This restaurant was a regular visit for us, until this visit. It took two hours to get our food, appetizers didn't come for an hour. I do think it was bad service, but I asked to talk with a manager and never saw one. Good luck if you decide to try it.
(1)
Jesse P.
Friendly service, but it's just a dock bar. If you've been to one, you've been to almost every other. Nothing special, food is decently priced, but the "wow" factor wasn't here for me.
(2)
Andy D.
Yeah I went there and didn't buy a Tee shirt. It's the Kind of a reason for that, it's not a memorable place, it's ok, just not one of those places that wowed me. Service initially was horrible, the waitress ignored us, so on her forth pass, without hearing the obligatory "I'll be with you in a moment". We chose to move to the bar. Service at the bar was good, the bartender was friendly. Yes, the place grows on you, But, alas not that much. I think Salty Dog relies on there appearance on the Man vs Food TV show. I had the loaded hot dog, it was good, but that's it, I like Chicago Dogs and Miami's Super Perro far better. I'm sure they have better food, I'm sure it's a great bar, but I walked away feeling they have outlived their prime!
(3)
Julian A.
Don't hold your breathe for this restaurant. Service was great and the waitress was very attentive but the food was ehhh. Maybe I expected more from this place. A place that was featured on t.v. My wife had the shrimp po'boy on a hoagie and the shrimp seemed like the came from frozen shrimp poppers no dressing on the salad. Fries are good and chicken tenders were good. My house salad was very fresh. My coconut shrimp were ok. It just seemed like they use frozen food and fry it. Everything was priced appropriately. Service was good and fast but I expected more out of the food and this establishment. The kids meals come with a frisbee on the bottom and then you can take it
(2)
Makena K.
I wanted to like this place but I didn't. I can describe the food we has as tasteless. We started with a bowl of Fish Gumbo. They describe it "Spicy". It wasn't. But it sure was FISHY!!! We also had the signature deep fried. Nothing spectacular. My friend ordered the deep fried mushrooms. The batter wasn't cooked all the way. I had the $16 Grouper Ruben sandwich. Fish did not taste fresh. The rye bread was soggy and wet. Even the fries that came with the meal was served without any seasoning. Ambience inside is dark. Booth seating is uncomfortable. Even my 20 year old friends were complaining about the "hardness" of the seats. The one star comes from the one oyster I tried. My friends ordered a dozen oysters. It was quite good and fresh. Let's just say this was a one timer.
(1)
Taylor A.
Everytime my family comes to Siesta Key, we bring our "old salty dog" to the Old Salty Dog. (I know lame joke, but she really is one old Golden Retriever!) We are typical obsessed dog people, and we hate leaving our special senior at home. So taking her out on the town to this restaurant is fabulous! The food is fried and thats totally okay with me! The corn dogs are the bomb dot com, and I really like their iced tea! This is just a fun place for the family all around.
(4)
Jennifer H.
Nice ambiance and great service but food was bland. Had the fried grouper sandwich and it had no flavor. The crab dip was ok in the beginning but as we got to the bottom, no good. Disappointed.
(2)
Edward P.
All of us tried the freshly caught grouper and were very disappointed. The fish was bland and didn't taste very fresh. We will not return here.
(2)
Jenn P.
I live thousands of miles from this establishment, but that would never stop me from dining here a few times a year. Often 2 or 3 times a week when I'm actually in Siesta as I feel it's best to make the most of your time here! The drinks are grand, I especially enjoy the long island ice tea but a cold beer is also enjoyable. The sight of my 70 something mom sipping her Corona with lime across the table is one of my most favorite things and one of the reasons we travel such lengths to dine here. The fish and chips are huge and delicious and melt in your mouth. You will need to ask for extra lemon to last you if you're into that kinda thing! I am! Lemon, fish, beer and my family just footsteps from the ocean. OMG! Not to mention the hot dogs which both of my kids inhale. Burgers...also good! On a side note, and I'm not sure he's even still there but my kids and I also like "stretch" the crane that inhabits the area, who we are not supposed to feed but might feed accidentally. We have about 25 pictures of Stretch over the years. The staff here is friendly and fun and full of good suggestions, so stop by for a beverage, fish and a cool tee-shirt and you may just be there for awhile. I sure will!
(5)
brandon m.
Fish broiled to oblivion. Cabbage and cream water passed off as slaw. Decent service.
(1)
Chris J.
Try the fried grouper sandwich for lunch. Wonderful! Huge portions and decently priced. See you soon we will be back.
(4)
Travis W.
Piled in after a long day on the beach just wanting a grouper sandwich and a cold beer. We were not disappointed. Great sandwich with fries, cold Stella Artois on tap and we were happy campers. Definitely worth the stop when coming off the beach.....
(4)
m b.
bad, franchise-like feel & vibe. only stopped to get a beer, decided not to attempt their food due to bad vibe. went to order my beer- didnt have it. next choice- outta that one too. third choice- well there really wasnt any third choice, so i asked the lame waitress what she could recommend instead. she offered up about zero help, and as it turns out- there were very, very few selections coming from the salty dog. so as a default choice- i received a weird blue moon-type beer- served at the table in a can!! freakin strange. dont waste your time here like i did, theres a ton of other better choices in sarasota/siesta key. ive noticed sumthing too- most places with "dog" in their name suck. i kind of equate it to when a movie includes a fart sound at some point- its a sign of desperation, an attempt at getting a cheap laugh. same here- touristy area- so ya put up a place, throw the name dog on the sign, run it like the bad franchise that it is, and youre good to go! fah-q!! maybe the food is sumhow good, but i doubt it, and id rather not gamble on a place that cant handle a simple beer order. ughhhh
(2)
Missy L.
Another Man vs Food "Bucket List" restaurant! Try the deep fried hot dog... We had gone before when we were in the Village at Siesta Key and I had something else...it was good... Not great. Then we saw the Man vs Food episode and the Dog is definitely their specialty! Really good...of course I like everything fried! I ordered it fully loaded. The atmosphere is great... Right in the village. Dog friendly restaurant which I love.... We travel there with our dogs frequently. Give this one a try if you are in the area!
(4)
Gamaliel S.
That old salty dog was tastier than I imagined! I saw the thing come out and thought that I was gonna feel like crap after I ate it but I was wrong. I recommend it to everyone!
(4)
Wanda L.
Cool little semi-dive place on the water with a bit of a nice water view during the day. The food was okay/decent and we just had some beer while there. My BF and I saw Brian Johnson of AC/DC settle in at the bar with a friend. I knew he lived in the area and it seemed like the staff knew him well enough so I guess he frequents the place on a sort of regular basis. A novelty sighting for me as I'm not an overly huge fan of the band. Definitely worth a visit and I certainly would do so again for a casual / chill Sarasota dining experience with a view. I'd like to try one of their infamous Salty Dogs too.
(3)
Im Hungr y.
I have been here 3 times in the past year. Its a great little FL restaurant and if you have a dog bring him! He can sit on the deck with you. This place is famous for being on the travel channel. Their Deep fried hotdogs have made them famous but they have a good menu otherwise. The fried hot dog is really good! and really rich. We get that and the peel and eat shrimp in old bay seasoning. SO good. Its a fun relaxing place to go after the boat or beach and sit outside on the deck and have a beer and watch football. There are several Salty dog locations and I have only been to the the one the back bay by the marina. Just a fun, cool place. Deff recommend trying it out.
(5)
Bobby K.
After being scared of the revelry happening at some of the more popular Siesta Key establishments, we trekked over to the Old Salty Dog for dinner. The blackened grouper sandwich was a little dry (compared to one we had elsewhere a few days prior) and the grilled mahi mahi was just okay. Nice service though and some low key patio seating. This is a nice removed alternative to the crazier places down the block.
(3)
Ray S.
I don't know how anyone in their right mind could give this place even one star, let alone 4. It's a dump. The food sucks. While I was there a regular had two bulldogs with hiom, one male and one femal in heat..You can figure out the rest. They also do not accept American Express, which is a big nono to me. Stay away. Far away.
(1)
J C.
I grew up in the area and my friend and I frequented siesta beach. Old Salty Dog is a great location to get drinks and fried food for an empty stomach. Usually not too crowded to have a relaxing lunch outside. We always order dog bites, an old salty dog, and appetizers. Never been dissapointed by service or atmosphere.
(5)
Chris M.
I also live several thousand miles away - approx. 3500miles..... & I have to say, as a Brit, their intrepretation of British Fish & Chips is very good indeed! Nice friendly service & not as rushed feeling as in some US establishments.
(4)
Rae L.
Great location. Good vibes. Good service. Bad choice for "fresh" seafood. The oysters are touch and go; very inconsistent. Amazing bloody Mary's. Nice start or end to a Sunday Funday.
(4)
Sarah H.
