The Bottom Line
Pros
- Fresh seafood
- Varied menu
- Exceptional view
Cons
- Quality has declined in recent years
- High prices
Description
- Address: 800 Broadway, Longboat Key
- Phone: 941-383-1748
- Boaters: Deep water dock allows diners to arrive by boat
Guide Review - Moore’s Stone Crab Restaurant Review
To call Moore’s Stone Crab Restaurant a local institution would not be out of line. Situated on the northern end of Longboat Key, this old-fashioned Florida restaurant overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and two small islands in Sarasota Bay. The views from the main dining room are incomparable.
For many years, Moore’s stood as the principal dining destination for vacationers and seasonal residents alike. I have to admit that in recent years, Moore's has been in a decline. It's less about the quality of food and more about the attitude of the servers. Hopefully, things will turn back around.
Moore’s built its reputation on its fresh stone crab claws, brought in by the restaurant’s own boats. Served chilled with mustard sauce (or warm if requested), the stone crab season runs October 15 through May 15.
For those like me who aren’t fans of stone crab, the menu offers plenty of alternatives. Appetizers include Moore’s Famous Crab Roll, made with fresh blue crab meat; calamari, shrimp cocktail and a crab meat pizza. I usually opt for the restaurant’s Manhattan style spicy seafood chowder.
For lobster lovers, there’s Florida lobster, a lobster and shrimp combo, a lobster and stone crab combo and Moore’s Imperial Platter, featuring broiled lobster served with a combination of fish fingers, shrimp, oysters and scallops. You won’t leave the table hungry.
Three popular platters boast an ample sampling of seafood.
I enjoy several dishes including the Canadian sea scallops, peel and eat shrimp and Moore’s crab cakes. The undisputed champion in my view, however, is the broiled grouper.
I can’t review Moore’s with mentioning the homemade hushpuppies. You’ll probably get a couple depending on what you order, but if you’re with a group, it’s worth asking for a side order. They’re that good.