Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Selva Grill

    4.3 (827 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Selva Grill Photos

    Business Info

    SELVA GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Selva Grill

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Irene E.

    Will return for service and food, which we've Wild ceviche  Rib spring roll  Crab cake  Parihuela  Chick spring roll All are delicious, especially the crab cake, and appetizingly presented. The Oxford Landing and Broadbent are similar in taste and yummy. The Schott Zwiesel glasses have water stains. The on-the-house cancha corn kennels, plantain, and green sauce are delicious: thank you. We pass by this Peruvian restaurant many times and have no desire to go in because it looks dark. And it's dark. Fake orchid in the bathroom. Our server is a middle-aged lady who's the best, appears and disappears on the dot.

    Rachel L.

    Still one of my favorite places to visit when I'm in the Sarasota area. The food is absolutely delicious and beautifully presented, the staff is kind and welcoming, service is quick, the cocktails are excellent, and the ambiance is simply amazing. Highly recommend!

    Selva's Seafood Paella
    Vince H.

    Great food, service, and experience. We had a sampler of ceviches and they were all phenomenal! So fresh and tasty. For my entree I ordered the paella and it was great! I've had a lot of paella and it had good flavor and was a good portion size. I'd highly recommend Selva to anyone visiting and wanting fresh seafood!

    Ceaser salad
    Priyanka B.

    We came here for dinner one night during our vacation in sarasota. Our Uber driver said it was a must go to place. The Caesar salad was absolutely amazing. It had a chopped consistency with the perfect amount of addressing also had some nice pieces of crunch that was not your average crouton. I also got the tomato salad which the presentation for all the food it was impeccable. The tomato salad was more of a caprese salad it was pretty good, no complaints. My husband got the fish which had a type of polenta on the side. He enjoyed the dish as well. The ambiance was very nice and the service was great as well.

    Mango key lime tart
    Michael G.

    I want to express my sincere thanks to Selva Grill Downtown, and specifically to Michael, whom I believe is one of the managers. My wife and I were treated to one of the most truly exceptional dinner experiences anywhere on our recent visit to Sarasota. We enjoyed Selva so much on our first visit 2 years ago, we made sure to plan dinner there again despite the vast array of restaurant options in the Sarasota area. The flavors are complex and delicious. Some places try this and don't pull it off, but Selva exceeded our expectations on every single item we tried. We sat outside by the warm heaters on a cool February evening, but the inside has a beautiful cool vibe. My sea bass was the most perfectly cooked I have ever had. The Chocolate mousse pot has a blend of chocolates, fresh fruit and exquisite flavors. Despite all this, the real capper was Michael tending to our every need despite having a tough night. The computers were down, so the billing and credit card payments weren't working, but more importantly, Michael had an employee who had to be taken by EMS from the restaurant after having a serious medical issue inside. He was noticeably shaken and we initially sat quite awhile not knowing why no one was attending to us. Eventually though, he made sure to correct the initial oversight of us sitting unattended and gave us an exceptional experience. Michael and his staff ultimately took excellent care of us. My only gripe is that he apologized for not giving us the "Selva experience" and I am here to tell everyone, he is incorrect in that. We truly had an exceptional experience, and we very much appreciate it. Can't wait to dine again whenever we visit again.

    Alex M.

    Came here with the wife for her birthday and had a fantastic dinner. The food was delicious and I had a espresso martini which was actually really good. I had the lamb chops and she had the New York steak sirloin and it was cooked really well since it was her birthday, they also gave us a nice dessert which we really enjoyed. Our waiter was awesome and gave us a lot of information about the food. The atmosphere was great we came a little bit early and everything was nice and just set up for a nice dinner.

    Roly P.

    If you are in the Sarasota area, this place is fantastic, the service is spectacular and they do not miss a beat. The food is delicious with phenomenal flavors. You cannot go wrong choosing to dine at this established.

    Grilled Octopus
    Mike R.

    Food and services are very high end. Price is a bit on the high side of value / quality especially if you have a few drinks or bottles of wine. Definitely a great place for a special meal.

