Blu Kouzina

I’m writing this review especially to thank Martina. We were visiting from Tampa when we walked by this Greek restaurant. The dishes looked amazing, and even though we didn’t know reservations were recommended, we really wanted to try the food. Martina welcomed us with exceptional kindness and professionalism. She made us feel comfortable right away my husband, our two kids, and myself and her service truly made our experience special. The food was absolutely delicious, full of authentic flavor and beautifully prepared. We’re so glad we stopped by. A big thank you to Martina for her outstanding service. She truly deserves recognition!

If you are looking for a great place to eat in St. Armands Key, Blu Kouzina is a cool, modern take on Greek, but they have traditional options too. I loved that they had the wooden board plates for the meat dishes. My husband ordered the moussaka, which came in its own baked bowl, like it was made to order, just for him. We tried several dishes from appetizers to main dishes- i had the chicken, which was essentially a full Cornish hen that was so succulent and tasty.

Excellent authentic Mediterranean food! Large selection of food items and the menu clearly states all allergen options with a logo for the allergens so it was very easy to read for some of our gluten intolerant guests. Our party thought the cold and hot appetizers tasted better than the entrees, they were delicious. I had an issue with my main entree and the waitstaff were quick to fix it and the kitchen was able to re-make my plate immediately they were very kind.

Locals looking for a new spot - this was the best experience I have had in a very long time in Sarasota. The food , the service , the authenticity is unmatched . I have food restrictions and the entire crew was beyond accommodating . Our absolute new favorite place - every single dish we tried ( and we tried nearly everything - incredible

If I could rate this 10 stars, I would. ⭐️ Our meal was absolutely delicious tonight! The flavors were authentic, food was fresh, and service was excellent! Thank you, Blu Kouzina for a meal to remember!

TOP MEDITERRANEAN!!!! This place is incredible! Everything we ordered was beyond amazing! My friend has severe gluten allergy and this restaurant has SO many options for her to choose from, she even had her first GF pita wrap, she was so excited. Wifey & I got the Lemonatto Lamb and grilled octopus and lemme tell ya each dish was a knockout. Flavors so divine they will burn in your memory, do yourself a favor.

There are many dining options in this area. The menu and the bright, white, fresh atmosphere caught our eye. The atmosphere felt very Mediterranean in the best way possible. We sat down for lunch and were delighted by the service, the food presentation and the simple but authentic cuisine that was not overdone done but perfectly seasoned and presented beautifully! The oysters Rockefeller was absolutely delicious and the branzino over rice was fresh and simple highlighting the beauty of this flavorful fish! Everything we enjoyed was simple but gorgeous!

Authentic and Hopping. Make a reservation, this place is popular for all the right reasons. The food is carefully curated to bring forth a menu deserving for a Greek Restaurant. The service hustles, yet has the time to offer a recommendation. This is a top 3 place to eat in Sarasota. The atmosphere has that kind of buzz that somehow imparts that feeling that you have found somewhere special that only the locals know and they jealously cherish. Also, do not miss dessert.

Dinner perfection at Blu Kouzin, right on St. Armands Circle! Fresh seafood, gorgeous plating, and the kindest service -- pure Sarasota magic! #BluKouzin #SarasotaEats #StArmandsCircle #SeafoodLovers #FoodieVibes

My wife and I were hanging out at St Armand's Circle in Sarasota Florida today. When we got hungry we wanted to go to one of our favorite places but we had our puppies and Blu Kouzina in pet friendly for outdoor seating. Here in mid October the weather was and is great to sit outdoors. We decided to start with calamari and it was honestly the best calamari I've ever had, it was cooked perfectly and it was enough for four. It wasn't chewy nor was it fried to hard and it came out piping hot. We also received bread to our table and it was warm, soft and delicious. For beverages they have alcohol but it wasn't our desire tonight, so I had a coke and my wife had a Greek beverage called "Epsa". So since we were both getting full, we decided to get the lamb chops which was highly recommended by our server. The chops come as an order of four and they again had to be the best lamb chops I've ever had. They were even better than mine and I'm famous for my chops. Let me share with you that the temperature was just right, they were thick, juicy and very tender. I also got desert but I was to full to eat it, it was the orange sponge cake and I'm sure it's as delicious as it looks. The atmosphere here is really nice and the customer service was beyond outstanding and with both great food and customer service it will definitely see me again. Our server was "Martina" and her helper were amazing, I would definitely try this place if your hungry and in the area

