Marina Jack — Restaurant in Sarasota

3-24-2023 I made a reservation for this dinner cruise on line. very easy to find what dates are available. Day before sail we received a call to confirm. I worried about parking as this is a very congested area. But we arrived and found there to be Valet parking. So we did that. Life was made easy by this. Valet was for the cost of a tip. Very fast service. We then checked in for the cruise at the gift shop. We were a little early and there were several seats outside in the shade and the sun. When time to board our table was assigned. Service for drinks was fast and they are not included in the price of the dinner. There was adult beverages and also soft drinks. We were downstairs as the upper deck was rented for a party. No problem for me. It was noisy and I dont know how you can get away from that. I believe they can seat about 60 downstairs. I dont know how many upstairs. They called the tables one at a time to start the buffet. There was salad and three dressings, rolls and butter, vegetable medley which was hot and tasty, scalloped potatoes, orange baked salmon. Im not a fan of salmon but this was pretty darn good. Prime rib with au-ju and or horseradish sauce. Everything was very good and tasty. Service was very good. Dessert was brought out and you had three choices. Key lime cheese cake, chocolate cake and a strawberry cake. I had the chocolate cake and the Key lime cheese crack. Yes crack! It was the best key lime anything I ever had. The sunset cruise did not disappoint. It was dark by the time we headed back to the dock and Sarasota was lit up including the bridge. Marina Jack 2 did not disappoint. The restrooms were very clean. I never asked if the fare included a tip so we tipped. But it might be worth asking. Being inside we did not need a jacket or sweater. It was a very pleasant night. To video or take pictures of the sunset i suggest going out the door you came in on as everyone piles in the front of the ship to do the same. Only one thing to pass along. The windows were pretty dirty which did not hinder the pictures if you put your phone against the window but if you had a real camera that would be an issue. Bottom line. Do this cruise if you can. It is worth every penny. You...

I swore I’d never go back, but gave it another shot. After a long drive from MA to FL with my daughter, we came for appetizers and cocktails. We sat at the bar and Austin was our bartender, he was so unfriendly. The counter was sticky and had food crumbs on it, along with some silverware that was used. Instead of greeting us with a smile and a hello, he slapped down two stained and gross menus. I asked for a cloth to wipe up the counter and he used a dry napkin to move the mess around. The bar area is my favorite, because of the beautiful view, however it needs a deep cleaning . The chairs are grimy and worn out, the bar floor area is also gross.

When Mr Personality came back with his all his charm, we stated the drinks we’d like and he said “are you ordering food”, I stated not yet. He removed both menus and went to make our drinks. As he approached with my cosmo, he proceeded to spill about a quarter of it all over the counter and my pocketbook. Again, it’s as if I did something wrong, he said “ I owe you a drink”, but never offered to remake the spilled one. When I asked for water he also managed to spill that on the counter.

At this point , I asked for our check and paid with a $100 bill, neither of us finished our drinks and he never inquired as to why. Thankfully I counted my change and realized he shorted me $10. When I was able to get his attention, I felt he was well aware he shorted me as he promptly handed me a $10 out if his pocket. I took the time to read through the reviews and the common theme for the lowest ones is obvious. The owner/s responses aren’t genuine and it appears the owner/s just don’t care anymore, which is sad!

Five stars go out to the valet crew, they are and always have been...

When you’re getting restaurant recommendations on Siesta Key, it helps to know exactly what you’re walking into. Marina Jack isn’t just one place it’s actually three separate restaurants in one location, and knowing the difference can really shape your experience.

The most common landing spot (and where most locals will point you) is the Blue Sunshine Patio. This is the casual, family- friendly outdoor spot with live music and a great water view. You’ll see people with kids, dogs, and flip-flops very come-as-you-are. Our first visit here was solid. The food was decent, the live band gave it a fun vibe, and there were plenty of options our kids were happy with.

Deep Six Lounge is right next door. It’s a slightly more upscale with a piano bar feel. Still casual, but the menu leans more adult. We ended up here by accident on our second visit and it just wasn’t a great fit for our school-age kids.

If you’re looking for a more refined experience, the Marina Jack Dining Room on the upper deck is where you’ll find white tablecloths and a full fine-dining.

They really need better signage. It’s a “seat yourself” setup, but nothing tells you where you’re actually supposed to go so it’s way too easy to wander into the wrong section and not realize it until you’ve already settled in and someone finally says something. Maybe that’s the point? Feels kind of sneaky.

We sat down only to find out the menu was totally different because of where we landed. We would’ve moved if the patio wasn’t closed due to construction. Instead, we got to enjoy the sounds of drills and hammers while trying to have dinner that was not what we were expecting.

Just a heads up so you can find the vibe you’re looking for the first...