    New York Strip
    Jen S.

    Wow! We were actually looking for a steakhouse and saw this.... It exceeded everyone's expectations! Party of 8 with two kids and it WORKED! Ambiance is a little fancy, but it is what you make of it! You can be as laid back as you want, or as "fancy" as you want! Food was amazing!!! FOOD ART!!!!

    Tomato salad
    Christopher C.

    Arrived at the restaurant 45 minutes before reservation to have some cocktails in the lounge and get a feel for the vibe. The lounge is narrow, but perfect for a more relaxed setting while still elevated. The noise level coming from the restaurant side was like that of cafeteria noise. Once over to the restaurant side, the ambiance is well done for the space they are working with. Acoustic dampeners would be ideal in this space to bring the noise level down. Starters: ordered the empanadas & roasted tomato salad along with the Hawaiian Wahoo civeche. Plating and presentation was great. Food was well executed. Could have done without the sauce on top of the empanadas. A little bit of over editing. Entrees: I ordered the New Zealand lamb chops with asparagus and truffle risotto. Second entree was the Paella seafood risotto with white fish. The entrees again, were well plated and an elevated presentation. The paella risotto was very well balanced and energetic in its palette. The lamb chops had a different approach to the crust than the traditional pistachio in which rendered slightly underwhelming. There was no seasoning to the lamb chops. I had to add salt to the meat. To break the proteins down and render a better flavor this should be happening before it is fired. Truffle risotto was amazing as well as asparagus. Overall; I would return. However, would be a better experience in the bar area for ambience. I will have to try this place again to try their steak to find out if the lack of meat preparation continues through the menu. Service was fantastic! Seafood and risotto seem to be safe choices.

    Dan S.

    If this isn't the best restaurant in Sarasota, I don't know what is. A recent visit showed a restaurant hitting on all cylinders. Servers who are friendly and attentive? Yep. Cool vibes inside but without blaring music so you can actually talk with to your dinner mates. And the food? Outstanding. We got the wahoo ceviche which was a terrific specimen of what this should be with a mix of flavors. The short rib spring rolls were savory and a great compliment to the fish. The main dishes were also spot on. The swordfish with curry was so tender and bursting with flavor. I loved the seafood paella risotto. So much shellfish. Even the filet mignon was not to be missed. We finished with peaches and cream which is really a caramel bread pudding eith peaches. Loved this. We all agreed it is one of our favorite meals we've had in the area. If not the best. Not cheap, but Not to be missed.

    Plato Vegetarian $33
    Thomas L.

    Feb 18th 2024 Rainy Sunday - 4 for early dinner: TWO parking spots across the street for our friends from Pennsylvania and our car!!! Woo hoo!!! No charge on Sunday. Brisk business and we had EARLY 4 PM reservations as they opened for the evening. (line at the door!!) Seated promptly, ok seat but a little uncomfortable with two (we both have disc and back issues) in the booth with no back support. (gave the wives the sturdy chairs.) Service was TREMENDOUS and Christin was magnificent. Her "helper" was not too bad either (and took our joking and verbal abuse in stride) ----------- My review is mainly for the food, but I am going to do something I rarely EVER do in my many years as a Yelper....... I am putting the prices with the food items. ---------------- Why? Well because even after being at places like Bouchon, Per Ce, Peter Lugar, the French Laundry and some of the top restaurants in the world over the last 42 years of travel and working IN NYC for 16 years, there is always a fine balance between Quality and Value. And while I feel the quality, food product, presentation, preparations and culinary expertise here is magnificent and one of the best so far in Sarasota for me....... I just feel we got "zaberized" ( https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/local/gallery-a-look-back-at-zaberers-restaurant/collection_ceb89eee-0c71-11ee-ba6f-0762b12a7504.html#1 ) and fell into a tourist trap, in-season and the value was just not there? $115 per person tags, tax, delivered is at the upper range for what I would love/want to think would be my wife and my "goto" before the show or out with friends or romantic dinner a few times a year restaurant? This is at the moment in the once a year category for us. $467 for 4 people for a fairly light proportioned dinner and drinks is lofty. There was an almost $ 80 tip (well earned btw) We had a variety of beverages for the girls in the $14 to $16 per drink range on the high side even for Sarasota downtown. 8/10 Beck NA and Corona were a competitive $6 . .... $96 in drinks For appetizers we ordered the 4 item scallops $30 7/10 , chopped salad $14 9/10 , a single crab cake $21 5/10 , a summer roll $23 7/10 ..... $88 in apps A bass dinner $47 9/10, Swordfish dinner $42 8/10, Short Ribs $43 9/10, Plato Vegetarian $33 10/10 - $165 in entrees The presentation and the product was awesome!! Loved it and top of the stack for Sarasota, service world-class, and food fantastic......... but a bit overpriced with NYC prices.

