Ophelia's on the BayA Gem on the KeyExcellent Menu, fabulous fish and steaks, great location on the Key. Service was first class, for fine dining and great ambience it's up there with the best. Would certainly recommend and return.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMJust greatFound this by recommendation of a wedding planner. Sitting outside next to the water at the bay is really beautiful. Food is excellent.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMThe wine list had decent winesThe wine list had decent wines with pricing not over the top $30 to $80 with some notable wines over $100.
Ambience - I would agree the interior decor is a bit dated, but Orphelia's is about enjoying the view of the bay and that we did. We dined outside by the water fountain overlooking the bay and watched the sun set. The noise level was low and is a great place for a romantic meal or to for a quiet special occassion.
The food was fantastic, the menu is updated daily, however, the crabcakes on fried green tomatoes are one of the few menu staples which we highly recommend, they were sublime.. The filet mignon requested med rare was cooked to perfection and the alaskan butterfish melted well like butter. Top restaurant in Sarasota.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMOutdoor diningCould not have been in a better location, on the water, service was excellent, the menu changes daily. My expectations were met.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMOphelia's is a lovely, welcomingOphelia's is a lovely, welcoming restaurant with exquisite food.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMA Beautiful ViewWe enjoyed our Mother's Day dinner at Ophelia's, especially the view. One recommendation to the management...use better quality outdoor tables and don't put them on the sloped area by the stairs. The table was very rickety and we had to ask to move because you couldn't even butter your bread without the whole table shaking. The staff did accommodate our request to move. The food that I ate was delicious from mozzarella appetizer to filet mignon to key lime pie. The only complaint about the food was my husband's steak which was cooked well, and he ordered it medium. It was enjoyable to watch for sea life while eating the meal.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding!This was out first visit to Ophelia's after hearing all the great reviews! It definitely lived up to it's reputation in every way!
Beautiful setting on the south end of Siesta Key. 5Star Ambiance without the stuffiness as the staff was very welcoming!
Service was outstanding as the server was knowledgable and helpful with the menu. The food was GREAT - Rare Seared Hawaiian Yellowfin Tuna (one of the best I've ever had), Crab Cakes on Fried Green Tomatoes, Eggplant Crepes... YUM! It's was Mother's Day and they were busy but they did not miss a beat! We have found a new treasure in Sarasota!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMI had the Scallops and theI had the Scallops and the wife had the Halibut both were delicious. Both the wife and I split a California Spring Mix with Gorgonzola, Caramelized Pecans, Blueberries, Tomatoes, Cran-Raisins, Champagne Vinaigrette.- delicious. Our son had a Lobster Infused Blue Crab Bisque - again delicious...
Although the ambiance is lacking a little at this establishment the service and efficiency of the kitchen more than make up for it. We did request a seat on the bay or at least near the water. We were seated inside the restaurant alongside a large crowd of people. We had to remove one seat at our table so the waiter could get by. It was Mothers day and at least I can say the food was absolutely delicious.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMNever disappointedWe've been going to Ophelia's on special occasions for a number of years. It's always a special experience for us, and we've recommended it to friends as well. This Mother's Day we had our daughter with us for the first time, and she loved it as well. Highly recommend this gem on Siesta Key.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFANTASTICWow-haven't visited this restaurant for a few years until this weekend.
Great meal, great service, great ambiance, and a great time.
We will be back5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing Views and Crab CakesSo glad that we decided to get on line and find some interesting places for dinner while we were in Florida working. Ophelia's turned out to be an amazing experience. From the front of the building one would think..." Uh...don't think so..." but it is truly a gem once you get across that threshold and out those doors to the outside dining area. Lovely, scenic, pleasant, romantic, and overall a great setting for the fabulous food they serve. Only thing possibly one could complain about was the long wait for the food and the attention of the waiter. They could probably add to their wait staff and have a perfect dining experience. But when they did come to your table, they were professional and friendly.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMIt Doesn't Get Any BetterWonderful location, food and service. It was a beautiful Sarasota evening and we elected to dine outside. Our server was fast, friendly and very efficient.
At a restaurant like this I typically request the server to "surprise" me with a selection and our waiter did not disappoint. He brought me some wonderful mussels for a starter following by a very nicely prepared grouper entree. We were also pleased to find a reasonably priced St. Emillion wine on the wine list.
