Columbia Restaurant on St. Armand’s circle, Sarasota
July 21, 2010 by LarryChatt
Filed under Anna Maria Island, Anna Maria Island Restaurants, Area Guide, Sarasota, Sarasota Restaurants, Tampa Restaurants
The Columbia restaurant is mainstay in Sarasota as well as Tampa. If you are looking for fine dining with some shopping before or after the Columbia on St. Armand’s circle is a great choice. They serve elegant dinners and lunches all year around. Located on St. Armand’s circle the restaurant makes for a great day trip from Anna Maria Island. Grab a lunch at the Columbia, walk around and go Shopping on St. Armand’s circle and pick up an ice cream as a mid afternoon snack.
The Columbia restaurantoriginally started in the Tampa area and you can find the Columbia in Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater and several other Florida locations. As soon as you walk up to the restaurant you feel a positive vibe. There is limited seating outside of about 25-30 seats with at least 100 inside. The elegant restaurant has a large interior bar and the exterior is made to feel like an extension of the interior.
As soon as you walk in there is a live lobster tank to mesmerize any younger aged children. Be prepared to wait most days but with the enormous amount of tables I find I am usually seated pretty quickly. Reservations can be made and they have take out as an option.
For appetizers they have Calamari, a few shrimp dishes, black bean cakes, scallops and lots of other choices. The children’s menu is limited and normally I see plenty of children at the restaurant so it is a safe bet for small or large families. The old standby Macaroni and Cheese or chicken fingers, steak and of course, french fries. For adults the Columbia restaurant has plenty of fish dishes, shrimp, grouper, snapper, sea bass. For the vegetarian of the bunch they have an eggplant dish that is fantastic as well as bean-like meatballs that I heard are delightful. The Columbia also has several Gluten free dining choices.
If you are traveling from Anna Maria Island take the scenic route down Longboat key and follow Route 789 or Gulf Drive South. Just as you enter St. Armand’s circle you will see the Columbia restaurant on the LEFT. Either park just prior to getting on the circle or loop almost all the way around back to Route 789 North and park. Here are some more directions to the Columbia restaurant if need be.
411 St. Armand’s Circle
Sarasota, Fl, 34236
(941) 388-3987
The restaurant has on-line reservations available as well.
Slim’s Place has great atmosphere & food in Anna Maria City
May 17, 2010 by LarryChatt
Filed under Anna Maria City, Anna Maria City Restaurants, Anna Maria Island, Anna Maria Island Restaurants
Slim’s place is the latest bar, pub and restaurant in Anna Maria City. It is a locals hang out for just about every night of the week. Located just off Gulf Drive it is easy to get to and a convenient walk from many Anna Maria City Vacation Rentals.
Slims place serves plenty of COLD drink choices and serves food that borders on restaurant variety. (This is a compliment, the food is good!) The pub has plenty of televisions to watch your favorite sporting event or world cup soccer game with a huge copper top bar for an impromptu cold beverage of your favorite choice. There is limited outdoor seating however the two billiard tables inside are a sure bet for extra entertainment. Slim’s has a great atmosphere that throws off a strong local vibe of positive “stuff.” It’s not uncommon to go into Slim’s alone and walk out with several new found friends from sitting at the bar talking about the latest in Anna Maria City politics or just sharing good conversation with a friendly face.
Slim’s place has several choices of dinners like hamburger, fish and salad. They have a home made hummus that is fabulous and my wife loves when the soup of the day is black bean. She says it is the best she has ever tast
ed. At last check Slim’s had pizza, mahi mahi sandwiches, a few desserts and appetizers.
Check in ahead of time as Slim’s often has live entertainment on Wednesday’s and Thursday’s but nights can change so be sure to call if you are making big danci’n plans. Not much room for dancing but you sure can try.
If you are looking for some local flair then stop in at Slims place in Anna Maria City. They serve lunches and dinners and accept Visa and Mastercard. Be sure to check out their local specials, you won’t be sorry you visited Slim’s Place.
