Five best waterfront restaurants for Savor Sarasota dining deals

Everybody loves dining on the water. And everybody loves a good dining deal. So let’s take a look at five of the best waterfront destinations participating in Savor Sarasota Restaurant Week.

Now in its 17th year, Savor Sarasota finds local restaurants offering two-course lunches for $20 per person and/or three-course dinners for $35 per person. The annual eating event runs now through June 14 with many restaurants continuing their Savor Sarasota menus into the summer.

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Nearly 50 restaurants are participating this year but only five can seat you right on the water. Presented in alphabetical order, here’s a look at each establishment and the dining deals they’re offering with one place also providing a special on wine pairings.

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Crow’s Nest

1968 Tarpon Center Drive, Venice; 941-484-9551; crowsnest-venice.com

Overlooking the South Jetty that marks the exit of Dona Bay into the Gulf of Mexico, Crow’s Nest is a Venice landmark dating back to 1976 that was named one of the “100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America for 2019” by OpenTable.

Crow’s Nest specializes in seafood and during Savor Sarasota you’ll want to stop by during lunch for the blackened mahi-mahi bowl with basmati rice, roasted corn, mango salsa, black beans, cherry tomatoes and an enticing papaya Thai chili sauce. Meatloaf marsala and a marinated half-chicken are also on the Savor Sarasota lunch menu along with soup, salad and Key lime pie options.

For dinner, the best deal is probably the linguine with white clam sauce while the pork osso buco and broiled salmon with orange balsamic glaze also sound tempting. Other dinner options on the Savor Sarasota menu include the soup, salads and pie, plus shrimp cocktail for a first course.

More waterfront dining nearby: Best waterfront restaurants, bars in Venice, Osprey, Nokomis and what to eat, drink there!

Farlow’s on the Water

2080 S. McCall Road, Englewood; 941-474-5343; farlowsonthewater.com

Offering a tropical getaway on picturesque Ainger Creek in Englewood, Farlow’s on the Water has unveiled a lengthy Savor Sarasota menu filled with lunch and dinner options.

Farlow’s specializes in clever renditions of Caribbean as well as Southern food with both styles of cuisine on display during Savor Sarasota. Lunch, for instance, includes choice of the Caribbean Seafood Au Gratin containing shrimp, scallops, and blue crab meat; or the tacos filled with hand-dipped buttermilk chicken tenderloins with shredded cabbage, cucumber ranch, pickled red onions and drizzled with sriracha maple syrup.

For dinner, there are even more options and all of the main courses sound delicious: Southern Chicken & Dumplings, Jamaican Curry Shrimp, Caribbean Cobia Stir Fry, Heritage Farms Pork Ribeye, and Kentucky “Burgoo” Braised Short Rib.  Oh, and save room for desert. The Puerto Rican Pineapple Pastry finds fresh Dole pineapple caramelized in Cruzan Coconut Rum and brown sugar flambé style, then wrapped in a cinnamon sugar puff pastry and fried. It’s served with vanilla ice cream, then topped with a caramel drizzle and toasted coconut flakes.

More waterfront dining nearby: The best waterfront restaurants in Englewood – and what to eat and drink there!

Fins At Sharky’s

1600 Harbor Drive S. Venice; 941-999-3467; finsatsharkys.com

Opened in 2013, Fins is the fancier, next-door sister restaurant of famed beach bar Sharky’s overlooking The Venice Fishing Pier and the Gulf of Mexico on the south end of the island of Venice. Fins At Sharky’s features outdoor seating as well as indoor dining behind polished windows overlooking the water.

A steakhouse with an almost equally strong emphasis on seafood, Fins is offering the three-course dinner for $35 as well as a $58 per person option that includes wine pairings. Consider starting with the seafood chowder accompanied by a choice glass of Prosecco and then enjoying the Beef Tenderloin Bourguignon in a rich pinot noir sauce with, of course, a glass of pinot noir, from Napa. For dessert, check out the hot fudge sundae featuring local Ciao gelato and house-made Belgium fudge sauce paired with a chocolate tawny port.

Fins is also serving Savor Sarasota lunch specials including a beer-battered Atlantic cod sandwich served with fries, coleslaw and homemade dill tartar sauce, which should pair perfectly with a nice cold one. The same lunch deal can also include coconut fried shrimp with sweet Thai chili sauce or, if you prefer sweets, the hot fudge sundae, carrot cake, or Key lime brûlée.

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Landy’s Restaurant

1400 Aqua View Lane, Englewood; 941-474-4292; landysonthewater.com

Best known for offering steaks and seafood with a Mediterranean twist in a casual setting, Landy’s overlooks the Redfish Cove area of Lemon Bay that’s popular with manatees.

During Savor Sarasota, you’ll want to consider a lunch visit to pair the fried green tomato caprese with either the popcorn shrimp tacos, flounder sandwich, Chicken Castaway salad, or Beach Burger. Along with the caprese, other Savor Sarasota first-course options include the prosciutto fruit plate.

For dinner Savor Sarasota deals, your best bet for first course options is probably the smoked fish dip or Key West calamari with second course highlights including the Frenched pork chop as well as the seafood linguini. For dessert, try a slice of their house Key lime pie.

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Pop’s Sunset Grill

112 Circuit Road, Nokomis; 941-488-3177, popssunsetgrill.com

Nestled along the Intracoastal Waterway by the Albee Road Bridge connecting Casey Key to Nokomis, Pop’s Sunset Grill (which I reviewed in October) excels at seafood and other classic Florida dishes in a positively blissful setting featuring a three-level tiki bar.

If you stop by for dinner during Savor Sarasota, consider starting with the caprese salad with roasted beets and then proceeding to the steak and shrimp skewers served with sides of red-skinned mashed potatoes and seasonal veggies. Finish the meal with a slice of Key lime pie. At lunch, you can go all-out lobster with a cup of lobster bisque followed by chipotle lobster tacos. Another solid option is clam chowder or Caesar salad with a turkey club sandwich.

And then following the conclusion of Savor Sarasota, Pop’s is hosting James Beard Award nominated and winning chefs on June 16 for a six-course dinner paired with wines and craft cocktails. The price starts at $150 (per seat for wine paired dinner) and proceeds benefit All Faiths Food Bank. For more information, email Stephanie Brown at [email protected] or call 941 488-3177 extension 1008.

For a complete list of restaurants participating in Sarasota Sarasota, as well as menus and chef bios, visit savorsarasota.com.

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Wade Tatangelo is the Herald-Tribune’s dining and entertainment editor overseeing the weekly Ticket publication. He’s also co-leader of USA Today Network’s Uniquely Florida team creating statewide content. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He may be reached by email at [email protected] Support local journalism by subscribing.​​​​​​

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Find Savor Sarasota dining deals, best waterfront restaurants