Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub

Mar Vista absolutely exceeded our expectations! After spending the day kayaking at Longboat Key, we came here for a late lunch and it was the perfect way to end an already beautiful day. The setting alone is stunning. Dining by the water, among the beautiful trees and boats passing by felt like something out of a postcard. The atmosphere was relaxed, romantic, and welcoming all at once. The food was outstanding. Our seafood was fresh, perfectly prepared, and full of flavor, truly some of the best we’ve had. You can tell a lot of care goes into both the ingredients and the presentation. Every bite was delicious.

Took a ride to Mar Vista for lunch and had a great time. The weather was nice and sunny. We sat outside by the water and had a beautiful view. We had great service with a smile and lots of recommendations. For starters we ordered the tater tots and fried grouper bites. For our main course we ordered the stone crab claws, broccolini & Southern fried chicken entree that came with mashed potatoes, collard greens and sausage gravy. Drinks were okay. They have lots of parking available and also valet service.

We enjoyed a wonderful meal with Ash our wonderful server. She immediately welcomed us and throughout our meal gave us great recommendations. Ash was very attentive and made us feel welcome. We were celebrating my sister and her husband 8 year anniversary. Started with delicious tater tots. Super moist and enough for four to share. Burrata and arugula salad was very good with a huge chunk of burrata. Entrees were the fresh fish - blackened grouper - which we got with super good mashed potatoes and coleslaw. Red snapper with mashed potatoes. Moist and delicious. The best home made fettuccine ever. Flavorful and substantial. A must order! Also an arugula salad with burrata topped with blackened scallops. Very moist and seasoned perfectly. For dessert a complementary key lime pie which was perfect! And a peanut butter pie to go. Ash made the meal memorable for us. Beautiful garden atmosphere overlooking the bay. Quiet and pleasant!

Stopped by for drinks because I had great memories of this place when I was a child and it did not disappoint! I had a spicy marg and it was pure fire! The outdoor atmosphere is super unique and thankfully they have some fans to help cool the back area on a very hot day. We had no problem getting a table and the service was friendly! Next time we are in the longboat key area, we will be sure to visit.

Fantastic place on a quiet area of the beach where you can watch the boats & kayaks sitting under some very cool trees in the sand. There are several fans deployed to keep you cool! Our server Zach was chill & informative about the menu. We enjoyed some drinks & had the calamari with a unique dipping sauce based on coconut. I liked it although my husband prefers a spicy marinara sauce. He had the chicken sandwich - was ok - kind of dry with the tasty homemade potato chips. I had the peel & eat shrimp - delish with a side of broccolini. We enjoyed it immensely & will be back!

This is not the first time we have dined at Mar Vista. We have always had great service, food and atmosphere. We came back for my husband’s birthday and as a recommendation to friends who were visiting. This evening out was disappointing compared to our prior visits. We had reservations for 6 ppl at 8 pm. The hostess struggled to find our reservation which kicked off a comedy of errors, so to speak. We had a nice table by the water, requested when making the reservation. We waited for over 10 min without acknowledgment until we went back to the host and ask if we had a server. 🙄 The server (Chriztopher) finally arrived, tossed some cardboard coasters around and ask for a drink order. When asked if there were any specials, he said “no, we had red snapper but we are out so I’m not going to bother to tell you.” We ordered wine, beverages, and appetizers (tater tots, peel and eat shrimp) apps were great but slow to be delivered. We then ordered our dinner Seafood Trio (recommended), Jalapeño-glazed Grouper (recommended) and Filet minion + requested addition scallops. We were then informed they were out of scallops as well the red snapper (2 of 3 items explained to be on the Trio). We were told the fish would be substituted with another fish (although not sure with what) and in lieu of scallops we would receive some extra shrimp. Needless to say 3 orders of the Trio were changed and no add on to the steak dinner 🙄. We were told that we should not have made reservations that late because the kitchen frequently runs out. Seriously, the restaurant sets the reservation times!? Maybe a disclaimer needs to be added at time of booking! The Grouper was delicious as was described. The Trio was less than desirable without a trio and the steak was fine nothing amazing. So 3 out of 6 guest were highly satisfied for their main course. We had dessert - Chocolate Cake for 2 and Key-lime for the birthday and some expresso martinis - both desserts were fabulous. The key-lime was served and a platter with birthday wishes include which was nice. The martinis were okay. All in all our dinner ended on a good note. I would say we had dinner out but not a true dinning experience, there’s a big difference! We dined next door at the Shore the evening before (same time, same guest) and at a comparable cost. I am sad to say, the Shore blew MarVista away in all categories - service, food and atmosphere! Not sure what’s happening with MarVista, maybe they were just having a bad night. It was definitely less than we have previously experienced from a well-known favorite.

