Caretta on the Gulf at the Sandpearl Resort

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Address:
500 Mandalay Avenue
Clearwater Beach, FL 33767

Neighborhood:
Clearwater

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Cuisine:
American

Price: $31 to $50

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Caretta on the Gulf at the Sandpearl Resort Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.sandpearl.com/Resort/Dining_Fine_Clearwater_Hotel_SandPearl.asp
Email: bcouey@sandpearl.com
Phone: (727) 674-4171
Hours of Operation: Daily Breakfast: 7:00am - 11:00am Sunday Brunch 11:30-2:30pm Lunch Monday-Saturday: 11:00am - 2:30pm Daily Dinner: 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: American, Continental
Executive Chef: Kyle Latsha
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Entertainment, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Area, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Private Party Facilities: We have two private dining rooms. One wine room that seats up to twelve. Also a private dining room that seats up to thirty-six.
Private Party Contact: Chloe Henry (727) 674-4125
Entertainment: Live Entertainment Friday and Saturday nights in our lounge. Call 727-674-4109 for schedule.
Special Events & Promotions: All You Can Eat Sushi! Every Wednesday evening from 5:00-7:00 in our lounge $20 per person. Sunset Hour at Caretta on the Gulf - every evening, the hour before sunset, we celebrate at Caretta's by offering Veuve Clicquot Champagne Half Off.

Getting there

Cross Street: Baymont Street
Parking: Valet
Parking Details: Complimentary Valet Parking.

A word from Caretta on the Gulf at the Sandpearl Resort

Seasonally inspired cuisine is at the heart of Sandpearl Resort’s signature dining experience, Caretta on the Gulf. Our world-class chefs’ desire to please and surprise means the menu is prepared with infusions of South American, Caribbean and other international inspirations offering a broad… selection of memorable cuisine. The Ceviche, Sushi and Raw Bar offers a fresh daily selection of local seafood. A wood-burning oven opens up a myriad of rustic dining selections. A wine room provides an intimate space for special events and tastings, with an extensive collection of wines from around the world. Take your seat among Caretta’s inspiring surroundings perched two levels above the beach with indoor and outdoor seating to view brilliant sunsets that set the scene for the most whimsical of culinary cravings.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerBest Ambiance
Diners' Choice WinnerBest Food
Diners' Choice WinnerAmerican

