Comfort Feel, With Exceptional Service
Anna Maria Island, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: Global Seafood, New American
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 3/5
Dined in September 2017
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Executive Chef:
Jason Hibberts
The Waterfront Restaurant is located on the northern end of Anna Maria Island near the City Pier with views in the distance of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and St Petersburg. With over seventy restaurants and bars, they are rated as one of the three best seafood restaurants on this small seven-mile strip island of 8,500 residents located between the Gulf of Mexico and peninsular inlets that connect to the city of Bradenton.
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| Dining room |
They specialize in new American cuisine with an emphasis on sustainable products from local and independent vendors. Almost everything they prepare is made from scratch from the butchering, baking of bread, smoking of the salmon, and the house-made soups + sauces. The dining room, bar, and kitchen are very spacious and open, with a country-style home feeling, built around a finer dining opulence where like most places in Florida you can still dress casually. My wife and I went twice during our four-day getaway to Anna Maria, being so impressed with the first dinner happy hour visit, that we came back to try more.
Menu:
- Appetizers / Small Plates
- Salads
- Main Courses
- Desserts
Between our two visits, we had some craft cocktails and wine from there 100 bottle list of old and new world selections. On the first visit, my wife had a glass of Charles & Charles Rosé, a Washington State blend of Syrah (60%), Grenache (17%), Mourvedre (10%), Cabernet Sauvignon (10%), Cinsault (2%), and Counoise (1%) grapes. According to the winemakers notes the color is a pale salmon, copper pink with flashes of fuschia. The aromatics lead with notes of wild raspberry and cherry, giving in to bright citrus, Herbs de Provence, and lavender. There’s a strong note of rose petal as well. All this carries through on a light and dynamic palate with a tangy bright finish. On the second visit, she had a glass of Paper Planes Rosé from the Russian River that had aromas of white peach and wet stone that jump from the glass, along with the subtle hints of flower blossoms and grapefruit that lead to a refreshing finish according to the winemaker. I had the Clean Slate Riesling from Mosel, Germany, a forward off-dry Riesling, with fresh grapefruit and lemon flavored wine with just a hint of smoke.
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| Cocktails and wine |
We sat on the patio facing the Tampa Bay on both visits. On the first, Al was our server, which made our experience the best of all Anna Maria restaurant visits. I would go as far to say that he provided some of the best service my wife and I have had compared to most restaurant visits from all around Central Florida, very impressive. He was friendly, kind, very knowledgeable of the menu and filled with a great conversation on many subjects. The professionalism of service and knowledge of the menu hits high marks, but the conversation we had pushed the professionalism over the top. He made us feel comfortable and welcomed to not only the restaurant but the island itself.
A few items we enjoyed included a house made lobster bisque along with a tuna sashimi dish with a wasabi crusted Ahi seared rare, then thinly sliced and drizzled with sweet soy glaze scallions and pickled ginger.
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| Tuna sashimi |
With this dish we shared an outstanding entree of truffled gouda mac and cheese cooked with a BBQ pork and bacon mixture, classic elbow macaroni tossed in a creamy sauce of Holland gouda and French truffle oil, topped and baked with breadcrumbs.
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| Truffled mac |
On the second visit we requested Al again, however, we were given a different server. We enjoyed a few more cocktails and wines, then shared the baked brie dish wrapped in flaky phyllo dough and drizzled with orange-blossom-honey. The dish was served with toasted almonds, red grapes, and tart apples. As we cut into the pastry, the cheese slowly oozed out onto the plate. My wife knows that the way to my heart is through a good tasting brie, and this fit the bill just nicely.
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| Brie |
Other dishes on their menu include the Frutti di mare of pink shrimp, scallops, mussels, and clams with garlic, diced Roma tomatoes and basil chiffonade sautéed in olive oil and tossed with your choice of linguini or gluten-free pasta. They also have a Moqueca dish which is a traditional Brazilian stew with the essence of coconut and lime adorning the stew with pink shrimp, Tampa Bay clams and fresh fish. Served with cilantro marinated basmati rice. Finally, to cater to the vegetarian and vegan crowds, they have a quinoa bake of red Peruvian quinoa and black beans formed into a loaf then infused with beet and ginger, topped with a sweet and sour tomato confit and served with garlic wilted kale.