So far, Blu Kouzina and Green Zebra cafe are the two best restaurants in the St. Armand's Circle area. We were welcomed with complimentary bread rolls served with olive oil and condiments. My favorite cocktail was "The Next Fig Thing" made with Epsa blood orange, Figenza fig vodka, topped with Prosecco. It felt so perfect and refreshing, excellent palate cleanser between the delicious bites. I did have to ask for more Prosecco in my drink because I didn't feel it was carbonated enough. I also tried their take on a Moscow mule which I requested they add some Epsa blood orange to as well. I liked they used DG brand ginger beer, none of that Gosling's crap. But if I had to pick between the two, "The Next Fig Thing" would be the one I'd go for again and again. Their red sangria was a bit too sweet for me. For the cold dips I really liked their fava spread. Think hummus but made with yellow split peas instead of chickpeas, so it's a smooth spread with a lighter texture than hummus. The pita served with it was perfectly warm with a cushiony texture. I really liked scooping it out of the dish the fava spread was served in, onto my plate, and sprinkling in the coarse salt and pepper that had been served with the complimentary bread. It really enhanced mixing those into the spread before adding it to the pita. I am glad their fava dip satisfied because my favorite version of this dip is made at Psomi in Tampa, Florida. We followed the fava dip with their Saganaki which was the best version I've had of Saganaki. The cheese was perfectly pliable on the inside and firm on the outside from the heat of the skillet. For the main I tried their vegetarian moussaka, think shepherd's pie, but Greek. I really feel this is the best version of vegetarian moussaka I've ever tried. It was baked in a beautiful blue casserole and it was a perfect ending to our savory journey - creamy, smooth, with the right degree of richness. For dessert, I went for their orange cake, think Greek bread pudding with a citrus tinged syrup. I feel that it was best enjoyed with some hot coffee on the side or milk to help it glide. You know how having the right liquid at the right temperature with your dessert, can truly round out the experience. All in all, Blu Kouzina truly represents Greek cuisine very well and I'd definitely recommend.

Lovely lunch stop for my fam and I on a recent trip to Sarasota, specifically Saint Armands. We had all just gotten off of flights and were ready for some satisfying, wholesome eats to fuel our weekend. Blu delivered! We had a wonderful and helpful server and all decided to order chicken pitas. They start you with a complimentary bread service with olive oil, and I really enjoyed the french fries that came along with my meal. The chicken in the pita was a little dry and left a bit to be desired, but overall everything was fresh and the perfect lunch for our group. The other menu items looked AMAZING (will go for the mixed grill if life takes me back here) and I don't think you'll go wrong with anything on the menu. Overall a great welcome to FL! Great outdoor and indoor seating available.

The food there is delicious. Get an authentic Greek meal that is fresh, healthy and enjoyable for the whole family.

Great restaurant, it is our second or third time visiting it. We love Greek food and my husband is half Greek so he is very familiar with Greek cuisine. Place is beautiful inside with traditional colors and modern touches. They also sell wines to go and some Greek goodies. Service was very nice and friendly. Definitely a pleasant experience. This time we were not very hungry so decided to get a few appetizers: saganaki cheese, giant beans and beat salad. My husband also had some meatballs. All food was great, and portions are pretty sizable. Definitely recommend, great experience.

Plenty of good reviews, but they fell real short last night. This was a very disappointing experience. Service was extremely slow, and the server blamed it on the size of our party (8). If a restaurant like this can't handle a party of 8 they should find a new calling. Drinks were never refilled, one salad literally came out 20 minutes after the rest of the salads and appetizers. This is Unacceptable. When questioned about these items our waitress was unapologetic and rude. Main meal was lukewarm when we got it. Chicken and beef were dry. This is on a $78 Meat Platter. Again unacceptable. We had been here several times before with a very positive experience. But after last night and no accountability on Blu Kozina's part we are done. Seriously doubt they will care though. There are way too many other good restaurants to waste our time here.

