One of the best waterfront restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton is better than ever
Star Fish Company, located in the commercial fishing village of Cortez on the north shore of Sarasota Bay, earned a highly coveted spot in USA TODAY's recently published "2024 Restaurants of the Year" story — and I wrote a review of this Old Florida waterfront gem to coincide with the national list, which included only 47 places from across the country.
I would have loved to see more Sarasota and Manatee county restaurants featured in the pages of USA TODAY (the story ran in print on Feb. 16), so I also created a list of 10 other local eateries that could've made the list. That story included Tide Tables, which is also situated on the water in Cortez and has a special anniversary coming up this month.
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What makes Tide Tables in Cortez stand out
Tide Tables is a delightfully funky waterfront gem on the west end of Cortez. A restaurant with indoor and mostly outdoor seating as well as a beer and wine tiki bar and marina, it overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and Anna Maria Island. Three beloved locals opened Tide Tables in 2014 and Saturday, Feb. 24, marks the popular restaurant's 10th anniversary.
Husband and wife team Bobby and Gwen Woodson, along with Karen Bell, owner of Star Fish Company and A.P. Bell Fish Company wholesale seafood dealer, founded Tide Tables. Bell is also the co-owner of the soon-to-open Bradenton Boiler Room. The Woodsons have run Tide Tables since opening day. Bobby grew up near Cortez and spent two decades on the north side of Cortez Road as general manager of the Seafood Shack.
I first visited Tide Tables within a couple weeks of it opening and became an instant fan of its Old Florida setting and commitment to serving smartly prepared fresh seafood. A decade later, Tide Tables is somehow even better than when it debuted. That's what I told my wife, Kristin, in between bites of fresh grouper and scallops the other evening.
"How many times have we come here in the past 10 years?" I asked rhetorically. "It never disappoints, and the specials just keep getting harder to resist, especially the desserts!"
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What to order at Tide Tables
Grouper bites. You can't go wrong ordering anything with grouper at Tide Tables. They cut their recently caught fish right there dockside. The chunks of tender grouper are lightly breaded and judiciously seasoned to complement the fresh, flavorful fish. You can enjoy it with their homemade tartar, remoulade, or cocktail sauce. We ordered the grouper bites when Tide Tables first opened and have continued to enjoy them ever since. However, if you spot "Thai chili grouper bites" on the daily special board, like we did a few months ago, be sure to order them, especially if you enjoy a little sweet-heat action with your fish.
Grouper sandwich. More grouper? Yep. Because you need to enjoy grouper at least two ways when visiting Tide Tables. So let me recommend starting with the lightly fried grouper bites, followed by a blackened grouper sandwich because their blackening is excellent. You can also get the sandwich grilled or fried, both fine choices. It comes with coleslaw and chips, but go ahead and upgrade to fries. I'm also a big fan of their baked beans.
Scallops. Tide Tables' scallops taste like seafood candy, sweet with a lovely hint of Gulf brininess. Order them grilled and savor the flavor, as they basically melt in your mouth.
Fish tacos: A multitude of places in Sarasota and Manatee counties serve fish tacos, but Tide Tables' are probably the best. They feature blackened mahi-mahi with coleslaw, cheddar jack cheese, and a show-stopping sesame ginger sauce, all wrapped in soft flour tacos ideal for soaking up all the sweet and savory juices.
Key lime pie: Following a healthy meal of fresh fish — and perhaps a couple of beers — be sure to treat yourself to some homemade Key lime pie, which is sweet and tart and nearly impossible to put down. Also, be sure to inquire about the daily dessert special. We recently finished our seafood feast with a slice of peanut butter pie that tasted like some kind of gourmet candy bar. Days later, I'm still craving it.
Did you know?
Tide Tables also serves a chicken and kielbasa gumbo that is ideal for chilly evenings on the water. They often feature soup specials as well, with recent options including creamy mushroom and lobster, lobster tortilla, and creamy curry seafood soup.
If you go
Tide Tables Restaurant and Marina is at 12507 Cortez Road W., Bradenton. For more information, call 941-567-6206 or visit tidetablescortez.com.
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Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at [email protected]. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Best restaurants in Sarasota, Bradenton better than ever
