Libby's Cafe & Bar

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Address:
1917 South Osprey Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34239

Neighborhood:
Sarasota

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Cuisine:
Contemporary American

Price: $30 and under

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Libby's Cafe & Bar Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.libbyscafebar.com
Phone: (941) 487-7300
Hours of Operation: Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:00am - 3:00pm;
Dinner: Daily 3:00pm-Close;
Saturday & Sunday Brunch 10:30-3:00;
Happy Hour Daily 4-7pm;
Thursday Ladies' Night, 9pm-2am
Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Contemporary American, Tapas / Small Plates, Comfort Food
Executive Chef: Kyle Harrington
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Counter Seating, Dancing, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking Area, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Smoking Area, Smoking Area (patio only), Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wine, Wine Bar
Catering: Choose from three different menus based on price, bar and event or customize your own private dinner or special celebration; private dining rooms available on-site
Entertainment: Thursday Nights (9pm - 2am) -- DJ Scotty B and DJ Santana
Special Events & Promotions: Private dining rooms are available with varied menu options to customized events based on interest and budget

Getting there

Cross Street: Hillview Ave.
Public Transit: Within 1 block
Parking: Private Lot
Parking Details: Valet parking weekends; complimentary on-street and parking lot across the street every day

A word from Libby's Cafe & Bar

Lively and casually sophisticated Libby's Cafe + Bar has won over the hearts and palates of Sarasota diners and visitors since opening in October 2008. Its Modern American cuisine includes creative Asian and Italian influences with small and large plate options. Whether it’s enjoying a Happy Hour… special, lunch, Sunday Brunch, dinner or a special occasion event in the private dining room, value, quality and service consistency is paramount for this family owned café that thrives on genuine hospitality. Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerNeighborhood Gem

