Three of my favorite waterfront restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton have been sold, marking the start of a new era:
- Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub, overlooking Sarasota Bay on Longboat Key.
- Beach House Waterfront Restaurant, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico on Bradenton Beach.
- Sandbar Seafood & Spirits, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico in the city of Anna Maria.
This was a significant change, to say the least, with a local businessman selling to a much larger company based just north of Tampa Bay.
On Aug. 1, St. Petersburg-based Beachside Hospitality Group finalized its acquisition of these three iconic waterfront restaurants on Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island. They were previously owned by longtime Manatee County resident Ed Chiles and his Chiles Hospitality company. The sale also includes Anna Maria Bake House and Chiles' events department.
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New owners of waterfront restaurants on Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island need to know what us locals expect
Led by founder and owner Ed Chiles, who has been in the restaurant business for 45 years, Chiles Hospitality will continue to operate Gamble Creek Farms, its 26-acre organic certified farm in Parrish. The farm will hopefully continue to provide fresh produce to the three waterfront restaurants, which offer food that is truly a step above the typical Florida waterfront tourist traps.
“We’re thrilled to bring our brands knowledge and expertise to the area and look forward to elevating the legacy that Ed Chiles and the Chiles Hospitality Group have worked so hard to create over the last several decades,” said Greg Powers, CEO of Beachside Hospitality Group, in a statement. "We fully understand that this was not an easy decision to make and are extremely honored that the Chiles Group feels confident in our abilities to continue the work accomplished thus far.”
Beachside Hospitality Group noted that business at all three restaurants will continue as normal and that neither guests nor employees will see any changes during the transition. But what about changes in the future, especially if business slows and the new owners — who do not appear to have deep ties to Sarasota-Manatee — start looking to cut corners and maximize profits?
That might work during tourist season, but not throughout the year. We locals do expect an elevated experience when visiting these three restaurants.
Best things to eat at Mar Vista, Beach House, and Sandbar
Following the announcement of the sale on July 17, I made sure to dine again at Mar Vista, Beach House, and Sandbar. Like most restaurant experiences, not everything was perfect. However, the commitment to offering locally sourced seafood and produce, as well as freshly baked breads, remained commendable, and the service continued to be uniformly excellent. In short, these three restaurants all seemed to be under smart, caring management with access to quality local vendors for fresh catches such as grouper and red snapper.
Here’s hoping Beachside Hospitality Group continues its dedication to offering a quality dining experience rather than exploiting the gorgeous waterfront locations. Fresh seafood must be a top priority, and please, don’t skimp on the little things that make each restaurant special. Here are three that I've enjoyed for years, including during the past few weeks:
- The thin and crispy hemp crackers that pair so nicely with the smoked fish dip at Sandbar.
- The tater tots with pepper jack cheese at Mar Vista that melt in your mouth.
- Beach House’s homemade spinach and artichoke dip served in a ridiculously tasty focaccia bread bowlfrom Anna Maria Bake House, which was part of the sale.
And these are several more of the standout dishes from my visits during the past few weeks:
- The deftly seasoned Southern-style braised greens laced with bacon, which I could eat by the bowlful, and the blackened red snapper entrée with delightful pigeon pea rice and veggies at Sandbar made for a meal as memorable as the sugary white sand and blue Gulf waters.
- Mar Vista's "Hot Fish" fried grouper sandwich with spicy honey and house-made pickles might be the best grouper sandwich I've eaten this summer, and I've had dozens. Seated bayside under the buttonwood trees, we were also thrilled to try another new menu item: the jalapeño-glazed grouper served on a delectable pile of sautéed shaved Brussels sprouts, sweet potato, quinoa, dried cranberry, toasted almonds, and beurre blanc.
- The calamari with Thai sweet chili sauce and coriander lime aioli at Beach House, which I somehow had never tried until recently, is an ideal prelude to their signature burger. Rivaling their blackened grouper sandwich with lemon aioli, it's topped with caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, a generous amount of smoked Gruyère cheese, and applewood bacon, served on a freshly baked milk bun with a side of nicely seasoned fries. Oh, and Sandbar, which tops their perfectly charred hunk of beef with pimento cheese, a fried green tomato, and tomato jam, is another fine destination for a "cheeseburger in paradise."
Best things to drink at Mar Vista, Beach House, and Sandbar
Another thing that makes Mar Vista, Beach House, and Sandbar special is that, in addition to offering a variety of beachy mixed drinks and beers — including local selections — they carry Lola wines, which are nationally celebrated and have a deep local connection to our area.
Founded by Manatee County native Seth Cripe in 2008 and lauded by publications such as the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle, Lola Wine is based in Napa Valley and has been proudly served by the glass and bottle at Chiles' restaurants for years. Lola is perhaps best known for its pinot noir, and they also produce a delectable chardonnay.
Personally, I'm partial to their rosé, which is made from pinot noir grapes. It’s bright and crisp, with hints of cherry and guava, and it's ideal for sipping with seafood on a balmy day at the beach.
Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island can support waterfront restaurants that serve quality cuisine. Locals here know and expect fresh fish from local suppliers, particularly those operating out of the Cortez historic commercial fishing village. We also don’t mind paying top dollar for a burger if it’s exceptional. Please don’t reduce Mar Vista, Beach House, and Sandbar to purveyors of mediocre cuisine meant merely to complement the booze and views. Because, you should know, we locals expect more.
Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him onTwitter,Facebook andInstagram. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism bysubscribing.
