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Name: Blu Que Island Grill
Address: 149 Avenida Messina, Sarasota, FL, 34242
Telephone: (941) 346-0738
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 2.73

Blu Que Island Grill

149 Avenida Messina, Sarasota, FL, 34242

(941) 346-0738
Store is closed

Blu Que Island Grill Menu

Starters & Sharing

Blue Cheese Chips

Smoked Fish Dip

Prince Edwards Island Mussels

Kobe Beef Sliders

Fresh Ceab Cake
Soup & Salads

Steak And Black Bean Chili

Chefs Soup Of The Day

House Salad

Wedge

Mozzarella Tomato Salad
Smoker

Big Aaron's Baby Back Ribs

Texas Style Beef Basket

Backyard Chicken

K.r.d St. Louis Ribs

1/2 Lb Pulled Pork
Steak & Chops

Signature Filet

Ribeye

New York Strip

Pork Chop
Sides

Braised Red Cabbage

Cheese Grits

Waffle Fries

Creamy Blu Cheese Slaw

Mashed Potatoes

Mararconi And Cheese

Steamed Asparagus

Basmati Rice
Desserts

N.y Style Cheesecake

Bourbon Bread Pudding

Fresh Strawberries

Brownie Sundae

Key Lime Cloud

Healthy Meal suggestions for Blu Que Island Grill

Starters & Sharing

Blue Cheese Chips [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smoked Fish Dip [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prince Edwards Island Mussels [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kobe Beef Sliders [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Ceab Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Soup & Salads

Steak And Black Bean Chili [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chefs Soup Of The Day [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Wedge [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mozzarella Tomato Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Smoker

Big Aaron's Baby Back Ribs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Texas Style Beef Basket [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Backyard Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

K.r.d St. Louis Ribs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

1/2 Lb Pulled Pork [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Steak & Chops

Signature Filet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ribeye [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

New York Strip [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Chop [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Braised Red Cabbage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Grits [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Waffle Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Creamy Blu Cheese Slaw [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mashed Potatoes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mararconi And Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steamed Asparagus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Basmati Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

N.y Style Cheesecake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bourbon Bread Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Strawberries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Brownie Sundae [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Key Lime Cloud [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

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Write An Anonymous Review

Candis S.

We love this place & try to come every Sunday post beach day at a minimum. The service is great, the drinks are awesome and so is the food. The live music always is right on point. (No subpar musicians here). It's on our favorites list being locals. On Sunday's evenings we love the pork roast.. Like a free little appetizer. The pulled pork sandwich with the blue cheese coleslaw is a favorite as is the banana sling cocktail. One of the best on the island for great service and good food Paired with some excellent music.
(5)
Alyssa S.

Stopped in here for happy hour after a day at the beach. I loved sitting on the patio and listening to the live music. The service was great and food was a great after beach treat. Happy hour is 4-6pm Monday to Friday. We had Dales beach bread which killed my diet but was so good. It had garlic butter, tomato, blue cheese, and mozerella. We also ordered the calamari which had a delicious spicy sweet chili sauce. The prices for the regular menu items are a little spend but I plan to come back at some point.
(4)
Carrie A.

Serviced was AWFUL- we have visited siesta key for the past 8 years and this was our first visit to Bluque. The hostess was almost annoyed when we walked up to get a table. Only positive was the band, but when we ordered drinks but didn't want to eat, our waitress was extremely rude.... We just wanted a beer and to listen to the band. They were not busy at all. I would not recommend this place at all- there are plenty of amazing options in the village!!!!
(1)
Yanine R.

First time here, loved the ambiance. The place has it's beachy/outdoorsy charm. You can sit inside our outside while you enjoy the live music with some misters to cool off. The valet parking is complimentary so just make sure you tip the guys because they were working fast. Only downside but understandable due to the lack of parking, was that the valet was until 10pm and we got there at like 745pm.
(4)
Dione B.

I wanted to try something off the beaten path when we found this place! Loved the live reggae! My husband and I went here after a day at the beach on a Wednesday! It was a hot day, they had misters on the patio but we chose to go inside to escape the heat but it was almost as warm on the inside. People were leaving the restaurant because of the heat! BUT we got the beach bread topped with crab, it was really good until we got to the center and the blue cheese was cold. I got the grouper blackened sandwich with fries it was very good. My husband got the conch burger which he raved about! I am not a fan of conch because of the texture but the flavor was good! Our waitress was nice and very attentive! There is not a door between the restaurant and the cooks and you can watch the cooks cooking your meal that can be a pro OR a con! Cute place! I guess you should be the judge! My husband loves it, I could either take it or leave it!
(3)
Teri A.

Over priced and getting someone to come back to your table to wait on you is almost impossible . Are waiter was extremely rude . The waiter took are bill with the cash and said he would be right back. 30 minutes later Waiter never returned with our change.Asked another waiter if she could get are waiter, he then returned threw the money on table and he walk away said he thought 20% was the norm. Dumb ass would have give you 30 and you didn't give us back all are change
(1)
Dan C.

Overpriced for the quality of food. My brisket was an odd color...kind of grey. Mashed potatoes were dry. I liked my wife's ribs (she did not like). One highlight was the bbq sauce. Without the sauce the beef would have been inedible.
(2)
Kelly F.

Where is the 0 star option? Never go to this place. Ever! I thought I had seen a bad restaurant but this place takes the cake. I had white tuna from a can chopped up as the 'rare tuna steak' entree meal easily less an 2 ounces of 'meat'. This was my second choice because when I asked to change the side option of one of the specials the Chef said no! We were here at 5:30pm on a Saturday night and they were already out of lobster! I've never been so turned off by a restaurant before in my life. I felt bad for our waiter continuing to come back to our table with bad news and then terrible meals. The sooner this place goes out of business, the sooner something else might be able to come in here.
(1)
Heidi H.

Good food, but the special today is half off appetizers and drinks. We ordered 2 mojitos and nothing was said. We received the check and we were charged full price for the drinks! When we asked, we were told it's only some of the drinks but the menu just says 1/2 off drinks!
(1)
Brian C.

The hardest thing is to decide what to eat. Great fish and great meat. Simple dishes with little extras to make for a great dinning or lunch. Good music, good seating. One of my favorites.
(5)
Donna S.

Update February 2015: Very disappointing, we have been going to Blu Que every year during vacation and this year might be our last. The menu has been changed quite a bit and not in a good way. What we loved about Blu Que was the interesting food and its been tourist-fied to include more basic fries and burger type fare. Even the amazing coleslaw that was fresh & loaded with gorgeous blue cheese chunks is now just plain coleslaw you can get from a jar. :-( Service was not good either... slow, we had to ask twice for water and our salads never came! We didn't see a waiter again until mid way through our meal and we had to ask for the salads. And to top it off, there were fruit flies all around us. Its not very appealing having to swat fruit flies away from your food! I'm not sure if they are under new management but overall we were not happy with our visit this year. Too bad, it was always our favorite.
(2)
Richard B.

Very good ribs & pulled pork! Great waiter-Michael! Would go back for sure! The selection of 16 beers on tap, beach atmosphere, and fantastic smoked flavor would be hard to beat.
(5)
Troy D.

Good food in terms of quality but I am not as satisfied in the quantity of food I received. My grouper fish dinner tasted fresh but if you're really hungry than you should try somewhere else nearby. A small house salad, a few steamed vegetables, a sweet potato, and the fish itself wasn't enough for my appetite. Side notes: the live entertainment was great. Great vocalist and he did a rock cover of "Royals" by Lorde that I really got a kick out of. Other side note, service is not great. My water was empty too long and our food came out before they even take away our salad bowls.
(3)
Billy B.

Visited here the other night with our family. We has a decent meal here last year but this was pretty bad. Server was slow and gave misinformation about specials. Food was Cold and our kids hot dog was half frozen. Most patrons were more interested in getting Drunk than having a nice meal. Will be avoiding this spot next time!
(2)
J D.

This was a disappointing experience after much anticipation. My boyfriend and I were sat at a table that was already occupied and the guests were on a smoke break. When the guests returned and we realized the issue, the hostess sat us at another high-top nearby that hadn't been cleared or wiped down. We sat at the second table for ten minutes without so much as a menu. We watched the waiter tend to other tables and refill their waters before even acknowledging us. We moved next door to The Cottage and had a fabulous meal with perfect service. Go next door and spend your money where it's deserved.
(1)
Jeanne C.

Please don't try the brie appetizer.... Not presently correctly. I love brie and couldn't eat it. Mushy. Should be presented with the pastry all crispy and brown..., lose the lettuce... Present with Apple and warm baguette slices.... Keep it simple.
(1)
Debbie K.

Food was awesome. Grace the bartenders gets 5 stars for her service and personality!!
(5)
Aaron H.

We were lodging nearby while enjoying Siesta Key Beach, so we decided to make this place the locale of my wife's birthday dinner. We were five adults and two kids, and were seated promptly. They must have been sorely understaffed that night (it was on a Sunday) because our server not only took forever to tend to us, but she kept insisting on "taking partial orders" while frantically making her way to the other tables around us. We asked why she could not take our entire order upfront. She claimed it was because some of our appetizers (namely the Prince Edward Island Mussels) "needed to be ordered first so that everything could come out on time simultaneously." Once the appetizers started arriving, she proceeded to once again only take a few of our entree orders, but for no good reason other than to get back to her other tables. By this time, I was losing my cool. But considering the occasion we were celebrating, I refrained from expressing my utter displeasure at the service. Eventually the entrees arrived along with the kids meals and we started eating. Our server gradually became more attentive as the night went on, which leads me to believe that either some of her tables had cleared or more wait staff had arrived. The ONLY reasons I am giving this two stars... one star is for my ribs which were actually tasty (and named after me, "Big Aaron")... the second star is because, all things considered, everyone else at the table still seemed to be having a decent time. So if they were Yelping this review it would have scored higher. On our way out one of the kids commented on the restroom's lack of hygiene. For a child to have to point out a restaurant's shortcomings... now that's embarrassing . A culminating point of sorts, if there ever was one. Considering the service was so surprisingly abysmal, it's possible that we hit this place on one of its worst summer nights. That being said, I honestly don't see myself ever coming back. There are far better options across the street. Future patron beware: proceed with caution.
(2)
J R.

Sad. Good location, but food and service sucked. We got a booth near the bar during a weekday lunch .. and well we got the bartender as our server. First thing he does is come over, looks at the stack of plates next to the table, proceeds to try to flick encrusted food off of one of the plates, and then hands it to me and says, "how you'all doing". Well. Not so well bud. Especially after getting handed a dirty plate, by you. So it was happy hour, which was good for the beers we had, but poor for our kids. On the kids menu they offered free soda, so we asked if they had milk in lieu of soda and said bartender said sure. But, bill comes and they charge $3.50 per kids milk, more expensive than my 'effen beer. Deep sigh, we left after eating, which was pretty good, but will never return. Sorry.
(1)
Tiffany N.

There's plenty of other places on the key to go to, don't go here. Not only did the service suck but the food did as well. Took 45 minutes to get our food...as we were patiently waiting we were served another tables food-nothing like getting our hopes up. Our table was so sticky that the kids menu completely stuck to it. Ew. you would think a bbq place would have decent pulled pork. Absolutely not, it was completely dried out and a huge disappointment. The only decent meal at our table was the kids chicken fingers, French fries, and ranch. But then again so is McDonald's.
(2)
Colm O.

Gave 1 star as I could not give a minus or a zero. Got a table at 8pm and was finished by 8.55pm....how ? Easy, kitchen seemed to be overly keen to get food out, and waiting staff no clue on service.... The warning signs were there at the beginning, with the first choice of wine 'not available', and the view of toilets by the kitchen...hmmm ?! So 8.15, our main course arrives....we decline as we have not had starters, waiter confused and returns to kitchen with puzzled look.... 8.30, another waitress asks was our entrees ok, why did we send it back, we explained that normally starters come first.... 8.45 Main course re-appears...after it's leisurely rest in the kitchen, ah lukewarm soggy food fantastic.... 8.55 Cheque arrives, full charge no reduction for inedible good... 9.10 Wine finished 9.11 Waitress asks to run our cheque, gosh they're keen here... Come on Blue Q it should be better than this !
(1)
Patti K.

I took my daughter to lunch at the Blue Que yesterday and was pleasantly surprised. The food and service was fantastic! The atmosphere was beachy and laid back. We had a great time and we will go back. The specials are phenomenal.
(5)
Eric S.

This place was pretty average. The menu is boring. I had red fish and it was pretty chewy. My brother's was too over cooked and he didn't finish it. The cheesy cauliflower mashed potatoes are very good. My sister in law's Mahi mahi was chewy at times. My wife ordered three different glasses of wine and they were out of all of them. I wouldn't choose to go back very soon
(2)
Franz W.

I hate to give a crummy review...but our experience at Blu Que wasn't good. The service was great, but other than that we were terribly disappointed. Our food wasn't well seasoned/spiced and was pretty bland. My wife ordered the lobster tacos and while she didn't eat any of the Cuban sandwich I ordered, I had a few bites of the tacos. Long story short, the lobster tacos got us both really sick and the next 12 hours of our vacation was disastrous. I'm sure there are folks with good Blu Que experiences out there, but I can't recommend this place.
(1)
Mike S.