    Traditional NY Strip

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Hila K.
    0
    10
    11

    2 months ago

    I really like selva grill. I had a great time ! Will come back soon. Service was great.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike R.
    35
    46
    33

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jen S.
    239
    26
    6

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Great food! Terrific service! Superb ambiance!! Always lived the location in downtown Sarasota but the restaurant in UTC is even better

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dan S.
    524
    1602
    1442

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R D.
    3
    22
    8

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dia D.
    106
    1095
    2563

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bob J.
    107
    991
    5405

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Perfect service. Great appetizers. Awesome crab cake. Looking forward to going back to try the rest of their menu.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Astrid C.
    488
    35
    111

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Re L.
    1
    58
    158

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Great atmosphere and options wre plentiful and food fantastic. I had the roast chicken and would go back tomorrow and get it again :)

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chey P.
    0
    12
    26

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Maya B.
    172
    373
    1331

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Aves
    0
    6
    11

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 21

    Selva Grill Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Selva Grill

    Is this a good place for a first date? Looking for a cool vibe but want to be able to hear each other talk.

    yes cool and romantic

    Do they allow us to bring wine with a corkage charge?

    They actually do allow you to bring in wine for a corkage fee. :-)

    Good for kids?

    I wouldn't take my kids here if they were little. This is more of an adult setting in my opinion. My kids are 15 and 18, so I would take them along, but not if they were little.

    Happy hour pricing?

    New Happy Hour Pricing as of 1/14/22 : Signature Drinks 10… Read more

    Is this a good spot for happy hour?

    Absolutely!!!

    Looking for a restaurant that serves whole fried snapper. Love to eat this on Caribbean vacations...Any recommendations?

    Selva Grill Actually EVERYTHING IS OUTSTANDING AT SELVA GRILL. INCLUDING THE SERVICE.

    View All 8 Questions

    You might also consider

    Owens Fish Camp - Pan Fried Lump Crab Cake

    Owens Fish Camp

    4.4(2.8k reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$$

    I was happy to see Tate was still sitting out front, smile on his face, holding a beer with a laid…read moreback Florida vibe. We stopped in for an early dinner to celebrate Mother's Day. There was a short wait to be seated, enough time for us to go back to the courtyard and listen to some live music. I had already checked out the menu and knew what I wanted, which was helpful once we were seated in a somewhat dark dining room. They offer more than seafood, but I wanted seafood. They have a Naked Fish section where they offer a few types of fish with many preparation choices. In the end my wife and I both decided on their less expensive Camp Basket and splurged on both a Clam Chowder and a Camp Salad. The chowder was delicious. The serving size was really not large enough to share but we did, and left me wanting more. The salad was fine. The basket was larger than it first appeared with lots of thin cut fries at the bottom. The several pieces of fried oysters and shrimp were flavorful. The basket also had small bites of okra and a fillet of a lightly breaded white fish. Too much food for my wife, enough to fill me up. My plan to try a dessert faded away. Once we paid we headed back to the courtyard to listen to more music before heading out. A very good meal and a pleasant evening, who could ask for more.

