Every Friday & Saturday night and Sunday afternoon the Kitchen features local artists performing live on
stage from:
Every Friday & Saturday night and Sunday afternoon the Kitchen features local artists performing live on
stage from:
Nice surprise Stopped in for lunch was was surprised at how good it was. Lisa was our server and was most accommodating and delightful. I had grouper rueben, which was delicious; husband had red royal shrimp which were to die for. Prices were a bit steep but were finding that everywhere e we go these days.
1/19/2022
This is a nice spot , if ur lookin for a dockside -cum-old Florida dinning experience. Very rustic with water foul snug up against the picnic tables and seating , amongst the boats and dock. Mostly covered some el fresco tables.
LoVE the "Royal Reds " they often have in season ,
grilled and served with drawn butter - succulent!
Full bar , they make a nice top - shelf margarita or a bud , whatever ur taste.
Live entertainment in the eves , and just a funky/ fun place to go or to bring visitors.
Great appetizers and service!! We went to the Stone Crab Festival today, and instead of eating there, we stopped in to the Cortez Kitchen. We each had a margarita (Boozy, very good). We then shared Buffalo Grouper bites and Fried Mushrooms. The mushrooms were delicious, fried perfectly and juicy, the Grouper bites were amazing. Tender, with a perfect golden crust, a little heat, and what I believe was a house made Bleu Cheese dressing…so good!! Our server was friendly, food was fast, we will go back!!
11/13/2021Highly recommend! Cortez Kitchen is a yummy and efficient restaurant! When we arrived, there was no wait and as soon as we sat we were greeted. They had very cheap and cold beers! As an appetizer, we ordered the Buffalo grouper bites which came out quickly and were very tasty! For the entrees, I ordered the broiled shrimp, okra and fries and my boyfriend ordered the lightly blackened mahi with the vegetables and coleslaw. Both entrees were delicious! It’s located right on the canal and had a good atmosphere!
7/02/2021When you come to the restaurant, it is a self seating place so seat yourself wherever there is a table available. The waitress immediately noticed us and gave us a menu right away even though the place was really packed ! Great and fast service! The food was just amazing as the service! I got the red royal shrimp special for the day with sweet potato fries and mac m cheese ! I love the freshness and sweetness of the shrimp. Pairing it with the decadent mac n cheese was such a great combo. The clams were also delicious! We also ordered a brownie sundae and it definitely hits the sweet spot and cravings! Definitely would come back again!
6/28/2021Went during height of spring break but we got an outdoor spot right away. Our server was very nice and efficient. It appeared the restaurant was under staffed. I ordered the blackened grouper. It was my first time trying this fish. It was delicious but expensive. The place is pet friendly and my dog was provided water. I really enjoyed the location and watching the pelicans waddle around inside the warehouse next door. A Sandhill crane was also trotting around. All n all a good spot for food, friendly service and great bird watching. If I am in the area again I would return here.
3/20/2021We stopped at this place on a Saturday night but could not get a table due to the great live music. We decided to stop by on Sunday for lunch and we were glad we did. We enjoyed the shrimp, scallops, soft shell crab sandwich, and Mahi sandwich. All seafood cooked well and the price well. Service was excellent and we enjoyed all the pelicans hanging around.
2/07/2021
This little place is a mainstay in my family. It is always friendly with some of the best seafood around. The favorites in our house are grilled shimp, grilled grouper, blackened mahi, and the peel and eat shrimp. We have had more off the menu, but those are the items we go back for over and over.
When you are looking for an 'old florida' setting with genuine people and killer fresh seafood, this is the place you want to be.
Superb service and great food! My wife and I enjoyed our dinner at this nice little restaurant that is off the beaten path. It sits right on the bay. During our 9 day visit I have been trying to find the best Scallops and theirs are very good!
Great food + great service = great time!!!
This place has a very laid back vibe to it. Being on the water the view is very pretty and relaxing, especially on nights when the have bands perform. It is outside seating only but with the ocean breeze it feels night (especially at sunset). The bands are always good and the staff is very kind. The food and drinks are enjoyable, very worth it to visit with all these factors combined.
3/29/2020Delightful 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.
3/12/2020
The reviews on Cortez Kitchen seem to be all over the place. Some call it a dive bar and while it kind of appears that way, the menu is expansive and experimental. The prices also aren't very dive bar-ish, but they are pretty normal for the area.
If you want something new, the Buffalo Grouper Sandwich is something I never knew I needed. I passed up the Reuben for that and was not disappointed. While I like trying new things, I'll probably have to get that again on my next visit. Most of the offerings are fried fish and such (we had gator tail and hushpuppies), but they also have sushi, which I did not try. I visited on a colder night so didn't get the true vibe, but it's an open-air spot in the bay, so not sure how people can complain about that.
I went to this place with my wife and son for lunch. 12pm. It was pretty good. We enjoyed it. The view is nothing special. It's in a bit of an industrial area. That being said, the food was pretty good. Mozzarella sticks were good but the dipping sauce was cold. But overall I would say it was decent. We had grouper sangwiches. I would go back but I wouldn't rush to get back. Knam sayn? At least it's not on the island so we avoided those crowds.
2/25/2020Fresh 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!
1/27/2020Great 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...
1/18/2020Grouper 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..
11/06/2019Funky, 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.
9/26/2019
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
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.
7/25/2019Just 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!
7/10/2019A 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.
6/29/2019Great 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
4/13/2019HOT 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!
4/06/2019