Slim’s Place Bar and Restaurant
9701 Gulf Drive
Anna Maria City, Anna Maria Island
Florida, 34216
(941) 567-4056
If you are looking for a few accommodations or vacation rentals within a walk from Slim’s then try – 120 Maple Avenue, 110 Palm, 316 Hardin A, 316 Hardin B or 207 Palm Avenue.
Anna Maria Island celebrates Geckofest 2010 with a display at Duffy’s Tavern!
April 14, 2010 by CarolBernard
Filed under Anna Maria City Restaurants, Anna Maria Island Other Activities, Anna Maria Island Restaurants, Area Guide, Bradenton About and General Information
Anyone driving around the past few months always asks me the same questions – what’s with the big creatures on all the buildings? No, they are not bugs, no they are not dinosaurs… they are part of Gecko Fest 2010! I have LOVED spotting all the Geckos and searching for new ones! Local artists and sponsors have gotten together to design and display the adorable 6 foot Geckos which have adorned businesses and county buildings since December 2009. My husband and I are definitely headed to the preview party is this Friday, April 16th at downtown riverfront Rossi Park. The Geckos will then enjoy a float ride down Manatee Ave during the Heritage Festival Parade April 24th. Each Gecko is unique and aptly named so, such as “Van Gecko” by artist Mindy Colton which sports a VanGough Starry Night motif, and “Legends of Duffy’s” by artist Annemarie Nicholas that proudly rests on our island’s beloved Duffy’s Tavern. There are over 60 Geckos offered for auction at the Gala scheduled for May 1st. Not sure what they are going for, yet I’m still going to bid on my favorite, “Freedom” by artist January Eldred – this little guy is all red white and blue!
Anna Maria Island restaurants and shops open Easter holiday
April 4, 2010 by LarryChatt
Filed under Anna Maria City, Anna Maria City About and General Information, Anna Maria City Restaurants, Anna Maria Island, Anna Maria Island About and General Information, Anna Maria Island Restaurants, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Bradenton Beach About and General Information, Bradenton Beach Restaurants, Holmes Beach, Holmes Beach About and General Information, Holmes Beach Restaurants, Longboat Key About and General Information
Anna Maria Island is a great place to visit all year around. If you happen to be visiting during a holiday, finding a spot to have breakfast, lunch or dinner could be a frustrating process if you don’t know before hand what restaurants are open. Hopefully this information will help during Easter and there is a fairly good chance that if these restaurants and stores are open for Easter, they will be open for other Anna Maria Island holidays as well. Have a happy holiday and
here is to doing no dishes this year!
ANNA MARIA ISLAND RESTAURANT’S OPEN EASTER HOLIDAY
Beach Bistro – Dinner – Holmes Beach, Florida
Gulf Front elegant dining with casual dining available
Beach House – Lunch & Dinner – Bradenton Beach, FL
Gulf Front casual dining – you can eat right on the beach
Da Giorgio – Dinner – Holmes Beach, Florida
Italian business casual dining with live entertainment
Euphemia Haye – Dinner – Longboat Key, Florida
Elegant dining, huge assortment of desserts
Moveable Feast – Lunch and Dinner – Holmes Beach, Fl
Casual dining with plenty of holiday seating
Paradise Cafe – Lunch – Holmes Beach, East Bay Plaza
Order take out or small availability for dining in
Rod and Reel Restaurant – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner – Anna Maria City
Bay front dining – casual – live sea-life daily
Sandbar – Lunch & Dinner – Anna Maria City, Florida
Gulf Front dining – walk right in from the beach!
Sign of the Mermaid – Three meals – Anna Maria city, Florida
Business Casual dining. National award winning key lime pie.
