We were in Sarasota for my birthday and went to lunch here on a whim. We also had our dog with us so the fact that it was very dog friendly was a plus! Our waiter was Andy and although he forgot to bring me a glass of water 3 times, he was extremely apologetic and brought treats for our dog. He was funny and pleasant. The quesadilla was very very good. Just the way I like it, lots of onions, green peppers and cheese. You can also get it with shrimp, chicken or steak. My husband had the coconut shrimp which he said was some of the best he has had! We will definitely go back when we are in Sarasota again.
(4)
Winter J.
While visiting Sarasota my brother and sister n law brought us here for lunch. I had the suntanned wahoo and it was amazing.
(4)
Cassie F.
Bottom Line: it's consistent and a good solid option in the Circle. All three of us cleaned our plates - so you could tell we enjoyed every bite! I know we'll def go back. We've been coming to LBK for vacation for years and we always go out one or two nights. The Circle has a lot of incredible dining options and most of them are on the $$$-$$$$ side. Cha Cha's is one of the more affordable options. It has outdoor seating and an open front so even when you sit inside it has an outside feel. The whole Caribbean theme is going on, from the decorations to the live music. There was a table of 9 of us, 3 on my bill. I had the blackened shrimp quesadilla - which is a repeat order for me so you know it's good! My son had the Surf & Turf. It was a platter w steak and shrimp skewers. He said the steak was very tender. His gf had the Pork Chop Boonoonoo which was marinated and covered in mango chutney. They both got plantains and rice and beans as sides. My son and I each had 2 beers. Our bill was $70. Our waitress had no problem handling a large table w split checks. She was knowledgable about the menu and even suggested an affordable, $3/bottle Kalik Beer to us. She came back and asked how we liked the beer, she said that since she recommended it she wanted to make sure we were happy with it - nice customer service touch ;-) I sampled some of the nachos my friend ordered and they were loaded! Also tried some wings and they were good too. See you next year Cha Cha's!
(4)
Brad S.
Filthy place. No wonder they put hand soap on the tables! Maybe they should try cleaning the place a lot better. The tile floors are quite dirty. The outdoor tables are concrete with mosaic tops, but the concrete is very porous. There is a layer of grease around the edges that could be years old. Who knows? The Cuban sandwich we shared with just okay. Nothing special. The usual ham and roast pork on an average piece of toasted Cuban bread, with fries. Not very big. Service was super slow. No water was brought to the table until the meal was over and then it had to be requested. Are they saving money on ice? And they had the most annoying trivia game going on with the MC booming over a PA speaker at an inordinate volume. There are better options on St. Armand's Circle, for sure.
(2)
Felice D.
Love this place, great service and great food. We are not big eaters so we opt for their sampler appetizer and share though my wife tries to hog the coconut shrimp which are the best around. The ribs fall off the bone, buffalo wings are authentic ( we are from upstate NY) and the sauces are good. Not sure why some complain about the service as we have not experienced a problem. Felice D.
(5)
Eric R.
This is only a 3 because the service was rough. You seat yourself so there is no guidance. It's odd. Place is also fairly dirty looking. Had conch fritters (pretty good) and fish dip (solid too). Fish tacos were very good and the dish was plenty big. If you get good service this can be a 4. Location is in the heart of downtown. Strongly recommend valet which is right in front of restaurant.
(3)
Laurel A.
Great atmosphere and same singer that's been here for the last 6 years. Kalik beer for $3 was amazing and very much like Corona, just slightly lighter in flavor. Prices are lower than other restaurants in the Circle. Worth a try if you're on vacation.
(4)
Nick C.
There's nothing here that I particularly like but I'm a very hard person to please with food. My grandparents love this place and have been coming here for 8 years every time we go on vacation here for their ribs.
(4)
Mr S.
Great spot in St. Armand's.. Not your typical stuck up ritzy place you would think of like the rest of the Circle. Actually has a normal everyday blue collar feel. My family and I frequent Cha Cha's often. Great drinks. Awesome happy hour. Wonderful easy going atmosphere and service. If u don't like to drink with your pinky our or your nose in the air then this is a great place for you. Be yourself let down your hair and enjoy.
(5)
Cello K.
I've been coming here for years- it's inexpensive and serves a decent grouper sandwich. Of late the buns have been stale, so most recently I ordered the grouper dinner and was happy. My husband said his bun was stale :( Live and learn!
(3)
Resa G.
I went to this establishment a few days ago and ordered a hot pressed ham and cheese sandwich. My sister had the Cuban sandwich. Both were not very good. They were cooked too long and hard. My sandwich had one slice of ham on it. I ended up taking the meat and melted cheese off of one half and putting it on the other half to make a decent few bites... or it would have been mostly just all bread. My sister's was a bit better in the meat category but still overcooked. She ended up doing the same thing I did. I ordered a Pina Colada and I don't think there was any alcohol in it. Should have gotten a slight buzz of of it but nope. The french fries were the best thing on my plate and they were more than likely frozen. Pricey for a bad meal and I won't be returning. Go to the Columbia next door.
(1)
Sarah W.
This was delicious! It has a nice atmosphere, good service and clean tables. I ordered the cheesy quesadilla and had blackened shrimp on it (you have to ask for it to be blackened, which I definitely recommend). The onion sticks, black bean chili, fish tacos and Cubano were also all so delicious!
