Best Seasonal Restaurants in Gulf Gate Estates

Cafe Gabbiano is our go-to restaurant on Siesta Key. Tucked away in the corner of a shopping area, we’re always greeted by friendly staff who always seat us at our before our reserved time. Our waitstaff has always been friendly, attentive and a pleasure to speak with. They have a large selection of wine, and the bartenders serve excellent mixed drinks. The selections of appetizers, to salads, entrees, to deserts provides an experience for even picking eaters (like our kids). We’ve tried many of their selections and while we have our favorites, we’ve never experienced a bad meal. My favorite, bruschetta for an appetizer, truffle ravioli for the main course and a chocolate martini for the closer.

This was the fifth time we had dinner at Ophelia’s and it was awesome as always. The staff is so friendly and helpful, everything was timed perfectly. I had the best duck ever and my wife had lobster risotto that was amazing. It’s so good they were able to recover from the recent hurricanes! We will be back soon.

The crab cakes were packed with crab and the sauce that’s accompanied was tasty. Wedge salad was fresh, filets were cooked exactly as ordered ( med & med well) so tender and melt in your mouth texture. Dessert was a beautifully presented carrot cake which was so moist but not so much it fell apart. Just the right amount of cinnamon and nutmeg. Alex our waiter was friendly, attentive and made this Birthday dinner one of the best!

This restaurant is a gift to Sarasota! This chef has a beautiful way of creating delicious food. The layers of flavor do not disappoint! In fact as we were leaving, we were picking out the offerings on the menu that we would like to try on our next date here. Start with the Japanese milk bread- perfection . Definitely try the gnocchi- it’s a must! They are creamy and delicate with a sauce that is addictive. Garnished with pretty edible flowers and toasted happy breadcrumbs! Yum! We tried the rigatoni Amatriccana - awesome!The pork blade very good as well. End with the Japanese cheesecake- not your average. It’s like if cheesecake and crème brûlée had a baby! We normally get the duck, which is fantastic. There are fun new things to explore.

Food and service were excellent. My wife enjoyed the veal and I had lasagna. We paired our dinner with a nice bottle of Montepulicano d’Abruzzo. I would dine here again.