Slicker's Eatery — Restaurant in South Bradenton

Disappointed with Pricing and Quality Despite Friendly Staff

We had a unique opportunity to go out on a boat and catch our own fish, and the mate mentioned that Slicker's in Cortez, FL would cook our fresh catch for $12 per person. That sounded like a great way to end the day, so we headed over.

We were warmly greeted by the bartender and chose to sit at the bar. She confirmed that they do cook your catch and said it comes with two sides. We placed our orders—my partner got a bean dish and cucumber salad, and I chose mac and cheese with grilled potatoes.

When the food arrived, we were surprised by the portion sizes. Each plate had three small pieces of fish, and the sides were underwhelming. My mac and cheese appeared to be Kraft (or something very similar), and the grilled potatoes were simply a baked potato sliced and lightly grilled—nothing special.

The chef kindly came out to check on us, and we appreciated that personal touch. However, the real shock came when we received the bill: $34.99 per person. We asked about the pricing, since we were expecting around $12, and while the chef was very polite and professional, he explained that was the standard price and there was nothing he could do. He even offered us a round of drinks or to bring out the owner, but at that point, we just wanted to leave.

We understand there may have been a miscommunication about the pricing, and perhaps the mate we spoke to was mistaken. But paying $35 per person for a meal where we brought the main ingredient ourselves—and the sides weren’t even made in-house—felt extremely disappointing and overpriced.

The staff was friendly and accommodating, and we appreciate that, but unfortunately, the value just wasn’t there. We left feeling let down, especially after such a great day...

We had a big party eat at Slicker’s tonight after leaving Anna Maria Island, and it was incredible. The oysters were fresh, the blackened shrimp salad was tasty, the shrimp BLTs were a favorite in our group, and the fresh catch was phenomenal. Several people had the crab stuffed portabellos, and left extremely satisfied. We had several rounds of cocktails, beer, wine and even cocktails. All of our drinks were cold and delicious. We ended the dinner with desserts- the bread pudding was to die for with the bourbon glaze. The key lime pudding was unique and both tangy and sweet. The table favorite was the chai crème brûlée. We had to order a second and still wanted more! The owner came to speak with us personally during the experience and our food came out very fast. Overall, we had a 10/10 experience. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a local spot to grab great, fresh food without the huge touristy wait times. Such a hidden gem, just over the bridge from the island in Cortez. Go as soon as you can, you will NOT be...

An unassuming interior initially masks the delightful experience that awaits diners at this recently opened eating and drinking establishment. Nice selection of draft beers on tap. Grilled octopus was as good as any I have ever had. Perfectly cooked and tender as one could hope for. My main course was a pork belly Bahn Mi sandwich with a gently toasted French baguette. Accenting the sandwich was a white bean pate with cilantro. Delicious. The side of potato salad is an original Slicker's recipe with no mayo - much lighter than what you might be used to. Finished with what may well have been the best bread pudding in my recollection. Rather than the sweet, soaked, soggy version served up in most restaurants, Slicker's has cornered the market on a bread pudding dessert that is worthy of the visit on its own. After you begin consuming the delectible offerings, you will find yourself planning your next visit to Slicker's even before you have...