We stopped into Mar Vista for a quick drink and had a great experience! Unbeatable views, tons of seating areas and even some games to play! Wish we could’ve stayed to eat, but had a sunset cruise to get back to. Would definitely visit this spot again!

Love this place and found them by accident. Great view, service and food, and away from the tourist traps. We went back again before the end of our trip. Highly recommend them.

Have been going here for 15 years and even after Hurricane Milton, the restaurant still has its charm! Although there is new ownership as of 2024, this restaurant still brings it's charm for being immersed in beautiful trees with lights underneath. Luckily now with the new ownership, you can also make reservations under OpenTable. FINALLY we no longer have to get there at 5PM. Additionally, take some time after to drive your car around the neighborhood, the peacocks are still there. At night, they go to the trees so be sure to look up! BORYANNA, our favorite waitress for years, MAR VISTA YOU CAN NEVER LET HER LEAVE!! We have had such an amazing experience with her and she always treats my 90 and 87 year old grandparents with the utmost respect. Will continue to go to this restaurant for years to come!

We had great service and it is a lovely place to eat because of the insanely beautiful views. I had the Caesar salad and added grilled chicken to it. The salad was fantastic and very filling. I could eat it every day. we also had their fish dip which was fantastic and lovely pita chips to dip.

Very good food and service was amazing! I'm so glad they recovered after the hurricane because it's a lovely spot with an amazing view and ambiance!

First time visit. Wanted to find a nice seafood restaurant for my wife's birthday. I chose Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant because of the reviews and photos of their outdoor lanai and beach seating on their sandy shore. We sat at a table right on the edge of the beach. Great view! Never had dinner this close to the water's edge. Christopher was our waiter, and once he took our drink order (Longboat Key Rumrunner), the rest of the evening went smoothly. Our calamari appetizer was cooked perfectly. Came with a sweet Thai coconut sauce. We both chose the same main entree, the Island Trio. Nice serving of the fish of the day, which was Blackened Red Snapper, shrimp & scallops. Excellent choice! Since we were celebrating my wife's birthday, we were served a very nice portion of keylime pie on the house. Service was great, and the view was memorable. We will return and I highly recommend it.

Prepare for a spicy review Jalapeño hush puppies were amazing and NOT crazy spicy My wife ordered the spicy margarita and it was hands down the best weve had in a while. I ordered brisket tacos, she ordered something spicy that was flavorful but not mouth numbing This is our 3-4th time here and love it. Come by car, bike, walk or boat

Ordered the fettuccine and it was the best fettuccine I've ever had in my life. The mushrooms were so fresh and the sauce was rich and flavorful. Overall the ambiance here was beautiful. We went after the sun had set but I could see this being a beautiful place to eat at sunset or even during the day. Adorable. Great service, food, and drinks!

Mar Vista is a treat! I enjoyed my salad and apps. The tots are awesome. My server was coool and the restaurant is beautiful. It sits on a little dock and the restaurant is a bit hidden. Like at the end of a neighborhood. Overall i will return.

Had the trio Everything over cooked maybe cooked all day heated up at serving ,tasteless sauce with it great setting service a little quirky sorry not for me

Came for a late lunch/ early diner.... So popular... had to wait about 30 min... nicest part of the wait were the tables in the bar- we enjoyed our drinks, the view and our afternoon. Our meal was picture perfect- sitting under the famous tree- which came up for us as first available- very neat! Table ordered Brussel sprouts and the highly recommended tater tots. Both were so enjoyable. The Brussels had a siracha mayo that complimented the sprouts so well. The tater tots were fab - and happy that we ordered them. Our table ordered and enjoyed Kung Pao Avocado, Island Trio, fresh catch Risotto (with grouper), and Chefs Burger. Our drinks were a nice compliment to our meals- happy to have tried a few of their drink specials.... With the boats/ water and a great day- we so enjoyed our time here.

