Selva Downtown Sarasota

It’s best to make a reservation for your dinner…we were not that lucky so had to sit at the bar. Their service staff is very good and friendly. We ordered just ceviche appetizers and mine was super spicy, but it was good at the same time so I couldn’t stop till it was gone lol. The only thing I didn’t like is a specific smell when I entered the restaurant, but I am sensitive to smells, perhaps it won’t be an issue to anyone else. Otherwise 5 star!

I cannot say enough good things about selva grille! We were in town visiting friends and were told to come here and wow I was blown away. Our waitress Glenda was amazing and we had the most delicious cocktails, freshest fish, and decadent desserts. I highly recommend the selva ceaser and sea bass. I cannot wait to come back. Job well done, selva grille! The only thing missing is a location on the other coast!

Went Friday night very late. Matt (think that was his name) was the best, everything he suggested was amazing! Loved the food and presentation. We went with the late night menu, so we got to try a lot of different foods. Everything tasted so good.

Had an amazing experience here for the holidays! It was our first time dining here and our server Christine was amazing! She helped walk us through the menu and gave us some recommendations that were spot on. We will be back for sure and will be asking for her to be our server again!

I had a delightful happy hour with the excellent bartender, Travis. He was attentive and super informative about the menu, and made a great Tito's Dirty Martini. The crows at 4 on a Thursday was thin, but the bar was full by 7.

The food is amazingly good. I had a Caesar Salad (hold the onions) and a Short Rib Spring Roll. Both were somewhat unusual, but delicious. Portions were small, and they were expensive even at happy-hour prices, but with taste to die for.

Nothing is inexpensive, but nothing isn't worth it.

The staff at Selva downtown made our NYE celebration 🍾 look like we were in NYC. The classy vibe and amazingly inventive food selections were the perfect experience for a night to remember.
We highly recommend the outdoor seating for the best seats to view the happenings in the street.
The cocktails, starters and entrees were all prepared to perfection and our waiter (Tall,blond,beard..Eric?) made sure we wanted for nothing. 10 stars!🌟

It's hard to park downtown. This place is too busy. For not booking a table in advance. You arrive before 7:00 and you don't have a seat until 8:45. The front desk is very friendly. Got us a couch in the bar lounge. The food was delicious. Until we checked out and there was an endless line waiting for a spot. The good restaurants downtown are doing very well. But only Selva has the biggest queue. Next time we'll switch to a UTC branch. At least it's easier to park there. The most expensive steak is just too big. Tuna is very delicious 👍

Where to start... appetizers: Scallop appetizer was great. The ceviche was delicious. The empanadas were good.
Entrée: we all shared braised short ribs, filet mignon, New York strip and a skirt steak. They were all excellent, but if you had to pick one, the braised short ribs were out of this world. The flavor was was just amazing. I'm not a couscous guy, but it was really good. The staff was on point and the drinks were great. We always come to Sarasota because you can't go wrong. Love this place.

Best of the best.. restaurant atmosphere is gracious and elegant. Staff is professional yet enjoyable!
This is the place to be seen and to enjoy!

Delicious, creative and different! Can’t wait to go back! I love the small plates and the tres leches was the best!

Took my wife here for Valentine’s Day and the service was outstanding ! The food was really good and the atmosphere was just perfect. The Argentinian Empanadas were amongst the best ones we’ve ever had and went perfect with my Lomo Saltado (Pan roasted Sirloin) and my wife’s Paella Risotto. For dessert I recommend getting the Pot of Mousse and the Tres leches, both were amazingly good ! All in all it was a great experience and we will definitely be going back soon !

Fabulous place many unique items plated with presentation appeal.

Two items in particular are not the norm the potatoes au gratin and the Caesar salad both you can tell they are a work of art. Don't expect to see what you think it should look like, eat and enjoy!
While the Caesar salad was unlike any other just take one bite and you will wish you could get it elsewhere!

