Delightful evening at Cortez Kitchen Following a bad experience with the hostess at Swordfish Grill after a 35-minute wait, we were not in a good mood when we walked next door to Cortez Kitchen. But we had a great time, thanks to the friendly waitress Shannon and some amazing seafood. One of the specials was grilled red shrimp, which Shannon said are from Argentina. Although we like to support locally caught seafood whenever possible, we ordered the red shrimp as an appetizer and they were so tasty I ordered them as my main course too. The main course comes with two sides ($21.99; I can’t remember appetizer price). Served with melted butter, they taste like mini-lobsters. The Steamer Pot of shrimp, scallops, clams, grouper, broccoli, and celery ($21.99) and steamed clams ($11.99) were delicious. We love the hole-in-the-wall atmosphere in a covered outdoor setting. It reminds me of what makes Anna Maria Island special. Thanks to the staff at Cortez Kitchen for rescuing our disastrous evening and making it special.

Great food n menu0 We ate at the Cortez Kitchen on Monday evening. They had a good band playing, who were very good.
Enjoyed the food and music.

Good food, music Great atmosphere. So close to fish docks the fish are practically jumping into the skillet or on the grill. Great "real Florida" seafood. I would enthusiastically recommend this restaurant "joint" to friends and family!

Fresh as it gets - seafood! My wife and I love going here to Cortez Kitchen for the fresh seafood. We have been going here for many years and never disappointed. I love the scallops and ask for them blackened. Really very good and we also like the fried shrimp, delicious enough that I also eat the tails on the shrimp, that good. This is our go to spot when we arrive Florida and are looking for the real fresh seafood...Hard to beat this place as everything is very tasty! Very open, on the water and very relaxing atmosphere, Florida at it's best!

Great dinner - Service was not so great .... I hate to bag on bad service, but they must have been short-staffed for a Friday night because our poor server was running around like a crazy person but we waited for multiple things (ranch, refills, the check) for far too long. People standing around waiting for our table since it was a packed house but we were waiting on our check.. That being said, the food was fabulous!! Royal Reds any time I can get them - if you like shell fish, YOU MUST HAVE THESE!! My husband had a burger, said it was greasy through the bun but tasted good... Good thing we were catching up with family we haven't seen in a while or the service would have been really buggy...

Great find! Quaint Waterfront restaurant, fresh seafood, large portions, reasonable prices. Best seafood I’ve eaten in a very long time. Staff was very friendly.

Wonderful lunch Fresh fish sandwich and a side, in this case onion rings and for me an order of tuna roll. Very fresh. Mixed drinks were $3.50. the band was setting up to play. A lovely Sunday afternoon.

Stone crab claws! Get the dinner with seven mediums and two sides. Funky place with music on the weekends. Still weird with smoking allowed

Old Florida at its best The place the locals go for good food and excellent entertainment. Our server was exceptional and her meal suggestion was right on target. Our group enjoyed the evening. Thanks Cindy for all the help.

Grouper sandwich to die for... Had a chance to revisit an old eatery that has been serving Real Grouper sandwichs for at least the past 20+ yrs... And the steamed broccoli with garlic "secret sauce" as a side item with the Fried, Blackened or Grilled Grouper is a true Florida Lunch or Dinner that can not be beat... Check it out for a good time with the Full Bar (including Tampa's Cigar City brewery crafted beers, plus some of the newer libations now being brewed in SRQ)...And don't forget to stop by the Florida Maritime museum which is a very short walk from the old time Cracker style eatery..

Royal Red Shrimp!!! These shrimp are not just huge they taste more like lobster than shrimp. The texture is like lobster claw!!! I heard about them but was happily surprised that it's all true. Amazing food there.

Funky, Local, Old Florida, Delightful If you want a super fancy big menu in deluxe surroundings, don't go here. But if you like a funky sort of place that's been keeping people happy - a lot of local people and visitors too - for many years, one with a lively bar, music on occasion, outside-inside setting right by the water, and one where you will see some really interesting people - types you may never see that often, well, try this place. It's been one of our favorites for years. We keep going back. Oh yes. The food is good too.

Great outdoor restaurant/bar on the waterfront where casual is not only the norm but highly recommended. Menu is seafood based but there are other items such as prime rib, burgers, and chicken.We visited restaurant for lunch and had a blackened Reuben grouper sandwich, a soft shell crab sandwich, sweet potato fries, cole slaw and finished it off with delicious key lime pie!!Great staff. Easy parking

Good vibe at cortez kitchen Very enjoyable evening nice food friendly good service enjoyed the music great open restaurant at the waters edge boat yard

Food, entertainment, service all great! My family and I stopped by on a weekday evening. The service was prompt and friendly. All the dishes we ordered were very good....fried shrimp, fried oysters, fries, coleslaw, fresh fruit . The only small complaint was the grouper bites were slightly under cooked. The live entertainment was very good also.

