After dining here it is easy to see why Barnacle Bill's was chosen as Best Seafood Restaurant for 2003 by Sarasota Magazine.
The restaurant, which has three locations, touts itself as having "no waterfront, no view, just great resort style seafood at neighborhood prices."
The location, where we ate, is not really much to look at from the outside but what great seafood restaurant ever is?
Once inside, we had about a twenty minute wait, as the restaurant was packed. After finishing my dinner I know the reason why.
The food is delicious and our waiter Craig made an excellent suggestion to my wife to try the Seafood Strudel.
I had a bite---actually a couple of bites---of this lobster, crab, shrimp and scallops dish that is simmered in a savory seafood veloute and baked in phyllo pastry and garnished with lobster sauce.
The dish comes as either a full dinner or a half dinner with my wife settling for a half dinner - which after it was served she was glad she did. The half dinner was more than enough for even those with a very hungry appetite.
Although I was tempted by several other items on the menu, including potato crusted grouper and stuffed grouper Katrina, I settled on the fried oysters and scallops, which were delicious. Looking over the restaurant's menu, one can find everything from fresh Maine lobsters to seafood chowder and everything in between.
We passed by the restaurant's downtown location on Main Street several times and there was always a crowd there too.