We have lunch at Blu Kouzina every time we go to Saint Armands Island in Sarasota. My husband is Greek and he knows what good Greek food should taste like and yes, this is it. We both love it. All of the Greek favorites are on the menu, everything you would find at a Greek festival. Very, very good. The atmosphere is pretty casual, and it can be pretty touristy and high season. Service is good.

Pleasant visit to Blu Kouzina. A great alternative to Sarasota's Italian Dining scene. The atmosphere was very cozy and nice. We sat on the patio which was a perfect choice on a breezy summer night. The Greek food was very good. We ordered the octopus for an appetizer, which was tender and properly grilled. Our entree's were very good as well. We ordered the Greek chicken and lamb chops. If you look a little change of pace from All the Italian cuisine in Sarasota. Go GREEK!

I love the decor and vibe here! The service was extremely fast and kind! It felt and tasted homemade from Greece! I tried yellow lentil dip and zucchini pattie's for the first time! I usually stick to hummus but it was great! The best way I would describe the pattie's is like a deconstructed spanakopita! If you like hummus and spanakopita i think you would like these! I also tried the beet salad, the meatballs and The hummus with the warm pita which i knew would be incredible. You must try this place I loved sharing appetizers for lunch! I wouldn't come back all the time if i lived here :)

We dined in. The restaurant is located on a corner street with parking behind the building with Park Moble. The restaurant has a very nice large patio with outdoor seating so we chose to sit outside. Our party was for 4 and two of us ordered salads and the other two Pita wraps. We also had two starters. The Lentil soup starter was just ok, it was kind of bland. They give you a LOT for the price, but I didn't end up finishing it because it was bland. The other starter was the baked spinach pie (phyllo). Which was also good, but ok. I really really loved my Horiatiki salad. It was very delicious, very authentic tasting, but it needed more olives! It was a salad large enough to share with 2 to 3 people and it had tons of cucumber, but only 4 olives in the whole bowl. The pitas were very filling and had a lot of meat in them They were a table favorite. We had a good time. My only complaint was our waiter, and older gentleman was not friendly or attentive. He would leave the table unattended for large amounts of time and when he would come back we would try to ask for things and he would just walk away WHILE WE WERE STILL TALKING. He never even brought us water until we asked and we had to ask 3 times because he kept walking off so that obviously affected our service. Other than that it was a lot lovely restaurant with nice views and vibes of St.Armonds. FYI traffic can get hectic on the weekend there as well because a lot of people are also going to and from the beach.

Incredibly delicious Greek food! The interior is so cozy and inviting in a seaside Greek village sort of way. My family and I started with the zucchini cakes; they were incredible. Three cakes filled with zucchini and herbs, served warm, alongside a vibrant tzatziki. Just wonderful. I ordered the calamari entree, a little hesitant to $35 but the waiter raved about it. She was absolutely right! It came with 5 or 6 large grilled calamaris (flew in from Rhode Island!) next to lemon potatoes and these flash fried vegetables which were light as air and absolutely addicting. This dish would be enough for at least two people for sure and definitely worth the price. The service was warm and nice. My family and I would absolutely return to Blu Kouzina!

Christmas Day. After a movie (Boys in the boat) what place is open ? We opted here figuring it may be open. The restaurant was pretty crowded with limited competition- I had the Greek salad(very good; lots of feta) and chicken kabobs(worth gett again). They had a limited waitstaff given the holiday but they were efficient. Worth a return visit- good sized portions and good food. Covered dining in St. Armand's Circle- hard to beat.

Great Greek joint in a cool part of town. My wife heard about this place and we decided to come here to celebrate our 19th dating anniversary. She ordered the octopus entree for an appetizer and I went with the hummus. Their octopus is the best I've ever had. Even better than that little Spanish joint in Fuerteventura. For our mains my wife had the lamb steak and I had beef kebabs. The food was cooked to perfection. Our waiter was excellent, helpful, and funny. We don't want to leave. Eat out on the patio. The desserts could have been better.

