Perfect weather, sun, sand – Anna Maria Island has it all. Its friendly, laid-back atmosphere is the ideal place to escape the hustle of everyday life, and its Old Florida feel makes it an enchanting place to explore. You’ll find many unique shops and boutiques and plenty of places to eat. For those who enjoy seafood, you’re in luck! Fresh seafood abounds. Here are three of the top restaurants where you can find fish tacos and other seafood dishes.
Hurricane Hanks
Drop by Hurricane Hanks for some great food and a casual atmosphere. The kitchen is open late for those who can’t tear themselves away from the beach, and the bar is open even longer.
Fish tacos are available on both the lunch and dinner menus. For $12.99, you receive a meal of local fresh group griller, blackened, or fried in soft flour tortillas with Napa cabbage, mango salsa, and cilantro cream. The dish also comes with one side.
Seafood is a specialty at Hanks, though there are many other options to round out the meal. If you stop by for lunch, you can order favorites such as Hurricane Wings, Ahi Tuna Stacker, and Island Crab Cakes. Tasty entrée salads include the Taco Salad, Hurricane House, and Kale Salad. Burgers and sandwiches are popular with the crowds; try the Big Texas Roadhouse, Corned Beef Brisket, or Ybor Cuban specialty sandwich.
For a special treat, give beer-battered baskets a try. From fish and chips to shrimp and scallop, these dishes are all dipped in Hanks’ famous Guinness Batter and fried golden brown to be served with small coleslaw and island fries. Top the meal off with Key lime pie or a dessert of the day, and you’ll be heading home a truly satisfied customer!
The dinner menu includes many of the same dishes with a few more meaty main courses. From the land, there’s meatloaf, filet mignon, and ribs. Maple and orange salmon, Hanks’ island shrimp, and fish of the day prepared your way are a few options from the sea. Pasta dishes are available, and the ratatouille is a very good option for vegetarians. The restaurant also has vegan and gluten-free dishes.
For a great fish taco, a drink, or a quality meal of any kind, Hurricane Hanks is the place to go. There are often live events and specials, so you may choose to plan your time there accordingly.
Visit Hurricane Hanks at 5346 Gulf Drive on Holmes Beach. The restaurant is open Monday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The bar is open late, so even if you miss dinner, you can always pop by for a drink.
Beach House Restaurant
Formerly known as the Harbor House, this restaurant was bought by Ed Chiles in 1993, remodeled, renamed, and given a brand-new beginning. Chiles’ vision was to create a moderately-priced, environmentally-friendly restaurant that serves great food. Everything from lighting to landscaping to food sourcing adheres to sustainability and eco-consciousness. This complements the incredible setting and delicious food.
Set on a pristine Gulf-front beach, this restaurant has spectacular views. Seating is available indoors and outside. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, and it is the perfect place to dine while catching an evening sunset.
Fish tacos are available on the lunch and dinner menus. For $18, diners can experience freshly-caught fish, which are fried or blackened over slaw and fresh pico de gallo. The fish is served in three soft tortillas with boom boom sauce and tortilla chips.
Other lunch options include seafood gumbo, catch of the day, short rib tacos, beach house burger, and veggie burgers. Combine that with a soup, salad, or side for a truly delectable meal.
The dinner menu offers additional savory main courses. Fresh seafood options include bourbon salmon, shrimp scampi, and seafood capellini. A special dinner menu lists house specialties such as swordfish, mahi-mahi, fried sea bass belly, artisan pizza of the day, and squash blossoms. Featured mocktails and cocktails include pink colada and coconut cucumber nohito.
For the freshest, most authentic Floridan meal, Beach House relies on locally-sourced ingredients, providing a farm-to-fork and tide-to-table experience. A bakery is also located onsite. Using local organic grains, it produces nearly all the desserts and bread – from dinner rolls to burger buns – that are served with their meals.
Stop by Beach House at 200 Gulf Drive North. Its doors are open from Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Enjoy some incredible fish tacos with friends and family while taking in the amazing Gulf view.
Waterfront Restaurant
The Waterfront Restaurant emphasizes fresh, natural flavors, offering the finest product with the addition of rare and seasonal items. Their food is almost entirely made on-site with their own butchering, stocks, bread, and even smoked salmon.
Grouper tacos are available as a main course during lunch hours. This $16 meal gives you fresh premium black Gulf grouper, which is seasoned and lightly seared, in flour tortillas with cheddar jack, jicama slaw, and freshly-chopped pico de gallo. Combine this meal with an appetizer, such as soup of the day or baked brie, and a salad, and you’ll leave lunch a truly satisfied customer!
Other main lunch courses include Gulf shrimp, BLT, Florida grouper cake sandwich, the Waterfront signature burger, and carnitas Michoacán. Prices range from $12 to $19, a very affordable meal for a family outing.
On the dinner menu, grouper tacos can be ordered as an appetizer for the same price of $16. Most of the appetizers from the lunch menu are available, including tuna sashimi, steamed clam or mussels, and fried green tomato stack. Numerous fresh salads, with your choice of meat, are a healthy choice. There’s the grilled avocado and quinoa salad, tropicale salad, and classic Caesar.
For the main course, try frutti di mare, Chimichurri river trout, peppercorn crusted filet, maple mustard salmon, or mahi salsa de langosta. Those with dietary restrictions may rest easy; the numerous gluten-free options are clearly marked on the menu. The restaurant is also vegan-friendly, with a delicious vegan pasta available.
Based on seasonal availability and preferences of the chefs, the Waterfront Restaurant offers daily specials that keep things interesting. Special options have included squid ink seafood risotto, chicken meatballs, grouper, and various desserts. Top off your meal with a treat like key lime pie, Callebaut flourless chocolate tort, Madagascar vanilla crème brulee, Waterfront affogato, ice cream, and much more.
Finally, don’t miss out on some truly unique wines. The Hamilton Creek Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley is only available in a few restaurants across the country along with Cedarberg Merlot Shiraz from South Africa.
The Waterfront Restaurant is located at 111 South Bay Boulevard. It is open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. every night except Friday and Saturday when it is open an extra hour until 10 p.m. Reservations can be made online.
Anna Maria Island vacation rentals for a truly paradisiacal experience, book a vacation rental that offers incredible amenities but still feels like home. Our full array of rentals includes luxury, condo, waterfront, and pet-friendly rentals. Here on Anna Maria Island, you’ll encounter dazzling natural beauty, taste incredible food, and make memories that last a lifetime.