Both food & service were wonderful! Atmospher w is lovely! Disappointed they were out of rice pudding!

If you are a fan of Greek cuisine, this is a good place. My wife has several food allergies including gluten, eggs, and cow's milk. The server and the kitchen staff navigated things excellently, showing us the packaging for gluten-free pitas and recommending dishes that met her dietary restrictions. read more

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 read more

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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. read more

Blu Kouzina - Greek Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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The atmosphere is great. The food is disappointing. I wanted to like this restaurant. The service is good. The tables are way too small, especially noticeable as they serve everything on giant wooden boards, which take up way too much space. If you order 2 entrees they bring everything on the wooden boards and there is no room on the table. I worry the wood is not sanitary also! The branzino didn't taste right, it tasted off. The smelts were unreadable, the lamb was overcooked and tasteless. The rolls are soft and unappealing. The eggplant is tasty but inconsistent, it was very good the first 2 times and then it was bad. The saganaki is bitter and foul tasting. I've been to Greece more than 30 times so I know what good Greek food should taste like. I hope they'll improve! read more

So glad they opened this location at UTC. We were seated inside but the music was too loud for us and we could not hear each other so we moved outside (which was lovely and shaded. The server has a little to learn about Greek food & wine. The restaurant opened without the Assyrtiko Santorini wine favorite. The server could not make a replacement recommendation but just handed me a menu to pick another (no comparison to Assyrtiko). We each ordered a soup to start( mine was served lukewarm but both were good. I ordered the Branzino entree and although the fish was delicious, it was served with way too much rice. It should have been better balanced with vegetables. Maybe serve with a few Greek potatoes instead of a pot full of rice. My husband's grouper entree had a nice balance. Overall the flavors were delicious and they can only improve with experience and time. read more

The food and drinks were simply amazing! Their selection of gluten free options was 2nd to none. We all enjoyed everything we tried from the Key Lime Martinis to the full Branzino! Our server was thoughtful and his suggestions were spot on. We sat outside so the noise level was tolerable and the ambient music was great. read more

Blu Kouzina - Key Lime Martinis and an Old Fashioned. - Greek Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Went on a very busy June weekend. Its was totally packed but they did fit us in. The blonde hostess was NOT friendly. The wait staff was just ok. The food was very, very good. Maybe on a less busy day the service would be better or maybe due to their location they aren't concerned about that part. We would go back for the food because it's that good. read more

Tried this new restaurant out this week and was pretty impressed. Had a mocktail, which was amazing, salad and grilled octopus, both were very tasty. Took one star off for service. Took. A while for a server to come over, placed my whole order. I was sitting near the kitchen and kept seeing baskets of bread coming out and going to tables but was never offered any bread. I asked out of curiosity if it came with the meal and by this time I was down with my food. Would have been nice to have had some warm bread with my food. The server also took a minute to come back and bring me my check. The decor reminded me of being in Greece. Will definitely come back. read more

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. read more

Blu Kouzina - Beat salad - Greek Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Nice, Greek restaurant the food was fresh and taste good Drinks was good and the service was great read more

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! read more

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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. read more

Blu Kouzina - Greek salad - Greek Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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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. read more

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Blu Cuisine Greek Restaurant is absolutely amazing! The service is truly the best--so warm and attentive--and the food is always fresh and delicious. One of our favorite spots in St. Armands Circle. Highly recommend! read more

when we did our first sit down visit here we had a great dinner dinner with them and spent about 120 for more food for two than we could eat. it was such a great experience that we decided to get takeout of Greek salad for two and pita bread with hummus and red pepper. check the prices. it was kids lunch size for $70. I asked if they got the order correct. it was accurate, but really disappointing. great flavor but not the same experience at all. 8 small triangles of gluten free pita for $20. not sure if I'll go back but definitely no more takeout. read more

We went to the one at the UTC mall area. We made a reservation. You had your choice between the outside with the annoying disco beat music or the inside where you better be able to read lips because you will not hear your party. Nothing like a waiter with ADHD. The food was so so. I have had much better. The waiter was nice but had the attention span of a flea. Will I go back? Probably. It is not the worst place I've been but certainly not the best. read more

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

Blu Kouzina - Their lamb is amazing! - Greek Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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. read more

Blu Kouzina - Horiatiki salad (gluten-free) - Greek Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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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! read more

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If you enjoy paying high prices for poor food, this place may be for you. My wife and I had dinner there last night, and the experience was awful. We started with the Greek salad, which was adequate but nothing special. I ordered the pork chop, which arrived drenched in sauce and dripping from a wooden plank--hardly what I would call sanitary. The pork chop was dry and overcooked, so I sent it back. My wife ordered the Dover sole, which was also disappointing. The waiter then brought me the Cornish game hen, but it was dry as well, despite also being covered in sauce. During the meal, a busboy removed our salad before we had finished it. The food is far too expensive for the quality. At a truly good restaurant, I would have expected my meal to be comped, but that did not happen. I paid the bill, but I will not return. This restaurant is mediocre at best and feels like a tourist trap. If you want a good pork chop, the best one I have found is at 131 Main in Lakewood Ranch. read more

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. read more

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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! read more

Blu Kouzina - Calamari platter with lemon potatoes and flash fried vegetables - Greek Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Food was awesome and service excellent! We ate outside on the patio other than all the love bugs, which they warned us about everything was lovely! read more

Great food, beautiful surrounds and awful exceptionally loud music that spoils the meal and the ability to converse. It's really awful!

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. read more

Blu Kouzina - Chicken wrap - Greek Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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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 read more

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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. read more

Amazing food, amazing service and a beautiful restaurant! Had the best Mother's Day. This was our first time dining here and we will definitely be back. McKenzie for making our day perfect. read more

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 read more

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. read more

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 :) read more

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Food was very good, service was slowwwwww, was decorated nice and the vibes where good but it was hotter inside than outside.

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. read more

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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! read more

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

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. read more

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Unfortunately, we did not experience good service or good food. The waitress never came to our table the entire meal and at the end we had to flag her down for our check. To make matter worse I got really sick after eating the scallops. I have been sick for the last three days and I think I got a severe food poisoning from my meal. Staff is scattered rushed and it's chaotic and unorganized in this restaurant. The food is NOT good....and it was an overall unpleasant and unwelcoming experience. I am also concerned about cleanliness and food prep why did I get so sick after eating there. read more

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 read more

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Being Greek, this restaurant was the most authentic and delicious Greek food around! Very clean, decorated beautifully and although the owners are not Greek, they mirrored chefs in Greece for years and perfected every dish. My only suggestion would be to hire friendlier waiters. Our waiter was cold and all business. Not friendly at all. read more