Great spot and very authentic Greek. Kind of felt like I was in Europe! All food was delicious and staff was kind. I did feel like the servers were very rushed at all times and was confused who my servers was. But I will be back

One of the best restaurants in Sarasota . Steaks are amazing. Service is pretty good, and restaurant has a nice vibe.

I've been here many times and cannot believe I haven't reviewed it until now! This place is beautiful! You can dine indoors or out-my personal favorite is outside of the weather if beautiful but it may be too bit for someone not used to the Florida heat in summer time. Service has always been top notch. They answer questions and have great recommendations. If you love Greek/Mediterranean food you cannot go wrong here. The hummus is to die for, really anything has been amazing. The wine and cocktail offerings are also lovely. Go!

What a gem! Our experience at Blu Kouzina was like being transported to a cozy Aegean taverna. Everything from the Blu Kouzina salad to the grilled octopus, branzino, wine and tzatziki was amazingly delicious. The service was also wonderful. Honestly, it was so welcoming and authentically Greek (beautiful music at a pleasant volume) that the only thing missing was a cat or two around the table.

Sweet baby Jesus! As far as I'm concerned, this place is the god standard for Greek cuisine. My wife and I decided to take a chance for her birthday and check these guys out, and we were flabbergasted at how amazing it was. The fish, entrées and appetizers are absolutely unbelievable! Though we didn't get steak from there, I saw plenty of them, go out and on the tables,and they looked absolutely incredible as well. Everything was so supremely top-notch that this has rapidly become my favorite restaurants in town for Greek and seafood. We are going back for steak soon! Follow us for more on IG: Sarasota_Foodie_Couple

This is 5 stars if you know what to order. Best kept secret in Sarasota. There should be a line out the door. Food is fantastic. Their olive oil is fresh paired with fresh bread (I had gluten- free grilled pita with cracked salt). Fantastic Wine- Gerovassiliour, Malagoysia We paired it with Saganaki (seared cheese & fig). This was one of best I have ever tasted. Octopus - wonderful flavors with lemon & arugula Lamb chops- spices were perfect over flashed fried zucchini, & carrots peals and lemon potatoes Service - outstanding, kind, direct and to the point. Ambiance- casual/authentic greek. Blues & whites. Glass enclosed wine cellar holding some outstanding wines. This place is legit.

I came here with a friend, we liked the bread & vine leaves appetizer. I ordered the Lamb kebab & really enjoyed it. My friend ordered the grouper which was absolutely rotten. She mentioned to the server that it tasted spoiled but he didn't seem to care that much. So do yourself a favor & don't order fish here lol

Food was truly delicious! Everything was fresh, and flavorful! I love the big hunk of feta cheese! My friend had the chicken wrap, and she said it was great. We loved sitting outside and feeling the breeze. The derive was not great. No drink refills and it look 20 min to get our check, after our table was emptied and cleaned off.

Great Greek food at reasonable prices. The Greek salad is the best in town!! Many great seafood options and make sure you get a glass of great Greek wine. Great service and the ambiance is top tier.

What a delight this spot was! Incredibly and welcoming Greek restaurant. Staff was helpful and prompt, and checked in regularly. Super chill room. We were in the "outdoor" section, which had heaters and was plenty warm - but everything was open and roomy. We did order some Greek salad to share at the table, and it's definitely large enough to do so. Delicious and so fresh. My partner and I ordered the two lamb shanks on the menu, mine in a tomato base and hers in a lemon base. Both incredibly flavorful and tender - perfectly cooked. Others ordered the moussaka and the lamb chop, which got equally rave reviews. This felt very authentic, delicious food, great service. A real gem in the Sarasota dining scene. Will happily come back every time I'm in town!

