Few things capture the flavor of a coastal vacation quite like a perfectly made fish sandwich, and on Anna Maria Island, it’s practically a tradition.
With the Gulf just steps away, local restaurants serve up fresh-caught grouper, mahi, snapper, and more, tucked between soft buns and dressed with everything from tangy slaws to house-made sauces.
Whether you like yours simply grilled with a squeeze of lemon or piled high and fried golden brown, the island’s fish sandwiches are a must-try bite that reflects the laid-back, beachside charm of Anna Maria Island dining.
Contents
- Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe
- Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier
- Beach House Waterfront Restaurant
- Bridge Tender Inn Dockside & Tiki Bar
- The Chateau Anna Maria
- Cortez Kitchen
- Daiquiri Deck
- Fifty Three Fifty The Pour House
- Freckled Fin Irish Pub
- Gulf Drive Cafe & Kokonut Hut
- Hurricane Hanks
- Island Time Bar & Grill
- Kiwi Style Fish and Chips
- The Lazy Lobster
- Mar Vista
- The Porch
- Sandbar Seafood and Spirits
- Star Fish Company
- Swordfish Grill
- Tide Tables Restaurant
- The Ugly Grouper
- The Waterfront Restaurant
- Wicked Cantina Bradenton Beach
Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe
- 4000 Gulf Drive · Holmes Beach
- 941-778-0784
- Daily · 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Live Music · 5:30 PM to sunset
Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe offers a delicious fish sandwich made with fresh, flaky fish served on a soft bun right by the beach. It’s a simple island favorite that pairs perfectly with ocean views and a side of crisp fries or coleslaw.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier
- 200 Bridge Street · Bradenton Beach
- 941-778-2662
- Sunday through Thursday · 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Friday & Saturday · 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
The Gulf Grouper Sandwich at Anna Maria Oyster Bar features a generous half-pound of fresh, never-frozen Florida grouper, straight from the Gulf and grilled to perfection. Their North Shore Sandwich offers tender grilled or blackened cobia topped with apricot-horseradish sauce and pickled red onion for a bright, flavorful bite. Both dishes are served with AMOB slaw and house chips.
Beach House Waterfront Restaurant
- 200 Gulf Drive · Bradenton Beach
- 941-779-2222
- Daily · 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Happy Hour · Daily · 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM · inside bar only
The Beach House Restaurant serves a flavorful fish sandwich featuring sustainably sourced mahi topped with home-made cucumber and dill slaw and zesty lemon aioli. It’s served with a side of fries, making it a fresh and satisfying island favorite.
Bridge Tender Inn Dockside & Tiki Bar
- 135 Bridge Street · Bradenton Beach
- 941-778-4849
- Daily · 11:00 AM to 11:30 PM
- Live Music · Daily · afternoon and evening
Bridge Tender Inn Dockside & Tiki Bar serves a fresh Gulf Grouper Sandwich on a soft kaiser bun, prepared your way—blackened, fried, or grilled. It comes with your choice of sides, including mashed potatoes, yellow rice, chips, fries, coleslaw, potato salad, applesauce, or the veggie of the day.
The Chateau Anna Maria
- 5325 Marina Drive · Holmes Beach
- 941-238-6264
- Tuesday through Thursday · 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday · 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Sunday · 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Happy Hour · 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
The Blackened Mahi Sandwich at The Chateau Anna Maria features blackened mahi topped with pepper jack cheese, cajun remoulade, lettuce, and tomato on a soft brioche bun.
Cortez Kitchen
- 4528 119th Street · Cortez
- 941-900-1506
- Sunday through Thursday · 12:00 to 9:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday · 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Live Music · Friday through Sunday evenings
At Cortez Kitchen, both the Grouper Sandwich and Mahi Sandwich are served your way, blackened, fried, or grilled. Each comes on a warm toasted brioche bun loaded with fresh tomato, crisp lettuce, and their signature house remoulade.
Daiquiri Deck
- 107 Bridge Street · Bradenton Beach
- 941-253-3300
- Sunday through Thursday · 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday · 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Happy Hour · Daily · 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM to close
- Live Music · Friday, Saturday, and Sunday · call for times
The Daiquiri Deck on Anna Maria Island serves a fresh Fish Sandwich with lettuce, tomato, onion, and remoulade on a toasted roll, available with mahi or grouper. You can choose your preparation style: blackened, grilled, or fried. For a tropical twist, try the Tropical Glazed Mahi Sandwich with piña colada glaze, teriyaki, pineapple, and scallions on a toasted roll.
