Lido Beach Grille — Restaurant in Sarasota

From the previous booking a month ago we asked for a table with water view figuring a months notice was enough. We explained we had honeymooned there and wanted a special Easter table for 2 back on premise . We arrived at our scheduled time on perfect time. We were told to walk way back away from water and seated opposite waiters service station corridor/ doors with very loud noises, clanging dishes, service laborers loud banter and laughing and dropping dishes. There is not ambience no matter standards you are used to and then we were asked if we we wanted to go in the other room for our our food. We did. We might add we were dressed for a special occasion dinner while everyone else came in sneakers flip flops and skin bearing sundresses. Quite the American Easter.

The food was rubbish. A few selections of cheese were average marmalade and some mustards. The omelette and carving table staff were completely unattentive as if they prayed to go home. No smiles at all. The meat stations had very very rare tenderloin only whiched practically mooed.

Filled with grizzle, I took photos. Inedible. The mashed potatoes tasted like were from powder absolutely disgusting. The seafood over cooked and rubbery. I began to get an upset stomach. I was unable to relax so I did not order a cocktail just iced tea. My husband's food was Salmon edible but nothing to comment on. All and all, this was a Holiday Inn hotel OR AIRPORT atmosphere. Terrible food and we have nothing good to report and we have had many holiday dinners in Sarasota both here and abroad but this was very below standard. This was THE WORST example of where to go of higher standards in SRQ at $58 pp and a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT . I would have liked to share my photos and videos but this review did not allow it or I would have. Where have the high standards that once belonged here at this Lido Beach establishment, gone? Aldolfo the banquet manager? was kind and listened and removed all charges. Our appetites lost. We left graciously. Sad Lido Beach...

Calamari appetizer and bread arrived promptly and were both great; however, it took an hour and a half to receive our entrees. The waiter was very inattentive - he forgot my wife's wine, we had to refill our own water and he actually came by and asked if anyone would like dessert before we even received our meals! One of our party judged her meal as "good", 2 said theirs was "OK", and mine was horrible. I ordered the New York Strip cooked Medium and when it arrived it was barely seared and raw inside - the vegetables were overcooked, but cold on arrival. The manager offered to comp my meal and took the steak back for more cooking. She returned several minutes later and delivered it still very rare. At that point, everyone else had finished eating, so I told her to just forget it and left the restaurant hungry....

I have been coming to Lido for several years and my favorite place was the 8 th floor at Lido Beach. Recently reopened after extensive remodel. The only thing they did not ruin was the view. There previously was an extensive list of appetizers, all delicious! Now flat breads and wings. We ordered 2 flat breads that had scant tops only on the middle and both pieces at the ends were bare.if you are not a wing person you are out of luck. Full price meatballs tasted good but were barely Luke warm. The bar was moved from the middle of the room to a side wall so your back is facing inward to another wall. No view except the bartender. Over all a big disappointment, I had enjoyed going there for years for Happy Hour and good food...