Another Exceptional place to dine ....not too loud on a Monday night ...great wings tasty pulled pork...delicious blue coleslaw...only complaint...if u have something that tastes great increase the serving size a bit...
(5)
Jeanette D.

Decent food. The atmosphere was nice and the live performer was excellent in my opinion. My salmon was fresh and delicious, but it wasn't the best salmon I've had like they claim on their menu. Overall the blu que was good, but I would probably want to check out the other restaurants if I was in the area again
(3)
Tracy M.

WORST restaurant experience we have ever had on the island! It started with a surly bartender whose demeanor made it clear he'd rather be doing anything than serving customers. Next we were seated with no silverware. By the time our food came, we still had no silverware and were missing the chicken one of our entrÃ©e salads. By the time we got silverware, our food was cold. A half hour later, we still had not received the chicken. Savannah, our waitress, apologized for the wait and said she would make sure it was taken off the bill. 20 minutes later ... still no chicken. When we inquired, she says "I said I was taking it off the bill!" Silly us ... Here we thought that was compensation for the fact that one of our kids still had nothing to eat when everyone else was done eating and that they were still working toward bringing her some food! It was yet another 15 minutes before we received said chicken and when it came, they had taken all the silverware again! We could not get the wait staff's attention to get more, so our poor starving kid had to eat it with her hands in a restaurant where our bill was well over $100! I asked to speak to the manager and recounted our whole experience to her. Her response? "The chicken I knew about. She had me take it off the bill since you guys didn't want it anymore because it had taken so long." We explained that was not the case ... That we had never said we didn't want it and that clearly our child needed to eat something besides lettuce. The manager continued to treat us as if we were lying and never once offered a sincere apology or any kind of compensation for our experience. The cherry on top came when the waitress came back by and asked if we wanted dessert and described the offerings. We politely declined and asked for our check since the valet was closing and we needed to retrieve our car. She responds "Aw, that's too bad ... It was going to be on us!" OMG ... Really????? Then why didn't the manager offer that herself when we were briefing her on our horrific experience??? Bottom line: The food isn't horrible here, but the customer service is. If you're looking for a good dining experience, RUN DON'T WALK to Eat Here just up the street! If our experience was the norm, I'd bet this place won't last long anyway.
(1)
Chelle L.

By far the worst customer service I've ever experienced. I am having my wedding in Siesta Key 2015. My fiance and I thought this place would be great for our rehearsal dinner. We spoke to the manager there who was very helpful. He stated that he would speak with the owner and come up with a quote for us. He stated that they would contact me in the next three days. After two weeks I called back to see what the status update was. I was told that the OWNER is never in and he's on vacation and they didn't know when he was coming back. It's been four weeks NOW and still no word. I called to see what that status update was and no one could help me. The server Austin answered the phone and completely ignored my request to speak to a manger and then hung up on me. I called back and told them how disappointed I am with their service. They completely crushed my wedding plans and dreams. Thanks for nothing jerks!
(1)
Martina B.

Try the cobia when on special catch of the day. It was the best meal of my three + week vacation on SK. The nightly live music is amazing - particularly Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. The patio is big and gets great airflow. Love the different daily specials and they have a great happy hour.
(5)
Willy M.

Unbelievable!! Now that we are in season it will cost you .75 cents to get a small cup of ranch dressing with your wings. Very poor business decision.
(1)
Marissa D.

This is our favorite spot so far on the Island. They always have great entertainment and excellent, speedy service! The BBQ is on point each time we've had it! I highly recommend their mile high pulled pork sandwich or the brisket sandwich. Each beverage was made quickly and tasted delicious. The wait staff is attentive and courteous everytime we've been here. We like to come on Sundays because they have a free pig roast. This place is definitely worth checking out if you get the chance!
(5)
Sean D.

Our server Katie is phenomenal! The food is solid and while we mostly get the same things. (Veggie sandwich & waffle fries) *No more waffle fries. We tried the mahi sandwich and my fiancÃ©e had the fish tacos. Her tacos were ok. The hub makes better ones, consistently! My mahi sandwich was ok as well, but I've had better ones on the key, so that's not good. The music tonight was marcel and he is awesome! This and great service helped to patch over underwhelming Father's Day food. The food should be better next time!
(4)
Peter M.

The food and service was great. The speciality drinks are also super. This is a great place to come to get the true flavor of florida
(4)
Yelper H.

Never again! (This review is for back in June- but just getting around to it now). We come to Siesta Key all the time and love most of the restaurants in the village. We decided to have a late lunch after the beach one day, this place was almost totally empty, maybe only 3 tables in the whole place seated. First off the waitress got my order wrong. Whatever it happens and I felt bad because she said she was new. I told her not to worry about it (she seemed nervous that she would get in trouble) and told her I would just eat it. Well after we finished the most dried out/hard as a rock chicken I had ever had ( I had chicken with steamed veggies), we got our check. Of course the item I didn't want was more expensive than what I had actually ordered. But the check wasn't fixed and I had to pay for the more expensive meal (that I didn't even order). The REAL problem happened right as we were leaving. My stomach started rubbling and I had to run to the bathroom. I can't remember when I have ever been that sick. We went straight back to the hotel and I was sick for the next two days. It's too bad because this place looks like it had potential.. but from now on I'm staying far far away!!!
(1)
Tony B.

We went to Blu Que upon the recommendation of of a waiter at another restaurant, but the recommendation was for a place to go listen to music. I can recommend Blu Que for the music but nothing else. We were there on a Sunday evening and Marcel Almanzor was playing. He is the regular Sunday & Monday evening entertainment and he is pretty good. The pricing is typical of resort area restaurants and the quality was the typical mediocre resort area fare. We had a grouper sandwich (dry and tasteless) and pulled bar-b-q pork sandwich which was ok. The problem was with the service. Our server took our drink order, brought the drinks and took our food order, then disappeared. Another server brought our food out and set it down and left. The menu says the pork comes topped with bbq sauce but it did not. There was none on the table and no ketchup for the fries. We asked for tarter sauce to come with the grouper sandwich and it was not there and our drinks needed refilled after waiting about 15 minutes for the food to come. We waited for our server to come by to see what we needed but never did. After waiting about 10 minutes, we flagged down a passing server and asked him to get our server. We had to describe her as they do not serve in sections, so he had no idea who our server might be. Tables around us had different servers and they were taking care of their tables needs but we could not get them to look our way. It is a BIG problem when you are the only table a server has in one area of a restaurant and they are never in that area. After a couple of minutes, our server came and we told her what we needed after expressing our disappointment with not seeing her for so long. She brought it and then asked if we needed anything else. By then, we needed warm food. Seriously, it had been nearly 15 minutes since it was brought to the table. She offered to take it back and have it warmed. I declined and told her I only eat warmed over food at home. She did offer and brought some hot fries. She was well aware of our dissatisfaction with our experience. I have never had this type experience where a manager did not come by and offer apologies, etc. but not here. Go here for the music and maybe a drink, but skip the food and do not expect any service.
(1)
Jay E.

Avoid this place. Pure and simple. Lousy food, lousy service, no management and parking is a nightmare. Survives because tourists wander in. Hope it disappears and is replaced by something worthy of the space. Tops my list as worst dining experience I have had anywhere. Read other reviews if you want details. My experience was on par with all the other reviews.
(1)
Edward Z.

Everything was beyond expectations...after reading some of the reviews we were a little skeptical ...Eric our server was great , food was excellent...and all on a Friday night in the heart of tourist season. Advance phone or on line reservations and complimentary valet parking are a big plus!
(5)
Marisa P.

Absolutely loved this place!!!! Fantastic service!! Elyse was an awesome server!!! Food was to die for!!! Calamari, lobster Mac and cheese ball, and baked Brie omg!!!! My mouth is watering right now!! Will be back for sure!!
(5)
Sy L.

Go for the beer and live music, however, liquor is overpriced. Sit outside if you can. The food is okay, but stick to typical bar food to be safe. Servers are average for the key.
(3)
Jason S.

Great atmosphere and nice music. We happened to arrive right at the end of happy hour on a Sunday. Apparently they slow roast a hog in a out door pit at 6 o'clock and pass out free samples to whoever asks. I don't know if it's everyday or just Sundays but it was a pleasant surprise! The appetizers were ok. The fried Brie is more of a desert than a appetizer. I had the pulled pork sandwich. It was good, nothing special. The blue cheese slaw is pretty tasty though. Overall I thought it was too pricey. 3 people eating sandwiches and having a couple drinks shouldn't cost $75.
(3)
Dia D.

This is another one of those tourist spots on Siesta Key where you can get an okay, but not fantastic, $60 lunch for 3. We had the Blue cheese chips, which tasted pretty good but didn't have much blue cheese flavor, Brunswick stew, house salad, grouper sandwich, and slider sampler.
(3)
Josh G.

Big Top on draft and Tommy D on guitar... We've eaten there a handful of times and the staff are friendly, great atmosphere, and good food. It's great to see local beer, musicians, and food right in Siesta Village. Be sure to get there when Tommy D is playing - he's excellent on guitar
(4)
Cheryl M.

Excellent calamari, baby back ribs are falling off the bone and Mac and cheese balls are awesome. Lamb shank was too die for. Our waiter was awesome. We also got to sample the pig that was roasting all day! I wish we could have stayed until Wednesday they have all you can eat lobster.
(4)
Raymond G.

Great spot for Happy Hour on Siesta Key. The vibe is relaxed, the music is good and the drink specials are great. What more could you want? I recommend the oysters, which I am told come from NY. You may even get a bit of crab in one or two if you're lucky.
(4)
Marina S.

More of a dive-like restaurant, food was ok, didn't have any blended ice drinks which was hard to accept, the tables all smelled like the chemicals they used to clean them with (glass cleaner?) hard to look past. The minute we sat down I sort of hoped we went to the other restaurant next door.
(2)
Charles F.

This place is great. The atmosphere is fun, the food is good and the staff is super friendly. I go there every time I visit my family in Sarasota!
(5)
Britt N.

It's our last night in siesta key so we decided to check this place out. It was a disappointing end to our vacation. It gets 2 stars for the nice outdoor seating area and good live music. But do not go here if you are hungry because it will be 45 min before you get your salad, 10 min to hunt someone down for some silver wear, and an hour & a half to get your meal. The only reason we continued to sit and wait for the food was because our waitress, Jannelle, was very nice.
(2)
Jeff S.

Honestly, don't have much to say. But after reading/hearing about some questionable practices when it came to how Blu Que honored their advertisement regarding the Thursday "full rack of rib" special, I figured I'd take a look at their website and see what is being advertised. This is a copy/paste from the Blu Que website on 2/28/2014. Our Happy Hour Specials: Happy Hour Monday - Friday 12-6pm , 1/2 Price Drinks 12-6pm , 1/2 Price Appetizers 3-6pm (At Bars Only) Daily Food Specials: MONDAYS .75 cent Wings All Day. TUESDAYS $15 Smoked Prime Rib. WEDNESDAYS $35 All you can eat Lobster. THURSDAYS $15 Full Rack of Ribs FRIDAYS $50 All You Can Eat King Crab. SATURDAYS $35 All you can eat Snow Crab SUNDAYS $5 Pulled Pork Sandwiches All Day & Pig Roast. While I can't say for sure what happened to the person in a previous review, it seems clear to me that Blu Que is advertising a full rack of ribs for $15, not a 1/2 rack plus sides, or anything else. If in fact they aren't honoring their advertisement I hope a local consumer advocacy group looks into these business practices.
(2)
Matthew P.

Great fish and chips. If you get the smoke fish dip as a starter ask for extra Bread.
(4)
Joanne S.

Shame on this place! They served us some of the worst King Crab Legs we ever had. They were gray in color, soft, rubbery shell...inexcusable!! Service was marginal at Best. We had A half Dozen oysters in which 2 of the shells had no oysters in them! What a Joke...
(1)
Michael G.

I've eaten their food several times over the past couple of years, and it's very good, but over priced. Their service has never been anything to brag about as you can see from other reviews. But last night took the cake. I stopped in to see a band play and have a drink. I sat down, and at the same time a woman sat down at the table next to me. The waitress came to her table, ordered her drink. Walked by me without an acknowledgement of my existence. Then she brought the woman her drink, walked by me again. And came be a third and fourth time w/out saying anything. I can't imagine how, based upon the layout, and lack of customers at 8:30, that I wasn't in her "area". But even if I was not, how difficult would it have been for her to say, "Your waitress will be right with you." ?!? Welcome to Waitressville Idiocracy. Yes, I left, and took my business to the Tequila Cantina on Main St., where I was actually greeted by the waiter, and 2 different bartenders upon walking in.
(2)
Michael G.

An excellent meal. Good atmosphere with live music. Free Valet Parking. Our service was good. However we have heard that the service can be sub-par if they are busy. Food was excellent. Recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Steffen M.

Four star food at 7 star prices. Service was good, margaritas were average. Anything in the smoker section on the menu is legit. It's a good place, but the prices are not in line with the atmosphere, service, and the restaurant in general. ($5 plate charge to split a meal? Come on...)
(3)
Chris B.

