As my 2026 snowbird stay in Florida winds down (OMG I’m leaving next week to go back to New Jersey), I wanted to share more great places to eat in Sarasota.
To complement my “My 2025 Snowbird Search for Great Places to Eat in Sarasota,” this season I’m bringing four more winners. I will note that my boyfriend E and I ate at several Sarasota restaurants the past four months but not all were blogworthy. Each one that follows celebrates a different type of cuisine and deserves what I like to call Judi Foodie praise for its culinary standards and customer service.
Here are four great places to eat in Sarasota
Thumbs up for these four great places to eat in Sarasota
C’est La Vie offers bona fide French pastries
C’est La Vie French Bakery and Cafe has two locations in Sarasota, one near Lakewood Ranch and the other downtown. E and I had lunch in Lakewood Ranch and dinner at the downtown Main Street cafe. We found lunch (excellent split pea soup) to be better than dinner (my quiche and salad were good).
The real reason to go to C’est La Vie is for dessert. Bona fide pastries abound from delicate profiteroles with absolutely tantalizing dark chocolate drizzle to flourless dark chocolate torte and smooth chocolate brownies, it’s hard to decide which sweet to choose.
The only meal I didn’t indulge in was breakfast, which I bet would be the best since the crepes, omelettes and croissants looked really appealing. Next time I’ll have to go back for a morning meal.
C’est La Vie profiteroles with chocolate drizzle
Owen’s Fish Camp is worth the wait
The famous Owen’s Fish Camp in the Burns Court area of Sarasota is only open for dinner and does not take reservations. Lines usually run out the door and wait time can be hours on a typical night. Plus parking around the downtown restaurant is limited. So why put yourself through this craziness for a fish meal?
I had resisted for years until our house guest suggested we try for a weekday meal. We arrived later than the 4:00 p.m. opening time so I was leary that the wait would be long. All the stars aligned. First we found a prime parking space around the corner. “Wait is about 20 minutes for a table for three,” said the hostess. The 5:00 p.m. arrival ended up being a perfect time after the 4:00 p.m. rush. By 5:30 p.m. they were turning tables. BTW, while you wait it’s fun to explore the adjacent Burns Mercantile General Store.
Owen’s fish was absolutely delish! I opted for grilled Triple Tail, one of the specials. It was nice and flaky with a mild seasoning. Even better were the sides — No Way or The Highway Cheesy Grits and Black Eyed Peas & Andouille Sausage. It was so good, so good, so good!
We were all so full, so full, so full. Dare we not get dessert? When E is around he can’t resist, especially when it’s Mississippi Mud Pie. The waitress brought out three spoons for tasting. It was a divine Southern treat.
Note Owen’s Fish Camp now also has a location in Lakewood Ranch.
Owen’s Fish Camp Triple Tail fish with cheesy grits and black-eyed peas
Tikka makes tasty and authentic Indian cookery
Tikka Indian restaurant on Fruitville Road is a relatively new addition to the award-winning Tikka in Venice, Florida. Being a fan of Indian cuisine, E and I found the experience so delightful that we took friends and family there over multiple occasions. Our guests thoroughly enjoyed the food too.
Each time we found Tikka’s mission to hold true. They “passionately serve authentic Indian cuisine, embodying the rich culinary heritage of India. Guided by the principle ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, they treat every guest as divine, ensuring they experience exceptional service, a vibrant ambiance, and a memorable dining journey.”
Our meals ranged from mild Chicken Tikka, sizzling Tandoori Chicken and Tandoori Shrimp, to creamy Tikka Lamb and spicier Josh Rogan Vegetables. Basmati rice and Naan made great accompaniments. Leftovers made excellent second day dinners.
Next year I want to try Tikka’s fine dining restaurant Gange’s, which is supposed to have a more sophisticated and modern menu.
Note: Tikka restaurants are closed on Tuesdays.
Tikka’s Vegetable Korma and Tandoori Chicken
Mediterraneo serves up delizioso Italian cuisine
Last up is Mediterraneo in downtown Sarasota. We went for a birthday dinner and it was a wonderful celebration with good company and delizioso Italian food. As its website says, Mediterraneo has been bringing “classic Italian cuisine and emphasis on artisanal and contemporary Northern Italian style to Sarasota since 1996.
It’s easy to see why this 30 year old restaurant has received “numerous accolades including the acclaimed Insegna Del Ristorante Italiano awarded by The Minister of Agriculture & Commerce in Rome and was rated as Best of the Best in Sarasota Magazine since the first year of opening.”
When we sat down we were welcomed with fragrant bruschetta with fresh basil and thin crusty breadsticks. The wine list was extensive as were the cocktails. Our mains were yum too — my Capellini Primavera angel hair pasta with sauteed veggies and rich EVOO topped with fresh grated Parmesan cheese was so good, so good, so good. It was so much I had to take some home.
Definitely want to go back and try some of the other pastas next year.
Capellini Primavera from Mediterraneo
That’s a wrap on my great places to eat in Sarasota for 2026. Are you hungry yet?
Judi Foodie