First off, you need to know that I did not stay for the arrival of my dinner due to the atrocious service. I heard other complaining diners mention a shortage of cooking staff, and this rumor seemed legitimate due to the lack of food coming out of the kitchen (which we had a great view of from our booth directly adjacent to the open kitchen door). Although the lack of cooks in the kitchen is a valid excuse for slow service, we were served drinks, our dinner order was taken, and we were only acknowledged once more in our hour and a half wait, and this was only to refill my mother's margarita, which was watered down and had an excessive amount of salt on the rim. Taking all of this into consideration, and because our patience was wearing thin, we decided to pay our bar tab and leave. Any other plans we may have made for this night were ruined due to the extremely slow service with no reasons or apologies given for the wait. When my father approached our server to pay for the drinks, she simply swiped his credit card and continued her negligent serving. All in all, our trip to The Old Salty Dog was extremely disappointing. I would have been okay with a long wait if we had been told that this would happen, and if the wait staff had been more apologetic and attentive to our table. I regret not being able to touch on food in my first yelp review, but I did not have enough patience to wait another hour for dinner. To be honest, I considered strongly ordering pizza to be delivered to the restaurant as both sustenance for empty belly and to make a point with the managers that they cannot treat their customers in this way.
(1)
Nicole T.
Prepared for fried food? Well then, good, dig in! Place is good for a nice hot dog or fish and chips. They have other food as well, but I wanted to stick with what they were known for, so I had the fish and chips. We sat on the upper level, outside. I thought the fish was very good. While they don't go light on the fried batter, the fish was light and very filling. I've had fish and chips in England, and it definitely can hold its own in terms of flavor. I shared my meal, and it was plenty for two people. Didn't realize it until later, but there's also a bar inside. Enjoyed the outdoor seating, although not a ton to look at in terms of sights. Not my healthiest of meals, but it was definitely enjoyable.
(3)
Jason G.
I liked the OSD for the atmosphere and drinks. The food was just average bar food, in my opinion. We had a very pleasant server, who was always checking to make sure we were good to go. We noticed something crawling on the wall and made mention of it to the server. She was very hush hush about it and went and told someone else. I notice a guy go over and grab it with a napkin. Later, when I asked what it was, she said it was a Palmetto Beetle. Anyone that knows Florida, knows that that is just a fancy way of saying cockroach. I'm not hinting that the place is filthy by any means, but definitely raises a little bit of concern. Overall, this is a decent place to grab a cold one, watch a game and have some basic bar food. There are much better option on the key and in Sarasota, so you may want to pass.
(3)
Tiffany C.
Found this place thanks to fellow yelpers and the positive reviews were spot on. The views are great, friendly staff, expansive menu, cool and different drinks as well as unique menu items. We had the clam chowder which was great. The fried hot dog bites were different but very good. The fried grouper firecracker wrap was one of the best things we have ever tasted. Highly recommend this hidden gem. Drove right past it the first time but glad we kept looking!
(5)
Alia E.
My husband and I ate here on a weekday in July for lunch with our 3 small children (ages 7,4, and 1). We just wanted to try a new to us local place before heading to the beach. We all enjoyed our lunch. The waitress was friendly and efficient. The food came quickly. The kids meals are served on a frisbee they could keep and even came with a cookie, so a big win for my 4 and 7 year old. It was a nice easy lunch before an afternoon enjoying the beach.
(5)
Meagan S.
I came here when I was on vacation on a week night in December. It was around dinner time and the place wasn't really that busy, but had a decent crowd. We sat outside, but as the night went on, it got pretty chilly--I wish they had heat lamps or something outside. I understand it's Florida, but there are times of the year when it gets cold out at night. I almost bought a sweatshirt which would have been fine to wear and stay warm enough outside, but they "just had a busy weekend" so they only had one left in my size. It was in red, which def. is not my color, so I ended up passing. I didn't want to spend $40 on a sweatshirt that I wasn't really that excited about. One of the reasons I wanted to come here was because I wanted to try somewhere new, especially since I was on vacation, and I saw it had been on man vs. food. I never bothered watching the episode, so I'm not really sure why it was on there. I am not a seafood eater at all, but my boyfriend it. We ordered the conch fritters as an appetizer, which he thought were ok. I think if I liked seafood, I would have liked them. I tried one, but I didn't care for it since I don't like seafood anyway. They did have a nice, crisp outside and were not dried out on the inside. For dinner I ordered their (in)famous "salty dog" which is a hot dog dipped in beer batter and deep fried. Fries were good, hot dog itself was ok. It's not really a place I'm going to wish was in Ohio. Service was ok, nothing outstanding. It was a cool place to go to that was right on the water though. If I lived down there, I would probably go there every once in awhile. Nice hang out place to grab a drink with food that's not overly priced.
(3)
Siobhan N.
I saw this place on Man vs Food and decided I had to try it when I visited Sarasota again. My husband and I went close to closing, sat outside on the patio (which I thought had a cool vibe) and we both ordered The Salty Dog and a beer. First of all, I really like Hot Dogs period so keep that in mind. Maybe it was the beer talking but I thought it was amazing! I usually add Ketchup but was sparing this time as it was just delicious and juicy without adding sauce. I honestly don't remember anything about the service, I was too excited for my Hot Dog. I do remember that it came out pretty fast which is always a good thing! Bottom Line: If you like Hot Dogs you should probably try one deep fried, it was tasty!
(4)
Ian R.
If you go here and get anything other than a salty dog then you are crazy. Service is always fast and friendly. $13 for a hot dog and you may think that's a rip, but it is well worth it! Food is better at this location, but atmosphere is nicer at their other location, but either way it's a win!
(4)
Diane H.
If a plane with family lands in Sarasota, my family goes here for their first Florida meal. May be the fried hot dogs, or the fried onion rings, or the drink of the day~all are draws. Today was no exception. Have to say the salmon salad looked fabulous, New England clam chowder was consumed quickly, but my salty dog was fabulous. Fries were crispy. The stars are over the top due to the great times we've had here as a family.
(5)
C. V.
Atmosphere and location were great. Service was friendly. Food was okay! Well presented dishes but not so tasty. Lacked that fresh flavor.
(3)
Luke T.
No bad! Tried the "Man vs. Food" hot dog... I failed to finish it. Key Line Pina Coladas are awesome!
(3)
Matt C.
Their famous hot dog is still tasty. Unfortunately their recent change in infrastructure has damaged all other items. Siesta key is our second home and this used to be one of our favorite places. 12 months ago we had a great experience, two weeks ago the service and food was barely above awful. Mistakes made in our order, the server blames us for the mistakes, and the food is obviously frozen premade. Bring back the freshness and old menu, what your doing now just isn't working
(2)
Restaurant Maverick 1.
Ok this will work, beautiful setting, our server was great, however he never did give us his name.... It was slow in comparison as the other visits but the food and the "boom boom" signature sauce was superb! Great place for the family in the village!
(5)
Maria J.
Of course this place is famous for their signature hot dog which is a quarter pound battered and deep fried hot dog. I have had one in past visits to this area and it does taste good if you're interested in eating it. It was featured on Travel Channel's "Man vs Food." Many toppings to choose from. I opted for the hot turkey sandwich this year. I admit. I was a little worried since it's not what they are famous for, but it was absolutely delicious! Patio and inside seating including bar was available at the Siesta Key location. Highly recommend this place what staying in Siesta Key!
(5)
Darius L.
So, this isn't my first time at the Old Salty Dog. I was here 7 years ago with my wife, my brother-in-law and my sister-in-law. They actually got married down here during that trip. Long story short, it was a boozy week by any standard, and especially vs. this week when I'm down here with my wife, our kids and my parents. I had much fonder memories of the place... My most recent experience casts a different light on the OSD. Maybe it's a bit paler of an impression thanks to the 18 month old who screamed like a siren throughout the table next to ours wait... I had a very forgettable "blackened" captain's platter. A steamed piece of fish, 4 shrimp and a rock lobster tail dusted on 1 side with Cajun seasoning. The side salad was fresh and everything was crispy. The wings we got were mild in every sense of the word. The onion rings were well saturated in frying oil and the poppers were fresh from the food service freezer to the dryer to our plate. They are the cheddar cheese filled if you must know, which bumps them up slightly from the freezer cream cheese versions. I believe the meal got a solid meh from around the table, but the kids did love the mozzarella sticks, grilled cheese and hamburger served on a frisbee which they got to take home. My recommendation is to go to the OSD for the cold beer and t-shirt shop. Man vs Food came and conquered a few years ago, so maybe you can wrestle down that version of hot dog and make it an experience.
(2)
Katrina P.