OK, I rarely write negative reviews for restaurants. Every place can have an off night. Having worked in a restaurant in the past, I understand how tough of a job it can be. However, we had an experience here that was bad in so many ways I felt compelled to write this review. We made a reservation after reading some reviews online and seeing that on Wednesdays they had an all you can eat lobster special. We arrived a little early and were seated at 6:45 pm. We attempted to order the special and were told that they no longer offered the all you can eat special, that it was 3 lobsters instead of all you can eat. The regular menu showed a 3 lobster special, and the Specials menu showed all you can eat. When we asked about this the waitress stated that they stopped that a few months ago. We pointed out it was still on there specials menu and were told that it was because the other parts of that menu were still accurate. We placed our order right around 7 pm. First, it took 15 minutes for the drinks to come out (water and soft drinks). When we got our drinks, were were brought sweet tea instead of unsweetened tea. No biggie, but it took another 10 minutes to have them replaced and they were again sweet tea. then about another 10 minutes to get the correct drinks. The kids food came out at 7:15 pm. The first adult's salad came out at 7:20 and the last adult's salad did not arrive until 7:38 pm (brought out one or two at a time over the span of almost 20 minutes). The entree's came out around 7:40 (a few minutes after after they brought the last 2 salads). The entree's (lobster and steak) were of good quality and were prepared well. We only saw the waitress once more during dinner (unable to get drink refills, lemon for the lobster, etc.) In her defense, she was covering most of the tables in the place. The manager stopped by once and asked us how things were, we explained that we had come there for the all you can eat special and that there menus had conflicting information. We were told that the price of lobster had increased and that they would have lost money (completely understandable but really offered no apology, just this as an explanation). We did not have a chance to offer feedback on the rest of the issues as he was racing off. Despite the fact that the waitress was running her butt off (and not providing good service because of this), the manager seemed far more interested in chatting up the the attractive hostess most of the time that we were there rather than helping the rest of his staff. I would be hard pressed to return there after our experience. It sounds atypical, most of the reviews of the place have been positive, but tonight was not a good experience.
(1)
Pamela P.

Awesome dinner! Our server was Eric great job. Attentive but not intrusive. We had the "all you can eat" Lobster and we were dying to finish the 4th one ( see pix). The ambience was typical beech bar with music minus water view (not bad). Their version of bread pudding was a huge portion, worth NOT sharing because it was mouth meltingly good. (again see pix) with sparkler. Good Eats, great company ....... I'll be back........ Pamela
(5)
Virginia G.

Let me begin by saying that my fiance and I got to experience this place during Tropical Storm Debby to give you some reference in terms of ambiance. Cute, comfortable booths to stare out at the never ending rain or sunshine from (grumble grumble...bitter bitter). Comfy little outside bar that begs to be smoked at if you're so inclined, if not go inside or retreat to a safer booth. The place has got a savvy sense of humor with it's wall hangings that instruct you on how to come up with your own Blu Que name. Extensive martini and drink list that yielded some very watered down daiquiris and martinis. We only tried the calamari as it is usually a safe bet (come on, it's fried shoe leather that most people still enjoy) and we had a bit of a group to feed at cocktail hour. It turned out fantastic. Nice mix of siracha and chili sauce....somewhat of a take on Bonefish's Bang Bang sauce. Service was a low point. Sweet enough girl, but really not helpful in terms of her knowledge of the beverage offerings. The biggest insult was when the bill came and we noticed that the fiance's mojito (which was sub-par at best) was charged full price when the server had specifically told us that that "everything on the left side of the menu was 1/2 priced" which rings awesome in our late twenty-something (OK, maybe 30ish) brains. She HAD asked if he wanted frozen or not to which he responded NOT as it's a mojito and there are rules, people. When we inquired as to why it was full price the server informed us then (and only then) that the "regular" mojitos were full price. Buyer beware ;)
(2)
Ariel G.

The food here is really good. Pretty much the best you can get the island. I had the Kobe slider burgers which were amazing. i wish i could have tried everything!! the french fries ere also out of this world if possible for fries lol The martinis on the other hand were what stoop out to me.. I had a coconut martini the an apple martini. they both tasted SOOO good, and they definitely should be bottled and sole every even in McDonald's lol. If your on vacation In Sarasota and want to go out for some classy food at a nice place def check blu smoke out!
(3)
Angela P.

Not good. Ribs were dry and tasted like dog food. Water had a mildew flavor. Yuk! Will not come back.
(1)
Tracey M.

It was a better bar then restaurant. I could imagine going here for drinks to get the night started. They had a martini special but made crappy tasting martinis. I did like the decor. Waitress wasn't very friendly but maybe she was just having a bad day as they looked short-handed.
(2)
Mike B.

Abysmal service. Possibly worst I've ever had at a restaurant. I went at 315 on a monday afternoon. Only one or two other tables were there. It took ten minutes for the waitress to come by. 35 more minutes for our food to arrive. Asked for a refill on a soda - 15 min later, waitress comes by, doesn't have the drink, says she's sorry but is waiting tables, bartending and washing dishes. She only bought our drinks to compensate. Would I go back? Absolutely not - there are too many other places within a two min walk.
(1)
Jenell D.

If you are in need of a benchmark for how ribs should NOT be- go here. I hit an all time low . . . AT A BBQ JOINT! From here on out, any ribs are going to be better than these. Baby back ribs should easily come off the bone, be tender and flavorful. These were none of the above. I had to fight to tear off what little meat was available. If I could rate a dish on Yelp instead of the restaurant as a whole, then it would be a zero (if possible). The reason I gave it two stars is that our other two dishes were decent (Beef brisket, fish sandwich). The service was fine, the location was nice and the ambiance was decent (minus the live eighties band). Overall, I would avoid this and search out another option in the village at Siesta Key as there are clearly better options than this. I wish I had done my research on Yelp before eating here . . .
(2)
Eric M.

I've dined here twice in the last 3 months. Both times the same story; nice atmosphere, friendly service, bad food. Dry brisket, flavorless ribs, poor sides, and really poor desserts. Don't waste your time or money here, there's much better to be had within a short walking distance.
(2)
T. F.

Looks promising from the outside but, once again, looks prove deceiving. Let's just say the food is sub-par for the price and the service spotty; been there three times (probably not again) and drew wait staff that was charming (once) and tetchy (twice). Perhaps that is the problem: inconsistency. One doesn't expect Ritz-level cuisine and service in the roadhouse-style eateries of Siesta Key but, frankly, BQ could do a lot better. Let's hope it does so we have a reason to return.
(2)
Maria E.

A total dive. U can get better BBQ at any grocery store deli. Atmosphere sucks, service sucks, food sucks. Can't believe it's been open this long.
(1)
AL K.

Was an impulse decision to dine here without doing my yelp research and what a huge mistake. service was ok, he was chatty and friendly. Food however was pricey and taste was horrible. Being how competitive the restaurant business are in the area I wonder how they survive. The mahi mahi burger was super salty. I didn't finish it at all.The shrimp grits was like porridge. Would not recommend and would not come back either.
(2)
Jon G.

Good service and a tremendously understanding waiter. My parents are horribly demanding and critical. They frequent the place, and I could literally see the looks of fear and disdain come across the faces of the entire staff as they walked in. I really did cringe for the poor waiter as he tried to make nice with my them. The food is average - I had a decent Kobe burger one day and truly crappy ribs the next.
(3)
Lawrence C.

Interesting to read the earlier review. I can relate to what she experienced. However, I had a more positive experience. This is a new restaurant and i tried to go with another couple on a Monday, only to discover that they were closed (presumably they are now open 7 days--during season). So this time my wife & I arrived on a Sat night, in late November, before the season, and we couldn't get a table outside, yet were offered a table inside. It's very small and dark, and the tables are small and close together--not too enchanting. So we opted to sit at the bar outside (a major action spot) and were able to sit on two sides of a corner and quite enjoyed the scene. The specialty here is smoke meats, and meat in general. My wife doesn't eat meat, yet she was able to find several items on the menu and the fish she had was actually quite good. However, we specifically told the bartender (our waiter) she doesn't eat parsley, and yet her fish came out with parsley. So, I had to eat my dish alone, and hers was quickly remade. To help remedy the mistake, the bartender bought us a round of drinks and dessert, which was very accommodating. My brisket was a little dry, though good flavor. The steaks and ribs looked good. The bartender really helped make the night, and I would return for another try, next time making a reservation for an outside table. This place deserves the third star for its atmosphere. Perhaps as the restaurant gets more experience, it can deserve another star.
(3)
Loryn J. M.

We came here on a recommendation and loved it. Yummy food, friendly service, nice music, great atmosphere. Bobby had the ribs--"very good" Sheila had the pulled pork sandwich--"excellent" Mark had the Caesar salad with pulled pork "good but made great by the pulled pork. I had the Cobb with smoked chicken "yummy."
(5)
Rachel R.

I'm really happy that Blu Smoke opened up on the key because I can never say no to some BBQ. It's a nice change of pace in comparison Sonny's and the Sunday BBQ at The Salty Dog. I've had their beef brisket a couple of times and it's pretty tasty. The brisket isn't cut like how I usually see it. It is cut into very thin, long and like an inch wide slices...the only problem I have with this is that it has a real potential to dry out -- especially if you take home some leftovers. They have 3 different kinds of sauces on the table for you to use; zingy mustard, southwest chipotle and a classic BBQ. I'm not a huge fan of any single one on their own, but mixing the chipotle with the bbq together produces a sweet and spicy mix -- I love it! Their fried calamari is hands down the best thing on the menu. My Dad and I both agree it's some of the best we've ever tasted. The texture is fantastic and not rubbery and chewy at all. And the sweet and sour type of sauce they put on top is delicious. I've also had the shrimp and grits with sausage. It was good, but only if I'm really craving some grits. And sadly, I've been spoiled by only eating grits in South Carolina so I can be a bit picky. I'm a fan of Blu Smoke. Good food, nice ambiance, and prompt service. The only thing that kind of bugs me is their smoke machine. I get it, your name is Blu Smoke... it was cute for a minute but then it just was interrupting my meal.
(4)
Lana T.

Enjoyed a delicious dinner last night but am so disappointed that you have removed WINE from your Happy Hour list!! ADD the WINE back!!! Your Happy Hour USED to be the best but now....I am so disillusioned!!
(3)
Carl Z.

I had higher hopes for Blu Que Island, but upon arrival for lunch I just had a sense that this was another one of those restaurants that really is a bar but happens to serve food as well. The live music should have told me so! The food was rather bland. I ordered grouper, since it's a local fish - asked to have it blackened but is was delivered with little seasoning. It was quite fresh, but lacked taste. I read about these famous potato fries with blue cheese dressing - a big disappointment. The potato's had obviously been cooked for some time already, probably sitting under a heat lamp. I can say I went, but probably wouldn't go back, except for having a Guinness at the bar.
(2)
Matthew E.

I rarely write reviews. The bright side to our lunch was the friendly, prompt service. The food, a grilled flounder sandwich $12 with bacon $0.50 added was on a small, plain, store-bought bun, there wasn't a lot of fish, and the bacon was 4 tiny pieces of all-fat flaccid whiteness. And it came with LTO which I thought was a little strange. My girl's BBQ pulled pork $9 was pretty bland, on the same type of small lame bun. The waffle fries were decent. My gf liked her mojito, but I thought it was too sweet and weak. The beer list is ok; the waitress brought two for me to try first and understood when I wanted something else. If you're on Siesta Key, try somewhere else, esp. if you'd like a deeper seafood menu at lunch or a bigger sandwich.
(2)
Larry G.

Fun outdoor party atmosphere with a great live blues band. Downhill from there. The service was not good. Not only was it extremely slow, it was negectful. As far as the food goes...meh! It was okay. Nothing great. There are lots of other really good choices. Choose somewhere else.
(2)
Derek D.

Depends on what I'm reviewing. I did love the free valet parking, and the All Day Every Day happy hour is top notch. You can definitely have a good time at the bar for under $24. As for the food I had high expectations. I wanted BBQ and for $17 for a half slab of dry rub ribs I was a little disappointed. The spice was fine, but the ribs were sub par. Not very meaty and somewhat small. The sides of braised cabbage and yukon gold mash were fine. However the appetizer and dessert were fantastic. Loved their wings; BBQ smoked, huge and meaty with a ton of flavor. And an excellent rendition of bread pudding; more of two slices of savory cheesecake. So the bar, app and desserts were top notch. But the main draw, the BBQ, left me wanting more.
(3)
Jann W.

We enjoyed the atmosphere, music and service. BBQ is OK with a nice sauce selection. Not the smokey BBQ that is our favorite style. We tried brisket, ribs and pulled pork and would rank them in that order, with brisket best - nice and tender.
(3)
Craig C.

We had a solid lunch here, but we were thrilled to find an all day happy hour! The drink prices are outstanding! We had a salad and the Kobe beef sliders... The sliders were terrific and the salad was fine. I will definitely be back for happy hour!
(4)
Cheri P.