Sunhouse restaurant- Late Lunches, Dinner – Bradenton Beach, Fl
Floribean cuisine with Gulf Views and plenty of window shopping nearby
Waterfront restaurant – Lunch and Dinner – Anna Maria City, Florida
Bay View business casual dining. Reservations strongly suggested
OTHER BRADENTON STORES OPEN HOLIDAY’S
Albertson’s Supermarket – Bradenton, Fl
Sweetbay Supermarket – Bradenton, Fl
Walgreens – Bradenton, Fl – Open 24 hours
Cold Stone Creamery – gourmet ice cream just of Anna Maria Island
March 8, 2010 by LarryChatt
Filed under Anna Maria Island, Anna Maria Island Restaurants, Bradenton, Bradenton Restaurants
Looking for gourmet ice cream? Try Cold Stone Creameryjust off Anna Maria Island. It is on the corner of Cortez
and 75th Street West in Bradenton, Florida. It shares the same building as Starbuck’s. Cold Stone’s claim to fame is there great creamy ice cream as well as creating special mixes within their ice cream. They use an ice cold slab to mix up ice cream with your favorite mixings. Berries, peanut butter cups, cookie pieces, M & M’s, you name it. The staff takes their great ice cream and with two scoops manually mixes in the extra’s. Our family loves the Birthday cake mix special which you guessed it, tastes just like birthday cake. It is fantastic.
So if you are looking for a special treat and can wait a few minutes for the staff to delicately prepare your custom order of ice cream with mixins, try a quick drive off Anna Maria Island to Cold Stone. Cold Stone sells ice cream cakes pre-made as well as a few other ice cream treats including ice cream cookies and drinks. Of course you can purchase larger servings of your custom order ice cream.
Cold Stone Creamery
7476 Cortez Road West
Bradenton, Fl, 34210
(941) 761-3252
Looking for more ice cream choices for visiting Anna Maria Island? Be sure to visit our restaurant informational page at Island Real Estate’s website. Just scroll to the bottom of the restaurant page.
The Sunhouse restaurant offers waterfront dining with tropical flair
February 16, 2010 by Sybille
Filed under Anna Maria Island Restaurants, Bradenton Beach, Bradenton Beach Restaurants
Located on Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach, Florida, The Sunhouse is a wonderful Anna Maria Island restaurant.
The Sunhouse is known for its tropical Floribbean cuisine. With fantastic views of the Gulf of Mexico from the outside third floor deck, this Bradenton Beach restaurant and bar serves Floribbean food and that is just what it sounds like. Floribbean dining is a mixture of Caribbean and Floridian cuisine, tastes and style. The Sunhouse restaurant cuisine combines the distinct tastes of coconut, mango, bananas, peppers, plantains, various fruits and nuts into a dining cuisine that puts an emphasis on freshness. The chef staff of the Sunhouse Bradenton Beach restaurant creates fantastic Floribbean specials that makes dinner feel like more of an art.
The Anna Maria Island restaurant is open 7 days a week and starts the day with their daily Happy Hour from 3pm – 5pm. During Happy Hour, visitors can enjoy 2 for 1 wines and $5 appetizers. The excellent food, great service and unique dining environment of the Sunhouse will create an enjoyable restaurant experience on the Anna Maria Island waterfront.
If you are looking for an informal dining environment and high quality cuisine then the Sunhouse restaurant is a good choice. Eat inside or out on the patio deck overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Please note, the restaurant is not directly on the Gulf of Mexico and looks over a building for the building’s Gulf Views. The proximity to the beach does allow the Sunhouse Restaurant to host Weddings and other Special events.
This location makes The Sunhouse also an ideal location to host gatherings from beach weddings and other special events. The Sunhouse offers several packages with their signature events.

Wedding at The Sunhouse
The Sunhouse hours:
Open daily at 3:00pm
Preferred seating available (call or online).
The Sunhouse
111 Gulf Drive South
Bradenton Beach, Fl 34217
Phone (941) 782-1122
All information as of December 2009. Please call to verify times and prices.