They have reopened very recently and I'm so glad we checked it out. Hurricane damage was extensive, but they had put things back and rebuilt better. Food was EXCELLENT. Two of us had the Chipotle glazed Grouper and two had a seafood Trio dish. Both were innovative and delicious. Our server was Kristina, and she was well informed about the menu items and all of the remodeling/renovations. Please support this business, they are doing a great job, and they need guests!

Save yourself a long drive. First of all mandatory valet parking which seemed silly with a nearly empty parking lot. I hate feeling obligated to tip (but we did). Grouper was overcooked. A seafood place should know how to prepare fish, you'd think. Flavors were there but fish killed the whole dish. Calamari which was supposed to be lightly breaded was mostly that extremely breaded! My husbands fish was rubbery and had no flavor. Take it from a girl from NoLa I know great food and this wasn't it! Ambiance was lovely and service was good too!

Nestled by the bay, this restaurant offers a dining experience that is truly one-of-a-kind. The unique beachside seating provides an ambiance that is both relaxing and invigorating. As you dine, you can enjoy the gentle lapping of the waves, the soft whisper of the sea breeze, and the stunning view of the bay. It's a feast for the senses that enhances the culinary delights the restaurant has to offer. The seafood menu is a standout, offering a selection that is original and far from your average fare. Each dish is a testament to the creativity and skill of the chefs, who have managed to put a unique spin on classic seafood dishes. The freshness of the ingredients shines through in every bite, transporting you straight to the ocean's depths. The service is top-notch, with staff that are attentive, friendly, and dedicated to ensuring that your dining experience is nothing short of perfect. They are knowledgeable about the menu and are more than happy to make recommendations based on your preferences. The drinks menu is equally impressive, offering a variety of options to suit every palate. Whether you prefer a classic cocktail, a fine wine, or a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage, you're sure to find something that hits the spot. In conclusion, this restaurant offers a unique dining experience that combines a stunning location, an original seafood menu, great service, and a fantastic selection of drinks. It's a place where every meal is a celebration of the sea and a testament to the art of fine dining.

Wow, this place is just darling. We ate lunch while our small boys walked along the beach and tossed shells in the water. My tuna dish was delicious and my margarita was too! The view was unbeatable and we even saw dolphins jumping out of the water at the end of our lunch. I will for sure be back.

This was a great restaurant to eat at with my husband and the in-laws. Our table was outdoors on the beach under a beautiful tree. Birds walking by and nice atmosphere. We had a great time and good food and drinks. Hope to go back there next time we are in Florida. Good service and I definitely recommend this restaurant.

This little slice of heaven is just that, stunning views, beautiful romantic atmosphere, place for the kids to play by the water and great food! Get the stone crab!!!

Wow everything we ordered was outstanding! Also you have to order the Grouper cheeks and the gator tots. These two items where fantastic. Our table ordered the chicken sandwich, soft shell crab sandwich, island trio, shrimp scampi and a burger. Everyone was sharing food and talking about how every bite was outstanding. Honestly I'll be walking and docking here for food. Little hidden gem that's been here for 103 years. Best part they are 98% farm to table. Forgot to mention the service and the ambiance is amazing. Sharon really knows what's up. Oh wow as I'm typing this Sharon comes to talk about dessert. I want everything.

This place is a home run. Pulled up our rental boat on a Sunday, get there a little early as it fills up. We were seated promptly although the beach tables are in high demand. Great service and Great food. Such a great experience. Felt like we were on a Caribbean Island. Good souvenirs as well. Again, I recommend getting their no later then 11:30 AM for lunch other wise you will be waiting.

Amazing, awesome, super great! The view was incredible the service was good! Thanks

Beautiful view, great drinks, phenomenal food, island trio was perfect !!! Our waitress, Boryana, was awesome as well. Would rate 8.7/10

The fried pompano was delicious!! Crispy on the outside with moist meat inside. It was seasoned very well and dipping sauce was awesome!. Service was good. Beautiful trees with an ocean view!...