Fifty Three Fifty The Pour House
- 5350 Gulf Drive · Holmes Beach
- 941-251-3681
- Daily · 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
The Grouper Sandwich at Fifty Three Fifty The Pour House features Gulf black grouper encrusted with panko and bacon, baked to perfection, then topped with house-made bacon, tomato ranch slaw, and served on a warm ciabatta bun.
Freckled Fin Irish Pub
- 5337 Gulf Drive · Holmes Beach
- 941-251-3930
- Sunday through Thursday · 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday · 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM
- Live Music · Tuesday and Thursday through Sunday · 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Live Music · some Saturdays · 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
- Happy Hour · 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
The Freckled Fin serves a fish sandwich made with locally caught fish of the day, prepared grilled, blackened, or fried and topped with lettuce, onion, and tomato. It comes with your choice of side and a generous serving of tartar sauce on the side for the perfect finishing touch.
Gulf Drive Cafe & Kokonut Hut
- 900 Gulf Drive North · Bradenton Beach
- 941-778-1919
- Cafe · Sunday through Thursday · 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Cafe · Friday and Saturday · 7:00 AM to 9:30 PM
- Hut · Daily · 7:00 AM to Midnight
- Live Music · Daily · 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
The Grouper Sandwich at Gulf Drive Café & Kokonut Hut features a fresh grouper filet, grilled, blackened, or fried, topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, and house-made tartar sauce, and erved on a toasted Kaiser bun.
Hurricane Hanks
- 5346 Gulf Drive · Holmes Beach
- 941-778-5788
- Food · Sunday through Thursday · 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM
- Food · Friday and Saturday · 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
- Bar · Daily · 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM
Hurricane Hanks on Anna Maria Island serves up a Grouper Sandwich that you can enjoy grilled, blackened, or fried on a soft brioche bun with fresh lettuce, tomato, and onion. Served with your choice of side, it’s a flavorful island classic that never disappoints.
Island Time Bar & Grill
- 111 Gulf Drive South · Bradenton Beach
- 941-782-1122
- Wednesday through Saturday · 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Sunday through Tuesday · 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Happy Hour · Monday through Friday · 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The fish sandwich at Island Time Bar & Grill is a true island favorite. They serve it blackened, seasoned, or fried and served on a soft brioche roll with crisp lettuce, tomato, red onion, and house tartar sauce. Each sandwich comes with your choice of seasoned fries, pineapple slaw, macaroni salad, or yellow rice and beans.
Kiwi Style Fish and Chips
- 3608 East Bay Drive · Holmes Beach
- 941-704-5040
- Monday through Saturday · 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
At Kiwi Style Fish and Chips on Anna Maria Island, the Fish Sandwich is a local favorite.They serve it lightly fried and topped with crisp lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. For those with a bigger appetite, the Jumbo Fish Sandwich adds egg and cheese for an extra layer of flavor and heartiness.
The Lazy Lobster
- 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive · Longboat Key
- 941-383-0440
- Monday through Friday · 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday · 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM
The Grouper Sandwich at The Lazy Lobster features blackened grouper on a toasted potato bun with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and zesty Cajun remoulade. Served with crispy french fries, it’s a flavorful island favorite.
Mar Vista
- 760 Broadway Street · North Longboat Key
- 941-383-2391
- Daily · 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
The Blackjack Sandwich at Mar Vista features blackened mahi mahi paired with cheddar, red onion, lettuce, and tomato on a toasted brioche bun. The blackening adds a bold, smoky flavor that complements the fresh toppings perfectly.
The Porch
- 9707 Gulf Drive · Anna Maria
- 941-782-8683
- Daily · Lunch · 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Daily · Dinner · 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
The Porch on Anna Maria Island serves a Fresh Catch Po-Boy packed with crispy fresh-catch bites on a hoagie bun, topped with chipotle ranch, lettuce, tomato, and coleslaw, with a choice of side. Their popular Mahi-Mahi Sandwich features tender grilled mahi with tartar sauce, lettuce, and tomato on a soft potato bun, also served with coleslaw and your choice of side. Guests can even swap the potato bun for a gluten-free option, making it a flexible pick for any diner.
Sandbar Seafood and Spirits
- 100 Spring Avenue · Anna Maria
- 941-778-0444
- Daily · 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
The Sandbar Seafood and Spirits offers a grouper sandwich that can be grilled, blackened, or fried, served with fresh lettuce, tomato, and onion. It comes topped with tartar sauce and a side of french fries and a pickle for a classic beachside meal.
Star Fish Company
- 12306 46th Avenue West · Cortez
- 941-794-1243
- Tuesday through Saturday · 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM
- Sunday and Monday · 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM
The Grouper Sandwich at Star Fish Company is available fried, grilled, blackened, or sautéed on a fresh Kaiser roll. Each sandwich is made with the freshest grouper, delivering a perfectly flavorful bite every time.