We had a long fun day at the beach yesterday and came here for a quick bite before heading home. Food: bleh. My husband got their Salty dog, and while I tasted a bite, i was not a fan. I am not one for deep fried foods. I decided to go with the fish tacos and they were DISGUSTING. I should have sent them back to the kitchen but our server was clueless and our person who brought the food didn't bring me corn tortillas when asked so I felt it pointless. Not only was the fish overcooked, but it was salty and dry. Service: Blah. Not friendly just 'there' - I asked for corn tortillas with my tacos and I was brought flour - I don't have a gluten allergy but am gluten sensitive and my request wasn't made for me. We won't be coming back here. The prices are way higher than they should be for cheap, bar food.
(1)
Karen A.
Loved the key lime piña colada and pull and eat shrimp. Nice patio and friendly servers. Just ate lunch, but seemed high quality food.
(4)
Debbie G.
Atmosphere is good. I had shrimp basket and it was mediocre at best. Shrimp were frozen while I watched my hubby eat a succulent shrimp Caesar salad. Where were those shrimp? Service was fast and friendly.
(3)
Durti S.
Again The Old Salty Dog is the best place to find a deep fried Hot Dog. You will not be disappointed with this great establishment
(5)
Ashley A.
Sloooooow. Not enough servers... we waited for 30 minutes before getting a water..... no music, came here twice both times dead
(2)
Anthony P.
Go here every year on vacation. Food mostly fried but that's what it's known for. The Salty Dog is a batterd hot dog. Mmmmmm. Good fish variety. Family place with a bar. Reasonable prices. We had a great waitress, Kaleigh.
(5)
Jeff K.
I knew what I was getting. I got great shrimp peel and eat. cold beer. Was what it was.. a decent place on Siesta Key.
(3)
Michael O.
Pretty cool typical rustic bar. Pretty good food and good for families. Had the roast beef au jus and she had the rib eye sandwich. If your looking for some decent grub that's not exotic and good prices Old Salty is a good place. They have TV'S too.
(3)
Kristin M.
Solid place to eat in Siesta Key. Went there with friends before walking down to the beach. Ordered the original salty dog with bacon and cheddar which was good, the fries could be a little better. Try the Siesta Tan which is Budweiser topped with Newcastle, different but delicious.
(3)
Beth Ann A.
Oh man. This place was perfect! Good service, cold beer, and fried hotdogs. I'm a Dietitian and even I loved every minute of this place! Fun experience.
(5)
Sean G.
Enjoyable beach bar that's offers a mix of locals and tourists. The beer on tap is cold, and I've been happy with a wide variety of food ordered from here. The servers are courteous, although service can sometimes be a little slow. I look forward to making this stop at least once a year when I'm in the area.
(3)
Amelia H.
Food was great, service stunk. It was about 8ish on a Monday we visited. Sat on the patio and my husband wasn't even offered another drink with his food because the server never visited us until she came with the check. Food came out fresh and was wonderful. We had the conch fritters and loaded dog. Both were fantastic!
(3)
Brenda P.
The reason for the 4 stars is mainly for the dog bites. Take that off the menu and it would be just a solid 3 stars. I have a rule. If I think about a menu item long after I have visited a restaurant, the review has to get at least 4 stars. That means chances are, I will return for that. I love dining out. I love experiencing chef creations in beautiful restaurants while drinking red wine (pinky up and all) and going all out. This place, is anything but that. Once in a while I just want so sit and have all the food you should not be having. The fried & fattening kind. Headlining that category for me are HOT DOGS. Love them! But these are not just hot dogs, these are BEER battered, deep fried and SALTY. I mean, I want to get in my car right now and go have some. (note to self: do not type reviews while hungry). You can have the full length hot dog or the bites. I figured the bites were more fun and easy to share with my girlfriends. We went after spending all morning at the beach, sun burn, bathing suits and all. It's very casual and tables are picnic style. We all found it to be a little hot inside and our waitress was in space cadette mode but did I mention the hot dog bites? ha! They do have other good items. The crab dip was delicious as was the Swiss bacon burger. If you are ever in Siesta Key, make a stop here and try it out!
(4)
Vance E.
First off, while on vacation previously I should say we've never had any issues, and always thought the food was alright. Mostly we came because of where its at. The last time we stopped was pretty horrible. Ordered the coconut shrimp appetizer the waitress said the first order was burnt so she told them to make another order (which we thought was nice if true, then again maybe she forgot to put the order in in the first place, not sure but i'll give her the benefit of doubt) The shrimp arrived ....looked cooked on the outside and was cold and uncooked on the inside....it was pretty disgusting. The waitress was embarrassed and took it away. I also ordered a grouper wrap ....and again whomever was cooking just couldnt figure things out as parts of this wrap were also not cooked. Thankfully they couldn't screw up my sons BLT sandwich and managed to get my daughters hot dog bites right. For my wife their sangria got here through the rest of this adventure. Both items were taken off our bill, but no manager apology or anything just an embarrassed waitress.
(2)
Kellie B.
Watched the show and decided to try it. Husband and I both got the salty dog special. I got pepper jack and bacon on mine, husband got American, bacon, and chili on his. The dog overall was pretty greasy and I think I would've preferred a different kind of meat dog. The chili was pretty good, pepper jack was not spicy at all. The fries were just okay. Probably would've given another star if the fries were better. I'm glad I went and had the experience, would maybe order the little corn dog things next time. The wait staff was SUPER kind and helpful!
(3)
Lea B.
We only had a couple of beers and an appetizer. The atmosphere, servers and other customers, were friendly. We ordered the Grouper Egg Rolls - how awesome! They are egg rolls filled with grouper, black beans, corn, and pepper jack. We were happy campers.
(3)
Gaby G.
Good place but a lil pricey for me. I guess being a local you sometimes feel you can get better inland and not on the island. If you are going to here, get the original salty dog. It's a fried hot dog that will melt in your mouth. Enjoy my friends.
(3)
JG B.
My husband loved the special of the day, a grouper reuben sandwich. They were 'out' of the fried hotdog so the waitress suggested we get the mini dog appetizer, same batter just mini sized with fries. YUMMY! I've been thinking about them for days & can't wait to go back for more. My burger was meh. Nothing to write home aboute. Great place to get some yummy bar food.
(3)
Erin J.
The atmosphere is great, the food so-so. We went to check out the fish sandwich after seeing this place and it's fish sandwich on man vs food. Ridiculously huge, and pretty expensive in my opinion. Also ordered a chicken sandwich that couldve fed a small village. Overall though, fun place to sit for lunch on the water.
(3)
Lorraine C.
I would only go there for drinks. Food is extremely greasy and over seasoned to hide bad taste.
(1)
Jim M.
Really poor food. Expensive tuna was fake and poorly prepared. Shrimp were not even cooked--gray color. And then there is the parking challenge in the Village.
(1)
Ben C.
Great place for beers and nice bite! My dogs loved geting to sit on the upper patio level, and they even provided a snack for them!
(4)
Kevin I.
It's better than most tourist restaurants bars. Nice servers and fairly cold beer. The gumbo is good, not great, but good.
(3)
Melanie P.
Firecracker wrap is SPICY! I loved it.
(4)
Holly M.
Tourist trap
(2)
Mike D.
Server wonderful ,food sub part, presentation nice , price outrageous, clam chowder hot but seemed to be store bought not made from scratch as explained to be Disappointed will not return!!!
(2)
Mike D.
When we arrived at the restaurant no one even greeted us. Staff seemed clueless. I asked for the Manager but was told he was busy. Food was fair, service was poor. Waited close to 30 min for food and the restaurant was empty. Many better places to go on the Key for drinks and dinner.
(1)
Ray K.
Took my family here and it's just a tourist trap! The food took over an hour when it was slow and we had six different dishes. None of them were good - except the salty dog, which was "ok". The fish tacos were horrible and did not finish them - yuck. For almost a $100 dollars for a family of 5. I would go somewhere else more deserving of your vacation dollars.
(1)
Randy K.
Came here at 3:30 to get a late lunch. There weren't a lot of people here. Ordered a fish sandwich, hamburger and turkey club. We waited for 45 minutes for the food to come. We asked the hostess to check why our food was taking so long, she went away and never came back. When we finally got the order it was wrong. We won't be coming back.
(2)
Sy L.
Come here for the beer and the atmosphere. The food and service is okay. If you want great fish, then head to Cortez near Bradenton Beach.
(3)
T D.
Torn between 2 and 3 stars. It's passable bar food at beach city prices. Service was pretty good. They did have some drink specials before 6pm. A big front patio that looked pretty nice, but too cold tonight to sit out there. I had the "salty dog" which is a big quarter-pound hot dog that is beer-battered and fried. It was fine, but I won't get it again. Kids menu has "dog bites" which is cut up chunks of hot dog beer battered and fried. Other people's food seemed to be fine, nothing memorable.
(3)
Michael G.
Came with my family. Of seven people, we received really bad oysters, overly dry fish tacos and sub par lobster roll. With that, the ambiance is awesome and the service is great.
(2)
Krista D.
The service was amazing and the Grouper sandwich was off the charts! Great selection of beer on tap and a Great bartender named Amy!! Good atmosphere, great service, fantastic food!
