Great week on AMI! (Tampa, Sarasota: condos, live, beach) - Sarasota - Bradenton - Venice area - Florida (FL) -Manatee and Sarasota Counties - City-Data Forum

RhysNJ · 05-09-2011, 02:09 PM

Just got back from a week's vacation in Bradenton Beach, AMI. Rented a very nice condo at Marbella Villas and had a wonderful time. Our second visit.

Continental no longer flies direct from Newark to Sarasota so we flew to Tampa and had a pleasant ride down. Stopped near St. Pete beach to see an area we used to go to many years ago, Isla Del Sol.

Had some great dinners at Mr. Bones, Star Fish in Cortez, BeachHouse, Sandbar, City Pier, Cortez Kitchen, and Old Hamburg Schnitzelhouse, an unexpected standout. (The only one I'm not sure I'd go back to was Star Fish, which was just okay.)

The love bugs were out in full force, and might have been the only mildly annoying thing we encountered. Weather was perfect all week, as were the Gulf temps, sunsets, and low humidity. We took the Almost Heaven kayak tour in Lido Beach after lunch at St. Armands circle. Very interesting!

One cloudy morning we stopped at the Anna Maria Historical Society Museum and enjoyed learning about local history. What a great little place that is.

The people of this area have much to be proud of, and I can't wait to return.

Rhys

SoFLGal · 05-09-2011, 06:04 PM

Thanks for the report! It seems as though you had an action packed week. Glad the love bugs didn't get to you too bad. They sure have been out this year.

AMI Historical Museum is a neat little lesser known place.

Come visit again soon

Ladywithafan · 05-10-2011, 07:46 AM

Did the wandering pets freak you out at Star Fish?

RhysNJ · 05-10-2011, 08:54 AM

Didn't notice them, but felt like I was dining in a bird sanctuary, which was kind of interesting. I love casual, but that was a little more casual than I like (place order at window, cash only, dinner in boxes delivered by last name, picnic tables on the dock.) By comparison, Cortez Kitchen was more for me.

Surprisingly, one of the best meals I had was the tilapia special on the City Pier. I forgot that you can see the sunset so nicely from there, too.

Be sure to check out the Old Hamberg Schnitzelhaus if you haven't already.

Rhys

Ladywithafan · 05-10-2011, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RhysNJ

Didn't notice them, but felt like I was dining in a bird sanctuary, which was kind of interesting. I love casual, but that was a little more casual than I like (place order at window, cash only, dinner in boxes delivered by last name, picnic tables on the dock.) By comparison, Cortez Kitchen was more for me.

Surprisingly, one of the best meals I had was the tilapia special on the City Pier. I forgot that you can see the sunset so nicely from there, too.

Be sure to check out the Old Hamberg Schnitzelhaus if you haven't already.

Rhys

Star Fish is one of the best fresh fish dives around the area. I haven't dined on the City Pier yet as I no longer reside on the island in it's present state of overbuilding.

It's still a lovely place to visit for tourists and that's cool....I feel like one of the crabby old timers I used to speed by on Key Royale Drive now, after twenty years of watching the island change!

Avalon08 · 05-12-2011, 10:31 PM

Shhhhh....don't tell anyone about AMI! Just kidding....I'm in Bradenton now (Mom's lived here for 14 years) and I am absolutely in love with AMI. It is really special. I know Siesta Key is supposed to be the top beach in the area, but for me, it wasn't even close to the AMI beaches. It was too big, too crowded, and lined with non-descript high-rises. I love the residential and island-y feel of AMI.

I got a grouper sandwich at Rod & Reel Pier....supposedly they're known for that, but honestly, I didn't think the grouper was that flavorful. I've never had grouper before....seemed bland to me. Loved the local feel of the place though.

gypsychic · 05-13-2011, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avalon08

Shhhhh....don't tell anyone about AMI! Just kidding....I'm in Bradenton now (Mom's lived here for 14 years) and I am absolutely in love with AMI. It is really special. I know Siesta Key is supposed to be the top beach in the area, but for me, it wasn't even close to the AMI beaches. It was too big, too crowded, and lined with non-descript high-rises. I love the residential and island-y feel of AMI.

I got a grouper sandwich at Rod & Reel Pier....supposedly they're known for that, but honestly, I didn't think the grouper was that flavorful. I've never had grouper before....seemed bland to me. Loved the local feel of the place though.

I'm with you, Avalon, I feel exactly the same way! Siesta does not do it for me (hate the crowds and big condos!) , I am in love with AMI and all it's beaches! It's so very "old Florida", and I'm a Florida native! Definitely has a special energy there. Never seen any beaches I love more.

Avalon08 · 05-15-2011, 01:21 AM

Gypsy, that's great to hear. I thought maybe I was just caught up in the beautiful weather (last two seasons I've been here, it's been cold), but I've been just blown away by the beauty of the AMI beaches. Hope it's a beach day tomorrow...

Irishtom29 · 05-15-2011, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RhysNJ

Had some great dinners at Mr. Bones, Star Fish in Cortez, BeachHouse, .....

A good meal at the BeachHouse? I think the food there is terrible and the worst I had in the area. Too much salt on the food and the shrimp were as rubbery as dog toys. I could'a bounced the damned things off the wall.

I'd rather eat at Long John Silvers.

RhysNJ · 05-16-2011, 08:35 AM

Did anyone go to the 100th Anniversary celebration of the City Pier over the weekend? Looks like they put a lot of work into the planning of that.

As for the BeachHouse, I've never had any complaints and it still has a #1 rating on TripAdvisor with only a few really negative reviews. The biggest problem we had there was the love bugs, not the food or service.

Rhys