16:12
A couple of Breakfast spots-
Denny's - (Route 776, near 775) Every type breakfast food and many egg combination plates, I always walk away with a full belly and loosen a notch or two on the belt! Pancakes, waffles, french toast and more.
Morning Muse- Not many know about this little place off the route 771 (Gasparilla Rd), just north of Ingraham on the parallel road named Wiltshire. Small place with a few tables but have great service, custom made omelets that are great. The chef cooks from a wheelchair.
SuperDay- (Route 776 & 771) If you are in a hurry and need to pick something up quick and go. Yes it is a petrol station, but they also have store inside with good food all day. Okay this may new to some but they have 'Breakfast Pizza', you may want to try it out? Also other food like eggs bacon sausage always hot to go and you pay by the pound for as much as you like.
Howards is good american, you can also try Country Hound too.
Soo many other little cafe's to list in the Englewood / Rotonda / Cape Haze area as well.
If you have large parties over 6 to 8, they usually state it up front in the menu that they will automatically add in the tab a 15% gratuity. So if you had a 'few', be careful to look at the credit slip.
I went again In January, but was too busy to eat out much. Was only there for 5 days getting th houseready for rental clients.
We ate at Jonny Leverocks. the food was goodish, but the service was pretty awful. We ate at Marina Jacks in Sarasota one lunchtime as we were there shopping. I had a lovely crab quesadilla. Finally, I was impressed with the Mel's diner in Pt Charotte. A very good burger, and it was on my talble less than 5 mins after walking in the door. Magic, and cheap too. Good place for lunch if you are out that way shopping. Moslty I picked up stuff from Publix and ate at home this time.
Places on my list for my next trip are:
Farlow's on the water, South Beach Grill in Boca Grande, and the Lock and Key at Englewood beach.
Mo Green
05-04-2008, 16:57
We ate at Johnny Leverocks last Wednesday and can only think you must have hit a bad night Andrea. I have never seen it so busy. We were told we 7th in line with a 30 minute wait. By this time the rain was torrential so decided we may as well wait. It passed very quickly chatting to some Canadian visitors (who now have my business card!). Once seated we were very quickly served by cheerful waitress.
Mo
Mo,
It was because we went early ( we were the only ones under 60 lol) and our particular waitress who was kinda useless. But perfectly nice and pleasant.
PS Where else did you eat this time and what did you have?
gulfcovefl
12-04-2008, 00:20
Hi atush,
You will have to try a few of these other 'fine' places-
1. Daniel's Steak & Seafood on Cape Haze Drive, grest for a short ride home if you had a few.
2. Palmetto Grill on Placida Road, near Cape Haze Drive.
3. Farlow's is a 'definite'.
4. Zydeco on Placida, New Orleans style food.
5. Nicola's on Rte. 776, Italian food.
Albert the Frog
12-04-2008, 02:51
we were in Naples a few weeks ago and ate at the Melting Pot which is a fondue restaurant. it was a unique experience and as we always do we overordered.
we were seated in an intimate booth with a halogen hot plate in the corner-our server advised us on the courses but we started with a regular cheese fondue-prepared in front of us and dipped with a selection of breads and raw veg -celery etc. The main course was a unique experience for me-after advice the server brought a pan of corn oil and started it heating-he then brought raw tuna,steak,chicken,shrimp,teryaki steak, various cold dips, raw potatoes,cauliflower,mushrooms et al-and we cooked it ourselves in the oil-after that we had a simple chocolate fondue with marshmallow,fruit,brownies, etc.--I could barely move but i enjoyed every minute of it.
we said that when we go back we will probably just have the cheese and choc!!
Try it if you get a chance it is on the 41 out of Naples on your right in what i think is a newish complex.
Gulf Cove,
thanks for the recs. Daniels and Zydeco had been recd to me before. What type of food is the Palmetto Grille?
A
titansfan
16-04-2008, 10:15
Shells Seafood which is somewhere around Indian Rocks beach is excellent. Been twice and impressed both times.[msncool]
gulfcovefl
14-05-2008, 16:49
Hi Atush,
Sorry for the delay in replying right away, it's been a busy season for us and did not check back with this site.
Palmetto Grille is a posh place which I believe the owner has a place on Boca as well. The food is steaks and seafood and are custom made creation dishes which means it is not your usual fried, blackened, grilled, or saute' type prepreation.
I would stay away from the Argentinean Gaucho Steak, it is a flank steak that was a bit tough for me or quite possibily the chef left it on the grill a little too long. I have had flank steaks at Mexican places which is Carne Asada and was very tender. The owner was nice and credited me for another meal. The others in my group did very well.