We stopped in just after sunset during the week. There was plenty of seating - both indoor and outdoor. We loved the floor to ceiling glass doors/windows. Truly a beautiful place to eat on the water! The server was super friendly and knowledgeable. He answered all our questions and made great suggestions. The shrimp scampi was delicious- great serving size of pasta with 6 large shrimp on top. The fish tacos were really filling (more than we expected). We also tried the fish of the day, fried, and it was great too! For dessert we tried the pear pie, it was ok, but would've been better heated up with a side of ice cream instead of whipped cream- so ask for that if you order it. Overall we loved this place. So wonderful outside- and there are fans and heaters to help accommodate outdoor seating year round.

10/10 across the board! You can't beat this relaxing, gorgeous setting. The food is superb! (Especially the jalapeño glazed grouper) and the service is so warm and welcoming (Hi Christopher! You're a star!)

Drove our boat here today and only had a 10 minute wait. The stars of the meal were the World Famous Tater Tots and the Seafood Chowder. One couple had the Risotto with fish and said it wasn't very good. The Boiled shrimp were mushy and not enough Old Bay Seasoning in the broth. The Fried Chicken sandwich and fries weren't hot and must have been standing awhile before serving. The kids enjoyed their Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and Chicken Fingers. Service was great. Eating outside with the curly trees and looking at the water was terrific.

Very relaxing place to bring the family for dinner and cocktails. Service was and food was great!

Yes we had to wait for a table, but I knew that going in this is a popular restaurant. We were able to grab a drink and enjoy the view while we waited. By the time we sat for dinner, which was less than the wait time we had been given, we were all relaxed by the overall ambiance. Dinner was on another level. Every dish brought out was fabulous. The waiter suggested we change some of the appetizers and he was spot on! The taters tots were epic! Everything was perfect!

View is great. Food was mediocre at best. Service was spotty. Came here for lunch one afternoon and restaurant was half full. Got a table outside on the beach overlooking the dock. The prices were horrendous. We ordered a few items to share. The Brussels sprouts was terrible, very burnt and swimming in this super sweet sugary sauce. Holy moly, I had to shake the food to get the sauce off. Horrible. The shrimp appetizer was better but the shrimp was not super fresh, the shell was sticking to the meat and hard to peel. Then we got the seafood trio, that was also swimming in a super sweet sugary sauce, completely ruined the flavors of the seafood. Such a waste. Small portion sizes for the price. Service was spotty. Bring you food but never refilled drinks. Snob appeal. Definitely would not come back again.

Cons: Expensive drinks! French onion soup had burnt (black) bread, very little cheese, & almost tasteless broth. Slow service at bar even tho 4 ppl were working. Pros: Very cool place w/great ambiance. Needs better mngmnt.

The service was excellent as well as the food. We were seated quickly under the trees and the view was awesome. We had the okra app; prime rib and bacon wrapped scallops with a farm salad for an entree. All of the food was exceptional. Both of us had a rum runner, very rummy and tasty! Nice! I highly recommend this restaurant if you are in the area. One thing, the parking is valet only so have a little cash on you if you're a tipper.

Food, service and ambiance! Met friends hwre dor dinner and had fabulous drinks, wonderful food and even better service. The setting and the ambiance was the best part! Thank you, Carrie, for being a top notch server and for surprising our friend with early happy birthday wishes and dessert! A five star experience for sure!

The food is always amazingly good. The service is always quick and the workers are always very friendly, nice, and fast. The overall ambiance is great and the boardwalk gives littles ones something to do while they wait for their food. I always enjoy going out to the Mar Vista and if you're looking for a good place to relax that's on the water this is for you.

Jasmyn was such a lovely waitress, she gave great recommendations and was more than patient with us in answering all of our questions. My uncle recommended we try this place and he was raving about the octopus, we weren't feeling that, so we went in a different direction. The tater tots and grits were honestly my favorite part of the meal. The shrimp was great, too, just less memorable than those two other dishes. My sister's favorite was the brussels sprouts (and we eat a lot of brussels sprouts, so that's saying something). It is a really cool set up, there is sitting on the patio and then extended seating that is like submerged in multiple trees that create this beautiful fortress that sits right before the ocean front view. The overall atmosphere is so beautiful and definitely a stop that is worth making, whether you are on vacation or a Local. We will be back!!