The rack of lamb was also Excellent encrusted and served still on the bones!! All was top notch! The cocktails were a bit expensive but the rest of the prices were reasonable, especially considering the extra unique presentation.

Our waiter Alex was very attentive and being it was my birthday they presented a yummy moose like desert encrusted in a chocolate cylinder!
I give it 5++ stars

This place is ran off complete love! I could write a book about my birthday dinner 10/13 because the experience was phenomenal! Our waiter/host sorry I'm horrible with names but he made suggestions since it was our first time there EVERYTHING MELTED IN OUR MOUTH😋
The part that stole the night and was when our host brought out the happy birthday cake and the patriots sang Happy Birthday to me! I think I shedded a tear🥹
Thank you to my host and the restaurant if I could give 100 stars I would. ♥

I recently moved to Sarasota and whenever I asked around about the best restaurant in town I was consistently met with the same answer: Selva. The food, ambiance and service here exceeded our expectations. Our amazing server Travis was so kind, attentive and helpful with recommendations for both food and drinks. The ceviche is so fresh and flavorful and I also loved the short rib spring roll for starters. I ordered the skirt steak and it was cooked and seasoned perfectly topped with their delicious chimichurri. Everything we tried on the menu so far has been spectacular. The amount of thought and detail that went into cultivating each dish does not go unnoticed. I bring all my family and friends here whenever they are visiting – highly recommend!

Went to this place for my wife’s birthday, the food suggestions by the wait staff were incredible. They made fantastic suggestions for both of us. My first drink showed up and it was not the best, and they had no problem taking it back and giving me something new. If you go there, you should sit in Kaylynns section. She was super helpful to both of us and incredibly friendly. We appreciate someone who truly shows interest in their customers.

Decided to reserve a table for our anniversary and the food and service was stellar. We had ceviche, short rib rolls, lomo saltado and a chefs special pork osso bucco. Even if you don’t like Peruvian or seafood they have plenty of options on the menu. They decorate each plate with such care it’s a treat to eat out here. Would highly recommend for dinner.

This was my second visit to Selva and again it did not disappoint. Their flavors are on point. A wonderful place for a night out. The Ceasar salad is fantastic.

Incredible presentation and flavor. The dishes are all well thought out and layered. We ordered multiple dishes to try different things and they brought them on platters in several courses. Service was terrific. No complaints here. Traditional Ceviche was a favorite.

We had Saturday night dinner reservations to celebrate our anniversary. We arrived on time and we were seated promptly. Selva offers indoor, patio and outside dining options and has a bar area as well. Very nicely decorated and a nice ambiance. We started with an appetizer, Pulpo al Olivo (Slices of Octopus, Peruvian black olive puree, Salsa criolla, Avocado & Toasted bread). It was amazing with lots of rich flavors and fresh octopus made it an extraordinary experience. Drinks were ordered and we had two Red Sangrias and they offer White Sangria too. They have a good selection of drinks. For our main dishes, my wife ordered the Selva’s Famous Skirt Steak (Served over sweet plantains, topped with beet relish and Selva’s house chimichurri). The steak was cooked to her exact likes and presented perfectly. I ordered 8oz Center Cut Filet Mignon (Topped with Argentinian chimichurri and finished with a fig demi-glace. Served with asparagus and multicolored potato Au Gratin). This plate was also prepared to my liking and presented perfectly. Both plates offered abundant flavor, texture, and complimenting accoutrements. Selva's menu has something for everyone from seafood plates to steak plates and vegetarian plates. The service was perfect and we had a great evening celebrating our anniversary. Located on Main St in downtown Sarasota, Selva is easy to find and parking is fairly easy to find along the surrounding streets. Selva does an excellent job on their cuisine , service and follow-ups. The dining atmosphere serves everyone with both indoor and outdoor dining options. Selva is Zagat rated.

Selva Downtown #Sarasota for happy hour drinks and appetizers. #MyFabulousFind