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Sharkys on the Pier is right on the beach.....with tasty food, cold drinks and great gulf views!
Having lunch or dinner at Sharkys on the Pier will be a highlight of your trip to the Sun Coast and our Sarasota, Florida restaurants. Sharkys on the Pier has the distinction of being the only beach side restaurant on the Gulf of Mexico in Venice, Florida. That alone is enough to make it a popular place both in and out of “season.” The crowds are to be expected at a beach location like this one where you can dine al fresco and look out over the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, or inside in one of two dining rooms with a full service menu. I prefer outside dining at a location like this and as so I’ve only dined on the outdoor deck and ordered off what Sharkys calls their “light menu.” Sharkys on the Pier, one of the most popular restaurants in Sarasota and the surrounding Sun Coast area, is usually buzzing with activity including, often times, live music on the outside deck.
Once you get a table (which sometimes can be a little while), service is usually prompt and fast, even in the busiest part of the season, as they do generally have enough staff on hand to handle the over-flow crowd, whether it’s the lunch or dinner crowd, or the ‘regulars’ who hang out at the thatch roofed Tiki Bar!
While I’ve never pulled up a stool at the Tiki Hut Bar at Sharkys, I have been there on the outside deck numerous times for either lunch or dinner with family or friends. I have seen the menu change slightly over the past couple years. That’s a nice feature. It’s nice because it keeps the menu interesting and evolving, yet still creative, even though most of what’s on the menu is easily and quickly prepared and served, to keep the sometimes large crowds turning over as quickly as possible.
I’m mainly after a sandwich when I go to Sharkys. For example their Turkey Club BLT is Killer – KILLER!! It’s bacon, lettuce and turkey! The last time I ordered the Turkey Club I could barely finish it. I did order a side of fries, though, so that had a little something to do with it. But their Turkey Club is a large sandwich and a good bet and value if you’re really hungry. Very filling. Very tasty.
Other treats I’ve had at Sharkys on the Pier from their “light menu,” as they call it, include: their Crab Stuffed Mushrooms on the “Gulf Starters” part of the menu, which are delicious (as are the Buttermilk Onion Rings, by the way!) and which I was kind-hearted enough to share amongst my accompanying party once. But I’ll warn you ahead of time, when they’re this delicious you might not want to share! You might want to place 2 orders for the Crab Stuffed Mushrooms. I’m hungry now just thinking of them! I’ve also found success with Sharkys Fish & Chips and Burgers. You can also get a Bimini Cheeseburger. (There are pricier items like lobster, steaks, snow crab, baby back ribs, salmon and more on the dinner menu that’s served inside in their two dining rooms.)
With a menu as large as the one that Sharkys on the Pier presents you’re limited only by your tastes and wallet because there is enough of a variety for even the most selective or finicky of eaters to find something they’ll like. There’s everything from “Coastal Sandwiches” like their Turkey Club to their “Pier Favorites,” featuring fresh local seafood prepared any number of ways. Plus there’s Island Chicken, Seafood Salads, “Pier Pastas” like Scampi Venetian Style (this IS Venice, Florida, after all!) or Island Jambalaya. And there’s full bar service with tropical drinks from the Tiki Hut bar.
Because Sharkys has an outside open air deck under a thatched Tiki style rooftop, Tiki Hut Bar, indoor, outdoor and rooftop seating along with frequent live entertainment, and a spectacular view of the beach and the Gulf of Mexico, you’re sure to have a unique, fun and filling time for lunch or dinner at Sharkys on the Pier in Venice. And if that’s not enough, you’ll be right there at the beach and the Venice fishing pier. You can always lay out and catch some rays after lunch or go for a romantic sunset or moonlit walk on the beach or the pier after dinner. It’s one of the finest, most scenic spots in my Sarasota Dining Guide and on the Sun Coast.
Tips: Sharkys is usually crowded and you’ll most likely have to wait for a table so build a little extra time into your lunch or dinner schedule, especially during busy season. Sharkys on the Pier does not have host/hostess seating. This means you’ll have to wait for a table to clear and then get to it as fast as possible, before someone else who’s also waiting for a table. This can be a real challenge during the busy season, but you’ll get the hang of it.
Directions: From the Sarasota area follow U.S. Rt. 41 to Venice, over the bridge and into town. Turn right on to Venice Avenue and follow it through Historic Downtown Venice to Harbor Drive. Turn left on to Harbor Drive and follow Harbor Drive to Sharkys on The Pier, which is across the street from the Venice Municipal Airport, and directly on the beach at the Venice Fishing Pier. You can’t miss it. There’s a huge free parking lot. Return from Sharkys on the Pier to Sarasota Restaurants main page.
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