Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria, 941-778-0444

When you think of the Sandbar Restaurant on Anna Maria Island you probably think of the usual things: seafood, sea view and seaside cocktails. On a recent trip to the storied beachfront fish house we were treated to a surprise: a foodie haven with a redone dining room and a reimagined menu. I haven’t been to the Sandbar in years and I have a vague memory of an old Florida dining room serving fried fish platters and daiquiris. There’s still a casual vibe and friendly atmosphere but the dining room has been transformed into an elegant waterfront living room and the menu features inventive specials like Wild Boar with local Sauerkraut or the airy, crispy, melt-in-your-mouth decadence of Bellies and Caviar. There’s a board outside that informs you of the many locally sourced ingredients and where they come from and the fresh produce and proteins utilized in every dish are of the highest quality. If you haven’t ventured to Sandbar in a while, don’t you think it’s time you gave it a second chance?

Sandbar Restaurant, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria, 941-778-0444