EAT!

Information on where to eat on and around Anna Maria Island.

Beach Bistro - Rated the number one restaurant in the Tampa Bay area and consistently rated as Florida's only 5 star Michelin rated restaurant.  Beach Bistro is located on the beach but I wouldn't show up there in casual attire.  Evening resort wear is more appropriate.  Honestly I cant afford, or choose not to afford, eating at this restaurant but when that is the case I will go to the bar and try a cocktail and hors 'd voure/appetizer. So I had a cosmopolitan with a sea scallop and the bartender talked me into trying the tomato soup with blue cheese - he was obviously a great salesman because I dislike tomato soup and hate blue cheese. However I tried it and not only love it but I crave it!  It really is the best tomato soup I have ever or will ever try.  It came in a tall champagne flute and cost $12.  I also tried the sea scallop which was quite large and cooked to perfection.  It was also delicious.  I would love to tell you how the other menu items taste but I'd rather not pay that much for a meal and I certainly don't want to dress up to go to the beach.  I would however highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who really enjoys a superb meal.  Just know that you are not getting out of here under $100.  www.beachbistro.com  My Pics:  "One Helluva Sop"  Bistro Blue Tomato, Food Heaven - All of it serving $85, A Stroll on the Beach $100

For people more like myself who like gourmet food but choose not to pay a lot for a meal.  Sean Murphy, owner of Beach Bistro opened Eat Here!!  Affordable, casual, delicious, gourmet food - no burgers, no fries.  www.eathere-ami.com  My pics:  Lobster Tacos, Smoked Salmon Pizza, Better Bruschetta

Waterfront Restaurant is more my cup of tea.  Right across from the Pier and the beach, outdoor porch seating, excellent food priced well. You can show up in casual attire - but I wouldn't recommend swimwear - it's not that casual.  Lingering atmosphere.  Excellent wait staff.  I love this place.  You can read more about my experience on my Been there, done that page.  www.thewaterfrontrestaurant.net.  My Pics:  Grouper Oscar, Wild Mushroom Risotto and damn near everything else on the menu!

UPDATE:  We tried the Grouper Soft Taco during the Food & Wine on Pine festival.  It was delicious with fresh grouper, jicama slaw, pico d'gallo and a drippy, yummy sauce in a soft flour tortilla!


Eat at Joe's!  Joes is definitely beach friendly, casual.  They've got hot dogs, cuban sandwich's and other fast food, but the real treat is the TREATS!  I have never seen an actual piece of pie dipped in chocolate and frozen on a stick anywhere else in my life except at Joe's - try the key lime cheesecake!  The also have frozen chocolate bananas, over 30 different ice cream concoctions as well as anything you can dream up that has to do with ice cream and toppings.  Yummy!  You can't do Joe's just once!

Mr. Bones BBQ .  Damn good food.  But its more southern Louisiana style food with a voodoo inspired interior decor.  I highly recommend it for lunch.  This a great place for the entire family as everyone will find something on the menu they like. I cant stop ordering the Biryani rice so I have no idea how anything else tastes but the fact that they don't have condiments on the table and will pummel you for asking tells you that the chefs know their food!   You can read more about my experience on my Been there, done that page.  www.mrbonesbbq.com.  My pics:  Biryani Rice!  Chicken Shish Kebab w/Biryani Rice!  Anything BBQ!

Beach House, Mar Vista and Sandbar Restaurants - both on the island, both have the same owners.  There are so many things I love about both these restaurants.  First of all, they are both directly on the beach with outdoor seating, so what I can really appreciate is bringing the whole family and mom and dad can have a cocktail while watching the kids play in the sand and surf.   Secondly,  without fail when we have out of town guests we bring them to Beach House because of the music at night and it is exactly what Northerners are looking for in a tropical vacation, sitting outside, with music, toes in the sand, drink in hand,. sunshine or sunset, not a care in the world. You can't beat these two restaurants - and the foods not bad either!  Finally, my son works at Sandbar - first job!  http://sandbar.groupersandwich.com  My Pics: Coconut Shrimp, grouper sandwich, seared Ahi Tuna, Ceviche.