Sarasota seems to be making a concerted effort towards becoming known for its barbecue as much as its artistic culture and beaches, and the Blu Que Island Grill is definitely a restaurant that pushes that effort in a positive way. Nestled right in the middle of Siesta Village, Blu Que looks like it would fit right in as an upscale eatery in the Keys, and boasts both comfortable outdoor seating and a cool, shaded, stylish interior dining. While there are a few tv's hanging around, it doesn't come off as a sports bar, and the blue backlit bar and wine storage is a great touch that comes off as tasteful, not tacky. We ate indoors, and during our meal a singer/guitarist set up and began playing outside, but it was at a level comfortable enough to talk over, and if you were outside, not so loud that you couldn't still enjoy yourself. Right off the bat, we knew we had to try the Blu Cheese Chips ($8) and the Kobe Beef Sliders ($12), since the menu boasted ingredients that sound delicious and we had tried similar starters at other restaurants. We definitely were not disappointed. The chips were completely self-indulgent and decadent, and were able to stay crispy from not being drowned in too much bleu cheese and balsamic reduction. The Sliders were top-notch. We ordered them cooked medium, and not only were they perfectly prepared, the flavor of the beef completely blew us away. With only three on the plate, it was hard to not fight each other to devour the last one (we ended up splitting it like civilized people). Blu Cheese Chips, Blu Que Island Grill, Siesta Key, Sarasota, FLMy sidekick's main course was the Fish Tacos ($13), which came out as a generous portion of battered fish in soft tortillas with lettuce, pico and an avocado aioli that was unexpectedly spicy in a good way. I opted for the K. R. D. St. Louis Ribs ($17 for a half-rack) to see what Blu Que's smoker had going for it, and they were great. I ordered them dry so I could sample the regular, Gold and Kansas City sauces on the table, and they all were tangy, bold and went well with the pork. Personally, I enjoyed the Kansas City sauce the most, but I really would recommend any of them. The waffle fries we both ordered were perfectly done and outshined any popular drive-thru, and my seasoned veggies were surprisingly good. Fish Tacos, Blu Que Island Grill, Siesta Key, Sarasota, FLMost places just dish out seasoned veggies that maybe were cooked to order and maybe weren't, and are almost always soft and soggy, but these were fresh and firm, and were a smart addition to my meal (although I was tempted to try the mac and cheese because, well... mac and cheese...). We were completely stuffed after all of it, so we had to decline the waitress's offer for dessert, but we definitely plan on returning to try the Chocolate Molten Lava Cake, which looked fantastic when it was served to a nearby table. Our visit to Blu Que was a completely positive experience. The staff was friendly but professional, and aside from a lone hiccup in waiting for drink refills, the service was great and the food was definitely something to write home about. The slightly higher prices keep it from being too casual of a stop, but if you get what you pay for, Blu Que delivers on all fronts. No one looking for tasty BBQ will be disappointed.
(4)
matt m.

3.5 stars. This place smells sooo good! We sat at the bar and got great service (e.g. a couple free drinks). The food was solid but not all that memorable- everything was prepared as ordered but I wasn't wowed. I had the burger and wife had salmon- maybe next time we'll try ribs or something more adventurous.
(3)
Jerry B.

Our second time at the Blue Que and it was even better than the first time. Lynne said she could have made a meal of the mac & cheese. I enjoyed the pulled pork...and the baked beans were the best I've had. The atmosphere was excellent and the live music added to the experience without being a distraction. Want a special evening with your special someone? This is the place.
(5)
Joy I.

Excellent happy hour. Good food, especially the all you can eat lobsters. Lots of live music.
(4)
Emily H.

Food here is hit or miss, my friend ordered a saled here once it was hilarious , not in a good way . I give it a 4 becouse the happy hr is long and the drink list is big and everything I've tried is yummy. My boyfriend got a drink once that was a bit week and our waitress brought him a shot on the house. We will be going here everyday this week during our vacation .
(4)
Zach Y.

Loved this place the first time we came here 3 years ago. Seems to have changed ownership or something because the quality decreased significantly in all aspects. Blue Que of 3 years ago would have got 5 stars. Now the food and drinks are average
(3)
Ray D.

Three words..... Shrimp and Grits! Hard to find this delicacy outside the Deep South. It was excellent. The atmosphere here is laid back, good entertainment, and plenty of choices on the menu.
(4)
Jessica L.

Awesome food and atmosphere! Live music with acoustic guitar. We came for dinner and its tucked behind the main street, come here if your going out to eat! I orderd the pulled pork with mixed veggies and cheese grits, it was so delicious! My f e BBQ sauce was the Kansas city classic!
(4)
Christine B.

This place sucks. Order a martini in the outside bar it was half filled, order the same drink inside it was full but a totally different drink. If you needed service, you needed to find it! When the owner was approached about this he had no idea and did not care. We would not recommend this restaurant .
(1)
Lindsay D.

I had higher hopes from this place. Free valet parking, great-sounding music, and the place looked ADORABLE. The server was prompt and friendly (although a little confused about what beers were on Happy Hour special). However, when the food came, we were SO disappointed. First of all, we got our kiddo a milk and a kids meal. $4 freaking dolllars for a cup of milk and $8 for a grilled cheese--COME ON. You have got to be kidding me. We also ordered the brisket quesadilla as an app and what with it being a BBQ place, we thought it'd be awesome. Nope. The brisket was pure fat and gristle and the cheese was half cold. The wedge salad was the biggest joke, though. $11 for a half a head of soggy iceberg lettuce, bacon bits, and disgusting tomatoes. We thought about throwing a stink and asking for our money back, but we were in vacation mode and didn't feel like dealing with it. Go to Siesta Key Oyster Bar instead. Always great food and great service.
(2)
Robert V.

Awful. 'Nuff said. Skip it and head over to SKOB.
(1)
Randy B.

Went here for dinner one nite and it was very busy but we were seated and ordered in a fairly quick time. Food was presented well and wasn't bad just wasn't great. Only thing I could say was that it was a bit bland and missing a lot of flavor that is said it was cooked with on the menu. Wondering exactly how it is cooked. Seems like some of their menu items are hit or miss. Good atmosphere though and waitress was great.
(3)
Kim S.

Wouldn't even give 1 star if possible. Just came from there. I had the pulled pork with green beans (almondine style). Awful. My pork was a pile of fat and green beans not cooked. I told waitress whom was very nice - she apologized but nothing was done about it. I should have pushed or refused to pay I guess but I was just so disappointed our last night in SK.
(1)
M C.

Disappointed again. Service is clueless. Had to ask at least twice for each item. Salads were served and we were still waiting for our drinks which were ordered 10 minutes earlier. Waiters walk past table and don't think to take empty plates or glasses. Staff was very pleasant but incompetent.
(1)
Jean K.

Skip this restaurant! While on Siesta we went to this restaurant and witnessed something that was a real downer on our vacation mood. Our sweet, hard-working, young server was ordered to carry vastly overloaded trays around or lose her job. Meanwhile the mean mgmt. laughed at their bullying. It was awful! I would have quit and I hope she did too! I guess they were jealous of her youth and popularity with customers? These things are assets for any restaurant, so I don't understand? Food was unremarkable.
(1)
Elizabeth S.

Best place for BBQ/ smoke on the key!!! Excellent pulled pork with the Kansas City BBQ sauce... Great Service. When your down here make to make this a dinner destination.
(4)
Brian K.

Our visit there with six friends was quite an experience.We had the Manager as our waiter. He was not only rude,but had to beg to order more beer and wine.The food was adequate. This was my second visit to this Rest.The first time the wait staff was making rude comments about our Singles group that was there,calling us " Losers " for not having DATES.This will be my last time ever going there.
(1)
L C.

Let's be more objective here. Food is good here... no questions asked. Whether it's the bison or kobe burgers, you can't go wrong. Price wise, it's somewhat up there but you pay for the location you are in. The gazpacho BLT soup was excellent.. unusual but excellent. Fries were great as well but this is where the 5 star slipped through the cracks. 1) not enough fries. Come on... anty it up. 2) The service overall was BAD and INCOMPREHENSIBLE on how their system worked. Our waiter was also a bartender but yet, the bus boy was constantly present near by. He could not help us with a party of 6 so we had to wait for our waitor to come back. Unacceptable. For my sister to get the drinks and put the order in as if she's shadowing their work, at the end of the day... she got the tip and the waiter got nothing. Bottom line: you'll find good food here but plan on staying a while. Bring your nook or download an app on your phone to keep yourself company or hopefully you have a very talkative party with you.
(4)
Olimpia S.

Blu Smoke has awesome martinis and great bartenders ... the food's pretty good too :)
(5)
Scott W.

Zero stars would be appropriate. It took over ten minutes before our server noticed us after being seated.. She apologized profusely, then ignored us for another 35 minutes. She eventually noticed that our glasses were empty, but it was too late. After 50 minutes and no food in sight, enough was enough, we left without dinner. Stay away. Or better yet, go over to the Hub where we had great food and service the night before. Or Napolis where the server was attentive, the pizza delicious, and half the price.
(1)
Amy e.

Good food, but understaffed. Look out for people who like happy hour too much
(3)
Renee F.

Went for smoked prime rib. Worst we've ever had. It was a skinny little piece and very fatty. Service was not good either. Very Over priced!
(1)
Judy K.

I was surprised to read some complaints about service, since we had such a wonderful experience. From the initial greeting, being seated promptly, to even being sure we got our drink order in time to get the happy hour half-off rate-- our server was very friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. Both the mango martini and the pomegranate martini were great. Live music was playing--similar to the coffeehouse radio station music choices-- just perfect for a relaxing dinner. But then the real fun began: this entire month is featuring all you can eat lobster for $35, which includes clam chowder and a house salad. We appreciated how they brought out one lobster at a time, making sure each one was hot and fresh--these were 1 to 1 1/4 pound Maine lobsters, and they were sweet and tender. The clam chowder was tasty as well, and the salad was fine. Husband was elated with the meal, and the eagerness of the wait staff to be sure he had as many lobsters as he wanted! I couldn't decide between smoked brisket or pulled pork, but the server steered me right-- and I loved the brisket along with a variety of barbecue sauces available on the table. My entree came with a choice of 2 sides-- good cheese grits, and their signature blue cheese coleslaw, which was a bit too rich for me. Wine list was reasonably priced-- had a Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc for $33. Can't say enough about our wonderfully friendly and efficient server and the very enjoyable meal. We will definitely return!
(5)
Eduardo O.

Great restaurant by the sea, with great bar and ambient.
(5)
Stacy L.

Went on prime rib night. Ordered rare and medium rare. They came out both medium well. The server seemed confused that we didn't want the steaks, took them away and brought back two new steaks that were slightly better. No apology whatsoever. Mashed potatoes tasted like they were from a box. There are too many better places nearby.
(2)
Diana G.

Food was average. Mom and I had pulled pork sandwich which was ok, no real flavor to the pork at all. Sauces were cattlemans and were good but I can buy at the grocery. Bottom bun of the sandwich was soaked when we got it. Not sure if it was kept in a warmer or from the fat in meat soaking it. This made it impossible to pick the sandwich up to eat it. You had to eat with a fork. Hubs had blackened Mahi sandwich with mushrooms and really liked it. He ate every bite. Said it was great and well cooked. Dad had the brisket sandwich and really liked it. He also had a blue cheese cole slaw that he loved. The waffle fries are spicy seasoned and really great. They were the highlight of the meal. Service was good but witnessed another waiter being really rude to customers at the bar. Complimentary valet parking though was a huge bonus. It's hard to find parking down there. Would probably return but not outstanding.
(3)
Howard S.

Worst dining experience in Sarasota-ever. Where to begin? We were seated next to the bar, where smoking is allowed. The smoke amazingly drifted the 10 feet towards our table, making it unpleasant for everyone in our party of 5. The live music was ok unless you are seated next to a bunch of yahoos who must have thought they had to scream as loud as they could after every song. Seriously. It was like they were in the bleachers at a Jimmy Buffet concert. So our salads come, of course the dressing was not on the side as asked. Plus, no plates, not enough silverware or napkins! Had to search for someone to get us utensils. Then, the burger that was supposed to be medium-well came out pink and bloody. Had to wait to flag down someone to take it back. Second one was still pink, not so bloody. Our manager-waitress actually CRITICIZED the person who ordered the burger for not ordering the burger well-done! "If you don't want pink, you should have ordered it well-done". Third burger was ok, but of course by then everyone else had finished their meal. Finally, the girls in our group tell me that if the Health Department had seen the ladies bathroom, they would have shut it down. Sarasota has tons of fine restaurants, I don't know how this place stays in business.
(1)
beryl l.