We've been here several times. It's an easy stop during a day of boating. The food is average fare. We were disappointed on our latest visit to be told we had to leave because we had our 2 small dogs with us (about 10lbs each). We were seated outside by the dock - only about 3 other tables had guests... We've been several times with our pups and never been told that before. I'd encourage them to revisit the policy- especially in the off season during lunch hours. (There are plenty of other outdoor dining options in Manatee County that allow well behaved pets outside.)

I had the blackened grouper over the mushroom risotto and it was the BEST meal of our whole vacation. The whole table tried it and agreed. I could eat this over and over and I don't think I would ever get sick of it. It was amazing. I did have to send it back the first time because the risotto was only a bit warm. In the past they have had temperature issues with our orders before. The food never seems to come out hot, only a bit warm and sometimes even room temp feeling. But when they brought it back out hot, it blew me away!

Amazing atmosphere! Sit under the trees if you can. Jalapeño margaritas and pina coladas were so tasty! Food is good, but the cornbread is amazing. Will be back for the drinks and ambiance.

If you're looking for a pretty, oceanside dining experience, Mar Vista is a decent pick with nice ambiance. However, the food itself is relatively unimpressive. My party tried the brussels sprouts, which we found to be undercooked. The cornbread was fine but not super flavorful and had a bit of an unappealingly dry texture. My sister and I shared the shrimp fettuccine as a main -- it was good but was served with only five shrimp and dry bread --not worth the cost. Overall, we found the experience pleasant but certainly not worth the hype or the price of the menu items.

Awesome waterside view! Jasmine our waitress was very nice and proved perfect service. Our dessert included the key lime pie which was delicious.

This could possibly be one of the worst meals I've ever had in my life. I came here with 4 friends and out of the 5 of us 4/5 meals went wrong. Meal 1: Fried Chicken Sandwich I ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich and asked for only cheese and chicken on it. When it came out it was not only cheese and chicken and there was no sauce on the side or on the sandwich. I then asked for barbecue sauce twice and it was never brought to me. I eventually caved and stole my friends ketchup. It took me about 2 bites of the sandwich to realize that half of the batter on the fried chicken was raw. Meal 2: The Pub Burger My friend ordered the pub burger. She made one request that not have any tomato jam on it. Guess what it had on it...(tomato jam). Anyways after scraping off the tomato jam she got about 3 bites into the burger to realize it was RAW. I swear I could hear it still mooing. Meal 3: "Caesar Salad" w/ Salmon "Caesar Salad" is in quotes because they ran out of Caesar Salad...I didn't realize that was physically possible. Anyways they offered to make her a Caesar salad with the farm salad lettuce with the rest of the salad like a classic Caesar. We can all see where this is going they just brought her a farm salad so she had to send it back. Meal 4: Caesar Salad! My friend ordered the 2nd to last Caesar salad with chicken. The salad was so soggy like it had been sitting on the counter for hours. She also ordered a side of cheese grits and they brought out collared greens instead. When she finally got her cheese grits they looked (and tasted) like they had been congealing on the counter for hours. The waiter also gave her the wrong drink twice. Only one of us managed to escape someone unscathed. Except for the fact that she spilled her Shirley temple all over herself but that's user error. Ok final notes! The cokes/ soda machine had 0 syrup in them I was basically drinking carbonated water. The fries were nasty and the calamari we ordered as an appetizer was luke warm(still the best thing we ate), the small talk that was done as damage control was basically unbearable to sit through. Anyways the 2 stars were for the view cause the outdoor area was gorgeous! Also I have never had better valet service like 10/10 to the valet guy cause I've never seen anyone run that fast in my life.

Nice restaurant with excellent view and service...a bit pricey but you expect it at a place like this. Food was good and ambiance great but a bit too hot to sit outside on a 95 sticky degrees summer day. Great for a special occasion in a cool November evening

It was time to get out after a rainy vacation day! We had a really nice late lunch at Mar Vista with a great view of the water. I ordered the Baja fish tacos--great fresh flavors, but I just ate the inside with a fork, since the loaded corn tortillas fell apart quickly. I didn't mind. My friend had the Island Trio, that looked just beautiful and tasted the same, from what I heard.

The view is incredible. Food is fantastic!! Family friendly. Many servers and very helpful and kind. Absolutely love this restaurant.