(5)
Jessica M.
Still my favorite grouper sandwich in the Sarasota/Siesta Key area. Good food, good beers on tap, the Sarasota location is beautiful right on the water and the Siesta Key location is conveniently right downtown and has a friendly bar staff and nice group of regulars.
(4)
Jason H.
We showed up with two hungry boys and one of them with low blood sugar. Immediately after sitting down I ordered two chocolate milks and they arrived post-haste. We ordered the dog bites for the kids, my wife chose the burger with a side salad, and I had the oyster po-boy. Nothing really stands out other than after eating that po-boy I think there should be a legal definition of what is ciabatta. My bread had neither the taste nor texture I'd expect from ciabatta bread. Regardless, the sandwich was okay, especially with the sauce that came with it. Neither of my boys finished their dog bites--they looked unappetizing to me, so I can't blame them. I was also a little bit surprised that the fruit cup that came with their meal was canned peaches and pears--the kind you find in the grocery store that you might put in your child's lunches. Beer prices were reasonable--a couple bucks less than what you might pay at the area hotels perhaps. The brightest spot here is that our service was great. That alone is the reason I'm not going with 2 stars here.
(3)
Kem W.
Worst club sandwich ever. Ciabatta bread was absolutely inedible. Turkey was even drier than the bread. Rice looked and smelled awful. Fries barely OK. Even the iced tea seemed dilute. I realize it's just a beach dive but it should be able to do a lot better particularly with those simple as pie restaurant staples. The server was friendly and attentive.
(1)
Steven P.
Went to the Siesta Key location for lunch and had a good time. The staff was great, the ambiance was good, and the food was good. I had the grouper rueben and it was just to die for. The best that I've ever had, but the only one that I've ever had. We had the beer battered hotdog bites and they were really good as well. Lots of locals mixed in with some tourists made this a good vibe. I would certainly recommend this place for some good casual dining.
(4)
Mark P.
Good, but still disappointing. One of the reasons I was excited about our trip to Siesta Key was being able to go to The Old Salty Dog which we'd seen on a few foodporn shows on cable. I ordered the Old Salty Dog, a beer batter-dipped hot dog fried and topped with different cheeses and sauteed onions. It was quite good and I enjoyed it. My wife had the Grouper Reuben because of all the reviews here, but she wasn't overly impressed -- "interesting" was her response when I asked about it. The fries were good, but not great and all their food is shockingly undersalted, and this is coming from someone notorious for watching their salt for health reasons. I know people are worried about sodium, but you still have to add it to your cooking. I also got to try their fish and chips which were good (nice tasting cod), but again it was underseasoned (there was a definite pattern). I'm glad we went because I enjoyed my hot dog, but I think one visit is enough. There are better places we've eaten at in the area and will go back there, but it's still worth a go if only to try their signature dish. WARNING: Parking is a nightmare. There are a small handful of spots up front, but be prepared to park elsewhere and walk a bit, possibly in the rain.
(3)
Betty L.
Great place to go after a day at the beach!!! Cold beers, deep fried hot dog with bacon, and cheese. I personally had the fish and chips which was really good. The fish was really tender and cooked perfectly. I will be going there again.
(4)
William M.
Just ok. Typical bar food. Don't go out of your way. On the plus side, the service was very attentive.
Solid. It's not the best place on Siesta Key but they have a full bar and decent food and a swell gift shop. The watermelon-cucumber cocktail is GREAT, fyi. You can sit outside and your meal on a picnic type table and all of the Siesta Key specialties, like grouper and other fish sandwiches. I'd come back just for that cocktail!
(4)
Krystal R.
Adam Richman from Man vs. Food had visited this establishment from season 2 and I was intrigued to enjoy some "manly" food with the family. However it was the other location in Sarasota, not the one in Siesta Key. Boo. No matter what, everyone is a fan of Adam Richman, so we knew that it had to be good. Who could say no to a deep fried hot dog...if Adam loved it, then we would too. However, if you're looking to dine here for other tasty treats...you might be a little disappointed. After a long day at the beach, we were starving for some tasty bar food. Most of us ordered some cold beers or mixed drinks to start the night right. We asked the waitress for the coldest beer on tap, and to our dismay...they were not cold at all. We even asked for a cup of ice to cool it down...I guess our waitress didn't get the hint that we wanted cold beer. The beer of the month was Bud Light Lime...not a great beer selection if you're a beer snob. We ordered some appetizers to share with the group: the salty dog bites and crab-stuffed mushrooms. The salty dog bites were covered in beer batter and the deep fried butteryness paired well with the honey mustard sauce. The creamy crab stuffed mushrooms were delicious and yummy-irffic. I wish I had an entire bowl of the dog bites and mushrooms...they were the best items on the menu. However, my main entree was the grilled halibut. My aunt, my uncle and mother in law ordered the grouper, my husband ordered the ribs, and my father in law ordered a tuna melt. For the most part, everyone enjoyed their dishes. For the fresh fish of the day, my halibut tasted pretty frozen. I had ordered it medium rare, and it was barely pink, and tasted pretty bland. I did taste a bit of the grouper, and it was fried with the beer batter, and of course that was delicious. If you fry something, it always tastes better right? Oh well, I made the wrong choice of entree. Don't make my mistake...order the grouper and not the halibut...or order something deathly fried. That will satisfy all your hunger pains. Dessert was passed, and customer service was so-so at it's best. Our waitress was just a novice, and when we passed her by on our way out she was just chatting with other employees taking a break. I guess it's the beach life...Soooo beachy. Maybe try the original location that Adam had the Salty dog, and only order the salty dog. It might taste better.
(3)
Jon V.
I had the "old salty dog". Deep fried hot dog with everything on it. It was really good! When I saw that it was featured on Man vs Food, I said "challenge accepted"!
(4)
Matthew P.
Don't Do The Death Dog Ok, so My girlfriend and I were drivin', down town Siesta Key, and came across this place, which we had seen on Man V. Food. Turns out it was the other location that was on TV, but they are the original and have the same menu. The Hostess was your mom, if she were British, which was nice The bartender had dreads and bothered to mention that she was hungover, which was cool. Very beachy. We were gonna try the fried hot dog, with a list of toppings that were awesome for a very reasonable seven bucks I also had a beer and Miki a Pina Colada, which was huge, stiff and delicious. The Menu stated the 'Salty Dog' was seven bucks. Then the bartender recommended the 'Death Dog' a fried dog with bacon and cheese that was on Man v Food. So we tried it, it was pretty good...after the beach, it practically knocked me out. Then we received the bill, which left a far worse taste in my mouth. The Death Dog was 16 bucks, shame on you Salty Dog I'd go back if I was ever in town but Damn the Death Dog to Hell wakawaka
(2)
Angel L.
Continuing my vacations in Siesta Key, i went to grab a quick dinner at The Old Salty Dog. I had called ahead to place my order, which the person on the phone did nicely. They did not really tell me how long it would take so i just went 5 minutes after io called just in case... I didn't want to eat my food cold. The restaurant is a little bit farther down the main street where all the other places are. I had ordered a regular burger with fries. The burger was actually pretty good, the problem was the fries. They (unfortunately) put the fries in a styrofoam box wich keeps the condensation inside... You figured it out ? Yes the fries were all mushy and tasteless!! So I ended up being half satisfied... I would recommend to eat at the restaurant, it might be better and the atmosphere looked pretty nice. Nothing memorable but i guess i will give it an other shot if i go back.
(3)
Olga G.
This place is awesome!!! The beer battered hot dog is unreal!!! It's huge and delish !!!! Definitely a must!! Also try their grouper Ruben sandwich, battered as well! To die for!!!! Fish and chips too!! also loved the mussels!! Love this place!!' Been here many many many times and will be back many more!!!! Service is good too
(5)
John C.
Good atmosphere and good food. I wanted to try the salty dog and it was well worth it. My wife had some surf and turf which she said it was delicious. They also had great mixed drinks from the bar.
(4)
Jim L.
We ate here on a Weds. party of 5 (2 adults, 1 teen, 2 kids). The kids were whipped from the beach so we ate inside. Good A/C. Staff was very attentive; Appetizer: we had the peel and eat shrimp 1/2lbs 12 bucks... pretty yummy...yes i know that you can get a 1lb at the PULix for that price ...but i'm at the beach and it was pretty tasty. Drinks: Had the cocktail of the day...i would pass.. but then i remember i don't drink cocktails...my bad.....then had the Cigar City IPA which was awsome in a 20oz glass it appeared. perfect. The kids menu is the kids menu..my one daughter ordered the estranged BLT minus the tomato...the adults had wraps (firecracker)(Grouper) very good. Overall worth the money and time...not to mention the good background music which was college rock but not overwhelming. Very good experience. We will come back, next time.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Fri, Sat Coat Check : No Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
David W.