Swordfish Grill
- 4628 119th Street West · Cortez
- 941-798-2035
- Daily · 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Happy Hour · Monday through Saturday · 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
- Live Music · Daily · evenings · Saturday and Sunday additionally in afternoon
At Swordfish Grill, the Grouper Sandwich features fresh Gulf Grouper prepared grilled, blackened, or fried and served on locally baked bread with lettuce, tomato, and onion. For a flavorful twist, the Grouper Reuben offers grilled or blackened Grouper layered with coleslaw, remoulade, and Swiss cheese on perfectly grilled rye. Both sandwiches come with your choice of fries, potato salad, or pineapple coleslaw, making every bite a true taste of coastal Florida.
Tide Tables Restaurant
- 12507 Cortez Road West · Bradenton
- 941-567-6206
- Daily · 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM
Tide Tables serves Fresh Gulf Grouper cut from whole fish daily, prepared fried, grilled, or blackened for an authentic dock-to-table experience. The sandwich come with lettuce, tomato, onion, potato chips, and coleslaw, with the option to substitute fries, baked beans, or carrot salad for an upcharge.
The Ugly Grouper
- 5704 Marina Drive · Holmes Beach
- 941-896-8033
- Daily 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Live Music · Daily · 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Live Music · Saturday and Sunday · 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM
The Mahi Sandwich at The Ugly Grouper features fresh mahi prepared blackened, grilled, or fried to your liking. It’s served on a soft brioche bun with crisp lettuce, juicy tomato, and their signature house-made Cajun remoulade.
The Waterfront Restaurant
- 111 Bay Boulevard South · Anna Maria
- 941-778-1515
- Sunday through Thursday · 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday · 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
The Black Grouper Sandwich at The Waterfront is a coastal favorite, featuring fresh grouper prepared blackened, fried, grilled, or Island jerk-style. Served on a toasted brioche bun with tangy tartar sauce and a squeeze of fresh lemon, it’s the perfect balance of flavor and texture.
Wicked Cantina Bradenton Beach
- 101 7th St North · Bradenton Beach
- 941-281-2990
- Daily · 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM
- Happy Hour · Monday through Saturday · 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Happy Hour · Sunday · 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM
- Live Music · Daily 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM · Sunday additionally 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
The Grouper Sandwich at Wicked Cantina features fresh red Gulf grouper prepared grilled, blackened, or fried. Served on a soft brioche bun with crisp lettuce, ripe tomato, and house-made tartar sauce. It’s coastal comfort at its best, and it even comes with unlimited fresh chips and salsa.
Until next time…
· izzy
Discover the best spots to eat, sip, and unwind across Anna Maria Island with this comprehensive restaurant guide. Whether you’re craving fresh Gulf seafood, sunset cocktails, or hidden local favorites, this ebook makes planning your next meal easy and delicious.
The Anna Maria Island Restaurant Guide includes 80+ local restaurants and $200+ in exclusive activity coupons.
Anna Maria Island is the perfect place to immerse yourself in a tropical island atmosphere. From upscale cocktail lounges to tiki bars to dive bars, AMI has a variety of spots offering happy hour deals.
Below is a list of bars and happy hours on Anna Maria Island to enjoy adult libations and soak up the island’s culture.
Lobster rolls have become a popular menu item across Anna Maria Island, offering visitors a taste of coastal comfort with a Gulf Coast twist.
A few local restaurants serve their own versions, from classic chilled Maine-style rolls to warm buttered Connecticut-style options. Whether you prefer yours simple with mayo and celery or rich with drawn butter, you’ll find a few choices across the island.
Here’s a look at where to find lobster rolls on Anna Maria Island.
If you’re a seafood lover, Anna Maria Island is the perfect place to savor the fresh flavors of the Gulf.
Among its many coastal delights, oysters stand out as a true island treasure — fresh, briny, and perfectly paired with a laid-back beach view.
Whether you prefer them chilled with mignonette or roasted with butter and herbs, exploring the oyster scene is a must for any foodie visiting Anna Maria Island.
Crispy, golden, and just the right mix of tender and flavorful, calamari is a favorite appetizer for many who visit Anna Maria Island. Whether it’s lightly breaded and paired with house-made sauces, or tossed with bright herbs and bold flavors, local restaurants take pride in putting their own spin on this classic dish.
From casual beachfront eateries to lively waterfront grills, there’s no shortage of places to enjoy calamari while soaking in the island’s laid-back charm.