UPDATE:  We tried the Tuna Fusion at the Food & Wine on Pine festival it was delicious with ahi tuna, "guacasabi" (guacamole & wasabi blend), sriachi sauce and fried tortillas! YUM!

Banana Cabana - Caribbean Restaurant.  Try the conch chowder!

Stone Crab - this is a seasonal treat and it is so sweet and delicious.  I love stone crab and I choose to go to Moore's Stone Crab Restaurant on Longboat Key.

Skinny's Place.  Directly across from Bradenton Beach, cash only.  I wouldn't wear anything but swimwear here - lol!!  Very beach casual.  Honestly, damn good burgers, fries and beer.  Dollar bills stuck all over the ceiling.  My Pics:  Cheeseburger, fries and beer!  Never ordered anything else.

Ginny's and Jane E's Cafe - This place is delightful.  Fun and Funky!  It's part cafe, with healthy homemade items for breakfast or lunch, (maybe even dinner but it's always been quiche for breakfast and something fabulous for lunch for me), part shopping experience, part internet bar.  Very casual, mismatched tables and chairs placed throughout the store for people to hang out at while enjoying great food, great friends and great conversations.  You can read more about my experience on my Been there, done that page and see a picture I took inside the cafe. My Pics:  Strawberry and Banana smoothy, vegetable quiche, soup, salad, sandwich - it's all good!

Rod & Reel Pier.  Sits over the water at the end of a pier.  I've eaten here with my husband Perry a few times.  Good food.  Very casual atmosphere. We always sit outside on the upper deck.  The first time we went we saw dolphins, manta- rays, sting rays - it was an amazing day, the water was really clear so it was easy to spot all types of water life.  Honestly just looking down into the water is so mesmerizing you don't want to leave!  My Pics:  burger, fries, seafood.

Those are the places I've eaten at so far.  I will continue to try new places so I can give good honest reviews but listed below are a few special notes:

Sign of the Mermaid - I have not yet eaten here, it is definitely on my list and I hope to eat here in the next month.  This place has an excellent reputation for delicious Florida Continental Cuisine.  Everyone I know who has eaten here has raved about their food, they serve breakfast and Sunday brunch, lunch and dinner.  There is parking in the back behind the restaurant - good to know.

UPDATE:  During the Food & Wine on Pine festival I tried two new places:

Slim's Place - I tried the gourmet Lobster Mac n Cheese - made with Gouda and real Lobster.  Smooth, creamy with generous portions of lobster.  It was really, really good and hearty meal.

Paradise Cafe - Their portion sizes are very generous and I tried fresh Jumbo (really really big) shrimp that was lightly tempura dipped and fried, served with melted butter and a lemon slice.   This has me coming back for more!

Island Spice - although I was too full to try any more food by the time I passed their tent I did grab a menu and the next day I headed to Island Spice for lunch, unfortunately there was nowhere to park, they only have about 7 parking spots and they were all full.  I will try this place again but if I cant park I wont keep trying.  I suggest take the trolley if you're on the island.

Off the Island:

Euphemia Haye - not on Anna Maria Island, but on nearby Longboat Key.  Very top notch restaurant with an incredible reputation for their desserts!  I have not eaten here yet but wanted to mention it because their chef Jamie Gregorich appeared on Hell's Kitchen - she got the boot but I personally think it is because she took the high road and was not at all mean spirited - which doesn't work well in Hell. Nonetheless there are some truly delicious items to be found at Euphemia Haye.

Also, a must mention in Jose's Real Cuban restaurant located in Bradenton on Cortez Rd.  Blink and you'll miss it.  Featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive ins and Dives.  Jose's is the real deal for must have Cuban food.  Too many item menu's to mention but for me it's the Paella or a traditional Cuban sandwich.  Oh and for coffee lovers you have to try a real Cuban coffee - addicting!

Alligator meat - tastes like chicken! Not!  OK I know there are a lot of adventurous people out there who have to try everything and really gotta know what alligator tastes like.  It taste like meat surprise marinated in swamp mud for a week.  Just say'n.

Watch for more to come....!