Ridley's Porch — Restaurant in Sarasota

We’ve had the absolute pleasure of staying at The Beach Residences for the past two months, and it’s been nothing short of a dream (LOL, basically my most favorite week-long vacation times eight)! A major highlight of our stay has been Ridley’s Porch, the on-site restaurant. With its stunning view of the pool and Gulf, it offers some of the most breathtaking sunsets you could ever imagine.

From the moment we arrive at Ridley’s Porch, the exceptional Ritz-Carlton service shines through. The valet team—Fico, David, and Thomas - always greet us with warmth, setting a fantastic tone for each visit. We’ve enjoyed chatting with them about life and admiring the beautiful cars that line the driveway!

During our stay, we were fortunate to attend both the French and Spanish wine dinners. The food was outstanding (thank you, Chef Eddy, and Sous Chef Austin!), the wine pairings were impeccable, and we learned so much about the vineyards and varietals. The service was top-notch, and we were lucky to have such great company at our table.

Whether dining indoors or outdoors, at lunch or dinner, the service (servers and runners), food, and drinks were consistently exceptional. We especially loved how the menu evolved during our stay, giving us new and exciting options to try.

One of our favorite moments was enjoying happy hour at the bar after a relaxing day at the beach. The set menu offers delicious food, and the daily drink specials are a great touch. It’s the perfect way to unwind while catching the sunset. Cyrene and Michelle were fantastic—so friendly, they made us feel right at home, like we were at one of our favorite local bars. One evening when I wasn’t feeling the best, Yonney kindly suggested and made me a ginger and bitters…and I immediately started feeling better!

We also took advantage of the takeout, which was always delicious, particularly the fresh salads, which were packed so thoughtfully.

During our stay, I had a bit of a last-minute dilemma on Super Bowl Sunday when I needed food for a boat ride. I remembered meeting Juan Cordoba, the Director of Beach Club Operations, one evening during sunset and again at a beach party. He was working alongside his team, which showed how hands-on and dedicated he is. Juan listened to my needs and quickly arranged a menu that from kemp’s Market that allowed us to enjoy a leisurely boat ride before the Super Bowl, without interfering with my preparations for the evening. The food was ready before the restaurant even opened, and everything was perfect—huge thanks to Juan and the Sunday morning kitchen staff for going above and beyond!

As we prepare to leave later this week, it’s definitely bittersweet. We’ve truly loved our time here and are already looking forward to returning next year. If we were residents, there’s no doubt we’d be members!

I’d be remiss not to mention the fantastic team members we encountered along the way at Ridley’s Porch—special thanks to the Ladies and Gentlemen – you are an amazing team! • Culinary Team: Chef Eddy and Sous Chef Austin • Food Runners: Piero, Alian, Patricia, and Adriana • Bartenders: Eric, Cyrene, Michelle, Britt, Yonney, and Joe • Ridley’s Porch: William, Clarissa, Anna, and Angelina • Kemp’s Market: Francesco and Carlie • Valet Team: David, Thomas, and Fico • Leadership: Jay and Caitlin, who are always on and behind the scenes supporting the team in every situation.

PS: Dining at Ridley's Porch is also an added benefit when staying at the Ritz Carlton, Sarasota. The hotel also provides a bus shuttle service to take you...

I think they were either terribly understaffed or just didn’t prioritize time. We had reservations and showed up on time only to be told they couldn’t seat us just yet and to have a drink at the bar while we wait. Not a problem even though I thought it odd that there were only 6 tables occupied and many tables empty. We ended up waiting 30 minutes at the bar before our table was ready. Another 5-10 for a waitress to bring waters/bread & menus. We ordered an appetizer (sweet potato bites which were delicious) but after that took another 15 or so minutes, we figured that it would most likely be another hour before we would even see an entree so we decided to change plans from there. Everything was delicious and servers were very nice but was just a little slow...

I had the worst experience of my life here. The elitist and incompetent staff at The Ritz and Ridley’s Porch were extremely rude. I called and made a reservation for my family of 11 on our last night in Lido key. When I called to make a reservation, I specifically asked if you needed to be a guest or member to eat there. She said no so I proceeded to make a reservation. Come the day of, she called to confirm and we walked over there only to be TURNED AWAY because you “have to be a member” or “guest.” Even though they specifically said it was not an issue. Not to mention the man at the gate and the manager of the restaurant were EXTREMELY rude. I hope no one supports these...