Nice place with fresh seafood plus good customer service, can't wait to come back. Grilled grouper was perfect

Just Love Cortez Kitchen! For a hidden gem, with great views and true history, go here! We go several times a year and are really not disappointed. Food is sometimes hit or miss and the prices are higher but overall, a great place to hang outside and enjoy the ambiance! Drinks are cold and STRONG....Prefer beer in bottle than draft, as it gets warm to quick. I tried the Cabo Rita and it was fabulous...9.00 but huge drink and soooooo tasty! Our meal was grouper bites and hushpuppies with fried oysters......Very good!

Fresh Seafood! Amazing Grouper and boiled Shrimp platters! Best fresh seafood around!!! The atmosphere is perfect if you are looking for a hidden old Florida Gem!

A total dive — perfect for us! If you don’t love a local dive, this isn’t your place. But if you don’t mind outdoor seating at a local bar, this is a must. Loved the food—fish and chips, grouper sandwich, magi sandwich, wings. Our family really liked it. It’s not classy—but it is great! Would definitely go back. They have live music sometimes, too, but no band when we were there.

Live music, dancing in old Florida Located in the Cortez fishing village. Fun music in the afternoon. Pulled up in the boat, joined people on a picnic table and enjoyed the band. Very laid back. People started dancing. We also saw the nice catch that a charter brought in.

Great food & music First time going to this little hole-in-the-wall restaurant, on the marina, great music by 2 guitar players good music and tasty shrimp and scallops. Such a laid-back atmosphere. We just moved to Bradenton to miles from this restaurant can't wait to be a regular

HOT Shrimp After swimming all day long, it was Fantastic finding Cortez Kitchen and enjoying your One Pound of peel n eat shrimp - which thanks to LINDSAY - got them HOT for us. Not to mention the delicious Clam chouder and Beer Pitcher. Yiu made my last day in florida. Next time I come down I'll definitely pop in for more good food and great service!

Family Lunch Truly amazing food. It was harder to get a table for a party of 7 but the staff was very creative and got us ALL together.

Topnotch food, atmosphere and service! Great find! Lunch here with a friend. Shared the seafood platter - more than enough for both of us. Great scallops, stuffed crab, shrimp, fish.
The service was fast and the music was fabulous.
What a great atmosphere, right on the water - quirky place.
Can't wait to go back next year.

Really good and fresh food!! Stopped in for a causal lunch and everything was so tasty!! Nice clam chowder - full of clams, blackened grouper sandwich, coconut shrimp and buffalo grouper bits were all great!! The 3 of us split a piece of key lime pie - nice and tart. Good value and so fresh. Super casual, and a friendly and accomodating waitress.

Yummy Lunch Stopped for lunch today and had the buffalo groupper bites. They were wonderful. Love the laid back atmosphere.

Old school Florida joint Great stop for lunch. Uber casual diner/tavern on the Cortez fishing wharf. Service is slow but you're here for the fresh fish. We highly recommend the grilled red shrimp. Ask for plenty of napkins. Juicy, succulent, and messy. Dive right in!

Wow!  This place is so very awesome!  Everyone we visit my husbands relatives in Bradenton, when they ask me where we want to eat we always say Cortez Kitchen! This place is right on the water.  You're surrounded by fishing boats.  I love Grouper.  I have had grouper at many places in Florida from Ft Myers Beach to Cortez.  Hands down Cortez Kitchen makes the most delicious grouper anywhere.  I prefer it blackened but all the ways of preparing it are perfect.  They also gave excellent peel and eat shrimp!  Tons of yummy fresh seafood here!  They have a variety of other menu items as well.  They also have very good live entertainment on the weekends.  Such an awesome place.  Make sure to check them out if your around the Sarasota Anna Maria Island Bradenton area.  This place is worth the trip!

Great food and service We loved this place. Ample portions and great service by Leann. We love grouper and couldn’t believe how perfectly pokes the fish was and the size of the sandwiches. Will return for sure when we come back next year !!!!

Great price great food Second time here and will keep coming back! Stopped for lunch and had the scallops which were cooked to perfection! Great service and got to see the fishing boats come in with their catches and so did the pelicans.

Conch Fritters! Nice spot. Highly recommend the fritters, hush puppies and sweet tea.

The Best Seafood and Cheese Grits EVER!! Located in the old fishing town of Cortez and near a dry dock for boats...nothing fancy about the establishment BUT the BEST food ever! The chef could be working at a high end restaurant as the seafood was cooked to perfection, the cheese grits were unbelievable, the grouper was fresh, the oysters breaded lightly and fried just right. We went there two times and if ever again in that area, will definitely eat there again!!

Vacation Absolutely awesome restaurant. Great food and the best New England Clam Chowder I have ever tasted. Fun atmosphere on the water. The town of Cortez is a gem too.

Geat local talent and food. My husband and I had a blast here. Singing and dancing with the locals. Food was good and reasonably priced. They were very busy and service was okay.

Funky and fun! Go for the casual almost rustic ambience rather than the food. The food is good, but not exceptional. Friendly service and we go frequently so some of the waitresses know us. I like the steamed clams, the spicy shrimp roll, and the macho sandwich in particular. And, of course, the broccoli, which for 14 years has been the veggie du hour!