A very relaxing visit We stopped in at Mar Vista for lunch. It wasn't our first choice, but it should have been. We thoroughly enjoyed sitting outside in the shade of some gnarly trees looking out over the bay. The food wasn't bad either. For lunch I had their Island Trio, a seafood dish with scallops, shrimp, and a fresh catch. For today, the fresh catch was Wahoo, a mild white fish with a firm texture that I really liked. Overall, I thought the dish was fine. The seafood was placed on locally sourced squash and sweet corn, which went very well with the buttery tasting sauce. I didn't really pick up on any mango lime taste with the sauce. My wife got their Whole Fried Pompano, I have included a photo of her meal. She tackled it like a professional and rated her meal as excellent. I'm more a quantity eater and our entrees were more quality, so when my wife suggested dessert, I was all for it. Boy, that turned out to be fortuitous, because we split a slice of Key Lime Pie that was absolutely outstanding. No condensed milk flavor or cheap whipped cream here, this was a first class recipe well executed. It was a pretty expensive meal for lunch, I think they use the same menu for both lunch and dinner. It is always a good idea to check out websites ahead of time to avoid any surprises. We didn't follow that advice, but it was going to be our big meal of the day anyway, so not a problem.

We enjoyed the awesome view here and my food was good. We will definitely be back when we visit LongB Key again (I almost got a t-shirt from)

Consistently great. The outside/dockside/beachside setting is second to none. We went there for lunch this week. We were greeted at the door and seated promptly. The young man was smiling and made us feel welcome. The food was delicious as always. My wife had the kung pao avacado, our guest had the beef sandwich special with freshly baked potato chips and I enjoyed the flavorful Blackjack sandwich (mahi) with fries. The service was friendly, professional and prompt. Our waitress was right there with refills and checked back with us often enough to ensure we were happy. We live very close to MarVista on Longboat Key and look forward to many more great meals.

I highly recommend for a good lunch. Had a delicious fish dip, farm salad, fries, and Baja fish tacos. View was beautiful and service was solid. Will definitely go back again.

Great location right on the Bay, with nice ambiance of wrought iron tables in the sand under the banyan trees. Our server Leo was outstanding at his craft, always anticipating our needs. The food however was lackluster and if I did return it would be for an app, a drink and the view. We ordered the lemon & herb grouper and the fresh catch risotto. The fish was well seasoned and cooked fine but both dishes were devoid of anything green. The grouper didn't have its' advertised black eyed peas but instead white beans- prepared well but a green vegetable would have been more visually appealing and made more sense. The risotto had good flavor but could have used some spinach or green herb. Blueberry ice cream for dessert had good flavor except garnished for some odd reason with canned whipped cream.

Had a nice dinner with a couple friends unfortunately one of them got food poisoning. When I called the manager the next day to report it, nothing was offered for compensation. Bill was over $265 for three people.

If you don't know what's there you will miss it driving down Longboat Key. Once you get there and have it table out by the water you will feel like you're in the Caribbean. For me it's all about the atmosphere what a wonderful place to sit and have dinner, especially if you are on a date, it's a perfect place. The menu is good and the staff is friendly.

Absolutely amazing! Great food and atmosphere! Favorite go to. The service is top tier!

Thursday afternoon 1pm- the patio was filled so we were seated in the patio area. This turned out in our favor since the summer rain showers sent other outdoor seating parties to our part of the deck. Pleasant surprise on the originality of some of the menu items and they were pretty well executed. My grilled wahoo on a panzanella salad was very tasty. Tater tots were more like fried mashed potatoes that shredded potatoes. Still tasty and a large appetizer portion to share though. Friend ordered the fish mahi-mahi tacos- looked typical. Served with house made potato chips. Those were soggy- unsure how you could keep them crisp on these humid days and the outdoor in/out activity into the kitchen. Only the outdoor seating area was open at the time. No dogs allowed either. Casual place to dine and you can sit at tables on the sand close to the water. Shore is next door if you want a more upscale option- probably without the flies.... Worst part was the number of flies - gross- yuck! Will not visit during the rainy season again. The restaurant should have some plans as the fan air flow was not enough to keep them away from our food. Good place- will try again once the summer is over!