My favorite restaurant in Sarasota that I highly recommend. It really doesn't get any better!5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMThe experience was terrific,The experience was terrific, everything was excellent.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMAs always, a great meal andAs always, a great meal and a beautiful view of the bay. This is one of our favorite spots.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful dinner & sunset viewsWe chose this restaurant to celebrate a dear friend's birthday and we were very pleased with the service, the setting, the quality of the food and the speed of the dinner. We will definitely be back for future dinners and will proudly bring our out of town guests there again. A true gem!5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMAnniversary at Ophelia'sThoroughly enjoyed our recent dinner at Ophelia's on the Bay. My wife and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary by dining on the water. The food, service, and atmosphere were all outstanding. Highly recommended!5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Place For BrunchThis was our first time eating at Ophelia's On The Bay and we'll go back! I think that says it all5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMRecommended by a shop ownerThis was recommended by a shop owner as a "local place ."..
It was more than she describedIt was a nice surprise..
cozy atmosphere.. ..good food ...extensive wine list...
save room for the homemade desserts! ..."topped off" with
friendly & accomodating service ..... Would go again!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a surpriseLast Saturday I dined at Ophelia's with friends. We were looking for someplace that we hadn't been to recently and two of us had gifts cards to use. Everything was superb, from the Baked Oysters topped with a huge lump of crabmeat, to the tuna and then to top it all off, I had the salted caramel gelato. I am still salivating over the meal and will definitely return.
The price was very reasonable for fine dining, about $160 per couple. Considering that everyone had a cocktail, an appetizer, entree and dessert, it was almost a bargain!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMA nite to remember...Ophelia's was even more exceptional than described. Outdoor space was charming, our waiter was great and food outstanding. Will definitely go back.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMA Hidden GemOphelia's is the perfect restaurant for a special occasion or just a quiet intimate dinner. The food is always superb and the so is the service. This is such a hidden gem in Sarasota and should not be overlooked.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent experienceThe food and service was excellent. We will be back the next time we are near Siesta Key.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experienceMy wife and I were in Siesta Key for a business trip and her birthday. I wanted to take her someplace special for her day and Ophelia's was perfect. The weather was horrible, but our table by the window still provided an amazing view of the water. My wife had the mussels as an appetizer and the lamb chops with risotto for her entrée. Both dishes were incredible. I had the lump crab cakes on fried green tomatoes and the ribeye for the main course. The crab cakes came with a avocado green chili remoulade, Roma tomato salsa and a separate creamed horseradish swirl. All I can say is WOW! Lastly, The wine list was large enough to offer several interesting wines, but not so large to be overwhelming.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic place on the bay!Fantastic place on the bay! Great find, very friendly and accommodating. Highly recommend this place.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was great. The wine listFood was great. The wine list is a little limited but the overall dinning expereince was perfect and intimate. Been to Ophelia's several times in the past and I have never had a bad dinning experience. Very relaxing and we never felt rushed. Sat on the water under a full moon.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMSince we had not dined atSince we had not dined at Ophelia's for some time, we were reminded what a great place it is. Wonderful experience!4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful outdoor diningWe have dined here many times, almost every time out on the deck. The inside of the restaurant is kind of plain, not noteworthy; but the outside is very quaint, on the bay and romantic. We love going here, the food and service are always great.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways love bringing our guestsAlways love bringing our guests here for an excellent dining experience. I'll be purchasing a gift certificate for newlyweds soon4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Sunday BrunchSunday brunch is a great value! They did run out of fresh fruit however, but I'll still give high marks. When making a reservation request outside if you can. Tight quarters inside with people on the various lines for food.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMOpelia's as great as everFirst came to Ophelia's for my birthday 7 years ago and keep coming back for special occasions. Excellent service, especially our own server Michael. He saw our camera on the table and immediately offered to take photo while it was still daylight with a boat going by.