This restaurant was a regular visit for us, until this visit. It took two hours to get our food, appetizers didn't come for an hour. I do think it was bad service, but I asked to talk with a manager and never saw one. Good luck if you decide to try it.
(1)Jesse P.
Friendly service, but it's just a dock bar. If you've been to one, you've been to almost every other. Nothing special, food is decently priced, but the "wow" factor wasn't here for me.
(2)Andy D.
Yeah I went there and didn't buy a Tee shirt. It's the Kind of a reason for that, it's not a memorable place, it's ok, just not one of those places that wowed me. Service initially was horrible, the waitress ignored us, so on her forth pass, without hearing the obligatory "I'll be with you in a moment". We chose to move to the bar. Service at the bar was good, the bartender was friendly. Yes, the place grows on you, But, alas not that much. I think Salty Dog relies on there appearance on the Man vs Food TV show. I had the loaded hot dog, it was good, but that's it, I like Chicago Dogs and Miami's Super Perro far better. I'm sure they have better food, I'm sure it's a great bar, but I walked away feeling they have outlived their prime!
(3)Julian A.
Don't hold your breathe for this restaurant. Service was great and the waitress was very attentive but the food was ehhh. Maybe I expected more from this place. A place that was featured on t.v. My wife had the shrimp po'boy on a hoagie and the shrimp seemed like the came from frozen shrimp poppers no dressing on the salad. Fries are good and chicken tenders were good. My house salad was very fresh. My coconut shrimp were ok. It just seemed like they use frozen food and fry it. Everything was priced appropriately. Service was good and fast but I expected more out of the food and this establishment. The kids meals come with a frisbee on the bottom and then you can take it
(2)Makena K.
I wanted to like this place but I didn't. I can describe the food we has as tasteless. We started with a bowl of Fish Gumbo. They describe it "Spicy". It wasn't. But it sure was FISHY!!! We also had the signature deep fried. Nothing spectacular. My friend ordered the deep fried mushrooms. The batter wasn't cooked all the way. I had the $16 Grouper Ruben sandwich. Fish did not taste fresh. The rye bread was soggy and wet. Even the fries that came with the meal was served without any seasoning. Ambience inside is dark. Booth seating is uncomfortable. Even my 20 year old friends were complaining about the "hardness" of the seats. The one star comes from the one oyster I tried. My friends ordered a dozen oysters. It was quite good and fresh. Let's just say this was a one timer.
(1)Taylor A.
Everytime my family comes to Siesta Key, we bring our "old salty dog" to the Old Salty Dog. (I know lame joke, but she really is one old Golden Retriever!) We are typical obsessed dog people, and we hate leaving our special senior at home. So taking her out on the town to this restaurant is fabulous! The food is fried and thats totally okay with me! The corn dogs are the bomb dot com, and I really like their iced tea! This is just a fun place for the family all around.
(4)Jennifer H.
Nice ambiance and great service but food was bland. Had the fried grouper sandwich and it had no flavor. The crab dip was ok in the beginning but as we got to the bottom, no good. Disappointed.
(2)Edward P.
All of us tried the freshly caught grouper and were very disappointed. The fish was bland and didn't taste very fresh. We will not return here.
(2)Jenn P.
I live thousands of miles from this establishment, but that would never stop me from dining here a few times a year. Often 2 or 3 times a week when I'm actually in Siesta as I feel it's best to make the most of your time here! The drinks are grand, I especially enjoy the long island ice tea but a cold beer is also enjoyable. The sight of my 70 something mom sipping her Corona with lime across the table is one of my most favorite things and one of the reasons we travel such lengths to dine here. The fish and chips are huge and delicious and melt in your mouth. You will need to ask for extra lemon to last you if you're into that kinda thing! I am! Lemon, fish, beer and my family just footsteps from the ocean. OMG! Not to mention the hot dogs which both of my kids inhale. Burgers...also good! On a side note, and I'm not sure he's even still there but my kids and I also like "stretch" the crane that inhabits the area, who we are not supposed to feed but might feed accidentally. We have about 25 pictures of Stretch over the years. The staff here is friendly and fun and full of good suggestions, so stop by for a beverage, fish and a cool tee-shirt and you may just be there for awhile. I sure will!
(5)brandon m.
Fish broiled to oblivion. Cabbage and cream water passed off as slaw. Decent service.
(1)Chris J.
Try the fried grouper sandwich for lunch. Wonderful! Huge portions and decently priced. See you soon we will be back.
(4)Travis W.
Piled in after a long day on the beach just wanting a grouper sandwich and a cold beer. We were not disappointed. Great sandwich with fries, cold Stella Artois on tap and we were happy campers. Definitely worth the stop when coming off the beach.....
(4)m b.
bad, franchise-like feel & vibe. only stopped to get a beer, decided not to attempt their food due to bad vibe. went to order my beer- didnt have it. next choice- outta that one too. third choice- well there really wasnt any third choice, so i asked the lame waitress what she could recommend instead. she offered up about zero help, and as it turns out- there were very, very few selections coming from the salty dog. so as a default choice- i received a weird blue moon-type beer- served at the table in a can!! freakin strange. dont waste your time here like i did, theres a ton of other better choices in sarasota/siesta key. ive noticed sumthing too- most places with "dog" in their name suck. i kind of equate it to when a movie includes a fart sound at some point- its a sign of desperation, an attempt at getting a cheap laugh. same here- touristy area- so ya put up a place, throw the name dog on the sign, run it like the bad franchise that it is, and youre good to go! fah-q!! maybe the food is sumhow good, but i doubt it, and id rather not gamble on a place that cant handle a simple beer order. ughhhh
(2)Missy L.
Another Man vs Food "Bucket List" restaurant! Try the deep fried hot dog... We had gone before when we were in the Village at Siesta Key and I had something else...it was good... Not great. Then we saw the Man vs Food episode and the Dog is definitely their specialty! Really good...of course I like everything fried! I ordered it fully loaded. The atmosphere is great... Right in the village. Dog friendly restaurant which I love.... We travel there with our dogs frequently. Give this one a try if you are in the area!
(4)Gamaliel S.
That old salty dog was tastier than I imagined! I saw the thing come out and thought that I was gonna feel like crap after I ate it but I was wrong. I recommend it to everyone!
(4)Wanda L.
Cool little semi-dive place on the water with a bit of a nice water view during the day. The food was okay/decent and we just had some beer while there. My BF and I saw Brian Johnson of AC/DC settle in at the bar with a friend. I knew he lived in the area and it seemed like the staff knew him well enough so I guess he frequents the place on a sort of regular basis. A novelty sighting for me as I'm not an overly huge fan of the band. Definitely worth a visit and I certainly would do so again for a casual / chill Sarasota dining experience with a view. I'd like to try one of their infamous Salty Dogs too.
(3)Im Hungr y.
I have been here 3 times in the past year. Its a great little FL restaurant and if you have a dog bring him! He can sit on the deck with you. This place is famous for being on the travel channel. Their Deep fried hotdogs have made them famous but they have a good menu otherwise. The fried hot dog is really good! and really rich. We get that and the peel and eat shrimp in old bay seasoning. SO good. Its a fun relaxing place to go after the boat or beach and sit outside on the deck and have a beer and watch football. There are several Salty dog locations and I have only been to the the one the back bay by the marina. Just a fun, cool place. Deff recommend trying it out.
(5)Bobby K.
After being scared of the revelry happening at some of the more popular Siesta Key establishments, we trekked over to the Old Salty Dog for dinner. The blackened grouper sandwich was a little dry (compared to one we had elsewhere a few days prior) and the grilled mahi mahi was just okay. Nice service though and some low key patio seating. This is a nice removed alternative to the crazier places down the block.
(3)Ray S.
I don't know how anyone in their right mind could give this place even one star, let alone 4. It's a dump. The food sucks. While I was there a regular had two bulldogs with hiom, one male and one femal in heat..You can figure out the rest. They also do not accept American Express, which is a big nono to me. Stay away. Far away.
(1)J C.
I grew up in the area and my friend and I frequented siesta beach. Old Salty Dog is a great location to get drinks and fried food for an empty stomach. Usually not too crowded to have a relaxing lunch outside. We always order dog bites, an old salty dog, and appetizers. Never been dissapointed by service or atmosphere.
(5)Chris M.
I also live several thousand miles away - approx. 3500miles..... & I have to say, as a Brit, their intrepretation of British Fish & Chips is very good indeed! Nice friendly service & not as rushed feeling as in some US establishments.
(4)Rae L.
Great location. Good vibes. Good service. Bad choice for "fresh" seafood. The oysters are touch and go; very inconsistent. Amazing bloody Mary's. Nice start or end to a Sunday Funday.
(4)Sarah H.
