Wine Dine and Play: Waterfront Restaurant

Waterfront Restaurant

The Waterfront restaurant on Anna Maria Island is rated as the top seafood restaurant in the area










December 2018 review  /  April 2018 review September 2017 review


The Waterfront Queso Fundido and Cocktails
Anna Maria Island, Florida USA
Cuisine Style: Global Seafood, New American
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 3/5
Dined in: December 2018
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:

Restaurant Name Zomato rating:

The Waterfront Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato 














Waterfront Restaurant 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. It has been rated by many magazines, food critics, and social media critics as one of the three best seafood restaurants on Anna Maria. This was our forth visit The Waterfront, and this time we had along with some friends visiting from California. 

The GT cocktail and others are highlights at the Waterfront Restaurant on Anna Maria Island
Waterfront Restaurant AMI / GT Cocktail

Waterfront Menu:
    • Appetizers / Small Plates
    • Salads
    • Main Courses
    • Desserts

We began with some local beers and a few cocktails such as the classic mojito, and the Waterfront orange GT cocktail. For wine lovers, they have an impressive 100 bottle list of old and new world selections, plus a bar that produces some very unique crafted cocktails, local beers, and your big name brand ones as well. On previous visits we had the truffled gouda mac and cheese two times, the baked brie with orange blossom honey which was outstanding, the harvest beet salad also on point, the ahi tuna sashimi on 2 visits, and finally the Bimini Bay lobster bisque, which my wife says is one of the best she has had, with perfect texture, flavor, and presentation. It is in her top three.

The Holland gouda Macaroni and Cheese at the Waterfront Restaurant on Anna Maria Islan
Waterfront Restaurant AMI / Guoda Mac and Cheese

On this visit like in previous stops to the island, we were hopping from place to place, so we had some nibbles at each restaurant. We recommended to our friends the decadent truffle Holland gouda mac and cheese along with the lobster bisque, both of which were as good as the previous visits, showing that the recipes are consistent from one visit to the next. We also tried the soup of the day, and new appetizer selection called the queso fundido topped with roasted pumpkin seeds and served with house-made fried corn tortilla chips.
The queso fundido at the Waterfront Restaurant on Anna Maria Island uses Chihuahua cheese from Mexico
Waterfront Restaurant AMI / Queso Fundido

The dish was cooked down with Chihuahua cheese roasted in a cast-iron skillet, and organic blue agave. Chihuahua is commonly recognized as a soft white cheese from pasteurized or raw cow’s milk available in braids, balls or rounds and originates in the Mexican State of Chihuahua. It is perfect for baked dishes, fondues, pizza, lasagna or casserole dishes. The golden brown hue of color locked in the flavors similar to that of mild, white cheddar or Monterey Jack. The presentation was simple, served in the same cast-iron skillet they use to cook it in, lightly spiced with a hint of cayenne, that melted in my mouth, and brought all flavors together in perfect harmony. 


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.



Other noteworthy New American articles and restaurants similar to Waterfront Restaurant:
Also known as Modern American cuisine, or Contemporary American cuisine, the term refers to the wave of modernized cooking predominantly served at upscale fine dining restaurants that began in the 1980s. It is generally a type of fusion cuisine which assimilates flavors from the melting pot of traditional American cooking techniques and mixes it with foreign and sometimes molecular gastronomy components. There is an innovative use of seasoning and sauces, originally based on French, and Nouvelle cuisine, and it has progressed to include elements of Asian, Latin American, Mediterranean, and other cuisines.

Alinea Highly creative New American molecular gastronomy tasting menus in Chicago, Illinois 
Cat Cora's Kitchen Organic new American tapas restaurant in Atlanta Airport Terminal A 
Harvest Moon Café Farm-to-Fork daily changing new American fare menu in Sonoma, California
Jekyll Island Seafood Company New American seafood restaurant, Atlanta Airport, Atlanta, Georgia
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 dishes in North Canton, Ohio 
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:

A family-owned sushi house
City of Anna Maria, Florida, USA
Florida style waterfront dining with Gulf-to-Table concepts 
Bradenton Beach, Florida, USA
A casual BBQ joint
Bradenton Beach, Florida, USA


A Few Florida Favorites:

Steaks cooked on a sizzling 755°f lava rock
Brandon, Florida USA
Vibrant spot for classic Spanish dishes & tapas
Carrollwood, Florida USA
Italian-inspired seafood at the Opal Sands Resort
Clearwater Beach, Florida USA

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. The first two review scores were also 3 of 5 stars, so they have maintained the same great standards as my previous visits.

Scores are detailed in the factor chart below:
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings for Waterfront Restaurant
Max Points Possible:
Total Points Awarded:
Total Points deducted:
Ambiance
10
9
1
Food quality
10
6
4
Plate presentation
8.5
6.5
1
Customer service
9.5
7
2.5
Alcohol and other beverages
9
8
1
Total regular points awarded
47
36.5
9.5
Total percentage Before Bonus

0.776595744680851

“Wow” factor BONUS
5
2
0
Total bonus percentage

0.0425531914893617

Total percentage with a bonus for the final star rating

0.819148936170213

Stars Awarded (see chart below)
             0 - 5
3

**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:
3 of 5 Stars: 
82% Rating with a 2 point “wow” bonus
Exceeded My Expectations in a Dining Experience
Wine List:
Waterfront Restaurant Wine rating:
6 of 10
Old World selections: 
France, Germany, Italy, Spain

New World selections: 
Argentina, Australia,  California, New Zealand, Oregon, Washington State
Corkage fees:
Waterfront Restaurant  does not list any corkage fee’s however, most American restaurants charge $25.00 per bottle
Restaurant style:
Casual dining
Cuisine Style at Waterfront Restaurant:
American, Seafood
Allergen or dietary accommodations: 
Gluten-Free, Local, Low Carb, Pescatarian, Sustainable, Vegetarian and Vegan Options
Reservations:
Not Required, but Recommended
Walk-Ins:
Accepted, but not guaranteed
Dress code:
Casual attire
It’s Florida, everybody wears flip-flops!
Child policy:


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! 
Waterfront Restaurant Experiences:
Place for foodies, Contemporary, Lounge, Business parties, Romantic, Hot spot, Great bar, Great outdoor dining, Scenic views, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem.
Payments:
Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
Parking:
Waterfront Restaurant has a public lot
Wifi:
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.
Noise level:
Medium
Smoking:
Waterfront Restaurant is a non-smoking restaurant, with a non-smoking patio
Patio or terrace:
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 (pricey)
$£€¥ 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:
Price
United States Dollar (USD)
$$
Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
££
Canadian Dollar (CAN)
$$$
Chinese Yuan (CNY)  
¥¥¥¥
European Union (EUR)
€€





Waterfront Restaurant:

111 Bay Blvd North
Anna Maria, Florida 
34216



Contact Information: 

Restaurant website:
Maître d or host:
+1 941-778-1515
Online reservations
Email Contact:
Serving hours:
Eastern Standard Time
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - 5:00)
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 
Social Media 
And 
Accolades for Waterfront Restaurant:
Facebook link                








****
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…
An innovative and eclectic tasting menu
 Ripponlea, Australia
Innovative East Meets West Menu
Cape Town, South Africa
Haute French Restaurant
 Paris, France
(Now L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon)





Other Waterfront Restaurant Pictures:

The lobster bisque at the Waterfront Restaurant AMI is decadent and delicious

The mojito cocktail was very refreshing on this warm day at the Waterfront Restaurant on Anna Maria Island

The soup of the day at the Waterfront Restaurant on Anna Maria Island, Florida




“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things, 
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)



Who is John Galt?


TTFN





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