Libby's Cafe & Bar - Best Restaurants in Sarasota

Diner Reviews

"Brunch again was excellent and service always attentive but not patronizing. One of my favorites."
Dined on 7/20/2014
"Our lunch was a business meeting and the atmosphere was perfect to have a very concentrated conversation. The food and service were excellent -- the attention paid to us during our lucnh meeting was fantastic without being obtrusive."
Dined on 7/14/2014
"Libby's is a highly rated Sarasota Restaurant. The food was very good and reasonably priced. Although we say for 15 minutes before a server approached us, he immediately recognized the error (actually he was mortified), and bent over backwards to enhance our dining experience. The only criticism involves the chairs in the main dining area - the seats are very hard and uncomfortable, and need to be replaced. My wife had to request several napkins the place on the seat. The bar area is quite nice, and in light of the cushioned seating will be where we try to dine next time. Finally, the acoustics are fair to poor; in other words, it is loud."
Dined on 7/12/2014
"One of my all time brunch menu favorites is lox and bagels. I was so excited about their Flatbread Lox: flat"bread" is not flat"cracker". The flatbread was hard, and I could not taste the salmon. All I could taste was egg. So disappointing. For 14.99? Expecting way better."
Dined on 7/12/2014
"Every single time we have gone to Libby's we have been very impressed. Never a bad meal and always great service. A unique and delicious dish is the Pear Tortalini! Very recommended... A long standing Sarasota gem!"
Dined on 7/10/2014
"We were running late so I called and asked if they would hold our reservation. The host very graciously agreed to keep our table until we arrived. We ordered appetizers, dinner, and iced tea. The portions were small (5 quarter-sized scallops, 6 small slices of Wasabi tuna, soggy salad beneath 6 steak slices) for the price they charged, the service was half-hearted, and we felt less than welcome. We've been to Libby's before and had great meals and service but it will be quite a while before we return after such a disappointing evening. Oh yes, after a couple of reminders our iced tea arrived at the end of the meal."
Dined on 7/9/2014
"Our table was ready early so we had a drink at the table before dinner. Trent was a fabulous waiter and service was terrific. The Caesar salad was served in a traditional wooden bowl and tasted freshly made. I had the perfect portion of cedar wrapped salmon and it was tender and moist. I had a small order of their award winning parmesan truffle fries for dessert! Yum! Better than cookie with ice cream that my husband had. The noise level was off the charts which is the only draw back to the restaurant. Everything is hard surfaces so the noise bounces off the ceilings and walls. There was an obnoxious gentleman near us who had no self awareness and thought everyone needed and wanted to hear him! Hate that."
Dined on 7/5/2014
"We went with our teenagers and all of us enjoyed our meal. The service was great and the cocktails were tasty. I would recommend Libby's to foodies. You have to try the blue cheese chips!"
Dined on 7/5/2014
" The four of us were very pleased with the experience. Orders are taken from the menu. We had blueberry pancakes and huevos ranchero which we recommend. The special cocktails were a wonderful treat. The waitress was unfailingly friendly and always wore a smile."
Dined on 6/29/2014
"We tried a new item (Double Dragon Flash Fried shrimp & calamari) and an old standby (lamb burger) and, as always, found the food and service excellent."
Dined on 6/28/2014
"This was our third visit and it did not disappoint. Dinner was amazing but if you can only visit once go for brunch, it's awesome (and that's not a word a Brit uses very often!) The team are friendly and professional and the whole dining experience is as quick or leisurely as you want to make it. We had pre dinner drinks in the bar and it was buzzing. The bar staff are efficient yet personal at the same time. Visit Libby's and you won't be disappointed."
Dined on 6/27/2014
"Our first time to Libby's. We dined a bit later than the usual dinner hour (8:30), so restaurant not as crowded as it could be. Everyone friendly, waiter knowledgeable about the menu. We were both happy with our dinner selections. Can't go wrong with local Florida grouper! A good end to a busy day in Sarasota. We would definitely be back."
Dined on 6/26/2014
"My husband, 15 year old son, and I are at Libby's for the first time at the recommendation of my Uncle. My husband had the Kobe meatloaf special, my son the mixed seafood pasta, and I had the Mahi tacos with house salad.All were delicious! Can't wait to go again."
Dined on 6/21/2014
"Libby's was terrific. Brian was great. Food was diverse and flavorful. Choices were good. All the different flavors were terrific. The small plates were great for the ladies. The evening was perfect. The best we've had on the gulf coast for a special occasion. Loved it!!"
Dined on 6/19/2014
"We tried the vegetable pad thai from the new menu and it was great! Love the new menu items!"
Dined on 6/17/2014
"Well prepared food, at affordable prices, with attentive service. Can't ask for anything better!!"
Dined on 6/15/2014
"We love the service in the bar and enjoy the small plates menu. We moved from there into the dining room where food and service took a nose-dive. The waiter did not know the menu, provided non-answers when asked basic questions or information that was found to have been wrong. We were frustrated, left with our dessert to go which we ended up throwing away. It was on a special menu...pie (mostly rough sliced bananas) in what was intended to be a pie shell for savory recipes. It was beyond awful. We may go back but I am not comfortable recommending the restaurant at this point."
Dined on 6/14/2014
"This is one of my favorite restaurants iin Sarasota, Exciting food. Wish they could do something about the noise level. I am used to high levels but this one makes it difficult to talk."
Dined on 6/14/2014