    We were excited to try Owens Fish Camp after seeing so many strong reviews, and we really wanted to…read morelove it. The atmosphere was great and the service was very good -- friendly and attentive throughout our visit. Unfortunately, the food did not live up to the hype. We ordered the fish basket ($24) and the fried tomato BLT sandwich. The fish itself was just okay, but the portions were surprisingly small. It came with fries and what looked like about 2 ounces of coleslaw. Honestly, this basket should have been served with a magnifying glass so I could actually find the fish. My wife's fried tomato BLT was over-sauced and lacked flavor overall. While we appreciated the atmosphere and service, the food quality and especially the portion size for the price left us disappointed. Sadly, we would not recommend this restaurant based on our experience.

    Photos
    Owens Fish Camp - Bar scene.

    Bar scene.

    Owens Fish Camp - Blackened grouper with lemon caper butter sauce, old bay fries and garlic bread

    Blackened grouper with lemon caper butter sauce, old bay fries and garlic bread

    Owens Fish Camp - Mural outside restaurant

    See all

    Mural outside restaurant

    Dry Dock Waterfront Grill - Tuscan Chicken w/ Rice & Veggies

    Dry Dock Waterfront Grill

    4.5(2.3k reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$$

    The food was delicious, the service was great and the views from the windows were amazing. We even…read moresaw dolphins jumping out of the wate.

    BLUF: Consistently exceptional food and service located at a dry dock (dry boat storage)…read moreoverlooking the water. I love Dry Dock Waterfront Grill and I always visit when I am in the Sarasota area. Dry Dock is always busy so I am also sure to make a reservation in advance using Open Table. Typically we sit inside but I know the back patio is popular too. If your timing and patience is perfect, you can also get a nice a nice window seat in the dining room that has sweeping views of Sarasota Bay. The inside atmosphere is bright and airy and although airy often translates to loud, Dry Dock thoughtfully put noise dampening panels on the ceiling. As far as food, I don't think you can go wrong. I always get something with grouper whether it be an entree, sandwich or tacos. On my most recent visit I got the grouper filet with coconut shrimp because I had originally been eyeing up the coconut shrimp as an appetizer. Ultimately, we decided to get the rock crab claws for an appetizer which were good but more work than I planned even though they were pre-cracked. I felt like a Neanderthal trying to eat those crab claws in such a nice restaurant. No offense to the Neanderthals, of course! I have no idea what my husband had as it disappeared. After entrees, apps and bread, we were too stuffed for dessert. I think our server was Cari and she was awesome! Attentive, friendly, funny and quite possibly a mind reader and magician. She saw the hanger in my eyes and made bread magically appear. I hope I got her name correct because she was superb! Shout out to all of the great staff members at Dry Dock -we've never had a bad experience. I love Dry Dock and it will forever stay in my Sarasota rotation.

