Anna Maria Oyster Bar - UTC — Restaurant in Sarasota

I recently had the pleasure of lunch at Anna Maria Oyster Bar, and I must say the experience was overwhelmingly positive. From the moment I walked through the doors, I felt welcomed by a warm and professional staff that seemed genuinely committed to ensuring each guest enjoyed their time. The service stood out immediately. The waitstaff remained attentive throughout the visit, answering questions about the menu with knowledge and enthusiasm, and checking in just often enough without being intrusive. My server made excellent recommendations and ensured drinks and meals arrived promptly and exactly as ordered.

The atmosphere at Anna Maria Oyster Bar is simple but good. The restaurant maintains a laid-back vibe suitable for both families and small groups of friends. The location, conveniently situated not far from the city mall in Sarasota, makes it an ideal spot to stop in after a shopping trip or while exploring the area.

One of the strongest highlights of the visit involved the food itself. The menu offers a broad variety of seafood dishes, with an emphasis on oysters prepared in several styles. The flavors delivered on freshness and quality, with each dish clearly prepared with care. The entrees were well-balanced, generously portioned, and beautifully presented.

That said, I would be remiss not to mention the one downside I encountered during the visit. While the menu lists an impressive selection of oysters, not all options were available at the time of my visit. This was slightly disappointing, as I had hoped to sample a few specific varieties. However, the oysters that were available were fresh and well-prepared, so the overall impact of this limitation remained minor in the context of the full experience. I appreciated the staff's honesty in explaining the limited availability and their willingness to suggest excellent alternatives.

In summary, Anna Maria Oyster Bar delivers a very satisfying dining experience marked by friendly service, a stylish and welcoming atmosphere, and a menu that showcases the good of Florida’s seafood offerings. Although not every oyster selection was in stock, the overall quality of the available dishes more than...

Dining at Anna Marie Oyster Bar with my beautiful wife was an experience that combined delicious cuisine with the thrill of possible oyster chandelier decapitations.

My wife opted for the grilled scallops with fries, and it was as if Poseidon himself had personally prepared the seafood. Each scallop was a taste of the ocean's finest, and the fries were the crispy sidekicks to this maritime masterpiece.

As for me, I went on an adventure with the Boom Boom Shrimp, Hush Puppies, and those crispy brussel sprouts that were so good, they made Brussels proud! The Boom Boom Shrimp was a flavor explosion that would put fireworks to shame, and the hush puppies were like little golden nuggets of joy. As for the brussel sprouts, they were so crispy that they should be certified as a musical instrument for that satisfying crunch.

The decor of the place added a whimsical touch to the experience. The oyster chandelier, while stunning, felt like a potential game of Oyster Roulette. One moment you're enjoying your meal, and the next, you're ducking for cover! The crab traps hanging from the ceiling gave the restaurant a true coastal feel, and the fake orchids rounded out the decor in a way that left you wondering if you'd entered a nautical-themed haunted house.

Amanda, our server, was a superstar. She managed to navigate the treacherous waters of the oyster chandelier and the crispy brussel sprouts with grace and charm. Her service was as smooth as a boat gliding through calm seas.

In summary, our dinner at Anna Marie Oyster Bar was a seafood extravaganza filled with flavors that would make Neptune jealous, a decor that kept us on our toes, and Amanda, the captain of our dining experience. If you're looking for a dining adventure that combines delicious seafood with a hint of danger from the chandelier, this is the place to...

Went there with a friend who gave this place a second chance. Not sure what is going on with the service these days. Tried the escargots which were delicious and had the mussels which unfortunately were small and overcooked. For the main meal had the seafood pasta which came in a pan....horrible recipe! For a seafood restaurant this dish wash terrible. Average scallops, shrimps and mussels with a terrible marinara pizza type of sauce and store bought pasta. Side salad that came with the meal were overloaded with blue cheese. Oyster were overpriced at $36 a dozen for gulf water ones. The service was one of the worse I ever had. Arrogant and defensive attitude waiter, definitely did not stand to the professionalism of a food establishment. Bill came to $175 on this dinner. When ask for something, we would be told "when I have a minute I will bring you over what you need". Upon ordering a house AMOB specialty drink, we were made a foul as we did not know anything about the different categories of this drink. Almost making us feel stupid for not knowing all categories were made of different alcohol brand. At checkout the waiter showed up with this handheld payment device and immediately shoved it in our faces with request for either 18-20 or 25% tip. Horrible, lack of class. Travel the world and know better guys! Go to Europe and learn how classy food service should be performed. Disappointed to...