Diners' Choice: Best Food restaurants in Sarasota / Bradenton

OpenTable

Updated February 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

5.0

5 (64)

$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

Kayla

Dined 3 days ago

Best Italian I have ever had. It feels homey while also being classy. The food quality is amazing! The staff was amazing. We had Prosecco, grilled octopus, and the specials dinner. Everything was truly delectable and the specials were spectacular. We will be returning and this is now our favorite Italian!

La Dolce Vita Authentic Italian Cuisine

4.9

4.9 (368)

$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

Greg

Dined 5 days ago

They were not very busy through our dining experience between 5pm and 6pm. The service was a bit slow but the food was very good. We all finished our dish and also enjoyed the wine and beer. They finished off the night by giving us a shot of a limoncello concoction which was excellent, we wanted a gallon to go. Overall, it was a very good experience.

Dolce Italia

4.9

4.9 (634)

$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

Debra

Dined 4 days ago

Servers worked as a team, explained the various dishes and were very timely and personable! Food was outstanding! Dining space was pretty small but sufficient. Only wine and beer available. Tremendous value and culinary experience!! Highly recommend if you’re looking for excellent cuisine!

Pietro's Italian Restaurant

4.9

4.9 (680)

$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

LawrenceVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Valentines Day-great table, decorated with rose petals, beautiful background music. The wait staff very friendly as was the hostess. Really nice family run restaurant, the chef owner puts a lot of love into every dish. Zero complaints with this establishment, which is rare today..highly recommend!

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Popular dish

Lasagna Marinara

Roessler's

4.9

4.9 (1887)

$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

fred

Dined 5 days ago

Excellent as always but nosier than I've ever experienced in many evenings there

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Popular dish

Wiener Schnitzel Holstein

Popular dish

Steak Diane

Marcel DW

4.8

4.8 (119)

$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

JoeVIP

Dined 2 days ago

ecelctic little place on main street. owner/exec chef is present in dining room and interactibg with guests. loved the menu and the space. wine chouces were also impressively good. solid all around

L’Olive Restaurant - Venice

4.8

4.8 (126)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Venice

About the restaurant

L'Olive Restaurant offers an innovative menu inspired by Turkish, Greek, Lebanese and the sun-drenched islands of the Mediterranean from Greece to Spain. Chef Ismail's Signature dishes are Spanish Octopus, Lamb Chops and Seafood Tagliatelle. Cuisines served up in a sleek and modern setting. Building on Chef Ismail's deep knowledge of Mediterranean cooking and years of research and travel, the menu features shared small plates of authentic and innovative fare and unique Mediterranean wines, making L'Olive one of the most exciting restaurants in Venice, Florida.

Top review

Bob

Dined 2 days ago

Had a lovely Valentine’s Day dinner at my girlfriend’s favorite restaurant. We were seated promptly, waited on promptly and served promptly. Food was delicious.

Veronica Fish & Oyster

4.8

4.8 (2329)

$31 to $50

Oyster Bar

Sarasota

About the restaurant

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 areas

PLEASE 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

Top review

GilesVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Good food & ambience plus friendly waiter, worth a visit for special occasions

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Thai Crispy Snapper (Whole Fish)

Blu Kouzina

4.8

4.8 (1334)

$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

EllenVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Delicious food, great ambience, always a favourite stop at st. Armands.

La Violetta Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1098)

$30 and under

Italian

Sarasota

About the restaurant

Intimate and designed to provide a rustic Italian experience. Buonissimo!