This restaurant has the most flavorful Mediterranean food we've ever had! Must visit spot. Wonderful ambiance, cozy but sophisticated. The servers had great suggestions and we truly enjoyed our dinner. We had the zucchini patties, calamari, meat patties and Blu Salad. 10 out of 10

Arguably some of the best food I've ever had. We live on Longboat Key and we come here often. Today we ordered the lamb ribs and they were literally falling off the bone amazingness. Do not walk but run here if you want Mediterranean food.

the food was excellent all around..we ordered 10 different items. The one thing that was off was one of the gentlemen (older) who worked there did not want to be working there. Maybe he is the owner and does not know how to hire? He would walk away as we were talking or just ignore us...and the place was NOT busy at all as we were there at an off time. Anyhow, my suggestion is to find some younger attentive wait staff. Thank you!

Eclectic/creative menu with a lot of variety. Nice homemade style appetizers/delivery. Good service as well.

I'm y wife and I went all out with the halibut and barbecue grilled octopus entrees . Portions were huge and accompanied by shaved vegetables expertly prepared. We are great fans of Greek food and these were every bit as good as you would get in a great restaurant in Greece. The waiter also recommended a great choice of wine. All in all and excellent experience!

One of our favorite restaurants to eat at when we are in the area. I definitely recommend getting a few dishes to share so that you can try more items! My favorites include the imam baildi, kolokithokeftedes, and gigantes. If you've never been to Greece before, let me tell you that this is one of the few authentic Greek restaurants we have in Florida.

This restaurant felt just like being back in Greece. This is the best Greek food I've had in the USA, took me right back to the islands. Great service, attentive and kind staff.

Management was terrible - they are very busy with tourist and the restaurant gets out of control. We literally had a patron come over to our table and ask us to leave as it was his table next. How could management let that happen and tell him which table was his anyway..... BAD EXPERIENCE

Been to Blu Kouzina several times... the food is great, the service is always good & the atmosphere is super cute with authentic Greek vibes. Tried the Greek salad, lamb chops, chicken kabobs & gyro... everything was delicious.

I have reviewed this restaurant before, but felt a need to go back and do it again because if just keeps getting better. I have now been here 4 times, not repeated the same meal twice, and walked away feeling like I have just had one of the best meals anywhere. First of all, do get reservations because it has become very popular. Second, be sure to save room and share so you can try the many items on the menu. Three, if you are getting wine, get a wine from Greece or the area because this restaurant knows what it is doing in that category. As far as food ... first we shared a beet and apple salad. This was amazing. Don't think lettuce and a few bites of the other. Instead think of a bowl of carefully spiced and flavored pieces of beet and apple. Then we moved on the sharing the stuffed red pepper. This has a real kick of heat, but more from the oil it is in than from the pepper itself. Still, if you are sensitive to heat you won't like it. If you can take some heat you will adore it. Next came grilled manouri cheese. This is topped with balsamic and honey and creates a flavor like none other. For my main I had a special of the day lamb shank on a bed of couscous with a wine reduction sauce. The lamb fell off the bone and every flavor mixed perfectly. Ate half so made for dinner the next night as well. My wife was filled on the other starters so she simply had the Spanakopita. Don't think of the institutional little wedges you see at every other restaurant. These were phylo pillows filled with spinach, feta cheese and spices and baked. So tender, so crisp, so tasty.

Superb. Server was amazing we were offered to Sit wherever we wanted. All the food was authentic mediterranean food. They have an extensive wine list in which we were introduced to a Greek wine that was so good we ended up buying a bottle to take home. The grilled fish was amazing and fresh and flavorful. I recommend everything at this restaurant everything was good. This is probably one of my favorite restaurants in the area. The BAKLAVA! You must try.

Walked in to the entire restaurant just about empty at 5 pm and was told there were NO tables available. The hostess told me the whole restaurant was booked all night. Unless there was a giant line I didn't see or everyone had a reservation at 5:30, I am pretty sure they could have accommodated our party of 3. I looked at open table a few minutes later and they had reservations available for 5:30 and a few other times. Very disappointing, I had been looking forward to eating there all day. Probably won't be back.

This review is solely based on the hostess/staff and their commitment to keep reservations. They did not honor my reservation and were super rude when we asked how long we would have to wait. Then she had the audacity to split up my reservation for 8 into 2 tables that were across the room from each other. There was no apology and I'm glad we decided to Kwan's.

