Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in Sarasota / Bradenton

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall cuisine in Sarasota / Bradenton? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bruschetta Fine Italian Cuisine

4.8

4.8 (69)

$31 to $50

Italian

Gulf Gate Estates

About the restaurant

At Bruschetta Fine Italian Cuisine , our history is rooted in family and tradition. Our recipes have been passed down for generations, and we take great pride in using authentic ingredients and techniques to create the flavors of Italy. From our humble beginnings in a small kitchen in Rome to our bustling restaurant today, we've always stayed true to our roots.

Top review

Kurt

Dined on Feb 18, 2025

Amazing authentic Italian cuisine and atmosphere....

La Dolce Vita Authentic Italian Cuisine

4.9

4.9 (385)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

For Valentine’s Day, we are offering a special prix-fixe menu at $95 per person. You can see the menu in the appropriate section.

We welcome our guests to an authentic Italian restaurant: here we offer traditional cuisine, with a modern take on northern and southern Italian recipes. Mauro, the chef, and his wife Tina, have an huge amount of experience behind them.
Mauro is from Naples, Tina was born in a little sicilian town near by Enna.
He began to learn everything about the southern cuisine by his experience in Naples since he was a child, from “Polipetti alla Luciana” to “Paccheri ai frutti di mare”. Furthermore he moved in Milan and he had the chance to learn the northern cuisine, from “Risotto ai funghi porcini” to “Polenta grigliata”, one of his favourite specialties!
From an ancient sicilian tradition, Tina learnt everything about the desserts by her grandmother and her mother, from “Millefoglie” to “Cannoli cake”.
We hope you enjoyed reading about us.

Top review

Mike

Dined on Mar 6, 2025

Food was good and service was excellent. We will come again.

Pietro's Italian Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (703)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Italian Restaurant& wine bar in Sarasota. Where you are a stranger only once.
His philosophy served him well with his previous Sarasota businesses. Café Gabbiano located on Siesta Key was originated by the Migliaccio family in 2003 where is four sons grew in and out of the restaurant business.
A second venture in downtown Sarasota was opened and designed by Pietro in 2012 named Casantica, a small old house converted to a quaint homey restaurant. Both restaurants are now under new ownership.
Now, this small intimate place is where I can have fun serving and meeting new friends. Benvenuti.

Top review

RobertVIP

Dined 3 days ago

An outstanding meal. The veal chop parmigiana was certainly the finest tasting and most tender veal I have had in over 50 years of Italian dining. Great atmosphere and extremely pleasant staff.

Discover more

Popular dish

Lasagna Marinara

Dolce Italia

4.9

4.9 (644)

$31 to $50

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Dolce Italia was established in 2010 by Tiziana Di Costanzo who came from Ischia, an island in the Gulf of Naples. Using a combination of classic Italian dishes, family recipes passed down for generations, and warm hospitality, Dolce Italia has built a reputation in Sarasota as a destination for anyone seeking great food and ambiance. In 2015 Matthew joined as manager of the front of house and is now a managing partner of Dolce Italia. The kitchen staff trained by Tiziana from the beginning are still with the restaurant with Maria being the capocuoco.
Some of the specialities Dolce Italia has become famous for are the Napoletan Eggplant- a tender sautee eggplant with fresh tomatoes crowned with ricotte, the Trenne Dolce Italia- the signature pasta dish with creamy tomato sauce, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and mushroom.

Top review

JeffreyRVIP

Dined 6 days ago

One of our favorite Italian restaurant in Sarasota. Beyond the amazing food, the atmosphere is warm and inviting. The staff are always friendly, attentive, and make us feel truly welcome. We will definitely be coming back

Marcel DW

4.8

4.8 (131)

$30 and under

Contemporary French / American

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Marcel is Sarasota's newest and most popular dinner spot. It is an elevated European Bistro that specializes in unique dishes with a French influence. Our menu and portions are designed for guests to try a variety of items, and sharing is encouraged. Our standout dishes are the snapper ceviche, the Cacio e Pepe, Mortadella toast, sweetbread gratin and the Beef Bourgignon, which you must try!