Diner Reviews

"We celebrated our two year wedding anniversary here. EVERYTHING about it was awesome! The service was GREAT! We had a waiter named Michael and he was very knowledgeable and super pleasant. They sat us right in front of a window to watch the sunset...as I requested. The food was to die for! My husband had a 24oz Tomahawk RIbeye, awesome presentation and you barely needed a knife to cut. I had the filet and it was like butter! We ordered the C ROLL as an app and it was great and super fresh as well. Just a great place!"
Dined on 3/11/2014
"Nice meal a little pricey, service was great, would recomend this restaraunt"
Dined on 3/11/2014
"We had an amazing dinner at COTG on Saturday to celebrate a birthday. Our server, Lance, was knowledgeable and recommended items which were perfect, the oyster BLT - which was as delicious as it was pretty to look at and the gulf black grouper which was perfectly prepared. We sat outside and enjoyed a spectacular sunset. It was a touch chilly, but I would take that with the view that we had. Only downside, is that the team may have been understaffed. It took quite some time for food to be brought out and cleared. Not that bad as we were there as a family and enjoying a wonderful night. Aside from slowness, service was impeccable and I would recommend this for anyone who wants well prepared, creative seafood."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"Asked twice for more butter. Apps came quickly- listened to other table complain about wait for entree a d he told them everything prepare to order. Salad came in normal amount of time . Then we waited 45 minutes for entree to show up. He told us twice our order was coming up shortly . Then he said any minute and that was 15 more minutes. The table seated next to us that came in 30 mi urea after us got there entree right after we did . Horrible excuses!"
Dined on 3/3/2014
"Table of 5 celebrating my wife's birthday. I wanted to go someplace different than our usual Ocean Prime, Eddy V's, Flemings, Ruth Chris. Well my mistake, although we have been several times to the Sand Pearl and enjoy the resort we have not had dinner at Caretta's. Cocktails were crafted to perfection and service was off to a good start. We ordered and enjoyed the apps and salads then waited nearly 45 minutes after for our entrees (Salmon, Snapper, Grouper, Filet, Veal Chop). I went and complained as I was losing interest very fast and certainly was embarrass. I was told they were putting right now, they showed up over cooked and cold ... not warm but cold, extremely disappointed we left. The spa day for daughter and wife had issues."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"We sat outside so noise level was low. Perfect spot to watch the sunset. Food choices were good and portions were sensible and well prepared. The Venison Rack (2 Chops) was outstanding..... overall a great eating experience."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"Sushi was fantastic. I would highly recommend it. Menu was great but as a foodie nothing said wow to me. Overall we loved it and for Clearwater I think it's the best they have!!"
Dined on 3/1/2014
"best dining experience we have had in years we will be back p"
Dined on 2/27/2014
"Went to Caretta for our 30th Wedding Anniversary. Service was excellent. The Scallop appetizer was delicious. My wife ordered the butternut squash ravioli. The filling was very sweet (for a savory dish) and the pasta was not cooked. It was very al dente. She had to use a knife to cut the pasta. Very disappointing. I had the short ribs. Very tasty but somewhat dry. That dish was overpriced for sure. I also had a lobster add on which was again overpriced for what I received. It was about 4 bites but cost $16. We loved the view and the service but the food was disappointing."
Dined on 2/18/2014
"We had dinner there on the first night of the stay and it was good but not great. I had a beet salad but found it difficult to find the beets-they were very thin slices and were overwhelmed by lettuce. Beets should have been the feature. Our second visit was not good. I ordered fish tacos and my partner a club sandwich. We waited 35 minutes for food and when it came the sandwich was not on toast. My tacos were cold and there was only one tiny piece of fish in the taco. It was filled with sliced cherry tomatoes. I sent it back asking for it to be hot and for more fish. Another 15 minutes they still hadn't brought me another plate. It was far from busy so there was no excuse. We had to leave before my food came back. Very disappointed."
Dined on 2/20/2014
"We had a wonderful outdoor table, great wine and Christine was an amazing server! The food left much to be desired. This is not a cheap restaurant and my husband had a rib eye steak that was tough, it was taken off the Bill once asked about it. I had grouper and found the sauce overly sweet but the fish was well cooked. The onion soup was excellent. I feel that an addition of some pasta dishes would be good as there are more vegetarians now. We enjoyed the ambience but cannot rave about the menu."
Dined on 2/18/2014