"Whenever you go to Libby's you know the food will be delicious and innovative, the cocktails excellent and the wine list extensive. Our favorite is to dine outside. The service is always superb. The waiters are not only attentive, but they are knowledgeable about the menu."
Dined on 6/14/2014
"Libby's Cafe & Bar is a lively upscale restaurant. Tables are appointed with white table cloths with brown cloth napkins, impeccably clean plates, glass'es, and flatware. Service was great from the waiter, salad and dessert, and buss boy, personnel. White wines were all 2011, priced from $35- $42 per bottle, which shows Libby's is up to date for white wine maturity. The noise level was quite high at times, just from the number of people engaged in the lively art of conversation. Restrooms were clean, but you had to pass by waiter stations at the back of the restaurant, which were quite busy. Expect to pay $70 per person, which includes $35 bottle of wine, dessert, tax, tip."
Dined on 6/14/2014
"Good food. Great service. .our favorite in Sarasota."
Dined on 6/10/2014
"I eat here frequently with friends and enjoy the food and wine. The prices are very reasonable. especially given that it is such an upscale place. The menu features the basics with a twist and some innovative and delicious dishes. The service is prompt and professional. My only complaint would be the noise level so I tend to go during off hours when there are fewer people. If you are in the Sarasota area, it is definitely worth a try."
Dined on 6/10/2014
"The service was outstanding and the food was excellent. We really enjoyed the parmesan fries and deviled eggs. Highly recommended."
Dined on 6/5/2014
"We've been here before and liked it. This time the lamb much too peppery, the chicken was much to bland and the piped in music was annoying. Don't think we'll return when there are so many other choiced."
Dined on 6/2/2014
"I had the best sausages, ( I don't think meat) blueberry pancakes and hashbrowns; not a buffet, and the recipes were special for all three items; it was delicious; third time at the restaurant, first time, and not the last for brunch. Service was excellent."
Dined on 6/1/2014
"We celebrated a high school graduation at Libby's on a Saturday night with 10 people (4 teenagers with fairly discerning tastes in food, and six adults). Several people in the group were from New Orleans (where food is the universal language) and a couple were well-traveled, and everyone loved Libby's. From the extensive and interesting menu to the attentive service, it was a marvelous experience. We had the black-eyed pea hummus, korean spare ribs and patatas bravas small plates, and between them they pleased the vegetarians and the meat-eaters alike. Most everyone had seafood of some sort for dinner (seafood pasta, seared tuna, mahi tacos and local grouper were big hits) and everyone plans to return. Highly recommend this restaurant!"
Dined on 5/31/2014
"My wife and I brought a dear friend and her companion here. We came here for brunch. Their "libbypalooza" was excellent. The blueberry pancakes were like a dessert. "
Dined on 5/25/2014
"The meatloaf is outstanding. Nice atmosphere. Friendly. We have eaten here many times and we always enjoy our food, drinks, and service. "
Dined on 5/24/2014
"We really enjoyed the cocktails and the "Hot and Moody" appetizer. A must!!! We enjoyed lunch so much we came back for dinner the next night. Service and food and delightful."
Dined on 5/24/2014
"Once again, a very positive experience! One of our favorites in Sarasota!"
Dined on 5/23/2014
"This is a great place to meet for a casual or business lunch. The atmosphere is vibrant, the food is delicious, and the service is excellent. It is my go to place for local meet ups and for out of towners who always want to come back here, too!!"
Dined on 5/21/2014
"Love Libby's- always feel comfortable bringing guests there, never disappointed!"
Dined on 5/19/2014
"We really enjoyed the food and service, though portions seem to be getting smaller. "
Dined on 5/19/2014
"We had out of town guests & decided to try the early bird dining. We made reservations on line & asked for a widow. We couldn't have asked for anything better . Food was delicious, excellent service, being able to sit with the window/door was awesome. It was a most delightful dining experience."
Dined on 5/17/2014
"My mother loves to dine @ Libby's so I took her there Saturday for lunch. Everything was good except that we were very surprised to see a DJ at lunchtime. The music made it difficult to hear. I wonder if other elderly patrons also found the loud music bothersome. "
Dined on 5/17/2014
"Had not been back to Libby's in awhile. Enjoyed a great dinner with 5 friends on Thursday night. Great food and great service. Will be back again..."
Dined on 5/15/2014
"Pricing on this menu was consistent with a refined gourmet restaurant. Thought the food was quite good, my menu arrived dirty. Bread did not arrive until specifically requested. The restaurant is very loud, and the waiter charged our credit card incorrectly (not a theft , just an error). When I spend $26 an entree and everything is a la carte, I expect a more peaceful dining experience where things are superior to what I might find elsewhere. Having said that, the food was as promised. I had a very nice greens salad, and salmon that was done as I like it."
Dined on 5/11/2014
"Went once again to the Mother's Day brunch. Fourth year in a row. Always a good buffet, with a great selection."
Dined on 5/11/2014
"We really enjoyed our Mother's Day brunch at Libby's - it helped that we had a table right in the open window. The food choices on the buffet were excellent - many things for everyone and all tasty. The wine choices were great as my Pinot Gris is not easy to find. My mother and I had a lovely time."
Dined on 5/11/2014
"Sorry, have to say I was disappointed. The buffet line was very difficult to navigate and I spent way too much time in line. I also didn't appreciate having to go to the bar to get a Mimosa. The food was okay but definitely not something I will attend again - I appreciate a little more pampering on Mother's Day..."
Dined on 5/11/2014

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