Starfish
Seafood · 12306 46th Ave W, Cortez, Florida 34215
★★★★½ 1 review(941) 794-1243
Menu Items
Reviews
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Decent Fried Seafood - On The Water at Fair Prices
This spot first caught my eye when I was searching for affordable dining options while in Florida. Since I’d be in town for two weeks, I wanted a mix of budget-friendly and higher-end meals. This place made the "cheapish" list due to some sandwiches priced around $13-16.
However, I decided to splurge a little and ordered the Cortez Special since I hadn’t yet had any good fried fish or Maryland-style crab cakes during my stay. At $27, the plate included fries, a 6-8oz portion of grouper, a generously sized Maryland-style crab cake, coleslaw and fries.
Location & Atmosphere
The restaurant is a bit tucked away—down a residential street, behind their seafood market, around the side of the building. All the seating is outdoors, but offers a nice waterside view with picnic tables both on the deck and out on the pier. It’s important to note that the restaurant is cash-only, and the seafood is as fresh as it gets, coming directly from their market in the same building. You can also buy fresh fish, seasonings, and other items from the market at the front of the building.
Despite being almost at full capacity, my order arrived fairly quickly. The seating area is small, holding about 50 people, with around nine picnic tables and ten bar seats, so there may be a wait during busy times.
**The Food & Presentation**
The food was served in a fun, pirate-themed box that reminded me of drive-thru seafood spots in Texas. I started with the coleslaw, which was creamy, crunchy, and a bit sweet. It was decent but nothing extraordinary. Next, I tried the grouper—a nice, thick filet that was tender and flavorful, with little to no coating, a solid piece of fresh fish.
The crab cake, however, was disappointing. While it was a good size, made with no filler—just pure crab meat—and had a nice browned exterior, the flavor was a bit too fishy for my liking. It wasn’t overpowering but definitely noticeable, and I found myself wishing I had just stuck with the full order of grouper instead. So, my search for a great crab cake in Sarasota continues.
And then there were the fried oysters, which I got to sample after my dining partner found them too salty. Trying one without the cocktail sauce, I noticed that some pieces did have a slightly salty breading. However, despite that, I thought they were among the better fried oysters I’ve had in Sarasota so far.
**Bug Issues**
To make matters worse, the outdoor seating on the deck was plagued by tiny bugs that kept biting my legs and arms. I didn’t realize what was happening until one bit me on the knuckle, and I saw a tiny, grayish bug about the size of a flea. They were so small that when I squashed one, it practically disappeared. The bugs became such a nuisance that we had to cut our meal short and take the rest to go, which thankfully was easy with the boxes the food came in.
**Overall Impression**
Overall, the grouper was solid, the oysters were among the better ones I’ve had in Sarasota, the coleslaw was unimpressive, and the crab cake was a letdown due to its slightly fishy flavor. The visit wasn't a hit or a miss, but the bugs really detracted from the enjoyment of the waterside atmosphere. I might give it another try at a different time of year or later in the evening. Many people I spoke with were regulars and raved about the place, so maybe I just got unlucky with the crab cake and the bug situation. Interestingly, only one other person on Google reviews mentioned the bugs.
Starfish Signage
Cortez Special
Pier Seating
Dining Area
View from the deck.
Star Fish Co - Market Entrance
Maryland Style Crab Cake
Fried Grouper
French Fries
Food Serving Boxes
Menu Front
Menu - Back
Specials
— Paul