Waterfront Dining Raising the Bar

Upon leaving Sarasota, we once again stopped in Apollo Beach to enjoy lunch at another coastal restaurant before bringing our winter getaway to a close. Circles Waterfront Restaurant was established back in 1998. For years it has been serving the community and faithful visitors some of the best surf and turf dishes Florida has to offer. Most everything on their menu is made to order. If the seafood is not local, then it is flown in overnight. Even their beef and chicken are resourced locally. That translates to fresh every time. In fact, they boast that they have one of the rarest culinary philosophies in the industry with a standard of turning over their entire food inventory every 72 hours. That’s impressive!

Circles is located immediately next door to my previously reviewed Finn’s Dockside Bar & Grill. On the waterfront at Land’s End Marina, you are posed for a relaxing, yet upscale, dining experience. With 10 different types of seating areas, you are sure to find the perfect fit for your occasion or dining preference. On our visit, we dined under the outdoor covered patio, also known as “The Porch.” When it came time for menu selections, seafood was on our mind. But first up, we selected the spinach artichoke dip for our appetizer. Unfortunately, it was a miss for my personal taste. Maybe it was their choice of cheeses. I can’t quite pinpoint it. Somehow, it didn’t pack the aged, salty, cheesy punch that I am used to when it comes to a good spinach artichoke dip. However, my main entree of the Fresh Catch Simply Grilled Red Snapper was fantastic. The skin on the fillet was crispy. The flesh was succulent. The flavor was smoky and savory. Most of all, it was undeniably fresh as guaranteed. It was served with my choice of a cheesy herb orzo and lightly sauteed asparagus. Both were well seasoned, perfectly prepared, and complimented the fish spectacularly. My beloved chose the Grouper Bites with a Caesar Salad as his lunch entree. The breading on the Grouper was crunchy, but light, not heavy or over-fried. The taste was fresh and seasoned just right. His Caesar salad was made up of crisp romaine, freshly grated Parmesan, and served with a creamy house-made Caesar dressing.

With the freshest ingredients served, a made from scratch standard, sunset coastal views, and the ability to cruise a boat right up to the marina dock, you can expect the price and wait for service to correspond to these amenities. This is a treat destination. Not an everyday indulgence. But the value is certainly there. Whether you are looking for an upscale night out to celebrate or a daytime culinary pampering, Circles is a special dining experience with a meal prepared at the highest level of quality in an atmosphere of luxury. If you are ever in central west coast Florida, be sure to check them out!