Great food, eclectic atmosphere This is not a fancy place, but you must come here. The food could not be fresher, they often have bands, you are outdoors, lots of parking, right on the water, it is delicious, what more could you ask for.

Great Service We had a group of 12 on Friday night with Kettle of Fish playing, and the service with our waitress Amanda, was outstanding. She was very friendly and always there when we needed her. Chris the bartender is wonderful also, makes great rum runners, always with a smile. The food was very good. Thanks to Amanda for a fun evening.

Good Choice Being a native to the area, there are still places I have not been. This was one, decided to go, it was a nice night out, was busy, but service was still prompt and friendly. Food was good, server suggested the royal red shrimp, had it as an appetizer and it was excellent! Walked along the dock to see the beautiful sunset and orange sky! Live entertainment was fun to hear!

Delicious This was an open air restaurant on the bay. The scallops were by far some of the best I have. had. I ordered grilled scallops prepared to perfection. The waitress recommended blacken scallops the next time we go to the restaurant. Another person at our table had steamed clams. The broth the clams were steamed in was the most developed sauce I've tasted in awhile. Nothing fancy about this place. On Saturday night there was live music and there many people dancing. Everyone at the table agreed the scallops and steamed clams were some of the best we've had. Would recommend this restaurant if you are in the area

Live Music Wow for some great live music, great food with an outdoor vibe, this is the place to go. #Terry Helm

All seating is outside All seating is outside. 2/3 of it is under cover. The rest is at picnic tables with umbrellas. By a small inlet of water, not the best views. Great live music and the best thing is the food!! Seafood, chicken and burgers. We had 17 at the table and none of us had a bad meal!

Good, but mostly a bar Food was pretty good, but this place is mostly a bar. Drinks are cheap, crazy cheap, but served cold and not watered down. Put off to us with the smoking. Burgers are big and the seafood is fresh. Compliments to the chef for serving pretty good food in a bar setting.

Great food The food is great. I have been here before, and again the food and service was excellent. My only tiny complaint is that the music is so loud, you can't talk to your fellow diners.

Eat great seafood in a casual setting with friendly service. This place is popular with locals and visitors alike. You can come in your swimsuit, or dress up a bit. Always friendly staff and good service. We like the live music and tasty local seafood. Lots of parking. I think that you may be able to even ride your boat up to it too. It's a great place to socialize with friends. It feels like home every time we visit.

Fresh off the boat seafood!Local joint just off the bridge from Anna Maria island to Bradenton that's tucked away off the beaten path. Mainly a locals place as it was 10 steps from the Cortez fish and bait co dock (Cortez fish and bait co just moved 2 docks down this year)I've never had a bad meal here and only gave 4 (well deserving of a 4.5) stars as the beer menu is lack luster, mainly the big 3 and their light versions.I met the hubby there and found myself welcomed with a pound of peel and eat shrimp.Plump, crisp to bite and deveined they were a perfect start to a casual lunch.Eyes bigger than our head and enjoying the views, we opted to share the grouper platter. Blackened with hush puppies and okra wasn't our healthiest choice but oh my god!The huge portion of perfectly cooked fish accompanied by thinly cornmeal battered crunchy (not mushy or slimy) okra and onion and scallion filled hushpuppies were filling yet not at all greasy.We lingered longer (those views) and I opted for the "salty mule" to sip on. Titos and fresh grapefruit with a salt rim. Simple, tart and refreshing compared to the usually over sweet margaritas.We idled and watch the fishing and private charters dick, unload and prep their daily catch. Island music lulled in the background as I worked on my tan and took it all in.

Great food and strong drinks help make a restaurant, along with great service.  I was here on a not busy Saturday lunch and the server was a little slow. We waited a solid 5 minutes before our drink order wa taken and another 5 or 10 before our meal order was taken. After I rejected the offer of a second Blue Hawaiian, (I would have liked water) she sailed away to not be heard from until lunch was done and we needed a check. The food was delicious, I had buffalo grouper, it was a sizable piece of fish and super fresh and delicious. While the service wasn't great,  this meal did not disappoint.  We'll likely be back,  it's a cute place with good food on the water.

Great food and atmosphere. We walked right in and the waitress was right there taking our drink order. Food came out quickly and correct.

Relaxing, informal dockside late afternoon eating delight. Second visit here by my family but memorable first for me. Compliments to the Chef for our enjoyment of your fish preparation.
I am anxious to reurn and try a few oher seafood iems.

Funky place Yes, this is a funky little place with very little parking but it is worth a visit. Blackend grouper was very tasty and you can pick two sides to go with the fish. Drinks are not over priced and there is just something fun about eating here.

Went here for the first time tonight, they had live music which was great . Our waitress Lindsey recommended the Royal Red Shrimps as a appetizer, if you like lobster you will love these . We also had the grilled grouper sandwich and fried oysters and little neck clams . It does not get any fresher than this place ! A must when you go to AMI