The 10 best romantic restaurants in Sarasota, from waterfront favorites to a top spot for French cuisine, that locals love for special occasions.
Following our feature on the best restaurants in downtown Sarasota — and before that, local hidden gem favorites — it’s time to turn the focus to another high-end class of local dining ahead of Valentine’s Day, which, for any forgetful fellows, is still Feb. 14.
These are Sarasota’s best romantic restaurants — places locals love for date nights and other special occasions with a spouse, partner or perhaps a prospective paramour.
From waterfront restaurants and classic steakhouses to the region’s top French destination and a luxury hotel restaurant ideal for pairing with a spa visit — or even an overnighter — here are the 10 best romantic restaurants in Sarasota.
These are all places I’ve visited recently with my wife, Kristin, and each one made us feel like we’d experienced something special.
Dry Dock Waterfront Grill
Details: 412 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key; 941-383-0102; drydockwaterfrontgrill.com
For those seeking a special occasion destination that doesn’t require dressing up, it’s hard to imagine a more romantic dining experience than enjoying some of the region’s best seafood while overlooking Sarasota Bay — perhaps even spotting a frolicking dolphin — from a window seat inside Dry Dock or one of its outdoor tables hugging the water. Even without a front-row seat, the Longboat Key restaurant, open since 1989, offers a delightful ambiance and fine views to pair with deftly prepared dishes, including favorites such as the bacon-wrapped scallops, citrus grouper or a filet of locally caught red snapper.
Euphemia Haye
Details: 5540 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key; 941-383-3633; euphemiahaye.com
Open since 1975 and housed in a historic cottage on Longboat Key, Euphemia Haye serves beloved dishes such as Euphemia’s Prime Peppered Steak, crisp roasted duck with bread stuffing, and a prepared-to-order Caesar salad. A major bonus: all pies and pastries are made from scratch in-house, with the charming Haye Loft offering an entire dessert bar boasting more than a dozen cakes and pies. Popular nightly selections include apple walnut crumble, classic Southern pecan, and peanut butter mousse pie finished with Myers’s Rum and dark chocolate ganache.
Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse
Details: 35 S. Lemon Ave., Sarasota; 941-366-7788; hydeparkrestaurants.com
Downtown Sarasota’s Hyde Park offers a classic, upscale steakhouse experience, complete with a dimly lit setting ideal for an evening of strong drinks, marvelous meats and plenty of romance. The star of the show, of course, is premium steaks, including luxury Wagyu cuts — 100% Japanese strip steak and filet mignon — though the standard ribeye and filet are outstanding, too. You’ll also find an assortment of superb sides to match, including the must-try Millionaire’s stuffed baked potato twins topped with aged white cheddar and black truffle.
Indigenous
Details: 239 S. Links Ave., Sarasota; 941-706-4740; indigenoussarasota.com
If your special someone self-identifies as a foodie, it doesn’t get much more romantic than Indigenous. Set inside a charming cottage in the Towles Court arts district of downtown Sarasota’s Laurel Park neighborhood, Indigenous is where owner Steve Phelps — a two-time James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: South — has showcased exquisitely crafted cuisine with a focus on sustainable seafood since 2011. The menu changes regularly, with recent entrées including inventive presentations of striped bass, scallops and Cheshire pork from North Carolina. Start with the chef’s signature wild mushroom bisque and save room for dessert, such as a rich chocolate cardamom torte balanced by citrus curd and sea salt pistachios.
Jack Dusty
Details: 1111 Ritz Carlton Drive, Sarasota; 941-309-2266; ritzcarlton.com
Treating yourself and that special someone to a night at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota probably doesn’t make much sense if you live within a reasonable Uber ride. But even for us townies, it’s fun to indulge at the luxury hotel, which is why a few times a year my wife, Kristin, and I visit the Ritz’s Jack Dusty for an afternoon or evening of fresh seafood — or perhaps a steak — paired with a craft cocktail or two after starting with the blistered shishito peppers and signature fries. Want to really spoil your loved one? Book time at the hotel’s spa. Also be sure to stroll the grounds, soak up Sarasota Bay views, and catch a spectacular sunset from adjacent bar-and-bites spot Rufa, which opened in 2024.