Mussels (Moules et Frites) were the most tender ever. Chilean sea bass the finest. Wonderful atmosphere. Most relaxing dinner as guests are not rushed. A must for special occasions.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our second time diningThis was our second time dining at Ophelia. Our first time was Easter brunch, which was okay but our second, was fabulous. Our serve Monica was fabulous, attentive and funny. She made the experience memorable. We would recommend eating outside to enjoy the beautiful views. Inside is run down, louder and warm if it gets busy. No matter what definitely worth a try.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMexcellent place I will returnexcellent place I will return the wait staff just couldn't do enough for us, the food was superb.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMAs always, great food, greatAs always, great food, great view. We come back every year. Fun to get dressed up and go for the sunset.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMExperience was good. FoodExperience was good. Food is very good, but not the best in Sarasota. The atmosphere is very special for outside dining. We had a group of six and would prefer a round table for better conversation. We unfortunately had a table of 4 right next to us with a small baby. The waiter/server was very good and very professional. Overall I would recommend Ophelia's for those special occasions for 2 to 4 persons. The gratuity was automatically added to my bill and understand Ophelia's does that with groups of 6 and higher.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMOphelia's is an absolutelyOphelia's is an absolutely fantastic place: exceptional service, great ambiance and terrific food. The great people at Ophelia's never fail to create a perfect experience.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect evening...great foodPerfect evening...great food and beautiful atmosphere!!4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMTotally enjoyed our visitTotally enjoyed our visit to Ophelia's and will definitely revisit. Great food, excellant service and beautiful view.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMI go to Ophelias since manyI go to Ophelias since many years and have never been disappointed4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways beautiful fresh fishAlways beautiful fresh fish wonderfully prepared. Nice setting. Great service.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMOur experience was fabulous,Our experience was fabulous, as was the view out over the intercoastal. The food was outstanding too. Not what I would call a "vibrant bar scene" which is a good thing. The bartender was most accomodating while we were waiting for our table, but there are only six or eight seats at the bar, so things don't get too noisy, which is a good thing.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMWe really enjoyed the viewWe really enjoyed the view of the intercoastal waterway as we ate. The food was great, too.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMBest food and service in siestaBest food and service in siesta key along with the view4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMTucked away on the southernTucked away on the southern end of Siesta Key, Ophelia's offers delicious dining on the Bay . A great place to have a special or romantic dinner4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMLong delay for table, good recoveryUpon arrival, bad experience. Hostess advised we were early (10 minutes) and we would soon have our table. After 20 min, we inquired about the status and hostess was ignored our requests. Another half hour passed and no response, so we complained to the bartenders where we had been waiting. They were very accommodating and offered complimentary refills of our drinks, brought us appetizer samplers as an offering of apology. They summoned one of the managers (Les, I believe was his name)who was most attentive. He surveyed the entire restaurant and returned with a full and sincere explanation of the situation that caused the log jam. He set up a special table for us on the waterfront where we enjoyed a superb dinner with excellent service.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMWe are Snowbirds and Ophelia'sWe are Snowbirds and Ophelia's is without a doubt the best food we have had in Sarasota! Our friends who were visiting were most impressed. We will definitely be back. Janelle, our server was wonderful.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThe ambiance outside is beautiful.The ambiance outside is beautiful. The inside of the restaurant is badly in need of renovation. The food is consistently good. The restaurant seemed a bit overwhelmed with the crowd Saturday night.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMFrom cocktails to dessertFrom cocktails to dessert a great experience. The four of us each had something different from the menu and no one was disappointed.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a gem of a restaurant!What a gem of a restaurant! We were on vacation at Lido Beach, and heard of Ophelia's. We loved our crabcake appetizers; not to messed with, which as Marylanders, we appreciate. Tasted like crab, not all sorts of fillers or fancy changes to them.
Our main courses were the scallops and the duck. Both really delicious and creatively cooked, yet not too much odd additions or flavors, as so many restaurants are doing.The service and the atmosphere were amazing! Would go back in a minute!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMDinner with our kids...Second time dining @ Ophelia's...
Both occasions were with family and both very enjoyable...
First visit 12-31-11 with service from Amy and this past dinner with service 03-28-13 from John...A+ !!!
Next visit will request outdoor seating ;)
Thank you for the opportunity to dine @ Ophelia's On The Bay !!!3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food respects reservations-raGreat food respects reservations-ran out of preferred entree by 7:003/27/2013 12:00:00 AM