Top review

Mary Beth

Dined 4 days ago

A favorite of ours! Excellent service. The menu is outstanding with a great variety. Everything is thoughtfully prepared. Highly recommend.

Sophie's at Saks Fifth Avenue- Sarasota

4.9

4.9 (749)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Sophie's offers globally influenced yet decidedly American cuisine in a luxurious intimate setting featuring an outdoor terrace, open kitchen and private dining area. Sophie's dining experience captures the style and elegance of Saks Fifth Avenue, with a passionate focus on outstanding food and drink. Sophie's Chef Andrew Thompson changes his innovative menu seasonally using the best locally-sourced ingredients. The menu is complemented by a selection of craft cocktails and a thoughtfully curated wine list.

Top review

MoniqueVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Delicious lunch with my friend at Sophie. Our waitress Madison was perfect.

Roessler's

4.9

4.9 (1911)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Sarasota

About the restaurant

WE CANNOT WAIT TO SEE YOU!
PLEASE NOTE WE CAN NOT ACCEPT RESERVATIONS FOR OUTSIDE DINING, PARTIES OVER 6, OR HOLIDAYS THROUGH OPEN TABLE. PLEASE CALL THE RESTAURANT IF YOUR TIME IS NOT AVAILABLE. THANK YOU!!! 941 966 5688

Top review

MeadVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Everything was delicious! The rack of lamb was the best we ever had. I highly recommend it. The service was also excellent. It’s our very favorite restaurant.

Discover more

Popular dish

Wiener Schnitzel Holstein

Popular dish

Steak Diane

Dry Dock Waterfront Grill

4.8

4.8 (9636)

$31 to $50

Seafood

Longboat Key

About the restaurant

The Dry Dock Waterfront Grill is a “polished casual” restaurant over looking Sarasota Bay. We are located at the south end of Longboat Key behind the gas station. We are north of St. Armand’s Circle, and minutes from downtown Sarasota. Best known for Local Fresh Grouper and Red Snapper. Enjoy the second story dining area with a panaramic view of the bay, or enjoy dining outdoors on our dockside patio.

Top review

TerryVIP

Dined today

Wonderful service, beautiful surroundings and terrific food.

Discover more

Cassariano Italian Eatery

4.8

4.8 (3899)

$31 to $50

Italian

Venice

About the restaurant

Contemporary Italian Cuisine in downtown Venice with a casual-elegant atmosphere. INSIDE AND OUTSIDE DINING

Top review

WilliamVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Food was outstanding and Peter, our waiter was fantastic.

Discover more

Popular dish

Veal Chop alla Caprese

Popular dish

Pappardelle Bolognese

Popular dish

Sea Bass Piccata

Blu Kouzina

4.8

4.8 (1360)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Sarasota

About the restaurant

**Cash Discount Notice**
Save 3.5% on your bill by paying with
cash.

A 3.5% Convenience fee will be
added to all sales. As an incentive
for our customers we now offer an
immediate discount to customers
who pay with CASH based on our
posted discount schedule.

Blu Kouzina is bringing its signature, wholesome Greek cooking to the Sunshine State after gracing for the past five years Singapore’s culinary scene. The acclaimed restaurant, born out of the founders’ passion for the food of their native Greece and their love of sharing a hearty, family meal with friends, has set up a second home in Sarasota.

Fresh and quality ingredients, mostly grown organically, and sourced from well established, local producers are used in dishes that are both traditional and creatively contemporary. What remains uniquely Greek and genuine are the flavors and the scents of extra virgin olive oil, fresh fish or succulent lamb that will take you on a journey from a beach-side taverna to a rural mezze shop.

Top review

scottVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Lamb chops excellent as was the Greek salad and rice pudding. Pork chop was just ok. Rouly our waiter a keeper! Will return

Explore Diners' Choice best of Sarasota / Bradenton

Explore more Diners' Choice lists