"Went here for valentines day weekend and it was busy but still intimate. I ordered the naked chicken and it is hands down the best chicken I have ever had."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Everything at Caretta was amazing except our table, which I'll get to. Food and service was simply amazing. I had an elk loin chop and my wife had braised beef short rib. Both were excellent. Starters were excellent as well. Service, as I expected, was spot on. I forget his name but he didn't miss a beat. My one complaint was our table. I requested a window table at sunset. And yes, obviously, so does everyone. I work in the business at another high end hotel in the area. F&B actually too. It's an easy request. We were married at the Sandpearl and it was my wife's birthday, they knew that. All she wanted was a window seat to see the sunset. A simple request. We'll go back but this time they missed an easy home run."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Great food, service and wine . Beautiful view. Very good wine. I would definitely dine here again."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"My husband and I went there for Valentines Day. They had a pre-fix dinner menu as they do at most establishments on Valentines Day. The food was fantastic, and the service was perfection. We had a later dining time and weren't sat near the window, so we could not see the amazing view. However, if you go at lunch or get a window seat the view of the ocean, and the sunset is beautiful. It was also my birthday, and the waiter made a point in making me feel special. I would highly recommend. Carretta on the Gulf!!"
Dined on 2/14/2014
"We have eaten here many times. Very accommodating to our Gluten and dairy allergies. They even serve gluten free bread prior to the meal. You can also eat in the lounge for a lighter fare. We eat a lot of Sushi and there's is to die for!"
Dined on 2/13/2014
"Very disappointed at our lunch on Feb 11. Waited 10 min for host to appear. In the meantime people just seated themselves at the better tables which were gone by the time the host seated us. Dirty dishes from tables left in the middle of the dining areas for 30 min and between our table and view of the gulf. Wait staff didn't know which tables were theirs Our wait person seemed over taxed even though he had only a few tables. Check brought without asking if we wanted anything else. Coffee brought without sugar. Turkey on turkey club was the quality of supermarket deli meat. Fries were over-seasoned. Food quality overall was mediocre. I would not recommend this place to anyone."
Dined on 2/11/2014
"The view is great--we went at sunset and enjoyed it from a window-side table. It was too cold to dine outside, but that view would have been even better. The windows are large and you can see the whole beach. Our waitress, Natalie, was perfect and made great suggestions. Drinks were good and the food was too--although I didn't love what I ordered (grouper entree). It all came out fairly quickly, but we stayed for a while and enjoyed the ambience. It was a Sunday night so it was not very crowded and we were not rushed at all. Valet parking made it so easy and quick. Worth the drive into Clearwater--just leave early because the traffic is bad!"
Dined on 2/9/2014
"This place was a real gem for Foodies........ For sure you can tell they use organic fresh ingredients. The main waiter was extremely knowledgeable of the menu. Made it very easy to be guided to what your taste buds were looking for for this dinner experience. I decided to go with the Chef pick for the evening. The wine selection was extensive and very impressive. Overall a true dining experience. Unfortunately I cannot overlook that the only thing that was not exceptable was a 40 minute wait for bread. I mean 40 minutes. Nothing on the table for 40 minutes. Thank God I was in wonderful company enjoying great wine."
Dined on 1/28/2014
"Great restaurant ambiance, everything was top notch, this is a very elegant restaurant suitable for business dinners or romantic for couples."
Dined on 2/3/2014
"I can't think of anything that could top our dinner at Caretta on the Gulf. The food was delicious well prepared and presented. The view of the gulf and the sunset really made the dining experience even more relaxing. Our server was attentive and made excellent suggestions for food and wine pairings. We also received two bite size samples (one appetizer and one dessert) courtesy of the chef that were delicious. The meal was one of the more expensive of our vacation trip, but worth every penny. We would definitely dine there again."
Dined on 2/2/2014
"This was my first time here and absolutely will not be the last. Possibly the best brunch I have ever been to. Delightful!"
Dined on 2/2/2014
"Spouse had the filet and it was disappointing. Tasted like it had been cooked and not grilled. Service was very slow. At times we thought the waiter had forgotten about us! However, we would try restaurant again. The rest of the meal was excellent and hard to beat the ambiance."
Dined on 2/1/2014
"Carretta's is a part of The Sand Pearl hotel, which is a five star luxury beach front property. They have been reinventing themselves for their eight years in existence. They have finally got it about right. Our food was well prepared & tasty. Service friendly and not overbearing. Get a table by the window to watch the glorious sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. Even the valet parking free with dinner has improved. For a local, have to give them a big plus for improvements across the board. A little pricey but worth it for a special evening at a special restaurant."
