element steak. seafood. pasta. — Restaurant in Sarasota

This spring I had a chance to stop by Element in beautiful downtown Sarasota for an early dinner before catching a performance at the Van Wez' with my father. In a sentence, Element delivers incredible food presented in a sophisticated way at an exquisite venue with extraordinary staff to assure you an impeccable dining experience.

My father and I reserved a 4:30PM dinner to ensure ample time to get to our performance we were attending. The restaurant was slow at first, but after 5:00PM things got a lot busier, and this was midweek. I am sure on the weekends it's a good idea to ensure a reservation, as I imagine the place would be quite busy. Of note, you'll need to try to find street parking or take advantage of any of the convenient parking garages located around the Sarasota downtown. Having used these for years, they're safe as is walking around the city.

We were promptly seated and provided beverages. It took a few moments to receive some bread, and wow was that worth it. Sumptuous and soft with flaky crust, it was challenging to limit ourselves to reserve room for our meal!

My father ordered the shrimp cocktail as an appetizer and baked halibut. I went with the coconut curry mussles and black garlic and squid ink linguini. The appetizers were ready within about 20 minutes of arrival. I thought that reasonable considering we were seated right as the restaurant opened. The appetizers were delicious. The shrimp with the cocktail were some of the largest I ever seen, and the sauce was brimming with flavor - all very fresh. The mussles were a treat. There must have been 30+ of them in a silky sweet curry sauce that paired well with the seafood. In reality, the appetizers were so substantial, I think they could be easily shared by 2 people with no problem.

Our entrees arrived about 10 minutes after we had finished our appetizers. Once again, the plating and presentation were commendable. My father exclaimed that his entree was one of the best dishes of his life. The pasta that I had was flavorful with a subtle but obvious garlic kick. It was also accompanied by several massive shrimp all cooked to perfection. In the end, we just couldn't quite finish it all. The chefs here do provide ample portions.

In retrospect, I think an appetizer shared by 2 plus one side dish for a table of up to 4 plus entrees would be more than sufficient for most people. Now, if you'd like to take advantage of dessert, I'd recommend passing on the appetizer and maybe even side dish. Your main entree will come with enough to satisfy.

Everything at Element was fantastic. But, I want to close out my review acknowledging the incredible staff. Our servers and who I presume is a manager were all warm, hospitable, and professional. Their attention to detail throughout our meal, promptness without being overbearing, and friendliness made our dinner something special.

I've traveled a lot and have eaten at restaurants run by celebrity chefs and others featuring 7+ course meals. I'd rank Element among the top 5 restaurants I've ever dined at. This is an exceptional establishment and a gem in Sarasota. If you are seeking an elegant dining experience that is nevertheless unpretentious, this should be among your...

Sinew Ruins Meals and Super Fatty Ribeyes Lead to Disappointment in Downtown Sarasota.

I do thoroughly believe that for the money spent ($$$$$) that the meal should have been as close to perfect as possible for a restaurant that prides itself on unique, top quality ingredients. It's a shame that this Sarasota Fine Dining Restaurant failed to deliver aa great experience for the price that was paid.

Here is what went well:

Element Modern Mediterranean Grill in Sarasota has a very nice staff. The main server, who was training another newbie was charismatic and had a great personality for a front of the house staffer.

1 out of 2 appetizers were great. The beef tartar was second to none and I found myself looking for more when the plate was empty.

We both ordered steaks and the smaller filet was cooked perfectly. It was the standard filet mignon that you would expect at a nice restaurant in any city.

Here's what didn't go well with the food:

We ordered the Butcher Block charcuterie tray. The prosciutto had a tendon or sinew in it and was inedible. Literally, you could not bite through it if you had razors for teeth. It's very rare to see someone spit out a piece of meat at a fine dining restaurant with a look of despair on their face, but that's exactly what happened.

We put it aside to show our waiter and he was dismissive and questioned it. He did apologize and said it happens from time to time, but my question to him was how it could have left the kitchen in that form, or passed a quality check when the slab came in.

I don't think it would have bothered us too much, except it happened again. If you have ever put a foreign object in your mouth and tried to chew it (twice) with no success, you understand the grotesque feeling you get when you can't chew through it. Nasty.

The waiter really pushed for the ribeye, to which I had suggested that I wanted the strip steak. Being that he was an original front of the house guy, I decided to take his opinion figuring he had some clout and knew the best cuts at Element Restaurant in Sarasota. He suggested getting it grilled and that the fat would render perfectly and would melt in my mouth. He had a very convincing sales pitch about the ribeye. Maybe it was the best cut of the night or maybe that was the biggest money maker.

When the steak came out, the fat did not render properly. Nothing is worse than a perception gap of what you thought you would be getting and then what arrives on the table. By the time I finished sawing through the portions of the ribeye that I wanted to eat, someone finally came by to ask how it was. At that point, I had given up and decided to not voice my concerns. Why? Because we were there for 2.5 hours already and I did not want to wait for a different cut.

We paid the large bill and left.

For as many restaurants that exist in Downtown Sarasota, I would suggest trying a different upscale fine dining restaurant other than Element, Modern...

On a business trip to Sarasota, driving through downtown I happened upon this little gem. From the outside it looks like a traditional upscale steakhouse with the understated signs but it is so MUCH more. Upon my entrance I was greeted by two hosts and directed to the bar as requested. I was greeted immediately and the experience just got better from there. With only a few people at the bar the service was very attentive. Every need was met and every question was asked.

I opted for a Ketel Gimlet, I am old school and like “Roses” which they didn’t have but the bar staff came through with the perfect amount of sweetness from simple to balance the acidity of the vodka and fresh lime. I ended up having two.

As I scanned the special menu and the porcini braised meatballs where calling my name as I am married to the meatball king of NYC, but I digress, there where many other delicious offerings on the menu. I chose an option from”Land & Sea” the Baked Halibut dish accompanied by braised butter beans, leeks, sweet corn all left the the nuance of the Nueske bacon lardons and finished with finnes herbs. It was truly a masterful dish with lots of thoughts, layers of flavors and showing the Chefs bright flavor profile. I can find simplicity of the dish but the undertones are what really tied everything together. I also ordered a side of crispy Brussels again showcasing the delicious bacon, salted pine nuts with lemon. The bartender offered a South African Chardonnay that pair so nicely with everything I ordered. Very well done Elements, I just might return before I leave to try the short rib pasta!!

My only comment, and it’s just my own observation and only because I am in the business, is the barstools are very uncomfortable, short backs and no foot rail along the bottom of the bar to offset the narrow foot railing on the stool itself and to rest your feet on. I am tall at 5’10 and found I had to prop my feet up on the next stool in order to find comfortable sitting position while eating. It did not take away from how much I enjoyed the experience and food and ambiance.

Don’t get the above notes twisted, this is an amazing review of a very intimate dining space with incredible food and they have much to be proud of! They have a fairly large outdoor dining space but I would only eat inside to experience what this great little spot has to offer! From one professional to another, well done!! Do not miss your chance to try this...