Where To Eat

Breakfast, Lunch, & Casual Dining

The Serving Spoon ($) and First Watch ($). Solid breakfasts, multiple locations.

Mama G's ($). Real German bakery just north of the College; sweet and savory pastries, everything homemade. Breakfast & lunch.

Fushi-Poké ($). Hawaiian-style ramen and poké bowls; also great steamed buns. No outside seating, but easy online ordering for pickup.

*Station 400 ($$). Good breakfast, brunch, and lunch in and around a converted old train station transplanted from Indiana. Nice outdoor garden seating.

*Florence & the Spice Boys ($$). A bit of a drive from College, but well worth the trip for fun Middle-Eastern-inspired lunch dishes (the multi-colored Rainbow Bowl is both gorgeous and tasty). Locations at both UTC (east of NCF) and south of downtown on 41.

*Artisan Cheese Co. ($$).  Limited but tasty lunch options (usually some form of taco and grilled cheese).

*C'est La Vie ($$). Classic French café serving crepes and a range of salads and sandwiches.

*Ringling Grillroom ($$). Classy modern American inside Ringling Visitor Pavilion. Easy walk from College. Also does early dinners (to 7pm).

*Tijuana Flats Burrito Co. ($) Local Tex-Mex chain with an extensive salsa bar.

Sahara Café ($). Solid basic Middle Eastern food. Good falafel.

Dinner

*Dry Dock Waterfront Grill ($$$). Good seafood. Limited but lovely outdoor seating; outdoor tables cannot be reserved.

Anna Maria Oyster Bar ($$). Cheap and cheerful.

Rico's Pizza ($). Slightly seedy venue but good pizza, with pics of the pope and Padre Pio. Walkable from College. 

*Drunken Poet Café ($$). Thai food and sushi.

*Spice Station ($$). More Thai food and sushi.

*Tandoor ($$) or Turmeric ($$) for Indian food.

Captain Brian's ($$). Lunch and dinner; good seafood simply prepared.

*Café Epicure ($$). Good pizza, wine list, and a decent cappuccino.

*The Old Salty Dog ($$). Pseudo-British pub with good fish & chips and nice water views.

*Owen's Fish Camp ($$$). Jolly Southern bayou atmosphere with emphasis on seafood. Nice beer garden. No reservations except for large parties.

*Mirna's ($$). Authentic Cuban food—very tasty, but parking (on both sides of the restaurant) can be awkward. 

*Siegfried's Restaurant & Biergarten ($$). Classic German. Nice beer garden.

*Boca ($$). Hipster restaurant: mason jars with basil plants. Limited outdoor seating.

*Columbia ($$). Solid Cuban/Spanish food since 1905. Lively.

*Tommy Bahama's ($$$). Floribbean food on St Armands. Balcony bar good for sunsets and people-watching.

*Shore Diner ($$$). California-inspired, vegetarian friendly, very trendy. Good cocktails.

Lila SRQ ($$$). Vegetarian-focused, elegant food.

Duval's Fresh Local Seafood ($$$). What it says on the box, but upscale. Offers local shuttle service. 

*Lucile Pizza & Wine Bar ($$). Lila's sister establishment, well-reviewed and vegan-friendly.

Maison Blanche ($$$). Michelin-starred chef serving the best French food in Florida. Excellent wine list.

*Selva Grill ($$$). Peruvian fusion, with a lounge feel. Pricey but good.

*Indigenous ($$$). Fresh food for locavores in a charming converted bungalow.

*Kojo ($$$). Trendy Asian fusion. Lots of small plates.

*Arts & Central ($$$). Nouveau American with a mostly-outdoor upscale-deck vibe.

*Wicked Cantina ($$). Solid Tex-Mex with tasty vegetarian options and a good happy hour. Also good for lunch.

Drinks & Ice Cream

The Bahi Hut ($). Fabulously seedy tiki bar claiming to be the oldest in Florida; there's a reason for the two-drink limit on their mai tais. 

*O'Leary's Tiki Bar ($). Great place to have a beer and watch the sun set over the bay.

Pangea Alchemy Lab ($$). Craft cocktails downtown.

*Rise & Nye's. Excellent ice cream, coffee, and beignets.

Royal Tea. All kinds of boba drinks just north of downtown.

Main Street Creamery and *Great Heights Creamery.  Good locally-made ice cream.

Fabulous, Weird, & Off the Beaten Track

*The Linger Lodge ($$). A classic Old Florida restaurant in an RV park, with taxidermied-animal decor,  Bloody Marys that constitute a full meal, and a deck with a view onto a Old Florida river hung with Spanish moss. Better food than you'd expect; worth the drive if you like that sort of thing.