We visited Michael’s on East for our anniversary because we heard it is one of the best (if not the best) restaurant in Sarasota. I have to say that the food is very good as is its wine list (definitely the best we have seen here so far). I made a reservation about 2 weeks in advance on Open Table. I even mentioned it was our anniversary.

It is hard to find Michael’s because unless someone tells you exactly where it is because you don’t know the front of the restaurant is the back of a mall. It is beside an aging atrium that needs to be updated.

The rest leaves a bit to be desired. One of the things Michael’s is proudest of and displays as you walk in the door is the fact theyare proud to be Sarasota’s favorite gathering place for 25 years. I guess if you have been going there for 25 years, they may very well be your favorite gathering place but if it is your first visit, not so much.

Our reservation was for 6:00 on a Saturday night. While Mike was parking the car, I went into the restaurant to see about our table. This was  a singularly bad experience. First of all, they showed me to the worst table they have; that is the one closest to the door and everyone walks by and interrupts you dinner. I suggested they find another one and then they proceeded to show me to the next worst table in the restaurant. It was the one next to the kitchen where all of the wait staff goes in and out with food trays. At this point, I told them either to find a nice quiet table or I am walking out because I don’t have to can spend my money on a restaurant that just doesn’t care.

The young Maître D patiently explained that they want to spread out the customers so the wait staff has an even amount of people. At that point, I simply told him I don’t care about what they do to support their staff, I just wanted a nice table. I also mentioned that I am the customer who pays their bills especially if they want us to come back. They did give us one at that point.

Next, I did see a few of their “regulars” that got very nice tables without question. The couple next to us must have been important because everyone was fawning all over them from the wait staff to the other regulars.

We had the opportunity to watch all of this because it took forever to get served. We finally received our appetizers but not the bottle of wine we ordered because she forgot it. We finally got back on track and the service became marginally better.

We shared the Hoisin Duck and Crispy Vegetable Spring Rolls. For dinner, I had the Veal Chop (delicious) and Mike had Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass (also delicious). We didn’t have any dessert.

I really wonder if we would go back. The food and wine was very good. The front of house staff and wait staff leaves a bit to be desired. If they were really busy, maybe that would be an excuse but at this time of night, it wasn’t the case.

I really wanted to like Michael’s on East so I am conflicted.