Blu Smoke is an American fare restaurant on Siesta Key located in the old Maximos spot. My first impression was a good one.. They have inside seating as well as an outdoor area with large booths, live music and somewhat cool decor. But sadly, that is where it ended. We had a reservation for four, at a very small table and almost completely in the dark. Mind you, it was only 7pm and the place was so dark I could barely make out the menu (I'm in my twenties, with perfect eyesight). Our server was very nice but seemed very inexperienced and the service was a bit slow. I will mention that it seemed like they were understaffed that night as I did not see that many staff walking around. The menu is okay, nothing special. I am a pescetarian so I ended up ordering three appetizers instead of a meal. I ordered the Fried Calamari (not very crispy when marinated in their chili sauce- thumbs down), Black Bean soup with no sausage (very tasty) and the Nori Tuna. Usually when dining, I rarely send things back but this time I just had to. The tuna was absolutely awful. It was not fresh, tasted previously frozen and had no taste whatsoever. The server took it back and I ordered dessert. We had the grilled pineapple with vanilla ice cream (pass) and the chocolate brownie with ice cream (win). When handed the bill, we noticed we were still being charged for the tuna. Really? We had it fixed then left. The three others I was with were not very impressed with their meals either (ribs and salads). All in all, will not be back for food but maybe a drink one day.
(2)
Candis S.

We love this place & try to come every Sunday post beach day at a minimum. The service is great, the drinks are awesome and so is the food. The live music always is right on point. (No subpar musicians here). It's on our favorites list being locals. On Sunday's evenings we love the pork roast.. Like a free little appetizer. The pulled pork sandwich with the blue cheese coleslaw is a favorite as is the banana sling cocktail. One of the best on the island for great service and good food Paired with some excellent music.
(5)
Alyssa S.

Stopped in here for happy hour after a day at the beach. I loved sitting on the patio and listening to the live music. The service was great and food was a great after beach treat. Happy hour is 4-6pm Monday to Friday. We had Dales beach bread which killed my diet but was so good. It had garlic butter, tomato, blue cheese, and mozerella. We also ordered the calamari which had a delicious spicy sweet chili sauce. The prices for the regular menu items are a little spend but I plan to come back at some point.
(4)
Carrie A.

Serviced was AWFUL- we have visited siesta key for the past 8 years and this was our first visit to Bluque. The hostess was almost annoyed when we walked up to get a table. Only positive was the band, but when we ordered drinks but didn't want to eat, our waitress was extremely rude.... We just wanted a beer and to listen to the band. They were not busy at all. I would not recommend this place at all- there are plenty of amazing options in the village!!!!
(1)
Yanine R.

First time here, loved the ambiance. The place has it's beachy/outdoorsy charm. You can sit inside our outside while you enjoy the live music with some misters to cool off. The valet parking is complimentary so just make sure you tip the guys because they were working fast. Only downside but understandable due to the lack of parking, was that the valet was until 10pm and we got there at like 745pm.
(4)
Dione B.

I wanted to try something off the beaten path when we found this place! Loved the live reggae! My husband and I went here after a day at the beach on a Wednesday! It was a hot day, they had misters on the patio but we chose to go inside to escape the heat but it was almost as warm on the inside. People were leaving the restaurant because of the heat! BUT we got the beach bread topped with crab, it was really good until we got to the center and the blue cheese was cold. I got the grouper blackened sandwich with fries it was very good. My husband got the conch burger which he raved about! I am not a fan of conch because of the texture but the flavor was good! Our waitress was nice and very attentive! There is not a door between the restaurant and the cooks and you can watch the cooks cooking your meal that can be a pro OR a con! Cute place! I guess you should be the judge! My husband loves it, I could either take it or leave it!
(3)
Teri A.

Over priced and getting someone to come back to your table to wait on you is almost impossible . Are waiter was extremely rude . The waiter took are bill with the cash and said he would be right back. 30 minutes later Waiter never returned with our change.Asked another waiter if she could get are waiter, he then returned threw the money on table and he walk away said he thought 20% was the norm. Dumb ass would have give you 30 and you didn't give us back all are change
(1)
Dan C.

Overpriced for the quality of food. My brisket was an odd color...kind of grey. Mashed potatoes were dry. I liked my wife's ribs (she did not like). One highlight was the bbq sauce. Without the sauce the beef would have been inedible.
(2)
Kelly F.

Where is the 0 star option? Never go to this place. Ever! I thought I had seen a bad restaurant but this place takes the cake. I had white tuna from a can chopped up as the 'rare tuna steak' entree meal easily less an 2 ounces of 'meat'. This was my second choice because when I asked to change the side option of one of the specials the Chef said no! We were here at 5:30pm on a Saturday night and they were already out of lobster! I've never been so turned off by a restaurant before in my life. I felt bad for our waiter continuing to come back to our table with bad news and then terrible meals. The sooner this place goes out of business, the sooner something else might be able to come in here.
(1)
Heidi H.

Good food, but the special today is half off appetizers and drinks. We ordered 2 mojitos and nothing was said. We received the check and we were charged full price for the drinks! When we asked, we were told it's only some of the drinks but the menu just says 1/2 off drinks!
(1)
Brian C.

The hardest thing is to decide what to eat. Great fish and great meat. Simple dishes with little extras to make for a great dinning or lunch. Good music, good seating. One of my favorites.
(5)
Donna S.

Update February 2015: Very disappointing, we have been going to Blu Que every year during vacation and this year might be our last. The menu has been changed quite a bit and not in a good way. What we loved about Blu Que was the interesting food and its been tourist-fied to include more basic fries and burger type fare. Even the amazing coleslaw that was fresh & loaded with gorgeous blue cheese chunks is now just plain coleslaw you can get from a jar. :-( Service was not good either... slow, we had to ask twice for water and our salads never came! We didn't see a waiter again until mid way through our meal and we had to ask for the salads. And to top it off, there were fruit flies all around us. Its not very appealing having to swat fruit flies away from your food! I'm not sure if they are under new management but overall we were not happy with our visit this year. Too bad, it was always our favorite.
(2)
Richard B.

Very good ribs & pulled pork! Great waiter-Michael! Would go back for sure! The selection of 16 beers on tap, beach atmosphere, and fantastic smoked flavor would be hard to beat.
(5)
Troy D.

Good food in terms of quality but I am not as satisfied in the quantity of food I received. My grouper fish dinner tasted fresh but if you're really hungry than you should try somewhere else nearby. A small house salad, a few steamed vegetables, a sweet potato, and the fish itself wasn't enough for my appetite. Side notes: the live entertainment was great. Great vocalist and he did a rock cover of "Royals" by Lorde that I really got a kick out of. Other side note, service is not great. My water was empty too long and our food came out before they even take away our salad bowls.
(3)
Billy B.

Visited here the other night with our family. We has a decent meal here last year but this was pretty bad. Server was slow and gave misinformation about specials. Food was Cold and our kids hot dog was half frozen. Most patrons were more interested in getting Drunk than having a nice meal. Will be avoiding this spot next time!
(2)
J D.

This was a disappointing experience after much anticipation. My boyfriend and I were sat at a table that was already occupied and the guests were on a smoke break. When the guests returned and we realized the issue, the hostess sat us at another high-top nearby that hadn't been cleared or wiped down. We sat at the second table for ten minutes without so much as a menu. We watched the waiter tend to other tables and refill their waters before even acknowledging us. We moved next door to The Cottage and had a fabulous meal with perfect service. Go next door and spend your money where it's deserved.
(1)
Jeanne C.

Please don't try the brie appetizer.... Not presently correctly. I love brie and couldn't eat it. Mushy. Should be presented with the pastry all crispy and brown..., lose the lettuce... Present with Apple and warm baguette slices.... Keep it simple.
(1)
Debbie K.

Food was awesome. Grace the bartenders gets 5 stars for her service and personality!!
(5)
Aaron H.

We were lodging nearby while enjoying Siesta Key Beach, so we decided to make this place the locale of my wife's birthday dinner. We were five adults and two kids, and were seated promptly. They must have been sorely understaffed that night (it was on a Sunday) because our server not only took forever to tend to us, but she kept insisting on "taking partial orders" while frantically making her way to the other tables around us. We asked why she could not take our entire order upfront. She claimed it was because some of our appetizers (namely the Prince Edward Island Mussels) "needed to be ordered first so that everything could come out on time simultaneously." Once the appetizers started arriving, she proceeded to once again only take a few of our entree orders, but for no good reason other than to get back to her other tables. By this time, I was losing my cool. But considering the occasion we were celebrating, I refrained from expressing my utter displeasure at the service. Eventually the entrees arrived along with the kids meals and we started eating. Our server gradually became more attentive as the night went on, which leads me to believe that either some of her tables had cleared or more wait staff had arrived. The ONLY reasons I am giving this two stars... one star is for my ribs which were actually tasty (and named after me, "Big Aaron")... the second star is because, all things considered, everyone else at the table still seemed to be having a decent time. So if they were Yelping this review it would have scored higher. On our way out one of the kids commented on the restroom's lack of hygiene. For a child to have to point out a restaurant's shortcomings... now that's embarrassing . A culminating point of sorts, if there ever was one. Considering the service was so surprisingly abysmal, it's possible that we hit this place on one of its worst summer nights. That being said, I honestly don't see myself ever coming back. There are far better options across the street. Future patron beware: proceed with caution.
(2)
J R.

Sad. Good location, but food and service sucked. We got a booth near the bar during a weekday lunch .. and well we got the bartender as our server. First thing he does is come over, looks at the stack of plates next to the table, proceeds to try to flick encrusted food off of one of the plates, and then hands it to me and says, "how you'all doing". Well. Not so well bud. Especially after getting handed a dirty plate, by you. So it was happy hour, which was good for the beers we had, but poor for our kids. On the kids menu they offered free soda, so we asked if they had milk in lieu of soda and said bartender said sure. But, bill comes and they charge $3.50 per kids milk, more expensive than my 'effen beer. Deep sigh, we left after eating, which was pretty good, but will never return. Sorry.
(1)
Tiffany N.

There's plenty of other places on the key to go to, don't go here. Not only did the service suck but the food did as well. Took 45 minutes to get our food...as we were patiently waiting we were served another tables food-nothing like getting our hopes up. Our table was so sticky that the kids menu completely stuck to it. Ew. you would think a bbq place would have decent pulled pork. Absolutely not, it was completely dried out and a huge disappointment. The only decent meal at our table was the kids chicken fingers, French fries, and ranch. But then again so is McDonald's.
(2)
Colm O.

Gave 1 star as I could not give a minus or a zero. Got a table at 8pm and was finished by 8.55pm....how ? Easy, kitchen seemed to be overly keen to get food out, and waiting staff no clue on service.... The warning signs were there at the beginning, with the first choice of wine 'not available', and the view of toilets by the kitchen...hmmm ?! So 8.15, our main course arrives....we decline as we have not had starters, waiter confused and returns to kitchen with puzzled look.... 8.30, another waitress asks was our entrees ok, why did we send it back, we explained that normally starters come first.... 8.45 Main course re-appears...after it's leisurely rest in the kitchen, ah lukewarm soggy food fantastic.... 8.55 Cheque arrives, full charge no reduction for inedible good... 9.10 Wine finished 9.11 Waitress asks to run our cheque, gosh they're keen here... Come on Blue Q it should be better than this !
(1)
Patti K.

I took my daughter to lunch at the Blue Que yesterday and was pleasantly surprised. The food and service was fantastic! The atmosphere was beachy and laid back. We had a great time and we will go back. The specials are phenomenal.
(5)
Eric S.

This place was pretty average. The menu is boring. I had red fish and it was pretty chewy. My brother's was too over cooked and he didn't finish it. The cheesy cauliflower mashed potatoes are very good. My sister in law's Mahi mahi was chewy at times. My wife ordered three different glasses of wine and they were out of all of them. I wouldn't choose to go back very soon
(2)
Franz W.

I hate to give a crummy review...but our experience at Blu Que wasn't good. The service was great, but other than that we were terribly disappointed. Our food wasn't well seasoned/spiced and was pretty bland. My wife ordered the lobster tacos and while she didn't eat any of the Cuban sandwich I ordered, I had a few bites of the tacos. Long story short, the lobster tacos got us both really sick and the next 12 hours of our vacation was disastrous. I'm sure there are folks with good Blu Que experiences out there, but I can't recommend this place.
(1)
Mike S.

Another Exceptional place to dine ....not too loud on a Monday night ...great wings tasty pulled pork...delicious blue coleslaw...only complaint...if u have something that tastes great increase the serving size a bit...
(5)
Jeanette D.

Decent food. The atmosphere was nice and the live performer was excellent in my opinion. My salmon was fresh and delicious, but it wasn't the best salmon I've had like they claim on their menu. Overall the blu que was good, but I would probably want to check out the other restaurants if I was in the area again
(3)
Tracy M.