I love the food but the service makes it hard to keep coming back. I've probably been here 8-10 times but the last 3 times our server (bald guy) was absolutely horrible. Maybe go but ask for another server. He would disappear for 20 minutes. We'd ask someone else to get our server and they said "we told him" only to wait another 5 minutes+. If you have to ask for a server throughout it's just not worth it. Third time with this lack of service.

Honestly pretty average in my opinion. We sat outside, which was nice. It could be that we didn't order the right dishes, but I wasn't particularly wowed by anything I had.

Vinny was our waiter. Excellent service, delicious food, and wonderful cocktails. We will return!

This gorgeous restaurant we stumbled upon while in sarasota was simply exquisite. The ambience and blue and white decor definitely sets the Greek Vibes. The owner was hands-on in taking our order and maintaining the greatest customer service throughout our meal. We ordered the octopus, which came as enormous portion and was simply amazing. May I say that the bread rolls were baked fresh, and we devoured them with the authentic olive oil. The Greek salad was the freshest, and the tomatoes were so perfectly ripened. We ordered the gyros, which their meat was cooked to perfection. Overall, this place is simply amazing and you must try it. It will stay on our list when we are back in Sarasota. Can't wait to come back.

Blu Kouzina is simply the best restaurant in Sarasota. My wife's favorite is also mine.

Food & Service. Hospitality of host/ess. Excellent quality good. Great variety. Gluten Free options.

Wonderful lamb and Greek salads the lemon chicen soup is terrific as well. Fun and hustling waiters - a fun place to bring friends!

Super Yummy Authentic Food! Everything was really good. We had great service the server even spoke Greek with my husband.... The restaurant it self was beautiful inside and the decor.

My husband and I at here on a Friday night when we were visiting Sarasota at the strong recommendation of a local friend. We were so disappointed. The restaurant was crowded and woefully understaffed. We found the service to be horrendous and unapologetically so. (Had a reservation but forced to wait for our table, ordered wine they didn't bring, etc). Rather than apologizing or even comping us on a glass of wine, they appeared annoyed at the suggestion that we weren't getting serviced in the right way. As for the food, it was fine but no better than some casual Greek places in NYC. One step above a Greek diner. Won't go back and don't recommend to others

Pretty Amazing!!!!! My wife and I had a late lunch but were really craving some good Greek food. We really liked what we saw on the menu and decided to just grab a few small plates. I want to come back the next time that I am in town. like I said, we decided to grab a few small plates, and we chose WISELY. The small plates that we chose were the Grilled Octopus, Hummus and Dolmades. We are pretty picky about our grilled octopus (we were spoiled when we went to Greece). It as really good. It ranks as the best that we have had. Very close to the octopus from Greece. The humus was good, nice and creamy. The dolmades didn't disappoint and were quality. service didn't disappoint either. They were attentive but not overbearing. Again this was a great find and glad that we decided to partake. Please support this business.

Stopped in today around 3, because you don't need a reservation at that hour ;) Blu lived up to my expectations. Atmosphere was both warm & cozy but open and comfortable at the same time, Started our meal off with a bottle of water from Greece (it was a bit pricey but we aren't drinking for the month of Jan) For appetizers, we did the gigantes "giant beans" + Greek salad : fresh & dressed perfectly. For an entree, we shared a beef kabob platter -- the meat was cooked perfectly, and their house made tzatziki finished off the meal, we ordered a side of pita to make sure none of it went to waste. I enjoyed a complimentary Ouzo candy on my way out the door, might have taken two and saved one for later? only my purse knows the truth! Local Tip: if you are staying in downtown Sarasota---St Armand's / Blu are only a short, free & cool trolley ride away on the Bay Runner Trolley ** We will be back soon to try the lamb shank - because it looked amazing sitting on the table next to us! Great place for sharing family style with guests too

Walked out after waiting for over 15 minutes for a server to come to our table after being seated. Place was packed, so I am sure staff were very busy, but unfortunately no excuse. If you're too busy for more business, then don't take it. Also, found on the menu an $8 up charge for a gluten free pita? Obvious this place cares more about profit than customer service - seems to cater to tourists - as a local, they won't get a second chance from us.