First off, you need to know that I did not stay for the arrival of my dinner due to the atrocious service. I heard other complaining diners mention a shortage of cooking staff, and this rumor seemed legitimate due to the lack of food coming out of the kitchen (which we had a great view of from our booth directly adjacent to the open kitchen door). Although the lack of cooks in the kitchen is a valid excuse for slow service, we were served drinks, our dinner order was taken, and we were only acknowledged once more in our hour and a half wait, and this was only to refill my mother's margarita, which was watered down and had an excessive amount of salt on the rim. Taking all of this into consideration, and because our patience was wearing thin, we decided to pay our bar tab and leave. Any other plans we may have made for this night were ruined due to the extremely slow service with no reasons or apologies given for the wait. When my father approached our server to pay for the drinks, she simply swiped his credit card and continued her negligent serving. All in all, our trip to The Old Salty Dog was extremely disappointing. I would have been okay with a long wait if we had been told that this would happen, and if the wait staff had been more apologetic and attentive to our table. I regret not being able to touch on food in my first yelp review, but I did not have enough patience to wait another hour for dinner. To be honest, I considered strongly ordering pizza to be delivered to the restaurant as both sustenance for empty belly and to make a point with the managers that they cannot treat their customers in this way.
(1)Nicole T.
Prepared for fried food? Well then, good, dig in! Place is good for a nice hot dog or fish and chips. They have other food as well, but I wanted to stick with what they were known for, so I had the fish and chips. We sat on the upper level, outside. I thought the fish was very good. While they don't go light on the fried batter, the fish was light and very filling. I've had fish and chips in England, and it definitely can hold its own in terms of flavor. I shared my meal, and it was plenty for two people. Didn't realize it until later, but there's also a bar inside. Enjoyed the outdoor seating, although not a ton to look at in terms of sights. Not my healthiest of meals, but it was definitely enjoyable.
(3)Jason G.
I liked the OSD for the atmosphere and drinks. The food was just average bar food, in my opinion. We had a very pleasant server, who was always checking to make sure we were good to go. We noticed something crawling on the wall and made mention of it to the server. She was very hush hush about it and went and told someone else. I notice a guy go over and grab it with a napkin. Later, when I asked what it was, she said it was a Palmetto Beetle. Anyone that knows Florida, knows that that is just a fancy way of saying cockroach. I'm not hinting that the place is filthy by any means, but definitely raises a little bit of concern. Overall, this is a decent place to grab a cold one, watch a game and have some basic bar food. There are much better option on the key and in Sarasota, so you may want to pass.
(3)Tiffany C.
Found this place thanks to fellow yelpers and the positive reviews were spot on. The views are great, friendly staff, expansive menu, cool and different drinks as well as unique menu items. We had the clam chowder which was great. The fried hot dog bites were different but very good. The fried grouper firecracker wrap was one of the best things we have ever tasted. Highly recommend this hidden gem. Drove right past it the first time but glad we kept looking!
(5)Alia E.
My husband and I ate here on a weekday in July for lunch with our 3 small children (ages 7,4, and 1). We just wanted to try a new to us local place before heading to the beach. We all enjoyed our lunch. The waitress was friendly and efficient. The food came quickly. The kids meals are served on a frisbee they could keep and even came with a cookie, so a big win for my 4 and 7 year old. It was a nice easy lunch before an afternoon enjoying the beach.
(5)Meagan S.
I came here when I was on vacation on a week night in December. It was around dinner time and the place wasn't really that busy, but had a decent crowd. We sat outside, but as the night went on, it got pretty chilly--I wish they had heat lamps or something outside. I understand it's Florida, but there are times of the year when it gets cold out at night. I almost bought a sweatshirt which would have been fine to wear and stay warm enough outside, but they "just had a busy weekend" so they only had one left in my size. It was in red, which def. is not my color, so I ended up passing. I didn't want to spend $40 on a sweatshirt that I wasn't really that excited about. One of the reasons I wanted to come here was because I wanted to try somewhere new, especially since I was on vacation, and I saw it had been on man vs. food. I never bothered watching the episode, so I'm not really sure why it was on there. I am not a seafood eater at all, but my boyfriend it. We ordered the conch fritters as an appetizer, which he thought were ok. I think if I liked seafood, I would have liked them. I tried one, but I didn't care for it since I don't like seafood anyway. They did have a nice, crisp outside and were not dried out on the inside. For dinner I ordered their (in)famous "salty dog" which is a hot dog dipped in beer batter and deep fried. Fries were good, hot dog itself was ok. It's not really a place I'm going to wish was in Ohio. Service was ok, nothing outstanding. It was a cool place to go to that was right on the water though. If I lived down there, I would probably go there every once in awhile. Nice hang out place to grab a drink with food that's not overly priced.
(3)Siobhan N.
I saw this place on Man vs Food and decided I had to try it when I visited Sarasota again. My husband and I went close to closing, sat outside on the patio (which I thought had a cool vibe) and we both ordered The Salty Dog and a beer. First of all, I really like Hot Dogs period so keep that in mind. Maybe it was the beer talking but I thought it was amazing! I usually add Ketchup but was sparing this time as it was just delicious and juicy without adding sauce. I honestly don't remember anything about the service, I was too excited for my Hot Dog. I do remember that it came out pretty fast which is always a good thing! Bottom Line: If you like Hot Dogs you should probably try one deep fried, it was tasty!
(4)Ian R.
If you go here and get anything other than a salty dog then you are crazy. Service is always fast and friendly. $13 for a hot dog and you may think that's a rip, but it is well worth it! Food is better at this location, but atmosphere is nicer at their other location, but either way it's a win!
(4)Diane H.
If a plane with family lands in Sarasota, my family goes here for their first Florida meal. May be the fried hot dogs, or the fried onion rings, or the drink of the day~all are draws. Today was no exception. Have to say the salmon salad looked fabulous, New England clam chowder was consumed quickly, but my salty dog was fabulous. Fries were crispy. The stars are over the top due to the great times we've had here as a family.
(5)C. V.
Atmosphere and location were great. Service was friendly. Food was okay! Well presented dishes but not so tasty. Lacked that fresh flavor.
(3)Luke T.
No bad! Tried the "Man vs. Food" hot dog... I failed to finish it. Key Line Pina Coladas are awesome!
(3)Matt C.
Their famous hot dog is still tasty. Unfortunately their recent change in infrastructure has damaged all other items. Siesta key is our second home and this used to be one of our favorite places. 12 months ago we had a great experience, two weeks ago the service and food was barely above awful. Mistakes made in our order, the server blames us for the mistakes, and the food is obviously frozen premade. Bring back the freshness and old menu, what your doing now just isn't working
(2)Restaurant Maverick 1.
Ok this will work, beautiful setting, our server was great, however he never did give us his name.... It was slow in comparison as the other visits but the food and the "boom boom" signature sauce was superb! Great place for the family in the village!
(5)Maria J.
Of course this place is famous for their signature hot dog which is a quarter pound battered and deep fried hot dog. I have had one in past visits to this area and it does taste good if you're interested in eating it. It was featured on Travel Channel's "Man vs Food." Many toppings to choose from. I opted for the hot turkey sandwich this year. I admit. I was a little worried since it's not what they are famous for, but it was absolutely delicious! Patio and inside seating including bar was available at the Siesta Key location. Highly recommend this place what staying in Siesta Key!
(5)Darius L.
So, this isn't my first time at the Old Salty Dog. I was here 7 years ago with my wife, my brother-in-law and my sister-in-law. They actually got married down here during that trip. Long story short, it was a boozy week by any standard, and especially vs. this week when I'm down here with my wife, our kids and my parents. I had much fonder memories of the place... My most recent experience casts a different light on the OSD. Maybe it's a bit paler of an impression thanks to the 18 month old who screamed like a siren throughout the table next to ours wait... I had a very forgettable "blackened" captain's platter. A steamed piece of fish, 4 shrimp and a rock lobster tail dusted on 1 side with Cajun seasoning. The side salad was fresh and everything was crispy. The wings we got were mild in every sense of the word. The onion rings were well saturated in frying oil and the poppers were fresh from the food service freezer to the dryer to our plate. They are the cheddar cheese filled if you must know, which bumps them up slightly from the freezer cream cheese versions. I believe the meal got a solid meh from around the table, but the kids did love the mozzarella sticks, grilled cheese and hamburger served on a frisbee which they got to take home. My recommendation is to go to the OSD for the cold beer and t-shirt shop. Man vs Food came and conquered a few years ago, so maybe you can wrestle down that version of hot dog and make it an experience.
(2)Katrina P.
We had a long fun day at the beach yesterday and came here for a quick bite before heading home. Food: bleh. My husband got their Salty dog, and while I tasted a bite, i was not a fan. I am not one for deep fried foods. I decided to go with the fish tacos and they were DISGUSTING. I should have sent them back to the kitchen but our server was clueless and our person who brought the food didn't bring me corn tortillas when asked so I felt it pointless. Not only was the fish overcooked, but it was salty and dry. Service: Blah. Not friendly just 'there' - I asked for corn tortillas with my tacos and I was brought flour - I don't have a gluten allergy but am gluten sensitive and my request wasn't made for me. We won't be coming back here. The prices are way higher than they should be for cheap, bar food.