WORST restaurant experience we have ever had on the island! It started with a surly bartender whose demeanor made it clear he'd rather be doing anything than serving customers. Next we were seated with no silverware. By the time our food came, we still had no silverware and were missing the chicken one of our entrÃ©e salads. By the time we got silverware, our food was cold. A half hour later, we still had not received the chicken. Savannah, our waitress, apologized for the wait and said she would make sure it was taken off the bill. 20 minutes later ... still no chicken. When we inquired, she says "I said I was taking it off the bill!" Silly us ... Here we thought that was compensation for the fact that one of our kids still had nothing to eat when everyone else was done eating and that they were still working toward bringing her some food! It was yet another 15 minutes before we received said chicken and when it came, they had taken all the silverware again! We could not get the wait staff's attention to get more, so our poor starving kid had to eat it with her hands in a restaurant where our bill was well over $100! I asked to speak to the manager and recounted our whole experience to her. Her response? "The chicken I knew about. She had me take it off the bill since you guys didn't want it anymore because it had taken so long." We explained that was not the case ... That we had never said we didn't want it and that clearly our child needed to eat something besides lettuce. The manager continued to treat us as if we were lying and never once offered a sincere apology or any kind of compensation for our experience. The cherry on top came when the waitress came back by and asked if we wanted dessert and described the offerings. We politely declined and asked for our check since the valet was closing and we needed to retrieve our car. She responds "Aw, that's too bad ... It was going to be on us!" OMG ... Really????? Then why didn't the manager offer that herself when we were briefing her on our horrific experience??? Bottom line: The food isn't horrible here, but the customer service is. If you're looking for a good dining experience, RUN DON'T WALK to Eat Here just up the street! If our experience was the norm, I'd bet this place won't last long anyway.
(1)
Chelle L.

By far the worst customer service I've ever experienced. I am having my wedding in Siesta Key 2015. My fiance and I thought this place would be great for our rehearsal dinner. We spoke to the manager there who was very helpful. He stated that he would speak with the owner and come up with a quote for us. He stated that they would contact me in the next three days. After two weeks I called back to see what the status update was. I was told that the OWNER is never in and he's on vacation and they didn't know when he was coming back. It's been four weeks NOW and still no word. I called to see what that status update was and no one could help me. The server Austin answered the phone and completely ignored my request to speak to a manger and then hung up on me. I called back and told them how disappointed I am with their service. They completely crushed my wedding plans and dreams. Thanks for nothing jerks!
(1)
Martina B.

Try the cobia when on special catch of the day. It was the best meal of my three + week vacation on SK. The nightly live music is amazing - particularly Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. The patio is big and gets great airflow. Love the different daily specials and they have a great happy hour.
(5)
Willy M.

Unbelievable!! Now that we are in season it will cost you .75 cents to get a small cup of ranch dressing with your wings. Very poor business decision.
(1)
Marissa D.

This is our favorite spot so far on the Island. They always have great entertainment and excellent, speedy service! The BBQ is on point each time we've had it! I highly recommend their mile high pulled pork sandwich or the brisket sandwich. Each beverage was made quickly and tasted delicious. The wait staff is attentive and courteous everytime we've been here. We like to come on Sundays because they have a free pig roast. This place is definitely worth checking out if you get the chance!
(5)
Sean D.

Our server Katie is phenomenal! The food is solid and while we mostly get the same things. (Veggie sandwich & waffle fries) *No more waffle fries. We tried the mahi sandwich and my fiancÃ©e had the fish tacos. Her tacos were ok. The hub makes better ones, consistently! My mahi sandwich was ok as well, but I've had better ones on the key, so that's not good. The music tonight was marcel and he is awesome! This and great service helped to patch over underwhelming Father's Day food. The food should be better next time!
(4)
Peter M.

The food and service was great. The speciality drinks are also super. This is a great place to come to get the true flavor of florida
(4)
Yelper H.

Never again! (This review is for back in June- but just getting around to it now). We come to Siesta Key all the time and love most of the restaurants in the village. We decided to have a late lunch after the beach one day, this place was almost totally empty, maybe only 3 tables in the whole place seated. First off the waitress got my order wrong. Whatever it happens and I felt bad because she said she was new. I told her not to worry about it (she seemed nervous that she would get in trouble) and told her I would just eat it. Well after we finished the most dried out/hard as a rock chicken I had ever had ( I had chicken with steamed veggies), we got our check. Of course the item I didn't want was more expensive than what I had actually ordered. But the check wasn't fixed and I had to pay for the more expensive meal (that I didn't even order). The REAL problem happened right as we were leaving. My stomach started rubbling and I had to run to the bathroom. I can't remember when I have ever been that sick. We went straight back to the hotel and I was sick for the next two days. It's too bad because this place looks like it had potential.. but from now on I'm staying far far away!!!
(1)
Tony B.

We went to Blu Que upon the recommendation of of a waiter at another restaurant, but the recommendation was for a place to go listen to music. I can recommend Blu Que for the music but nothing else. We were there on a Sunday evening and Marcel Almanzor was playing. He is the regular Sunday & Monday evening entertainment and he is pretty good. The pricing is typical of resort area restaurants and the quality was the typical mediocre resort area fare. We had a grouper sandwich (dry and tasteless) and pulled bar-b-q pork sandwich which was ok. The problem was with the service. Our server took our drink order, brought the drinks and took our food order, then disappeared. Another server brought our food out and set it down and left. The menu says the pork comes topped with bbq sauce but it did not. There was none on the table and no ketchup for the fries. We asked for tarter sauce to come with the grouper sandwich and it was not there and our drinks needed refilled after waiting about 15 minutes for the food to come. We waited for our server to come by to see what we needed but never did. After waiting about 10 minutes, we flagged down a passing server and asked him to get our server. We had to describe her as they do not serve in sections, so he had no idea who our server might be. Tables around us had different servers and they were taking care of their tables needs but we could not get them to look our way. It is a BIG problem when you are the only table a server has in one area of a restaurant and they are never in that area. After a couple of minutes, our server came and we told her what we needed after expressing our disappointment with not seeing her for so long. She brought it and then asked if we needed anything else. By then, we needed warm food. Seriously, it had been nearly 15 minutes since it was brought to the table. She offered to take it back and have it warmed. I declined and told her I only eat warmed over food at home. She did offer and brought some hot fries. She was well aware of our dissatisfaction with our experience. I have never had this type experience where a manager did not come by and offer apologies, etc. but not here. Go here for the music and maybe a drink, but skip the food and do not expect any service.
(1)
Jay E.

Avoid this place. Pure and simple. Lousy food, lousy service, no management and parking is a nightmare. Survives because tourists wander in. Hope it disappears and is replaced by something worthy of the space. Tops my list as worst dining experience I have had anywhere. Read other reviews if you want details. My experience was on par with all the other reviews.
(1)
Edward Z.

Everything was beyond expectations...after reading some of the reviews we were a little skeptical ...Eric our server was great , food was excellent...and all on a Friday night in the heart of tourist season. Advance phone or on line reservations and complimentary valet parking are a big plus!
(5)
Marisa P.

Absolutely loved this place!!!! Fantastic service!! Elyse was an awesome server!!! Food was to die for!!! Calamari, lobster Mac and cheese ball, and baked Brie omg!!!! My mouth is watering right now!! Will be back for sure!!
(5)
Sy L.

Go for the beer and live music, however, liquor is overpriced. Sit outside if you can. The food is okay, but stick to typical bar food to be safe. Servers are average for the key.
(3)
Jason S.

Great atmosphere and nice music. We happened to arrive right at the end of happy hour on a Sunday. Apparently they slow roast a hog in a out door pit at 6 o'clock and pass out free samples to whoever asks. I don't know if it's everyday or just Sundays but it was a pleasant surprise! The appetizers were ok. The fried Brie is more of a desert than a appetizer. I had the pulled pork sandwich. It was good, nothing special. The blue cheese slaw is pretty tasty though. Overall I thought it was too pricey. 3 people eating sandwiches and having a couple drinks shouldn't cost $75.
(3)
Britt N.

It's our last night in siesta key so we decided to check this place out. It was a disappointing end to our vacation. It gets 2 stars for the nice outdoor seating area and good live music. But do not go here if you are hungry because it will be 45 min before you get your salad, 10 min to hunt someone down for some silver wear, and an hour & a half to get your meal. The only reason we continued to sit and wait for the food was because our waitress, Jannelle, was very nice.
(2)
Dia D.

This is another one of those tourist spots on Siesta Key where you can get an okay, but not fantastic, $60 lunch for 3. We had the Blue cheese chips, which tasted pretty good but didn't have much blue cheese flavor, Brunswick stew, house salad, grouper sandwich, and slider sampler.
(3)
Josh G.

Big Top on draft and Tommy D on guitar... We've eaten there a handful of times and the staff are friendly, great atmosphere, and good food. It's great to see local beer, musicians, and food right in Siesta Village. Be sure to get there when Tommy D is playing - he's excellent on guitar
(4)
Jeff S.

Honestly, don't have much to say. But after reading/hearing about some questionable practices when it came to how Blu Que honored their advertisement regarding the Thursday "full rack of rib" special, I figured I'd take a look at their website and see what is being advertised. This is a copy/paste from the Blu Que website on 2/28/2014. Our Happy Hour Specials: Happy Hour Monday - Friday 12-6pm , 1/2 Price Drinks 12-6pm , 1/2 Price Appetizers 3-6pm (At Bars Only) Daily Food Specials: MONDAYS .75 cent Wings All Day. TUESDAYS $15 Smoked Prime Rib. WEDNESDAYS $35 All you can eat Lobster. THURSDAYS $15 Full Rack of Ribs FRIDAYS $50 All You Can Eat King Crab. SATURDAYS $35 All you can eat Snow Crab SUNDAYS $5 Pulled Pork Sandwiches All Day & Pig Roast. While I can't say for sure what happened to the person in a previous review, it seems clear to me that Blu Que is advertising a full rack of ribs for $15, not a 1/2 rack plus sides, or anything else. If in fact they aren't honoring their advertisement I hope a local consumer advocacy group looks into these business practices.
(2)
Matthew P.

Great fish and chips. If you get the smoke fish dip as a starter ask for extra Bread.
(4)
Joanne S.

Shame on this place! They served us some of the worst King Crab Legs we ever had. They were gray in color, soft, rubbery shell...inexcusable!! Service was marginal at Best. We had A half Dozen oysters in which 2 of the shells had no oysters in them! What a Joke...
(1)
Michael G.

I've eaten their food several times over the past couple of years, and it's very good, but over priced. Their service has never been anything to brag about as you can see from other reviews. But last night took the cake. I stopped in to see a band play and have a drink. I sat down, and at the same time a woman sat down at the table next to me. The waitress came to her table, ordered her drink. Walked by me without an acknowledgement of my existence. Then she brought the woman her drink, walked by me again. And came be a third and fourth time w/out saying anything. I can't imagine how, based upon the layout, and lack of customers at 8:30, that I wasn't in her "area". But even if I was not, how difficult would it have been for her to say, "Your waitress will be right with you." ?!? Welcome to Waitressville Idiocracy. Yes, I left, and took my business to the Tequila Cantina on Main St., where I was actually greeted by the waiter, and 2 different bartenders upon walking in.
(2)
Michael G.

An excellent meal. Good atmosphere with live music. Free Valet Parking. Our service was good. However we have heard that the service can be sub-par if they are busy. Food was excellent. Recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Steffen M.

Four star food at 7 star prices. Service was good, margaritas were average. Anything in the smoker section on the menu is legit. It's a good place, but the prices are not in line with the atmosphere, service, and the restaurant in general. ($5 plate charge to split a meal? Come on...)
(3)
Cheryl M.

Excellent calamari, baby back ribs are falling off the bone and Mac and cheese balls are awesome. Lamb shank was too die for. Our waiter was awesome. We also got to sample the pig that was roasting all day! I wish we could have stayed until Wednesday they have all you can eat lobster.
(4)
Raymond G.

Great spot for Happy Hour on Siesta Key. The vibe is relaxed, the music is good and the drink specials are great. What more could you want? I recommend the oysters, which I am told come from NY. You may even get a bit of crab in one or two if you're lucky.
(4)
Marina S.

More of a dive-like restaurant, food was ok, didn't have any blended ice drinks which was hard to accept, the tables all smelled like the chemicals they used to clean them with (glass cleaner?) hard to look past. The minute we sat down I sort of hoped we went to the other restaurant next door.
(2)
Charles F.

This place is great. The atmosphere is fun, the food is good and the staff is super friendly. I go there every time I visit my family in Sarasota!
(5)
Craig C.

We had a solid lunch here, but we were thrilled to find an all day happy hour! The drink prices are outstanding! We had a salad and the Kobe beef sliders... The sliders were terrific and the salad was fine. I will definitely be back for happy hour!
(4)
Jerry B.

Our second time at the Blue Que and it was even better than the first time. Lynne said she could have made a meal of the mac & cheese. I enjoyed the pulled pork...and the baked beans were the best I've had. The atmosphere was excellent and the live music added to the experience without being a distraction. Want a special evening with your special someone? This is the place.
(5)
Joy I.

Excellent happy hour. Good food, especially the all you can eat lobsters. Lots of live music.
(4)
Chris B.