Ps….if you are in the mood to try other restaurants with exotic flair visit our Anna Maria Island Informational blog and browse through the restaurant page.
Banana Cabana Caribbean Seafood and Grill
December 26, 2009 by Sybille
Filed under Anna Maria Island, Anna Maria Island Restaurants, Bradenton Beach, Bradenton Beach Restaurants, Bradenton Beach Shopping

The Banana Cabana Caribbean Seafood and Grill
The Banana Cabana is a Caribbean Seafood and Grill Restaurant in Bradenton Beach, the most southern city of Anna Maria Island. Open every night at 4pm you can choose between evening sandwiches, Caribbean night time specials or seafood entrees all served with a Caribbean island flair. All entrees come with your choice of Caribbean rice or fries and vegetables. The special Bahamian Bread will be served on request.
You can listen to live entertainment on Friday and Saturday while dining at the Banana Cabana. By the way, you will be in good company. Actor Denzel Washington enjoyed their Caribbean food while shooting a movie in neighboring Cortez. The Banana Cabana also serves a large selection of Caribbean beer and reasonably priced wine.
Gifts are imported from the Caribbean Islands and are for sale. Also all artwork in the restaurant is for sale. The artwork is made out of 55 gallon steel drums from the Caribbean.
Check the Banana Cabana website for coupons and save a couple of bucks….
Catering Service for parties or weddings available.

Banana Cabana Bar
Banana Cabana hours:
Weekdays 4:00p.m. – 9:30p.m.
Friday – Saturday 4:00pm – 10:30pm (with live entertainment)
Sundays 4:00pm – 9:00pm
Closed on Tuesday for the month of October
Banana Cabana Caribbean Seafood and Grill
103 Gulf Drive N.
Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
Phone (941) 779-1930
All information as of December 2009. Please call restaurant directly to verify times and prices.
Ps.. if you are looking for a vacation rental close to the Banana Cabanna then look no further. Gulf View 101 is just across the street! Click here for more choices of Anna Maria Island Vacation Rentals.
Sharky’s Seagrill offers fine dining with casual flair
December 25, 2009 by Sybille
Filed under Anna Maria Island Restaurants, Bradenton Beach, Bradenton Beach Restaurants
If you like fine dining in a casual atmosphere, visit Sharky’s Seagrill in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island where award winning, European-trained Chef Anton and his wife Marie serve up great food and good times at reasonable prices.

Sharky's Seafood Gasparilla
Sharky’s features a wide selection of Fresh Florida Seafood, Black Angus Prime Rib, Steaks and Pastas. Specialties include Seafood Gasparilla, Michigan Pork Chop, Key West Grouper and Lobster Tails. Each day Sharky’s Market Fresh Seagrill features five different varieties of fresh fish grilled to perfection. Sharky’s Pasta selections feature authentic Italian flavors in dishes such as Tortellini Gorgonzola, Rigatoni Ala Toscana, Penne Pollo Portabello, Linguini with Mussels and Fettuccine con Fruta di Mare.
Sharky’s has a full bar with Cocktails, Domestic and Imported Beers, and a selection of fine wines. Happy hour prices are in effect from 4 till 7. Sandwiches and appetizers are available at the bar until midnight daily. The restaurant is open 7 days a week, from 4pm to midnight.
Sharky’s also features live entertainment. Check the entertainment page for upcoming entertainment schedule. Friday is usually Karaoke night.

Sharky's Seagrill on Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach
Sharky’s Seagrill hours:
Open 7 days a week
4pm to midnight
Sharky’s Seagrill
2195 Gulf Dr
Bradenton Beach, Florida 34217
Phone (941) 779-9151
All information as of December 2009. Please call to verify times and prices.
Ps… if you are looking for more live entertainment on the Anna Maria Island please visit the Island Real Estate informational blog and find more suggestions at the bottom of the restaurant page.
