Speaks Clam Bar — Restaurant in Sarasota

I recently had the pleasure (last night) of dining at Speaks Clam Bar in Downtown Saint Armand's, and it's high time I share my enthusiastic thoughts. Each visit to this establishment has been a culinary delight, and I'm thrilled to finally leave a review.

Without fail, the food and service at Speaks Clam Bar have consistently exceeded my expectations. What sets this place apart is their commitment to quality. All of their pasta is homemade, crafted in-house, which elevates every dish to a whole new level of excellence.

On my most recent visit, my dining companion and I decided to indulge in the Linguine Frutti di Mare, but with our unique twists. I opted for zucchini noodles paired with a sweet marinara, while my partner went for the classic pasta with medium marinara. Both dishes were nothing short of exceptional; the flavors were divine, and we savored every bite. In fact, we were so thoroughly impressed that, despite our best efforts, we couldn't finish our plates, a rarity these days.

The libations at Speaks Clam Bar were equally impressive, ensuring our spirits remained high throughout the evening. What truly elevated our dining experience, however, was the exceptional service provided by our waiter, Robbie. His attentiveness, humor, and friendly demeanor added an extra layer of enjoyment to our evening. Robbie's ability to engage with us and share in our joyful mood was a highlight of the night.

And here's the surprising part – those leftovers we took home were just as sensational the second time around. Speaks Clam Bar's commitment to delivering outstanding flavors and memorable experiences is truly commendable. It's a testament to the culinary expertise and dedication of the entire team.

Now, if I may offer a humble suggestion, as someone who adores the cuisine at Speaks Clam Bar, I would love to see some menu additions. Specifically, the occasional or, better yet, permanent inclusion of a gnocchi special and a carbonara special (with bacon wrapped scallops hint-hint) would be a dream come true. These classics, prepared with Speaks Clam Bar's culinary finesse and their homemade pasta, would undoubtedly be a hit among patrons like me.

In summary, if you're seeking a dining experience that combines delectable cuisine, outstanding service, and a fantastic atmosphere, look no further than Speaks Clam Bar in Downtown Saint Armand's. This gem in Sarasota, Florida, continues to impress, and I can't wait to return for another memorable meal, hopefully with those enticing additions...

My husband and I visited Speaks on 12/8/2021 after spending the day at the Ritz Carlton Beach Club, because it was close to where the Ritz hotel shuttle dropped us off and it advertised as having gluten free options.

We were in our beach clothes and honestly, I wish we didn't look so raggedy from being in the sun all day. Regardless, there was no dress code, so that was nice.

We specifically chose this place because we saw it was advertised as gluten free friendly and I have Celiac disease. My husband had the chicken Milanese ($19) and I had the frutti de mar with gluten free pasta for ($26.) My husband was confused because his dish said it was served with scampi garlic butter sauce and he thought it meant it was served over scampi pasta. I'm not sure if scampi garlic butter sauce actually contains shellfish, so double check if you're ordering chicken Milanese to avoid shellfish.

Unfortunately for me, the gluten free option is like a $4+ upcharge, and it is only available as penne. Also, you can't get any gluten free bread, even for an additional charge. That was kind of awkward to sit there while my husband ate the starter of bread.

I ended up getting a horrible stomachache afterwards, so I suspect that they probably cooked the GF pasta in the same water as the regular pasta, which would automatically contaminate it with gluten.

The service was okay as they were training and the decor was cool. I'd avoid this place as a Celiac because of the cross contamination issue. If you don't have Celiac, I'd be excited to try the pasta that they make in house in the middle of the...

We are staying in a hotel nearby and wanted something for dinner. The bartender told us about a classy little place on an island where they make their own noodles. My grandfather is from Palermo, Sicily. I did make a reservation for 4 with a window view. The location was on a very busy street with plenty of bars or desserts shops.

Ok in all the restaurants that we have tried across America I can say the “Old Fashion” here ultimately the BEST! From the presentation to the smell of the cherry wood smoke it was so delightful. I did ask the waitress for a very sweet martini she suggested the “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” it was very tasty. My friends and I thought cocktails were amazing. This was the best mixologist in town.

We were having such a good time when our appetizer arrived, it was a heavenly amount of butter and clams. I ate every bite. I am glad we saved room for the entrées. They were all large portion dishes. My husband enjoyed his steamed main lobster. It was cooked to perfection and the claws fell right out. I wanted lobster but I also wanted some homemade pasta as well. My dish was the best, it had lobster, shrimp, and pasta.

To the manager our server couldn’t not have done a better job. She was very busy when we arrived plus there was a huge party table. She never missed a beat and was so kind. I ask many questions when I am dining. She had the answers and was timely as well.

Wow, the chef skills were on point...