OK, I rarely write negative reviews for restaurants. Every place can have an off night. Having worked in a restaurant in the past, I understand how tough of a job it can be. However, we had an experience here that was bad in so many ways I felt compelled to write this review. We made a reservation after reading some reviews online and seeing that on Wednesdays they had an all you can eat lobster special. We arrived a little early and were seated at 6:45 pm. We attempted to order the special and were told that they no longer offered the all you can eat special, that it was 3 lobsters instead of all you can eat. The regular menu showed a 3 lobster special, and the Specials menu showed all you can eat. When we asked about this the waitress stated that they stopped that a few months ago. We pointed out it was still on there specials menu and were told that it was because the other parts of that menu were still accurate. We placed our order right around 7 pm. First, it took 15 minutes for the drinks to come out (water and soft drinks). When we got our drinks, were were brought sweet tea instead of unsweetened tea. No biggie, but it took another 10 minutes to have them replaced and they were again sweet tea. then about another 10 minutes to get the correct drinks. The kids food came out at 7:15 pm. The first adult's salad came out at 7:20 and the last adult's salad did not arrive until 7:38 pm (brought out one or two at a time over the span of almost 20 minutes). The entree's came out around 7:40 (a few minutes after after they brought the last 2 salads). The entree's (lobster and steak) were of good quality and were prepared well. We only saw the waitress once more during dinner (unable to get drink refills, lemon for the lobster, etc.) In her defense, she was covering most of the tables in the place. The manager stopped by once and asked us how things were, we explained that we had come there for the all you can eat special and that there menus had conflicting information. We were told that the price of lobster had increased and that they would have lost money (completely understandable but really offered no apology, just this as an explanation). We did not have a chance to offer feedback on the rest of the issues as he was racing off. Despite the fact that the waitress was running her butt off (and not providing good service because of this), the manager seemed far more interested in chatting up the the attractive hostess most of the time that we were there rather than helping the rest of his staff. I would be hard pressed to return there after our experience. It sounds atypical, most of the reviews of the place have been positive, but tonight was not a good experience.
(1)
Pamela P.

Awesome dinner! Our server was Eric great job. Attentive but not intrusive. We had the "all you can eat" Lobster and we were dying to finish the 4th one ( see pix). The ambience was typical beech bar with music minus water view (not bad). Their version of bread pudding was a huge portion, worth NOT sharing because it was mouth meltingly good. (again see pix) with sparkler. Good Eats, great company ....... I'll be back........ Pamela
(5)
Virginia G.

Let me begin by saying that my fiance and I got to experience this place during Tropical Storm Debby to give you some reference in terms of ambiance. Cute, comfortable booths to stare out at the never ending rain or sunshine from (grumble grumble...bitter bitter). Comfy little outside bar that begs to be smoked at if you're so inclined, if not go inside or retreat to a safer booth. The place has got a savvy sense of humor with it's wall hangings that instruct you on how to come up with your own Blu Que name. Extensive martini and drink list that yielded some very watered down daiquiris and martinis. We only tried the calamari as it is usually a safe bet (come on, it's fried shoe leather that most people still enjoy) and we had a bit of a group to feed at cocktail hour. It turned out fantastic. Nice mix of siracha and chili sauce....somewhat of a take on Bonefish's Bang Bang sauce. Service was a low point. Sweet enough girl, but really not helpful in terms of her knowledge of the beverage offerings. The biggest insult was when the bill came and we noticed that the fiance's mojito (which was sub-par at best) was charged full price when the server had specifically told us that that "everything on the left side of the menu was 1/2 priced" which rings awesome in our late twenty-something (OK, maybe 30ish) brains. She HAD asked if he wanted frozen or not to which he responded NOT as it's a mojito and there are rules, people. When we inquired as to why it was full price the server informed us then (and only then) that the "regular" mojitos were full price. Buyer beware ;)
(2)
Ariel G.

The food here is really good. Pretty much the best you can get the island. I had the Kobe slider burgers which were amazing. i wish i could have tried everything!! the french fries ere also out of this world if possible for fries lol The martinis on the other hand were what stoop out to me.. I had a coconut martini the an apple martini. they both tasted SOOO good, and they definitely should be bottled and sole every even in McDonald's lol. If your on vacation In Sarasota and want to go out for some classy food at a nice place def check blu smoke out!
(3)
Angela P.

Not good. Ribs were dry and tasted like dog food. Water had a mildew flavor. Yuk! Will not come back.
(1)
Tracey M.

It was a better bar then restaurant. I could imagine going here for drinks to get the night started. They had a martini special but made crappy tasting martinis. I did like the decor. Waitress wasn't very friendly but maybe she was just having a bad day as they looked short-handed.
(2)
Mike B.

Abysmal service. Possibly worst I've ever had at a restaurant. I went at 315 on a monday afternoon. Only one or two other tables were there. It took ten minutes for the waitress to come by. 35 more minutes for our food to arrive. Asked for a refill on a soda - 15 min later, waitress comes by, doesn't have the drink, says she's sorry but is waiting tables, bartending and washing dishes. She only bought our drinks to compensate. Would I go back? Absolutely not - there are too many other places within a two min walk.
(1)
Jenell D.

If you are in need of a benchmark for how ribs should NOT be- go here. I hit an all time low . . . AT A BBQ JOINT! From here on out, any ribs are going to be better than these. Baby back ribs should easily come off the bone, be tender and flavorful. These were none of the above. I had to fight to tear off what little meat was available. If I could rate a dish on Yelp instead of the restaurant as a whole, then it would be a zero (if possible). The reason I gave it two stars is that our other two dishes were decent (Beef brisket, fish sandwich). The service was fine, the location was nice and the ambiance was decent (minus the live eighties band). Overall, I would avoid this and search out another option in the village at Siesta Key as there are clearly better options than this. I wish I had done my research on Yelp before eating here . . .
(2)
Eric M.

I've dined here twice in the last 3 months. Both times the same story; nice atmosphere, friendly service, bad food. Dry brisket, flavorless ribs, poor sides, and really poor desserts. Don't waste your time or money here, there's much better to be had within a short walking distance.
(2)
T. F.

Looks promising from the outside but, once again, looks prove deceiving. Let's just say the food is sub-par for the price and the service spotty; been there three times (probably not again) and drew wait staff that was charming (once) and tetchy (twice). Perhaps that is the problem: inconsistency. One doesn't expect Ritz-level cuisine and service in the roadhouse-style eateries of Siesta Key but, frankly, BQ could do a lot better. Let's hope it does so we have a reason to return.
(2)
Maria E.

A total dive. U can get better BBQ at any grocery store deli. Atmosphere sucks, service sucks, food sucks. Can't believe it's been open this long.
(1)
AL K.

Was an impulse decision to dine here without doing my yelp research and what a huge mistake. service was ok, he was chatty and friendly. Food however was pricey and taste was horrible. Being how competitive the restaurant business are in the area I wonder how they survive. The mahi mahi burger was super salty. I didn't finish it at all.The shrimp grits was like porridge. Would not recommend and would not come back either.
(2)
Jon G.

Good service and a tremendously understanding waiter. My parents are horribly demanding and critical. They frequent the place, and I could literally see the looks of fear and disdain come across the faces of the entire staff as they walked in. I really did cringe for the poor waiter as he tried to make nice with my them. The food is average - I had a decent Kobe burger one day and truly crappy ribs the next.
(3)
Lawrence C.

Interesting to read the earlier review. I can relate to what she experienced. However, I had a more positive experience. This is a new restaurant and i tried to go with another couple on a Monday, only to discover that they were closed (presumably they are now open 7 days--during season). So this time my wife & I arrived on a Sat night, in late November, before the season, and we couldn't get a table outside, yet were offered a table inside. It's very small and dark, and the tables are small and close together--not too enchanting. So we opted to sit at the bar outside (a major action spot) and were able to sit on two sides of a corner and quite enjoyed the scene. The specialty here is smoke meats, and meat in general. My wife doesn't eat meat, yet she was able to find several items on the menu and the fish she had was actually quite good. However, we specifically told the bartender (our waiter) she doesn't eat parsley, and yet her fish came out with parsley. So, I had to eat my dish alone, and hers was quickly remade. To help remedy the mistake, the bartender bought us a round of drinks and dessert, which was very accommodating. My brisket was a little dry, though good flavor. The steaks and ribs looked good. The bartender really helped make the night, and I would return for another try, next time making a reservation for an outside table. This place deserves the third star for its atmosphere. Perhaps as the restaurant gets more experience, it can deserve another star.
(3)
Loryn J. M.

We came here on a recommendation and loved it. Yummy food, friendly service, nice music, great atmosphere. Bobby had the ribs--"very good" Sheila had the pulled pork sandwich--"excellent" Mark had the Caesar salad with pulled pork "good but made great by the pulled pork. I had the Cobb with smoked chicken "yummy."
(5)
Rachel R.

I'm really happy that Blu Smoke opened up on the key because I can never say no to some BBQ. It's a nice change of pace in comparison Sonny's and the Sunday BBQ at The Salty Dog. I've had their beef brisket a couple of times and it's pretty tasty. The brisket isn't cut like how I usually see it. It is cut into very thin, long and like an inch wide slices...the only problem I have with this is that it has a real potential to dry out -- especially if you take home some leftovers. They have 3 different kinds of sauces on the table for you to use; zingy mustard, southwest chipotle and a classic BBQ. I'm not a huge fan of any single one on their own, but mixing the chipotle with the bbq together produces a sweet and spicy mix -- I love it! Their fried calamari is hands down the best thing on the menu. My Dad and I both agree it's some of the best we've ever tasted. The texture is fantastic and not rubbery and chewy at all. And the sweet and sour type of sauce they put on top is delicious. I've also had the shrimp and grits with sausage. It was good, but only if I'm really craving some grits. And sadly, I've been spoiled by only eating grits in South Carolina so I can be a bit picky. I'm a fan of Blu Smoke. Good food, nice ambiance, and prompt service. The only thing that kind of bugs me is their smoke machine. I get it, your name is Blu Smoke... it was cute for a minute but then it just was interrupting my meal.
(4)
Lana T.

Enjoyed a delicious dinner last night but am so disappointed that you have removed WINE from your Happy Hour list!! ADD the WINE back!!! Your Happy Hour USED to be the best but now....I am so disillusioned!!
(3)
Carl Z.

I had higher hopes for Blu Que Island, but upon arrival for lunch I just had a sense that this was another one of those restaurants that really is a bar but happens to serve food as well. The live music should have told me so! The food was rather bland. I ordered grouper, since it's a local fish - asked to have it blackened but is was delivered with little seasoning. It was quite fresh, but lacked taste. I read about these famous potato fries with blue cheese dressing - a big disappointment. The potato's had obviously been cooked for some time already, probably sitting under a heat lamp. I can say I went, but probably wouldn't go back, except for having a Guinness at the bar.
(2)
Matthew E.

I rarely write reviews. The bright side to our lunch was the friendly, prompt service. The food, a grilled flounder sandwich $12 with bacon $0.50 added was on a small, plain, store-bought bun, there wasn't a lot of fish, and the bacon was 4 tiny pieces of all-fat flaccid whiteness. And it came with LTO which I thought was a little strange. My girl's BBQ pulled pork $9 was pretty bland, on the same type of small lame bun. The waffle fries were decent. My gf liked her mojito, but I thought it was too sweet and weak. The beer list is ok; the waitress brought two for me to try first and understood when I wanted something else. If you're on Siesta Key, try somewhere else, esp. if you'd like a deeper seafood menu at lunch or a bigger sandwich.
(2)
Larry G.

Fun outdoor party atmosphere with a great live blues band. Downhill from there. The service was not good. Not only was it extremely slow, it was negectful. As far as the food goes...meh! It was okay. Nothing great. There are lots of other really good choices. Choose somewhere else.
(2)
Derek D.

Depends on what I'm reviewing. I did love the free valet parking, and the All Day Every Day happy hour is top notch. You can definitely have a good time at the bar for under $24. As for the food I had high expectations. I wanted BBQ and for $17 for a half slab of dry rub ribs I was a little disappointed. The spice was fine, but the ribs were sub par. Not very meaty and somewhat small. The sides of braised cabbage and yukon gold mash were fine. However the appetizer and dessert were fantastic. Loved their wings; BBQ smoked, huge and meaty with a ton of flavor. And an excellent rendition of bread pudding; more of two slices of savory cheesecake. So the bar, app and desserts were top notch. But the main draw, the BBQ, left me wanting more.
(3)
Jann W.

We enjoyed the atmosphere, music and service. BBQ is OK with a nice sauce selection. Not the smokey BBQ that is our favorite style. We tried brisket, ribs and pulled pork and would rank them in that order, with brisket best - nice and tender.
(3)
Cheri P.