BeachHouse Restaurant – Outdoor dining and great Florida seafood
December 22, 2009 by Sybille
Filed under Anna Maria Island Restaurants, Anna Maria Island Shopping, Bradenton Beach, Bradenton Beach Restaurants, Bradenton Beach Shopping
The BeachHouse restaurant is located in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island just past the light at the Cortez Bridge heading south.

The BeachHouse has great Florida seafood and breathtaking views
Experience great waterfront dining on the Gulf of Mexico with breathtaking views and fresh Florida seafood. It is the perfect place for family dining with plenty of room for all the kids to play on the beach while you can sip on a tropical drink and enjoy great food and listen to live entertainment by local artists. You can choose if you like to have your meal inside the dining room or on the waterfront deck. There is even a covered Gulf front area, which makes it perfect rain or shine.
Besides the regular menu there are several specials like the VALUE BEACH MENU from 3pm until 6 pm every Monday thru Friday that offers 12 Signature BeachHouse Items. Or enjoy the HAPPY HOUR on the BEACH featuring drink specials and appetizer specials in the Bar with Quesadillas, Sliders, Coconut Shrimp and Sweet & Sour Shrimp.
There is also the Sun Tasting Events at The BeachHouse every Wednesday from 5:30-7:30 with sampling of tempting summer wines from all over the globe, local and seasonal beers as well as tantalizing cocktails.
Talking about Sunsets. If you like to take a look at some spectacular sunset pictures visit our Anna Maria Island Sunset blog and get in the mood for a nice dinner at The BeachHouse.
It is also a great place to have a wedding. The BeachHouse is an award-winning location for beach weddings, receptions or any special event. So maybe you are in luck and witness one of the happy couples exchange their vows.
You can even do a little shopping in their gift and souvenir shop located at the entrance area of the restaurant.
The BeachHouse hours:
Open 7 days a week
11:30AM-10:00PM
The BeachHouse Restaurant
200 Gulf Dr
Bradenton Beach, Fl 34217
Phone (941) 779-2222
All information as of December 2009. Please call to verify times and prizes.
P.S….staying more then a few days? Find other fine waterfront dining establishments on our Island Real Estate restaurant blog….
Old Hamburg Schnitzelhaus offers German authentic cuisine
December 22, 2009 by Sybille
Filed under Anna Maria Island, Anna Maria Island Restaurants, Holmes Beach, Holmes Beach Restaurants

German Restaurant Old Hamburg Schnitzelhaus
The Old Hamburg Schnitzelhaus is a German family restaurant located in the Holmes Beach Shopping Plaza on East Bay Dr. It was voted “Best German Restaurant 2007″ in the Reader’s Choice Award Contest in the Anna Maria Sun newspaper.
The Old Hamburg Schnitzelhaus is owned by husband and wife duo, Brigitte and Wolfgang Jahn. They serve their traditional German entrees with all fresh ingredients. Everything is homemade. You can enjoy the finest Wiener Schnitzel and Beef Goulash in town or taste German delicacies like Hühnerleber (chicken liver in a cream sauce with sauerkraut and potatoes) and Rahmschnitzel (veal in a cognac cream sauce). Friday’s special is usually Haxen with Knoedel (pork knuckle „Bavarian style“, oven fresh with bread dumplings and sauerkraut).
Try a piece of Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest Cake) or Tiroler Apfelstrudel (Tyrolean apple strudel) for dessert.
If you like a change from the Florida seafood give the Old Hamburg Schnitzelhaus on Anna Maria Island a try. If you are visiting the island and looking for some great things to do, visit our Anna Maria Island Informational blog.
Imported beer, wine and coffee available. Dinner hours only. Reservations recommended.
Old Hamburg Schnitzelhaus hours:
Open Monday – Saturday 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Closed Sundays.
Old Hamburg Schnitzelhaus
3246 E Bay Dr
Holmes Beach, Fl 34217
Phone (941) 778 – 1320















