By Jennifer Amato

For the past four decades, Turtles on Little Sarasota Bay has been an institution in Siesta Key. Locals and tourists alike enjoy the spectacular waterfront dining, manatee and green parrot sightings, and a top-notch menu.

Recently, that menu was revamped, and promises to be a mix of classic favorites with some modern twists.

“We wanted to offer more quality and refreshing menu items to bring in more guests while catering to our returning customers,” General Manager Alex Ortega said. “There are a lot of seafood options on the Key; our inspiration is to build off our classic dishes that our customers have loved for many years with a new modern twist of flavors. Change and progression bring in new guests but pleasantly surprise our regulars.”

The classic favorites that will always be included are dock-to-plate fresh catches like grouper and mahi mahi, Ortega said. “These favorites can be prepared to your liking -blackened, grilled or fried, always made to order,” he said.

Turtles’ staples like potato-crusted haddock and crab-stuffed shrimp were also left on the menu.

“If you have a sweet and savory tooth, our coconut-crusted mahi mahi and shrimp has hit the spot for years and will always be available,” he said.

There’s a more modern twist to seafood dishes, including grouper and mahi mahi tacos, fresh grouper piccata served over pasta, and crab-stuffed baked flounder with a key lime beurre blanc sauce.

Brunch is served every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and soon, a new option will be a Greek yogurt parfait with granola, fresh berries, and a light drizzle of honey. 

Turtles’ long-awaited happy hour is back from 3-5 p.m., with drinks offered in the whole restaurant and appetizers offered in the bar area.

There are two new mocktails on the menu: Hibiscus Haze with freshly brewed hibiscus tea and passionfruit, and a blood orange mule with fresh blood orange concentrate and ginger beer. “The perfect sober sips enhance the island experience,” Ortega said.

Turtles is open 365 days a year – something important to the owners so that everyone can have a nice meal, especially on a holiday.

“We also like to open as quickly as we can in the dawn of disaster. Last year, when hurricanes Helene and Milton hit the Key, it was devastating for most, but we knew coming together would be the best thing for the community. We flocked together to open and provide hot meals and cold drinks for residents, workers and first responders when resources were very limited. But we knew with what hit, the community needed a little glimpse of hope to keep going,” Ortega said.

Overall, Turtles has become a destination for both travelers and locals.

“We believe our fresh fish and homemade recipes we provide in our dishes are what make us popular. Aside from the beautiful bay view, and the occasional but often manatee and dolphin sightings, we’d like to think our popularity also comes from the legacy we set in this town over the years. Siesta Key has changed drastically over the years, but we have fought to keep our same values and goals: to give the locals and tourists a restaurant experience to remember and come back for. Our family values run deep, and we only yearn for our guests to have a great time and to make lifetime memories with their loved ones while dining with us,” Ortega said.

“Our restaurant is loved by locals and tourists because we bring quality dishes at moderate prices,” he continued. “We believe that just because you are in a tourist destination doesn’t mean you have to pay top-dollar tourist prices. We take pride in serving classic, tasty seafood plates at an affordable cost. We welcome families of all sizes, couples, and locals to come experience the luxury of Siesta Key,” he said.

Turtles Restaurant was first opened in October 1986 by six locals; the original owners have all passed away, but the next generation of Kellehers and Flanigans are the current owners. They plan to celebrate their 40th anniversary next year, so updates will be posted on social media and the website. 

The restaurant is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays, and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. every other day. You can access Turtles by car, trolley or boat (use Marker 48). Turtles on Little Sarasota Bay is located at 8875 Midnight Pass Rd., Sarasota.

For more information, visit https://turtlesrestaurant.com/.