We have been to Sarasota at the beginning of the month and Colombia's on the St Armands Circle was good for a lunch. With the wide open windows or you may sit outside it was good to sit and watch all the shopper's or is it mainly "looker's" go by.
On Dearborn Street in the 'heart' of Englewood a new place has opened in the purple building called Zigamazoo. It is a good lunch place or just enjoy a fine bottle of wine. I had a nice talk with the owner and he is 'feeling out' his menu for the area and what guests would like to have.
We continue to search out and 'test' other places that we may have not been before. Sorry to say there are a few that are on the 'do not go back to' list. I do not list these for proper reasons.
I dont consider myself an expert but I do like a good meal at a good price and often try to meet with the owners.
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by atush
Gulf Cove,
thanks for the recs. Daniels and Zydeco had been recd to me before. What type of food is the Palmetto Grille?
A
[/quote]
thornton
15-05-2008, 00:02
We went to Sharkys last week and has a fabulous meal while enjoying the sunset. Also went to South Beach Grill at Boca Grande at lunchtime and thought it was very good value.
Thanks gulf and thornton.
I'll add any tha I go to in July when I'm there. I'll be with my 17 yr old, so will be eating in the more casual lower end places probably. Will do the upmarket stuff in October when it is less hot, and husband is with me.
gulfcovefl
27-05-2008, 18:38
Okay- places for teens:
End Zone (Englewood)- Great place with more than 50 TV's for sports. Try the Philly cheese steak- it is as close as you can get to a 'real' one from Philadelphia.
There are also some new ones near the Port Charlotte mall-
Joe Cracker Sport Grille & Tijuana Flats.
Denny's is good for breakfast. If you have a son then it's the mega-meal for him.
C C's- all you care to eat pizza for I think $5 or 6
Food is Love Eatery- good for lunch.
Hooter's- only if you have a son.
Lock & Key is near Englewood beach.
Mel's Diner
Prime Time
Plus many of the usual Fast Food places.
RotondaFL
14-07-2008, 03:48
Just had another wonderful evening at Daniel's Steak & Seafood!
I invited along a couple of our clients and they thought it was
best for food (taste & presentation) and wait staff.
They offer South African wines and a unique list of martinis.
We also went down to the Mango-Mania festival near Pine Island.
It was great!
For sunday breakfast the Egg & I is great too, cash/cheque only, situated in Grove City between Lemon Bay Golf Club & Merchants Crossing.
We too on last trip were very disappointed with Leverock's it changed hands last year & although the food was excellent the service & staff attitude, left alot to be desired.
The Columbia Restaurant in Armanyd Circle, Sarasota is wonderful can thoroughly recommend the signature salad & the Black Bean cakes.
Lynne
Mo Green
14-07-2008, 14:36
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by RotondaFL
Just had another wonderful evening at Daniel's Steak & Seafood!
I invited along a couple of our clients and they thought it was
best for food (taste & presentation) and wait staff.
They offer South African wines and a unique list of martinis.
We also went down to the Mango-Mania festival near Pine Island.
It was great!
[/quote]
I agree Daniel's is the best restaurant in the area. Everyone we introduce to it loves the food and ambiance. I was not a great Martini fan until I discovered their Sour Apple Martini. Their steak and scallops is on my list of 'If you could only have one last meal what would it be?'.
Maureen
RotondaFL
15-07-2008, 21:26
Hi Mo,
It's getting a little tighter for him with the way thngs are now for everyone so it is great to get the word out to keep this fine establishment running. Since he is not on a 'main' road such as 776 or Placida not everyone knows he is there.
He has a few special prepared meals that are not on the menu each night and these are great to pick from as well. The sea bass is always a great standard too.
For those who don't know where he is located:
3745 Cape Haze Dr.
If you are a villa owner in Rotonda, he is just across from the Rotonda Homeowners Association office.
Ok, so I'm back!
And before I nip off the the UK and france for the big fam holiday of the year I'll tell you where I ate on my recent trip:
Twice at South Beach Grille on Gasparilla Island for lunch. Was Good food with a great view. Intended a few hours at the beach both times but it was too hot for me lol.
Sharkey's on the Pier for dinner in Venice. Food was fine (steak and shrimp and chicken linguine), and we saw a pod of dolphins frolicking by the pier! Excellent evening which included a stroll on the beach.
Rum Bay restaurant- arrived via frind's boat- awsome fun! Had one of their burgers and a fun afternoon pottering about the bays.
One evening a stroll on the beach followed by Lock and Key.
Had takeaway pizza from Rotonda Pizza and chinese from Pings.
Shopping in port Charlotte brought us to Harpoon Harry's, Applbee's and Ruby Tuesday in Port Charlotte Mall.
Stopped for lunch at Mel's diner in Venice on the way to the airport. Good and fast and cheap as usual.