    Photos
    Dry Dock Waterfront Grill - Upper floor

    Upper floor

    Dry Dock Waterfront Grill - Tuscan Cream Pasta w/ Blackened Snapper

    Tuscan Cream Pasta w/ Blackened Snapper

    Dry Dock Waterfront Grill - Pomegranate martinis

    See all

    Pomegranate martinis

    Walt's Fish Market & Restaurant South - Coconut Shrimp appetizer

    Walt's Fish Market & Restaurant South

    4.2(1.7k reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    Walt's Fish Market Restaurant & Tiki Bar Atmosphere and…read moreService: We stopped by Walt's after a day at Siesta Key Beach and decided to sit outside at the tiki bar. The outdoor Tiki area wrapped around the building and had a fun, relaxed vibe that made a great first impression. Our waitress, Rhonda, was excellent. She was friendly, answered all our questions, and knew the menu inside and out. What We Ordered: * Clam Chowder * Lobster Bisque * Maine Lobster Dinner with Corn on the cob and Coleslaw * Phil's Steamer Pot with half Lobster, Corn on the cob, Potatoes, Andouille Sausage, Clams, and Mussels Food Highlights: The soups came out first, and both were excellent. The Clam Chowder was topped with Bacon and Chives. It was the best we've had since moving to Florida--rich, flavorful, and satisfying. The Lobster Bisque was Creamy and equally delicious, with great flavor and tasty pieces of Bread mixed in. Our entrées arrived quickly, and we loved both dishes. The Lobster was cooked perfectly in both meals, and everything in Phil's Steamer Pot was hot, well-seasoned, and full of flavor. My wife, who is from Maine, said it was the best Lobster she has had in this area. Even the sides--the Corn on the cob and Coleslaw--were very good, and the Beer was served ice cold. One more thing each table featured a fish dip and crackers--an extra touch we really enjoyed. Fish Market and Final Verdict: Before leaving, we stepped inside to look at the Fish Market and were impressed by how fresh everything looked. The selection was large and added even more to the overall experience. This place was a pleasant surprise and delivered across the board with great Service, Food, Drinks, and Atmosphere. It easily ranks among my top 10 places to visit in the Sarasota area, and I can't wait to go back. For me, Walt's Fish Market earns 5 out of 5 stars. Gulf Coast Terry

    All the locals talked about this place but it was truly meh. Nothing to note about the alcoholic…read moredrinks. Lobster bites 6/10: Average.. crispy but nothing to write home about. Lobster Bisque 6/10: Presentation was sloppy. Not tasty Fish dip 7/10: I did like this fish dip! It wasn't too salty or anything. Could eat this all day

    Photos
    Walt's Fish Market & Restaurant South - Inside

    Inside

    Walt's Fish Market & Restaurant South - The Sarasota - Lobster, Stone Crab, Blackened Shrimp over risotto.

    The Sarasota - Lobster, Stone Crab, Blackened Shrimp over risotto.

    Walt's Fish Market & Restaurant South - Ghost pineapple margarita

    See all

    Ghost pineapple margarita

    Ocean Prime Sarasota - Jalapeño Au Gratin

    Ocean Prime Sarasota

    4.3(72 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    We celebrated ringing in the New Year and another special occasion in style with a wonderful and…read morequite expensive dinner at Ocean Prime. My initial thought when I made our reservation was to eat and race downtown for the annual pineapple drop, but it was a chilly night so we stayed at the restaurant. It was very busy, perhaps the busiest they have been so far. The staff was definitely up to the challenge and we had great service. I saw no issues anywhere else in the large dining room. It was pretty loud, but it was a roomful of people enjoying themselves, including us. For dinner I went with the Prime part of Ocean Prime with a meal I've considered my favorite meat and potato dish throughout my adult life, French Onion Soup, a NY Strip Steak, and a Loaded Baked Potato. It just doesn't get any better than this. The food was prepared perfectly. The soup was exactly the way I like it, very flavorful with a deep rich broth and melted Swiss cheese. At 14oz there was plenty of steak, cooked medium rare. My wife no longer allows me to order rare steak, that's ok, still a great steak. And with a side of a loaded baked potato and some asparagus with Hollandaise sauce, it was a complete and filling meal. My wife went with the Ocean part of Ocean Prime and loved her Chilean Sea Bass. Dining at Ocean Prime, what a great way to kick off the New Year.

    Steak was extremely under cooked, cold and raw in the middle (ordered medium). They did not offer…read moreto take it back and bring it to temp, they just said sorry they were busy. They took the steak back to the kitchen and returned with nothing. Given the response and high quality of restaurant, we expected they may have comped it, or a drink, or one of the side dishes to offset it but they literally offered nothing. Extremely disappointing for the price we paid and did not even get to eat the steak.

    Photos
    Ocean Prime Sarasota - Ocean Prime Sarasota main first floor dining room

    Ocean Prime Sarasota main first floor dining room

    Ocean Prime Sarasota - Point Judy Calamari with sweet chili sauce

    Point Judy Calamari with sweet chili sauce

    Ocean Prime Sarasota - Grouper was OK. The lobster gnocchi was amazing.

    See all

    Grouper was OK. The lobster gnocchi was amazing.

    Selva Grill - spanish - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...