Sarasota seems to be making a concerted effort towards becoming known for its barbecue as much as its artistic culture and beaches, and the Blu Que Island Grill is definitely a restaurant that pushes that effort in a positive way. Nestled right in the middle of Siesta Village, Blu Que looks like it would fit right in as an upscale eatery in the Keys, and boasts both comfortable outdoor seating and a cool, shaded, stylish interior dining. While there are a few tv's hanging around, it doesn't come off as a sports bar, and the blue backlit bar and wine storage is a great touch that comes off as tasteful, not tacky. We ate indoors, and during our meal a singer/guitarist set up and began playing outside, but it was at a level comfortable enough to talk over, and if you were outside, not so loud that you couldn't still enjoy yourself. Right off the bat, we knew we had to try the Blu Cheese Chips ($8) and the Kobe Beef Sliders ($12), since the menu boasted ingredients that sound delicious and we had tried similar starters at other restaurants. We definitely were not disappointed. The chips were completely self-indulgent and decadent, and were able to stay crispy from not being drowned in too much bleu cheese and balsamic reduction. The Sliders were top-notch. We ordered them cooked medium, and not only were they perfectly prepared, the flavor of the beef completely blew us away. With only three on the plate, it was hard to not fight each other to devour the last one (we ended up splitting it like civilized people). Blu Cheese Chips, Blu Que Island Grill, Siesta Key, Sarasota, FLMy sidekick's main course was the Fish Tacos ($13), which came out as a generous portion of battered fish in soft tortillas with lettuce, pico and an avocado aioli that was unexpectedly spicy in a good way. I opted for the K. R. D. St. Louis Ribs ($17 for a half-rack) to see what Blu Que's smoker had going for it, and they were great. I ordered them dry so I could sample the regular, Gold and Kansas City sauces on the table, and they all were tangy, bold and went well with the pork. Personally, I enjoyed the Kansas City sauce the most, but I really would recommend any of them. The waffle fries we both ordered were perfectly done and outshined any popular drive-thru, and my seasoned veggies were surprisingly good. Fish Tacos, Blu Que Island Grill, Siesta Key, Sarasota, FLMost places just dish out seasoned veggies that maybe were cooked to order and maybe weren't, and are almost always soft and soggy, but these were fresh and firm, and were a smart addition to my meal (although I was tempted to try the mac and cheese because, well... mac and cheese...). We were completely stuffed after all of it, so we had to decline the waitress's offer for dessert, but we definitely plan on returning to try the Chocolate Molten Lava Cake, which looked fantastic when it was served to a nearby table. Our visit to Blu Que was a completely positive experience. The staff was friendly but professional, and aside from a lone hiccup in waiting for drink refills, the service was great and the food was definitely something to write home about. The slightly higher prices keep it from being too casual of a stop, but if you get what you pay for, Blu Que delivers on all fronts. No one looking for tasty BBQ will be disappointed.
(4)
matt m.

3.5 stars. This place smells sooo good! We sat at the bar and got great service (e.g. a couple free drinks). The food was solid but not all that memorable- everything was prepared as ordered but I wasn't wowed. I had the burger and wife had salmon- maybe next time we'll try ribs or something more adventurous.
(3)
Emily H.

Food here is hit or miss, my friend ordered a saled here once it was hilarious , not in a good way . I give it a 4 becouse the happy hr is long and the drink list is big and everything I've tried is yummy. My boyfriend got a drink once that was a bit week and our waitress brought him a shot on the house. We will be going here everyday this week during our vacation .
(4)
Zach Y.

Loved this place the first time we came here 3 years ago. Seems to have changed ownership or something because the quality decreased significantly in all aspects. Blue Que of 3 years ago would have got 5 stars. Now the food and drinks are average
(3)
Ray D.

Three words..... Shrimp and Grits! Hard to find this delicacy outside the Deep South. It was excellent. The atmosphere here is laid back, good entertainment, and plenty of choices on the menu.
(4)
Jessica L.

Awesome food and atmosphere! Live music with acoustic guitar. We came for dinner and its tucked behind the main street, come here if your going out to eat! I orderd the pulled pork with mixed veggies and cheese grits, it was so delicious! My f e BBQ sauce was the Kansas city classic!
(4)
Christine B.

This place sucks. Order a martini in the outside bar it was half filled, order the same drink inside it was full but a totally different drink. If you needed service, you needed to find it! When the owner was approached about this he had no idea and did not care. We would not recommend this restaurant .
(1)
Lindsay D.

I had higher hopes from this place. Free valet parking, great-sounding music, and the place looked ADORABLE. The server was prompt and friendly (although a little confused about what beers were on Happy Hour special). However, when the food came, we were SO disappointed. First of all, we got our kiddo a milk and a kids meal. $4 freaking dolllars for a cup of milk and $8 for a grilled cheese--COME ON. You have got to be kidding me. We also ordered the brisket quesadilla as an app and what with it being a BBQ place, we thought it'd be awesome. Nope. The brisket was pure fat and gristle and the cheese was half cold. The wedge salad was the biggest joke, though. $11 for a half a head of soggy iceberg lettuce, bacon bits, and disgusting tomatoes. We thought about throwing a stink and asking for our money back, but we were in vacation mode and didn't feel like dealing with it. Go to Siesta Key Oyster Bar instead. Always great food and great service.
(2)
Robert V.

Awful. 'Nuff said. Skip it and head over to SKOB.
(1)
Randy B.

Went here for dinner one nite and it was very busy but we were seated and ordered in a fairly quick time. Food was presented well and wasn't bad just wasn't great. Only thing I could say was that it was a bit bland and missing a lot of flavor that is said it was cooked with on the menu. Wondering exactly how it is cooked. Seems like some of their menu items are hit or miss. Good atmosphere though and waitress was great.
(3)
Kim S.

Wouldn't even give 1 star if possible. Just came from there. I had the pulled pork with green beans (almondine style). Awful. My pork was a pile of fat and green beans not cooked. I told waitress whom was very nice - she apologized but nothing was done about it. I should have pushed or refused to pay I guess but I was just so disappointed our last night in SK.
(1)
M C.

Disappointed again. Service is clueless. Had to ask at least twice for each item. Salads were served and we were still waiting for our drinks which were ordered 10 minutes earlier. Waiters walk past table and don't think to take empty plates or glasses. Staff was very pleasant but incompetent.
(1)
Jean K.

Skip this restaurant! While on Siesta we went to this restaurant and witnessed something that was a real downer on our vacation mood. Our sweet, hard-working, young server was ordered to carry vastly overloaded trays around or lose her job. Meanwhile the mean mgmt. laughed at their bullying. It was awful! I would have quit and I hope she did too! I guess they were jealous of her youth and popularity with customers? These things are assets for any restaurant, so I don't understand? Food was unremarkable.
(1)
Elizabeth S.

Best place for BBQ/ smoke on the key!!! Excellent pulled pork with the Kansas City BBQ sauce... Great Service. When your down here make to make this a dinner destination.
(4)
Brian K.

Our visit there with six friends was quite an experience.We had the Manager as our waiter. He was not only rude,but had to beg to order more beer and wine.The food was adequate. This was my second visit to this Rest.The first time the wait staff was making rude comments about our Singles group that was there,calling us " Losers " for not having DATES.This will be my last time ever going there.
(1)
L C.

Let's be more objective here. Food is good here... no questions asked. Whether it's the bison or kobe burgers, you can't go wrong. Price wise, it's somewhat up there but you pay for the location you are in. The gazpacho BLT soup was excellent.. unusual but excellent. Fries were great as well but this is where the 5 star slipped through the cracks. 1) not enough fries. Come on... anty it up. 2) The service overall was BAD and INCOMPREHENSIBLE on how their system worked. Our waiter was also a bartender but yet, the bus boy was constantly present near by. He could not help us with a party of 6 so we had to wait for our waitor to come back. Unacceptable. For my sister to get the drinks and put the order in as if she's shadowing their work, at the end of the day... she got the tip and the waiter got nothing. Bottom line: you'll find good food here but plan on staying a while. Bring your nook or download an app on your phone to keep yourself company or hopefully you have a very talkative party with you.
(4)
Olimpia S.

Blu Smoke has awesome martinis and great bartenders ... the food's pretty good too :)
(5)
Scott W.

Zero stars would be appropriate. It took over ten minutes before our server noticed us after being seated.. She apologized profusely, then ignored us for another 35 minutes. She eventually noticed that our glasses were empty, but it was too late. After 50 minutes and no food in sight, enough was enough, we left without dinner. Stay away. Or better yet, go over to the Hub where we had great food and service the night before. Or Napolis where the server was attentive, the pizza delicious, and half the price.
(1)
Amy e.

Good food, but understaffed. Look out for people who like happy hour too much
(3)
Renee F.

Went for smoked prime rib. Worst we've ever had. It was a skinny little piece and very fatty. Service was not good either. Very Over priced!
(1)
Judy K.

I was surprised to read some complaints about service, since we had such a wonderful experience. From the initial greeting, being seated promptly, to even being sure we got our drink order in time to get the happy hour half-off rate-- our server was very friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. Both the mango martini and the pomegranate martini were great. Live music was playing--similar to the coffeehouse radio station music choices-- just perfect for a relaxing dinner. But then the real fun began: this entire month is featuring all you can eat lobster for $35, which includes clam chowder and a house salad. We appreciated how they brought out one lobster at a time, making sure each one was hot and fresh--these were 1 to 1 1/4 pound Maine lobsters, and they were sweet and tender. The clam chowder was tasty as well, and the salad was fine. Husband was elated with the meal, and the eagerness of the wait staff to be sure he had as many lobsters as he wanted! I couldn't decide between smoked brisket or pulled pork, but the server steered me right-- and I loved the brisket along with a variety of barbecue sauces available on the table. My entree came with a choice of 2 sides-- good cheese grits, and their signature blue cheese coleslaw, which was a bit too rich for me. Wine list was reasonably priced-- had a Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc for $33. Can't say enough about our wonderfully friendly and efficient server and the very enjoyable meal. We will definitely return!
(5)
Eduardo O.

Great restaurant by the sea, with great bar and ambient.
(5)
Stacy L.

Went on prime rib night. Ordered rare and medium rare. They came out both medium well. The server seemed confused that we didn't want the steaks, took them away and brought back two new steaks that were slightly better. No apology whatsoever. Mashed potatoes tasted like they were from a box. There are too many better places nearby.
(2)
Diana G.

Food was average. Mom and I had pulled pork sandwich which was ok, no real flavor to the pork at all. Sauces were cattlemans and were good but I can buy at the grocery. Bottom bun of the sandwich was soaked when we got it. Not sure if it was kept in a warmer or from the fat in meat soaking it. This made it impossible to pick the sandwich up to eat it. You had to eat with a fork. Hubs had blackened Mahi sandwich with mushrooms and really liked it. He ate every bite. Said it was great and well cooked. Dad had the brisket sandwich and really liked it. He also had a blue cheese cole slaw that he loved. The waffle fries are spicy seasoned and really great. They were the highlight of the meal. Service was good but witnessed another waiter being really rude to customers at the bar. Complimentary valet parking though was a huge bonus. It's hard to find parking down there. Would probably return but not outstanding.
(3)
Howard S.

Worst dining experience in Sarasota-ever. Where to begin? We were seated next to the bar, where smoking is allowed. The smoke amazingly drifted the 10 feet towards our table, making it unpleasant for everyone in our party of 5. The live music was ok unless you are seated next to a bunch of yahoos who must have thought they had to scream as loud as they could after every song. Seriously. It was like they were in the bleachers at a Jimmy Buffet concert. So our salads come, of course the dressing was not on the side as asked. Plus, no plates, not enough silverware or napkins! Had to search for someone to get us utensils. Then, the burger that was supposed to be medium-well came out pink and bloody. Had to wait to flag down someone to take it back. Second one was still pink, not so bloody. Our manager-waitress actually CRITICIZED the person who ordered the burger for not ordering the burger well-done! "If you don't want pink, you should have ordered it well-done". Third burger was ok, but of course by then everyone else had finished their meal. Finally, the girls in our group tell me that if the Health Department had seen the ladies bathroom, they would have shut it down. Sarasota has tons of fine restaurants, I don't know how this place stays in business.
(1)
beryl l.

Blu Smoke is an American fare restaurant on Siesta Key located in the old Maximos spot. My first impression was a good one.. They have inside seating as well as an outdoor area with large booths, live music and somewhat cool decor. But sadly, that is where it ended. We had a reservation for four, at a very small table and almost completely in the dark. Mind you, it was only 7pm and the place was so dark I could barely make out the menu (I'm in my twenties, with perfect eyesight). Our server was very nice but seemed very inexperienced and the service was a bit slow. I will mention that it seemed like they were understaffed that night as I did not see that many staff walking around. The menu is okay, nothing special. I am a pescetarian so I ended up ordering three appetizers instead of a meal. I ordered the Fried Calamari (not very crispy when marinated in their chili sauce- thumbs down), Black Bean soup with no sausage (very tasty) and the Nori Tuna. Usually when dining, I rarely send things back but this time I just had to. The tuna was absolutely awful. It was not fresh, tasted previously frozen and had no taste whatsoever. The server took it back and I ordered dessert. We had the grilled pineapple with vanilla ice cream (pass) and the chocolate brownie with ice cream (win). When handed the bill, we noticed we were still being charged for the tuna. Really? We had it fixed then left. The three others I was with were not very impressed with their meals either (ribs and salads). All in all, will not be back for food but maybe a drink one day.
(2)

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Address : 149 Avenida Messina
Sarasota, FL, 34242
Phone (941) 346-0738
Website https://bluqueislandgrill.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Blu Que Island Grill

149 Avenida Messina, Sarasota, FL, 34242

Blu Que Island Grill Menu

Starters & Sharing

Soup & Salads

Smoker

Steak & Chops

Sides

Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Blu Que Island Grill

Starters & Sharing

Soup & Salads

Smoker

Steak & Chops

Sides

Desserts

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Alyssa S.

Carrie A.

Yanine R.

Dione B.

Teri A.

Dan C.

Kelly F.

Heidi H.

Brian C.

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Michael G.

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