Maison Blanche
Details: 2605 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key; 941-383-8088; themaisonblanche.com
Haute cuisine doesn’t get any better in Sarasota-Manatee — or perhaps the entire South — than at Maison Blanche. Chef and owner José Martinez earned a Michelin star for his Paris restaurant, La Maison Blanche, before relocating to Sarasota and opening his current version of Maison Blanche more than two decades ago on Longboat Key. Martinez’s many accolades include being named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: South in 2010. Must-try entrées include beef short ribs braised for hours and sweetbreads (throat), served with caramelized endives and beet purée. And, of course, leave room for dessert — options such as roasted pineapple with banana mousse and coconut ice cream or the chocolate soufflé with crème anglaise are irresistible.
Michael’s on East
Details: 1212 East Ave. S., Sarasota; 941-366-0007; bestfood.com
Recently renovated but still retaining its sophisticated 1930s supper club allure — complete with a piano player in the lounge and luxurious atrium seating — Michael’s on East has been a Sarasota fine-dining destination for nearly four decades. The menu’s standout is the newly added Filet Wellington Reimagined, featuring prime filet mignon layered with wild mushrooms, seared foie gras and flaky puff pastry, finished with a glossy Madeira demi-glace. Start with the baked oysters with caviar and Champagne reduction or crispy calamari with Parma ham. For dessert, don’t miss the Brownie Ice Cream Stack — a towering, old-school indulgence.
Mimi Brasserie & Speakeasy
Details: 1920 Hillview St., Sarasota; 941-909-6464; facebook.com/mimibrasserie
The newest restaurant on this list, Mimi Brasserie & Speakeasy opened Dec. 1, replacing Adeline in the Southside Village and bringing something fun, different and unpretentiously classy to the bustling dining district about a mile and a half south of downtown Sarasota. Mimi boasts an elegant, dimly lit dining room and bar, along with an even more posh speakeasy (pictured). The eclectic menu ranges from steaks to snackable, cocktail-friendly fare. Highlights include sweet, plump dates stuffed with chorizo and finished with melted blue cheese, caramelized onion dip, next-level chicken wings, and fried quail with potato and honey-thyme butter. Craving a showstopping seafood plate before slipping into the speakeasy? A beautifully seared fillet of Scottish salmon arrives with crisp, golden skin and a tender, buttery interior, resting atop silky celeriac purée.
Ocean Prime
Details: 501 Quay Commons, Sarasota; 941-404-1024; ocean-prime.com
Offering premium steaks and seafood in a positively upscale setting in downtown Sarasota’s new Quay district — with tables overlooking the water leading to Sarasota Bay — Ocean Prime has been the hottest downtown dining destination since opening just over a year ago. The perfectly salted and buttered filet mignon is a personal favorite, along with the spicy tuna roll, scallops with braised short rib, jalapeño au gratin, and smoked goat cheese tater tots. Craving a cocktail? Order the Prime Manhattan, which boldly reimagines the classic and finishes with one of those boozy Italian black cherries. And be sure to pair it with the complimentary truffle popcorn — a savory little snack that’s borderline addictive.
Siesta Key Summer House Steak and Seafood
Details: 149 Avenida Messina, Siesta Key; 941-260-2675; siestakeysummerhouse.com
Siesta Key Village is one of my favorite spots for live music and libations, but while there are plenty of places to eat in this popular tourist area, Summer House remains the top romantic choice. The dining room is anchored by the colorful sea creatures populating the restaurant’s massive fish tank, and while Summer House specializes in both locally sourced seafood and hand-cut steaks, your best bet is probably the filet — judiciously seasoned (salt-forward, but not too much) and cooked to charred perfection on the restaurant’s 1,200-degree Montague grill — perhaps topped with a couple of scallops. For sides, be sure to indulge in the Wagyu beef fat fries and the best mac and cheese I’ve had in recent memory: the five-cheese macaroni with a jalapeño-bacon crust. After a meal that rich and satisfying, a stroll along Ocean Boulevard is practically mandatory — followed, perhaps, by a jalapeño-watermelon margarita next door at sister restaurant The Cottage, which can be quite romantic as well, especially if you land a table in the tropical oasis out back.
Wade Tatangelo is Audience Director for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
Dining and Cooking