Tag Archives: Venice

Fins at Sharky’s on the pier in Venice, Florida

I have to say, I really like Fins at Sharkey’s. I might like Sharkey’s too but can never get in because the wait is just too long and I am just not patient enough to wait. Maybe we will try again after the season is over.

I was at Fins at least 3 times in the last 2 months for lunch and dinner. The view is just awesome. It is an amazing place to watch the sunset! You can see the sun go down in front of you with the Venice Pier providing a stunning picture. You really feel like you are down in the Caribbean with the wonderful sunsets you see down there.

The most recent time we visited, we were delighted to see a wedding on the beach in front of us and then the wedding party came upstairs for their dinner. Imagine getting married on February 29th. Does that mean, they will celebrate an anniversary every 4 years?

sharkey wedding

To start, we shared the Strawberry Blush Salad which had fresh strawberries, spring mix, gorgonzola cheese, chili caramel sunflower seeds, with Row Eleven Pinot Noir vinaigrette. It was fairly good but a bit overdressed and the gorgonzola cheese could have been better. It wasn’t really tasty as it might have been.

Many times, we have some of their sushi and it never fails to be fresh. This time wasn’t any different. We had Hamachi two different ways  except I had it as sushi and she had it as sashimi. For dinner we simply had a rainbow roll and an Alaskan roll.   Fins has lots of sushi and it is good and fresh. They also have fresh oysters that are delicious as well. If you are an oyster fan, by all means go to Fins.

Sharkeys sushi
Rainbow roll and hamachi sushi
sharkeys sushi 2
Alaska Roll and hamachi sashimi

During another visit, we tried the lobster roll that is filled with lobster and is quite good. Okay, it isn’t quite the ones we used to have in Maine but is good nonetheless.

sharkeys lobster roll
Lobster rolls are always a good choice

When it is cold, the Lobster seafood chowder is very good. It is a cup but it is in a big, beautiful presentation. It is delicious and a great choice.

sharkeys fish chowder
The Lobster seafood chowder is delicious, maybe a bit too thick but delicious nonetheless

The desserts are sometimes good and sometimes not as good. They have a pineapple carrot cake that isn’t very good. I wouldn’t recommend it but they do serve it quite a bit and it is always on the menu so some people do like it. When someone is celebrating a birthday or anniversary, they bring out a dessert with a candle. One of their wonderful desserts is the strawberry shortcake.

sharkeys dessert strawberry
Strawberry shortcake is yummy

It is delicious and is a choux pastry filled with Fresh Florida strawberries, vanilla bean gelato and whipped cream over Belgian chocolate fudge.

The hot fudge Sunday is really wonderful and is Bentley’s white chocolate raspberry gelato, Belgian chocolate fudge, whipped cream, honey roasted almonds. I guess you can see we like the chocolate things.

sharkeys dessert
The best dessert is (drum roll) the hot fudge sunday

They have an interestingly eclectic wine list. Some of the wines are just wonderful and some we wondered about but the good news is anyone can find something to enjoy in various price points. Their mixed drinks are good as well.

Their service group is always good. We like to give a shout out when service is excellent because they take care of everyone very well.

You just can’t beat the view and the feeling of being far away on some island when you are visiting Sharkey’s and Fins at Sharkey’s.

Sarasota Legacy & Venice Waterway Trails

Today was a day just begging for a bike ride.  I woke early to find temperatures in the middle 50’s, with forecast highs in the middle 70’s.  The sun is shining, the humidity is low, and a gentle breeze is blowing. Wow!  That’s the coolest, nicest weather I can remember since moving to Florida last spring.    Time to ride!

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Day 2: Long Beach to Malibu

Sunday April 8, 2012

65 miles (105 km) – Total so far: 146 miles (235 km)

A night in a fancy hotel with Nancy. What a nice way to start the tour!

I had locked the bike in the hotel employee parking lot right next to the security office.   In retrospect, this was probably a mistake. The trike was fine, but I worried about it all night. “What if something happens to it — the whole tour will be ruined.”  I kept waking up and thinking about it.  Definitely did not get enough sleep.

Continue reading Day 2: Long Beach to Malibu