Usually I reserve this space for some kind of snappy, somewhat food related banter. Not so today. Today’s edition of the dSDISH is going to be a little different and something I’m thinking about doing from time to time. It’s not quite a photo essay, but, it’s not a food/restaurant review either. I think it’s maybe more like a photo show and tell.

So, if you’re ready let’s get started.

I was at the Siesta Key Oyster Bar (SKOB) recently and noticed that they had a few new items on their menu. I asked their Chef, Geoff Carroll, if I could take a few shots to show all of you. Not surprisingly, he agreed. Here’s a look at a few of the new offerings at one of Siesta Key’s hot spots.

OK, if you own a place that has “Oyster” in the name you’ve got to have some great ones, and SKOB does. Above is their Oysters Rockefeller. As you can see they are loaded! Of course, you can still pick up a dozen on the half shell or steamed. They also have rolled out an oyster menu with about a half dozen new oyster variations.

Soft shell crab. It’s not quite as popular as some other types, namely snow and king, but, just as tasty. There was a time when you could only get this delicate tasting crustacean at certain times of the year. Not anymore. Lucky for us advances in aquaculture have made these crabs available practically year round.

SKOB’s version is lightly battered and fried. It’s then topped with a great Chipotle Aioli. As you can see the crab is sharing the plate with a nice assortment of mixed veggies. If you’ve never tried a soft shell crab, this is your big opportunity.

There’s something a little different coming out of the SKOB kitchen. Every Saturday and Sunday the Siesta Key Oyster Bar is serving brunch. They have all of the traditional things you might expect from a brunch menu. But, they’ve also thrown in a few surprises. One is the Crab Cake Benedict. A perfectly cooked crab cake, topped with a poached egg and finished with key lime hollandaise sauce. Some lightly grilled asparagus spears round out this nice brunch plate. It’s a great variation on the theme and makes for a satisfying entrée.

Looks like SKOB’s kitchen has really got it going! Now you can think of them for more than just great wings, live music and a laid back island atmosphere. There’s new food, dig in!

Siesta Key Oyster Bar
5238 Ocean Boulevard
Sarasota, FL 34242
941-346-5443

UPDATE: A name has finally been chosen for the newest Siesta Key destination: The Cottage. The official address is, 153 Avenida Messina.

This past weekend Siesta Village was crowded with vacation families, locals enjoying one of the first warm days in months and college Spring Breakers. Something else happened in the village this weekend that was a little more under the radar. The very soft, soft opening of what I’ve been calling the “No Name” Oyster Bar.

Wedged in between The Hub Baja Grill and Blu Smoke Island Grill is a new addition to the local Siesta dining and drinking scene. The building was most recently the rental office for the Tropical Breeze Resort. It was just transformed into a great casual place to meet for a drink.

Ultimately, it will be more bar than restaurant. When it’s fully up and running, they plan on serving a limited raw bar menu. That should include fresh oysters and clams as well as some steamed items. The details on their menu will be coming soon.

In the meantime, you can stop by for an ice cold beer and check out Siesta Village’s newest place to soak up some island lifestyle. The “No Name” Oyster Bar (I’m calling it that until something better comes along), should be a hit with locals and visitors alike. Oh, if you would like to suggest a “real” name, leave a comment here or drop us an email.

A full platter of freshly shucked oysters is a sight to behold. They can be elegantly displayed or thrown onto a beer tray with a bed of ice. No matter the presentation, oyster lovers will slurp down these culinary delights with glee. Here are a few examples of what the ocean or the gulf gives up for the benefit of the bivalve mollusc lovers out there.

These photos were taken at the Siesta Key Oyster Bar (SKOB), but, there are lots of places to eat great oysters here in Sarasota. You can also slurp down a few just down the street at the Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar.

Do you own a Sarasota restaurant? If you would like us to feature photos of your restaurants dishes, send us an email and we’ll happily make arrangements.

There are three Sarasota/Bradenton area, Anna Maria Oyster Bar locations to choose from. Their Landside restaurant is located just north of the SRQ airport on North Tamiami Trail.

They offer a great menu of local seafood to tempt your taste buds. It’s also a comfortable family place, so it’s a great spot to take the kids for a meal. It’s stone crab season, so there’s a great reason to stop by. They also serve a good New England Clam Chowder. Be sure to give that a try.

Click on the image below to view the full menu

Anna Maria Oyster Bar
6906 14th Street West
Bradenton, FL
(941) 758-7880

6696 Cortez Road
Bradenton, FL
(941) 792-0077

1525 51st Ave East
Ellenton, FL
(941) 721-7773

Is there a better place than SKOB to kick back, relax with a cold drink, eat some island style food and listen to great LIVE music all at the same time? I’m not sure if there is, but I’ll keep looking. In the meantime, why not stop by the Siesta Key Oyster Bar for all of the above and a lot more. Check the menu our for details on their fantastic oyster and crawfish happy hour special.

Click on the menu to see the full size, printable version.

Siesta Key Oyster Bar
5238 Ocean Boulevard
Sarasota, FL 34242
941-346-5443