ellimac13's Profile
Best Places for Easter Brunch near Longboat Key or Sarasota
Ophelia's on the bay does an outstanding Easter brunch and you can sit right on the water! Only $30 a person and includes bloody marys and mimosas.
Opheliasonthebay.net
cocoa beach suggestions
Will be staying in cocoa beach for a few days over mother's day weekend and am looking for some recommendations. We prefer locally owned non-corporate casual to fine dining. Looking for quality over price point. It's my son's college graduation and my mother will be with us from out of state as well so we are doing some serious celebrating in a short amount of time and want to make sure we are spending our time wisely! Thanks in advance!
Rec`s for Sarasota!
Derek's has long been a fav of mine and recommend it often. Two other places I have had a long standing love affair with over the past several years is Rick's bistro on Siesta Drive in the same plaza as Deli Lane and the post office...AMAZING! It's a teeny tiny little french place that is chef owned and operated by a charming french couple, Rick and Michelle (she's the chef). The duck cassoulet is divine, the wine list small but appropriate and service is warm and friendly. Also on my list, Heinrich's german grill on Lockwood and University in the same plaza as Wal-Mart on the University side. Also chef owned and operated by a rustic German couple where the wife is the chef and the husband is the charming face of the restaurant (is there a pattern emerging here, or what?). Anyhoo, the schnitzel comes in many varieties, every one just as frickin delicious as the other, they make their own sauerkraut which I am not usually a fan of but love it there, and my all-time favorite, spaetzle with gravy, yum, yum and yum. Oh, they also have a very nice selection of beer and German wines. Both are a little on the pricey side, but considering you are getting some really fresh, made from scratch food, it's well worth it. You can even watch Mrs. Heinrich make your schnitzel as it is an open kitchen right behind the bar. Must tries if anyone on this board has never been, but call first, I think Heinrichs' closes for a month in the summer, maybe Sept? not sure.
Where is the best no frills Seafood in all of Florida?
My sister and I just ate at Star Fish in Cortez two Saturday's ago. Our original plan was cortez kitchen, but it was 11:30 and they were not open yet, so we went over to Star Fish. Both of us like our fish sandwiches the same way so we both ordered grouper san, lightly blackened, with american cheese. First we were impressed that the whole place is outside on the water, second, you always know your food is going to be good when you have to order it from a home made plywood bar/counter and pay immediately and third, we loved it when our food came out in the shrimp boxes. But the best part was the sandwich itself. By far the best fish sandwich I have ever had. From the lightly grilled bun to the perfectly cooked moist flavorful grouper, it was for us, "The Perfect Grouper Sandwich."
Sadly,t the following Saturday we ended up going to Cortez Kitchen (we live in Sarasota) for a late lunch with a couple of other people, ordered the exact same thing and it just didn't even come close to Star Fish. CK used to be our favorite fish sand place, but it is sorely lacking the charm that it used to have. And we were nickle and dimed to death for cheese, sauces and even to get our fish as a sandwich.
halloween in NOLA
Highly recomend http://www.bloodymarystours.com/tours.html. She is the authority on all things spooky in New Orleans. Although she is of some notoriety she is very down to earth and EXTREMELY informative. She does cemetary tours that will blow your mind. Check out her website above. Also, don't miss a jaunt into Laffite's in Exile on Halloween. It's where the drag queens hang out and halloween is like nothing you have ever seen. http://www.lafittes.com/
French Quarter, a little more help please
Found Coops Place last year on my annual trek to the Big Easy. Food is awesome and interesting. Suggest going late afternoon as the locals pile in at sundown and seating is very limited. We ate at the bar and washed everything down with a divine spicy bloody mary. One of our best meals there. Also, whenever you are looking for something specific, ask your server/bartender. They live there, know where the best food is for the best price, and support each other restaurant to restaurant. Don't be afraid to inquire!
Good casual waterfront recs in Sarasota?
When you get here on Friday, go to the village and go to Blase Cafe. It sits back in a little shopping plaza. You will be able to spot it by all the plants and flowy curtain things outside. Not on the water, but the ambience can not be beat. Sit at the bar, originally from the Don Cesar in St. Pete, order a martini and ask the people around you where to go. You will be flooded with responses. The food at the Blase is really good, and now they have some less expensive items to choose from. Also, ask for Todd. He's a server there and grew up on Cape Cod. Ophelia's is an awesome pick for your splurge night out. Captain Curt's really does has the best Clam Chowder, Ever! Was the first non-northeast restaurant to ever win the Rhode Island chowder comp. O'learys out by Marina Jack's is a must if you've never been. Agreed, that the view is the best and the food is cheap. So many great, locally owned restaurants in Sarasota, sorry you only have a week.
Best Sarasota Pizza... Dometrio's, El Greco, Valentino's or...?
Having grown up on Pizza Hut pizza, I am not the best judge. However, my boyfriend who grew up in Hyannis, went to college in Boston and lived in NYC for several years has consistently complained about the lack of "decent" pizza in Sarasota. He agrees about Il Panificio on Main Street downtown, Definately the place to get a slice on the go. For more casual sit down fare, check out the individual pizzas at Caragiulos downtown on Palm Ave. Their crust is the perfect combo of crunchy and chewy. Great for two to share with a glass of wine or beer on the way to a movie. Out on Siesta Key, Siesta Smeag's has a really great reputation with the locals. Do yourself a favor though and stay far, far away from anything Solorazano Brothers. Even if they do make decent pizza, these guys are rude ugly people and have been known to verbally and at least once physically assault customers including spitting in someones face. Not nice people, and not worth spending your money on when there are so many other places to try.
http://www.caragiulos.com/