Dined on 1/30/2014
"Just amazing, dinner and brunch there is always a great time!!!! If you like great food, (not the same old fried seafood crap you find at the beach), then get there. Incredible food and service. It's all four star service and eats but it welcomes you right off the beach. Perfect for any occasion and the best food in Clearwater, probably all of the Tampa area."
Dined on 1/26/2014
"Very nice, but still too pricey for the product. I had the filet, and it was okay but not great. Views are wonderful. It is very quiet with space between tables."
Dined on 1/27/2014
"Caretta is an excellent dining experience. Outstanding crab cake. Good scallops, but only 2 in appetizer. Grouper well prepared. Dessert with chocolate lava cake was average. Great view before sunset. We observed special occasion table receiving preferential treatment. Excellent table service. Front reception area should read open table memo to increase knowledge about party. Manager did come and ask about the experience."
Dined on 1/24/2014
"Went to dinner Saturday night and brunch on Sunday morning. The food was outstanding. The grouper with lobster sauce was tremendous even better than the lobster diner my wife had. The scallop appetizer was to die for. Even the Caesar salad was well above average. The Sunday brunch, while expensive was worth the price with unlimited Champagne and great food. The only drawback was the service was a bit slower than what you would expect in in fine restaurant , but then again it is resort hotel."
Dined on 1/18/2014
"Great for dinning on the beach. Delicious food! Awesome view."
Dined on 1/18/2014
"We recently moved to Clearwater and we were given a gift card to the resort. Caretta was amazing and we will definitely go back for a special occasion. It is definitely more expensive than other nice restaurants in the area, but well worth it. The food was flavorful. Only thing was, our server didn't take our dinner order till after we completely finished our appetizers and that was only because we reminded him we didn't place our dinner order yet. Otherwise the service was good. All the wait staff is courteous and friendly. They have an extensive wine and cocktail list. GREAT cockttails! Save room for dessert. The flourless chocolate cake is truly decadent for anyone that truly LOVES chocolate. For others it may be on the "rich" side."
Dined on 1/17/2014
"Caretta's is an exceptional restaurant when it comes to the food and service. We had a party of seven to celebrate a couple of birthdays. Lance, our waiter, was outstanding and made everyone feel special and well taken care of. The combination of flavors on almost all of the dishes are truly unique. The only ding I would give the restaurant was that my reservation was made two weeks in advance and was for 6:00 PM (hardly peak time). When our party arrived, we were escorted to a table in the corner with no view of the water. When I pressed this issue, I was firmly instructed, "we can't offer the view to a party your size". My opinion is if you're going to pay $100 per person for a meal, the view should come with it."
Dined on 1/11/2014
"Cuisine certainly creative and well conceived, overall enjoyable meal, but the wait staff/manager kept interrupting us, and were interested in appearing to provide attentive service instead of simply providing it— the actual diner experience not being considered paramount. For the Pinellas area, one of the better dining spots, but this is the second dining experience at Caretta that has been marred by disruptive service."
Dined on 1/11/2014
"This is the best view on Cleawater Beach for fine dining. The food is alway very good"
Dined on 1/2/2014
"Compliments to the chef, the management, the service staff, etc. Best dining experience of the year. Superb cuisine, service and atmosphere."
Dined on 12/28/2013
"Enjoy sushi and seafood with a great view of the sunset. Will go back!"
Dined on 9/28/2013
"We had high expectations and were not disappointed!"
Dined on 12/26/2013
"Food quality is excellent, service started out well but became a little tardy. Overall a good fine dining experience."
Dined on 12/24/2013
"This establishment prides themselves on service and quality food. It shows from the moment you walk it. Great place for a special occasion or extra special date night. Friendly staff and great selection of organic foods. The location is beautiful and so is the decor. I would definitely be adding this to my preferred dinner experiences."
Dined on 12/12/2013
"Dishes that "try too hard and acheive too little" - nothing we tasted was exceptional and most of the items were actually bland. The chef seems to overthink his concepts and forgets about overall tastiness in the process. Excellent wine list."
Dined on 12/9/2013
"From the start a very notable and wonderful experience with great wines and food.not cheap,but you get what you pay for and this restaurant is definitely worth the cost!"
Dined on 12/7/2013

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