Dessert:
We did not have dessert on either of our visits but saw a few items of interest that include key lime pie with a toasted coconut graham cracker crust, a Ghirardelli triple chocolate fudge brownie with black raspberry ice cream, caramel apple cheesecake with a candied apple cream custard and an affogato liqueur dessert beverage to finish.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
United States:
California:
RRVW: Russian River AVA
Washington State:
European Union:
Germany:
Other Noteworthy New American Articles and Restaurants:
Alinea Highly creative new American molecular gastronomy tasting menus in Chicago, Illinois
Chill Restaurant & Bar New American cuisine, tapas, and exotic cocktails in St. Pete Beach
Harvest Moon Café Farm-to-Fork Daily changing new American fare menu in Sonoma, California
Lobby at Twelve Boutique hotel bistro, new American, and Southern favorites at Atlantic Station, Atlanta
Moshulu New American dining on a restored ship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Samantha’s Restaurant Mellow new American fare in North Canton, Ohio
The Mad Hatter Waterfront upscale new American cuisine on Sanibel Island, Florida
The Mill Restaurant New American fare with a southern spin in St. Petersburg, Florida
Z Grille Colorfully inspired twists on American classics in St. Petersburg, Florida
Zinc Bistro and Bar Southwestern-inspired new American fare in San Antonio, Texas
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other Anna Maria / Bradenton & Homes Beach restaurants + articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Florida style waterfront dining with Gulf-to-Table concepts
Anna Maria, Florida, USA
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A Chef driven beach-style bistro
Anna Maria, Florida, USA
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Gourmet organic Taqueria street food
Anna Maria, Florida, USA
|
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Third-floor terrace seafood-centric new American dining
Bradenton Beach, Florida, USA
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A Chef driven seafood restaurant
Anna Maria, Florida, USA
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A casual BBQ joint
Anna Maria, Florida, USA
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A Few Florida Favorites:
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Vibrant spot for classic Spanish dishes & tapas
Carrollwood, Florida USA
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Cafe for phở and bánh mì
Pinellas Park, Florida USA
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Music, food, and wine near pier 60
Clearwater / Beach, Florida USA
|
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Bar foods and casual eats
Gulfport, Florida, USA
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5-course American meal with a show
Fort Myers, Florida USA
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Homey seafood eatery in a 1903 cottage
Dunedin, Florida USA
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience, and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give Waterfront Restaurant a 3 out of 5 stars, meaning that they exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants.
Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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10
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9
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1
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Food quality
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10
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6
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4
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Plate presentation
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8.5
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6.5
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1
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Customer service
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9.5
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7
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2.5
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Alcohol and other beverages
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9
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8
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1
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Total regular points awarded
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47
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36.5
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9.5
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.776595744680851
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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2
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0425531914893617
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.819148936170213
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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3
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above. To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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3 of 5 Stars:
82% Rating with a 2 point “wow” bonus
Exceeded My Expectations in a Dining Experience
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Wine List:
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Wine rating:
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6 of 10
Old World selections:
France, Germany, Italy, Spain
New World selections:
Argentina, Australia, California, New Zealand, Oregon, Washington State
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Corkage fee’s:
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This Restaurant does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge
$25.00 per bottle
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine Style:
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American, Seafood
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Gluten-Free, Local, Low Carb, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegetarian, and Vegan Options
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Reservations:
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Not Required, but Recommended
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
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Dress code:
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Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wears flip-flops!
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Experiences:
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Place for foodies, Contemporary, Lounge, Business parties, Romantic, Hotspot, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Scenic views, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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A Public lot, Street meter parking
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Medium
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Smoking:
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Nonsmoking restaurant, and nonsmoking patio
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Patio or terrace:
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Yes
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricy)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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Alcohol prices:
$56.00 USD
Waterfront Restaurant:
111 Bay Blvd North
Anna Maria, Florida
34216
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+1 941-778-1515
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Online reservations
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Email Contact:
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Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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Lunch: Mon-Sun
11:30 am - 4:00 pm
Dinner: Mon-Sun
4:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Fri-Sat
4:30 pm - 10:00 pm
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Social Media
&
Accolades:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Modern Australian haute cuisine
Sydney, Australia
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Charming French Bistro with movie filmed terrace
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
|
Authentic churrascaria-style dining
Palm Island, Dubai, UAE
|
Other Pictures:
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
