Great food, great service, and a stunning waterfront view!

Ophelia’s on the Bay has been a fixture of Sarasota fine dining for over 20 years. Located on the south end of Siesta Key (three miles south of the Stickney Point Bridge), Ophelia’s low-profile presence easily blends into the natural surroundings.

The physical layout of the restaurant creates a varietal ambiance. There is a small bar area with a few tables for cocktails and happy hour, two indoor dining areas for a more continental dining experience with a view of the water, and an outdoor dining space, both covered and open-air (my favorite) for a closer connection to Little Sarasota Bay.

Although the menu changes daily, it is extensive, offering a wide choice of soups, salads, appetizers, seafood, beef and poultry. Continental at its core, the cuisine is classical yet imaginative and innovative, incorporating influences from American, Asian, Italian and Florida cuisines. For our meals we chose the following:

• Eggplant Crepes: Mascarpone, buffalo mozzarella, ricotta, spinach, tomato basil sauce.  $14.00
  Light, thin crepes with a silky smooth filling. A must-try dish for any eggplant lover.
• Hawaiian Bigeye Tuna Tempura Maki Roll: Cucumber, scallion, spicy cream cheese, eel sauce, Asian vinaigrette, wakami salad.  $15.00
  A very large roll; sweet, briny, cool, and crunchy. Very authentic.
• Assorted Spring Greens: Caramelized pecans, watermelon radish, blueberries, cran-raisins, buffalo mozzarella, mustard vinaigrette.  $12.00
  A fresh mélange of sweet flavors and crunchiness offset by the puckery bite of the mustard vinaigrette.
•  Fresh Imported Italian Lupara Buffalo Mozzarella: Vine-ripened tomatoes, baby arugula, basil, aged balsamic syrup and white truffle oil.  $13.00
  What a mix of colors and flavors … sweet juicy tomatoes, fresh fragrant basil and a creamy buffalo mozzarella that dissolved on the tongue. Awesome.
• Genuine American Red Snapper: Key lime poblano relish, jumbo lump blue crab guacamole, sweet potatoes.  $30.00
  Sweet and spicy with just a subtle hint of heat mixed with the flaky texture of the snapper; a well-balanced combination of flavors.
• Wild Tasmanian King Salmon: Warm grilled onion and tomato salad, dill emulsion, fingerling potato and vegetable hash.  $27.00
  Moist, flake-with-your-fork salmon with a sweet, savory and firm vegetable hash.
•  Long Bone Rib Eye Chop of Veal: Rosemary-garlic perfume, crispy cippolini and Maytag bleu salad, balsamic syrup, grana risotto.  $36.00
  A beautiful presentation of a classic long-boned chop; tender, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth.
• Key Lime Pie: With whipped cream.  $9.00
  Sweet, tart, and tangy; a great rendition of a Florida favorite.
• Belgian White Chocolate Mousse: Infused with Frangelico and served with fresh berries and fresh whipped cream.  $10.00
  It actually looked sexy ... sweet, colorful and sinfully delicious!

The bread service at Ophelia’s is unique. Not because it is fresh-baked, warm bread, but because the bread is infused with roasted garlic. It's absolutely delicious and a great way to start a meal. The wine list is large and full bar service is available. The waitstaff is very professional, friendly and knowledgeable. We were very impressed by the level of service offered by all the staff members we encountered.

So how does a long-tenured, fine dining restaurant successfully sustain itself? Having a special location on the water is a good start, but more is definitely required. It takes a commitment by the ownership and management to continually improve, evolve and listen. On our first visit we were warmly greeted by the parking attendant. While striking up a conversation, we learned he worked at Ophelia’s on the Bay for over 17 years. This tenure, especially for a parking attendant, struck us as unusual, but it was pervasive with other staff as well. It speaks volumes about the philosophy and management of Ophelia’s, a characteristic we attribute to commitment, cultivated over time.

Ophelia's on the Bay
9105 Midnight Pass Road
Siesta Key, FL 34242
941-349-2212

 http://opheliasonthebay.net/