(1)Karen A.
Loved the key lime piña colada and pull and eat shrimp. Nice patio and friendly servers. Just ate lunch, but seemed high quality food.
(4)Debbie G.
Atmosphere is good. I had shrimp basket and it was mediocre at best. Shrimp were frozen while I watched my hubby eat a succulent shrimp Caesar salad. Where were those shrimp? Service was fast and friendly.
(3)Durti S.
Again The Old Salty Dog is the best place to find a deep fried Hot Dog. You will not be disappointed with this great establishment
(5)Ashley A.
Sloooooow. Not enough servers... we waited for 30 minutes before getting a water..... no music, came here twice both times dead
(2)Anthony P.
Go here every year on vacation. Food mostly fried but that's what it's known for. The Salty Dog is a batterd hot dog. Mmmmmm. Good fish variety. Family place with a bar. Reasonable prices. We had a great waitress, Kaleigh.
(5)Jeff K.
I knew what I was getting. I got great shrimp peel and eat. cold beer. Was what it was.. a decent place on Siesta Key.
(3)Michael O.
Pretty cool typical rustic bar. Pretty good food and good for families. Had the roast beef au jus and she had the rib eye sandwich. If your looking for some decent grub that's not exotic and good prices Old Salty is a good place. They have TV'S too.
(3)Kristin M.
Solid place to eat in Siesta Key. Went there with friends before walking down to the beach. Ordered the original salty dog with bacon and cheddar which was good, the fries could be a little better. Try the Siesta Tan which is Budweiser topped with Newcastle, different but delicious.
(3)Beth Ann A.
Oh man. This place was perfect! Good service, cold beer, and fried hotdogs. I'm a Dietitian and even I loved every minute of this place! Fun experience.
(5)Sean G.
Enjoyable beach bar that's offers a mix of locals and tourists. The beer on tap is cold, and I've been happy with a wide variety of food ordered from here. The servers are courteous, although service can sometimes be a little slow. I look forward to making this stop at least once a year when I'm in the area.
(3)Amelia H.
Food was great, service stunk. It was about 8ish on a Monday we visited. Sat on the patio and my husband wasn't even offered another drink with his food because the server never visited us until she came with the check. Food came out fresh and was wonderful. We had the conch fritters and loaded dog. Both were fantastic!
(3)Brenda P.
The reason for the 4 stars is mainly for the dog bites. Take that off the menu and it would be just a solid 3 stars. I have a rule. If I think about a menu item long after I have visited a restaurant, the review has to get at least 4 stars. That means chances are, I will return for that. I love dining out. I love experiencing chef creations in beautiful restaurants while drinking red wine (pinky up and all) and going all out. This place, is anything but that. Once in a while I just want so sit and have all the food you should not be having. The fried & fattening kind. Headlining that category for me are HOT DOGS. Love them! But these are not just hot dogs, these are BEER battered, deep fried and SALTY. I mean, I want to get in my car right now and go have some. (note to self: do not type reviews while hungry). You can have the full length hot dog or the bites. I figured the bites were more fun and easy to share with my girlfriends. We went after spending all morning at the beach, sun burn, bathing suits and all. It's very casual and tables are picnic style. We all found it to be a little hot inside and our waitress was in space cadette mode but did I mention the hot dog bites? ha! They do have other good items. The crab dip was delicious as was the Swiss bacon burger. If you are ever in Siesta Key, make a stop here and try it out!
(4)Vance E.
First off, while on vacation previously I should say we've never had any issues, and always thought the food was alright. Mostly we came because of where its at. The last time we stopped was pretty horrible. Ordered the coconut shrimp appetizer the waitress said the first order was burnt so she told them to make another order (which we thought was nice if true, then again maybe she forgot to put the order in in the first place, not sure but i'll give her the benefit of doubt) The shrimp arrived ....looked cooked on the outside and was cold and uncooked on the inside....it was pretty disgusting. The waitress was embarrassed and took it away. I also ordered a grouper wrap ....and again whomever was cooking just couldnt figure things out as parts of this wrap were also not cooked. Thankfully they couldn't screw up my sons BLT sandwich and managed to get my daughters hot dog bites right. For my wife their sangria got here through the rest of this adventure. Both items were taken off our bill, but no manager apology or anything just an embarrassed waitress.
(2)Kellie B.
Watched the show and decided to try it. Husband and I both got the salty dog special. I got pepper jack and bacon on mine, husband got American, bacon, and chili on his. The dog overall was pretty greasy and I think I would've preferred a different kind of meat dog. The chili was pretty good, pepper jack was not spicy at all. The fries were just okay. Probably would've given another star if the fries were better. I'm glad I went and had the experience, would maybe order the little corn dog things next time. The wait staff was SUPER kind and helpful!
(3)Lea B.
We only had a couple of beers and an appetizer. The atmosphere, servers and other customers, were friendly. We ordered the Grouper Egg Rolls - how awesome! They are egg rolls filled with grouper, black beans, corn, and pepper jack. We were happy campers.
(3)Gaby G.
Good place but a lil pricey for me. I guess being a local you sometimes feel you can get better inland and not on the island. If you are going to here, get the original salty dog. It's a fried hot dog that will melt in your mouth. Enjoy my friends.
(3)JG B.
My husband loved the special of the day, a grouper reuben sandwich. They were 'out' of the fried hotdog so the waitress suggested we get the mini dog appetizer, same batter just mini sized with fries. YUMMY! I've been thinking about them for days & can't wait to go back for more. My burger was meh. Nothing to write home aboute. Great place to get some yummy bar food.
(3)Erin J.
The atmosphere is great, the food so-so. We went to check out the fish sandwich after seeing this place and it's fish sandwich on man vs food. Ridiculously huge, and pretty expensive in my opinion. Also ordered a chicken sandwich that couldve fed a small village. Overall though, fun place to sit for lunch on the water.
(3)Lorraine C.
I would only go there for drinks. Food is extremely greasy and over seasoned to hide bad taste.
(1)Jim M.
Really poor food. Expensive tuna was fake and poorly prepared. Shrimp were not even cooked--gray color. And then there is the parking challenge in the Village.
(1)Ben C.
Great place for beers and nice bite! My dogs loved geting to sit on the upper patio level, and they even provided a snack for them!
(4)Kevin I.
It's better than most tourist restaurants bars. Nice servers and fairly cold beer. The gumbo is good, not great, but good.
(3)Melanie P.
Firecracker wrap is SPICY! I loved it.
(4)Holly M.
Tourist trap
(2)Mike D.
Server wonderful ,food sub part, presentation nice , price outrageous, clam chowder hot but seemed to be store bought not made from scratch as explained to be Disappointed will not return!!!
(2)Mike D.
When we arrived at the restaurant no one even greeted us. Staff seemed clueless. I asked for the Manager but was told he was busy. Food was fair, service was poor. Waited close to 30 min for food and the restaurant was empty. Many better places to go on the Key for drinks and dinner.
(1)Ray K.
Took my family here and it's just a tourist trap! The food took over an hour when it was slow and we had six different dishes. None of them were good - except the salty dog, which was "ok". The fish tacos were horrible and did not finish them - yuck. For almost a $100 dollars for a family of 5. I would go somewhere else more deserving of your vacation dollars.
(1)Randy K.
Came here at 3:30 to get a late lunch. There weren't a lot of people here. Ordered a fish sandwich, hamburger and turkey club. We waited for 45 minutes for the food to come. We asked the hostess to check why our food was taking so long, she went away and never came back. When we finally got the order it was wrong. We won't be coming back.
(2)Sy L.
Come here for the beer and the atmosphere. The food and service is okay. If you want great fish, then head to Cortez near Bradenton Beach.
(3)T D.
Torn between 2 and 3 stars. It's passable bar food at beach city prices. Service was pretty good. They did have some drink specials before 6pm. A big front patio that looked pretty nice, but too cold tonight to sit out there. I had the "salty dog" which is a big quarter-pound hot dog that is beer-battered and fried. It was fine, but I won't get it again. Kids menu has "dog bites" which is cut up chunks of hot dog beer battered and fried. Other people's food seemed to be fine, nothing memorable.
(3)Michael G.
Came with my family. Of seven people, we received really bad oysters, overly dry fish tacos and sub par lobster roll. With that, the ambiance is awesome and the service is great.
(2)Krista D.
The service was amazing and the Grouper sandwich was off the charts! Great selection of beer on tap and a Great bartender named Amy!! Good atmosphere, great service, fantastic food!
(5)Jessica M.
