Island House Tap and Grill — Restaurant in Florida

CeviChella is gone. Read down further for information on Island House Tap & Grill. Even better stop in for a delicious menu item and a local craft beer. You will return for more!!!

Rod Stewart has a song called "Every Picture Tells a Story" and Chef/owner Darwin Santa Maria can certainly change "picture" to "restaurant" and have the start for a good book on his entrepreneurial experiences in the restaurant business. In all reality no book is necessary, as with Darwin's culinary magic, his foods and beverages have always told a wonderful and memorable story. CeviChela is merely the next chapter is this talented chefs variations on his versions of the foods of his home country of Peru. The Peruvian street food served up at his newest and very popular location on Siesta Key will bring a wonderful taste experience to your palate. It really does not matter what you choose from this largest menu on Siesta Key, your choice will be assembled with the freshest of ingredients, delivered quickly and that first taste will have you hooked if you eat in or take out. Whether your choice is seafood, steak, vegetable or grain, the Darwin special taste will deliver a wonderful and unforgettable memory that will haunt you to return for more. Local craft beers along with offerings from Darwin's newest brewery are served in cans, bottles and on draft.

READ NEW RESTAURANT UPDATE

Nothing lasts forever including CeviChela. Darwin has moved on to his next culinary cuisine at Darwin Peruvian Eatery on Tamiami Trail just south of Bee Ridge and will review at his new location. Interesting that Google kept reviews up on this closed restaurant and the good news is Island House Tap & Grill is the new restaurant and deserves every star in the 5 star rating that CeviChela received and is receiving rave reviews in this remodeled & redecorated Island House Grill. Great food, superior service and value pricing. Highly recommend for lunch, dinner or a tasty draught of locally...

I had been to island house quite a few times as it is fairly close to home, and had always liked it pretty well. Things really improved dramatically however, when they recently updated their menu around the first of June. The new menu is absolutely spectacular, and well thought out. Some of my favorite items are the following:

Grouper cheek sliders $14 - The cheek meat of the grouper is amazing, and served with some lemon aioli on a little Hawaiian roll that gives it a perfect balance of sweet and savory goodness.

Jerk chicken sandwich $12 - probably my favorite thing on the whole menu. Shredded rotisserie chicken meat, coated in a considerably spicy jerk seasoning, served with slices of fried sweet potato, yes sweet potato. It is a surprising, yet delightful combination that also hits that sweet/savory combo just right.

Lobster Mac and Cheese $18 - This one also knocked my socks off, and was the best mac and cheese I've ever tasted, anywhere.

Burgers and Tacos are the best one can get on Siesta Key without question, and each having their own twist that make them unique. Burgers are 1 1/2 in thick, and sous vide before being seared on the grill. Tacos have a little trick up the sleeve too, with the meat choices served on corn tortillas that have been grilled with cheese on the exterior giving them a crispy cheesy crunch, I've not had anything like it before, to be honest.

They have started doing a happy hour from 3-6 and from 10 to close, that has been a very good deal as well. With a couple of taco options for $2.50 each, as well as reduced draft prices.

In short, go try this place right away! You will be very...

TLDR: food was awful, service was worse

Me and my friends came here a few months ago and it was AMAZING! I ordered a Caesar salad with blackened fish and it was in the top 5 fish meals I’d ever had. So, based on my suggestion, me and my family from Kentucky cam here to eat. I ordered the same thing as last time, only to be disappointed. When the food was brought to me it had shrimp and not grouper (which is what I ordered). When I corrected the lady server, she proceeded to tell me “Um, no this is what you ordered.” When do she looked back at her note pad that she had written my order on, she saw that I did NOT order the shrimp. She had that fixed. But when she brought me the correct order (only seconds later), the grouper was dry and chewy, the lettuce was charred and soggy, the salad had no croutons, and the lettuce wasn’t even cut. It was a whole heart of Romaine lettuce cut in half. I took one bite of the fish and decided I didn’t want to eat it. I had my family try it to make sure I wasn’t crazy and they agreed it was awful. The server took the plate from in front of me (without asking if I was done), and then charged us full price for the meal. I will not being going back to this restaurant again. The seafood was awful, but the burgers were okay. All in all, I will not being going back to this restaurant again, and I will not recommend it any of my friends...