Still my favorite grouper sandwich in the Sarasota/Siesta Key area. Good food, good beers on tap, the Sarasota location is beautiful right on the water and the Siesta Key location is conveniently right downtown and has a friendly bar staff and nice group of regulars.
(4)Jason H.
We showed up with two hungry boys and one of them with low blood sugar. Immediately after sitting down I ordered two chocolate milks and they arrived post-haste. We ordered the dog bites for the kids, my wife chose the burger with a side salad, and I had the oyster po-boy. Nothing really stands out other than after eating that po-boy I think there should be a legal definition of what is ciabatta. My bread had neither the taste nor texture I'd expect from ciabatta bread. Regardless, the sandwich was okay, especially with the sauce that came with it. Neither of my boys finished their dog bites--they looked unappetizing to me, so I can't blame them. I was also a little bit surprised that the fruit cup that came with their meal was canned peaches and pears--the kind you find in the grocery store that you might put in your child's lunches. Beer prices were reasonable--a couple bucks less than what you might pay at the area hotels perhaps. The brightest spot here is that our service was great. That alone is the reason I'm not going with 2 stars here.
(3)Kem W.
Worst club sandwich ever. Ciabatta bread was absolutely inedible. Turkey was even drier than the bread. Rice looked and smelled awful. Fries barely OK. Even the iced tea seemed dilute. I realize it's just a beach dive but it should be able to do a lot better particularly with those simple as pie restaurant staples. The server was friendly and attentive.
(1)Steven P.
Went to the Siesta Key location for lunch and had a good time. The staff was great, the ambiance was good, and the food was good. I had the grouper rueben and it was just to die for. The best that I've ever had, but the only one that I've ever had. We had the beer battered hotdog bites and they were really good as well. Lots of locals mixed in with some tourists made this a good vibe. I would certainly recommend this place for some good casual dining.
(4)Mark P.
Good, but still disappointing. One of the reasons I was excited about our trip to Siesta Key was being able to go to The Old Salty Dog which we'd seen on a few foodporn shows on cable. I ordered the Old Salty Dog, a beer batter-dipped hot dog fried and topped with different cheeses and sauteed onions. It was quite good and I enjoyed it. My wife had the Grouper Reuben because of all the reviews here, but she wasn't overly impressed -- "interesting" was her response when I asked about it. The fries were good, but not great and all their food is shockingly undersalted, and this is coming from someone notorious for watching their salt for health reasons. I know people are worried about sodium, but you still have to add it to your cooking. I also got to try their fish and chips which were good (nice tasting cod), but again it was underseasoned (there was a definite pattern). I'm glad we went because I enjoyed my hot dog, but I think one visit is enough. There are better places we've eaten at in the area and will go back there, but it's still worth a go if only to try their signature dish. WARNING: Parking is a nightmare. There are a small handful of spots up front, but be prepared to park elsewhere and walk a bit, possibly in the rain.
(3)Betty L.
Great place to go after a day at the beach!!! Cold beers, deep fried hot dog with bacon, and cheese. I personally had the fish and chips which was really good. The fish was really tender and cooked perfectly. I will be going there again.
(4)William M.
Just ok. Typical bar food. Don't go out of your way. On the plus side, the service was very attentive.
(3)Robert W.
Came here because of man vs food. Tried the salty dog. It's batter fried 1/4 hot dog. Had it with cheddar and sautéed onions. Taste good however wouldn't get it again. Would try other items next time.
(4)Mopsie B.
Solid. It's not the best place on Siesta Key but they have a full bar and decent food and a swell gift shop. The watermelon-cucumber cocktail is GREAT, fyi. You can sit outside and your meal on a picnic type table and all of the Siesta Key specialties, like grouper and other fish sandwiches. I'd come back just for that cocktail!
(4)Krystal R.
Adam Richman from Man vs. Food had visited this establishment from season 2 and I was intrigued to enjoy some "manly" food with the family. However it was the other location in Sarasota, not the one in Siesta Key. Boo. No matter what, everyone is a fan of Adam Richman, so we knew that it had to be good. Who could say no to a deep fried hot dog...if Adam loved it, then we would too. However, if you're looking to dine here for other tasty treats...you might be a little disappointed. After a long day at the beach, we were starving for some tasty bar food. Most of us ordered some cold beers or mixed drinks to start the night right. We asked the waitress for the coldest beer on tap, and to our dismay...they were not cold at all. We even asked for a cup of ice to cool it down...I guess our waitress didn't get the hint that we wanted cold beer. The beer of the month was Bud Light Lime...not a great beer selection if you're a beer snob. We ordered some appetizers to share with the group: the salty dog bites and crab-stuffed mushrooms. The salty dog bites were covered in beer batter and the deep fried butteryness paired well with the honey mustard sauce. The creamy crab stuffed mushrooms were delicious and yummy-irffic. I wish I had an entire bowl of the dog bites and mushrooms...they were the best items on the menu. However, my main entree was the grilled halibut. My aunt, my uncle and mother in law ordered the grouper, my husband ordered the ribs, and my father in law ordered a tuna melt. For the most part, everyone enjoyed their dishes. For the fresh fish of the day, my halibut tasted pretty frozen. I had ordered it medium rare, and it was barely pink, and tasted pretty bland. I did taste a bit of the grouper, and it was fried with the beer batter, and of course that was delicious. If you fry something, it always tastes better right? Oh well, I made the wrong choice of entree. Don't make my mistake...order the grouper and not the halibut...or order something deathly fried. That will satisfy all your hunger pains. Dessert was passed, and customer service was so-so at it's best. Our waitress was just a novice, and when we passed her by on our way out she was just chatting with other employees taking a break. I guess it's the beach life...Soooo beachy. Maybe try the original location that Adam had the Salty dog, and only order the salty dog. It might taste better.
(3)Jon V.
I had the "old salty dog". Deep fried hot dog with everything on it. It was really good! When I saw that it was featured on Man vs Food, I said "challenge accepted"!
(4)Matthew P.
Don't Do The Death Dog Ok, so My girlfriend and I were drivin', down town Siesta Key, and came across this place, which we had seen on Man V. Food. Turns out it was the other location that was on TV, but they are the original and have the same menu. The Hostess was your mom, if she were British, which was nice The bartender had dreads and bothered to mention that she was hungover, which was cool. Very beachy. We were gonna try the fried hot dog, with a list of toppings that were awesome for a very reasonable seven bucks I also had a beer and Miki a Pina Colada, which was huge, stiff and delicious. The Menu stated the 'Salty Dog' was seven bucks. Then the bartender recommended the 'Death Dog' a fried dog with bacon and cheese that was on Man v Food. So we tried it, it was pretty good...after the beach, it practically knocked me out. Then we received the bill, which left a far worse taste in my mouth. The Death Dog was 16 bucks, shame on you Salty Dog I'd go back if I was ever in town but Damn the Death Dog to Hell wakawaka
(2)Angel L.
Continuing my vacations in Siesta Key, i went to grab a quick dinner at The Old Salty Dog. I had called ahead to place my order, which the person on the phone did nicely. They did not really tell me how long it would take so i just went 5 minutes after io called just in case... I didn't want to eat my food cold. The restaurant is a little bit farther down the main street where all the other places are. I had ordered a regular burger with fries. The burger was actually pretty good, the problem was the fries. They (unfortunately) put the fries in a styrofoam box wich keeps the condensation inside... You figured it out ? Yes the fries were all mushy and tasteless!! So I ended up being half satisfied... I would recommend to eat at the restaurant, it might be better and the atmosphere looked pretty nice. Nothing memorable but i guess i will give it an other shot if i go back.
(3)Olga G.
This place is awesome!!! The beer battered hot dog is unreal!!! It's huge and delish !!!! Definitely a must!! Also try their grouper Ruben sandwich, battered as well! To die for!!!! Fish and chips too!! also loved the mussels!! Love this place!!' Been here many many many times and will be back many more!!!! Service is good too
(5)John C.
Good atmosphere and good food. I wanted to try the salty dog and it was well worth it. My wife had some surf and turf which she said it was delicious. They also had great mixed drinks from the bar.
(4)Jim L.
We ate here on a Weds. party of 5 (2 adults, 1 teen, 2 kids). The kids were whipped from the beach so we ate inside. Good A/C. Staff was very attentive; Appetizer: we had the peel and eat shrimp 1/2lbs 12 bucks... pretty yummy...yes i know that you can get a 1lb at the PULix for that price ...but i'm at the beach and it was pretty tasty. Drinks: Had the cocktail of the day...i would pass.. but then i remember i don't drink cocktails...my bad.....then had the Cigar City IPA which was awsome in a 20oz glass it appeared. perfect. The kids menu is the kids menu..my one daughter ordered the estranged BLT minus the tomato...the adults had wraps (firecracker)(Grouper) very good. Overall worth the money and time...not to mention the good background music which was college rock but not overwhelming. Very good experience. We will come back, next time.
(4)