(4)
Gary O.
With our daytrip to Saint Armand's yesterday we didn't realize it was also the art festival. The place was packed but we stopped here for a late lunch. The food, service and drinks were great. The Cuban sandwich I had would make Ybor jealous. My wife's salad and our friends sandwiches with fries we're also brag worthy. Kim our server was always present even though she had multiple tables. She even replaced my partially spilled beer, and was a lot of fun teasing me. Why can't all servers be on the ball like Kim? Great lunch!
(5)
Courtney W.
Don't let the looks fool you! I had some of the best and fastest service here during my trip 9/2014! I ordered the appetizer: conch fritters. Now I've never had conch before and wast sure what exactly to expect- it was good! Chewy, but tasted great. Definitely enough to split 4 ways. Entree: I ordered the highly recommended baked fish tacos and I would HIGHLY recommend this. It comes with 2 very large tacos and they do not skimp on the fish! Also a heaping side of rice and black beans.... I only ended up eating 1 taco and saved the rest for dinner the next day! More than enough food! Good beer tap choices too!!
(5)
Alyssa H.
Fun atmosphere to enjoy delicious seafood and enjoy a fun night out with friends. The food and service were both great and I would definitely return and recommend to a friend! I would highly recommend the grouper sandwich; it was perfectly cooked and delicious!
We had lunch here just past rush hour. Sat down and waited ages for menus. Then ages to order. Then ages and ages to get food. And did not get water until we asked for it. Need I say service needs improvement? When it comes to food, their signature fish with a rose sauce, beans and plantains where two tiny pieces of rubbery fish, fried about three times as long as needed and thereby hardly eatable. Plantains where three sad pieces and sauce some pink mayonnaise. Fish tacos where ok, though quite greasy and bland. Mango smoothie decent but served with whipped cream on top. Come on- on a smoothie?? They could at least warn! All in all- we would have eaten better at any fast food joint. And a lot cheaper.
(1)
Karen C.
Such a fun and fairly affordable lunch spot when wandering around St. Armands. It's nothing fancy but it isn't trying to be. Our waiter was very prompt and friendly once we sat at one of the outdoor tables. We had the chicken fingers and jerk chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries. The chicken fingers hit the spot as I indulged in one of my old childhood favorites and I snagged some sweet potato fries from my fiance's plate and they were delicious...nice and crispy. The sauce with the chicken fingers was awesome - honey mustard with some horseradish for a nice little kick. The sweet potato fries were yummy in this sauce too! Will be back.
(4)
Eric E.
You come here for the drinks and to sit on their street-side patio. This affords you the sun, people watching and a good view of the circle. The food is average although I did have a tasty mahi mahi sandwich on one visit. CCC is overprice, but if you value the outdoor seating as we do, and a lengthy drink menu...this is a great choice. Cheers!
(4)
Carol B.
Cheerful place to eat and drink. Very beach flip flop,casual. Nice sidewalk tables for people watching. The conch fritters are wonderful. So are,the fish tacos but ask for extra sauce. Enough to share. Can get loud You may have to go find a server if you need something. The staff is young untrained and overworked nest value is happy hour since the drinks aren't strong
(3)
Charlie ..
I went here with my grandmother, because I was visiting her for a little. We were pretty hungery and were in the area. We decided to hop in for lunch. They had a sign saying "Please seat your self". We found a nice little spot and waited for someone to come by to take our order. I'm not even kidding you, we waited about 20 minutes for our waiter to come. We eventually had to go request for one. When we ordered our food and that took a long time as well. I got a taco and It was really bad. It had this garlic taste to it and it overpowered the who thing. Would not recommend and we won't be back.
(1)
Mia C.
Love the coconut shrimp and sweet potato Caribbean fries appetizer. Thumbs up to both.
(5)
Jed M.
Stopped in for a drink on NYE. My margarita was served on ice as ordered, with a salted rim. The tequila to mix ratio was adequate. The size of the glass was small and was completely filled with ice, so I think I only had 6-8 oz of actual margarita. Good table service and free NYE hats!
(3)
Ayla Z.
Cha cha coconuts is a great place to go for tourists in the area. Drinks are okay, tropical/fruity as most are on the water here and service varies depending on the waiter, however, I have eaten there multiple times because their fish tacos and conch fritters with coconut mustard sauce is PHENOMENAL. Food at cha cha is consistently delicious, flavorful, cooked properly and keeps me coming back. The bartenders are friendly, and if they get their table servers all on the same page I would give it 5 stars.
(4)
Ashley K.
Cha Cha Coconuts is always one of the first places I visit in Sarasota. I absolutely can't get enough of the "Emily's Soca Coconut Shrimp" - get it with their mango chutney instead of the mustard sauce and you'll be in heaven. The cole slaw that goes along with it is so refreshing. The Divi Divi burger is also really great, as are the onion strings. I love sitting outside and the service is usually pretty good. Only thing I haven't been a fan of is their alcoholic drinks. Can't seem to get one that tastes how I want it to. But, oh well - I'm here for the shrimp anyway.
(4)
Brad P.
I love the location it is a fun place to hang out. Love the Cuban sandwich. Fun to stop in here while shopping in the area. Good service and great place to stop in to get out of the heat. Would come back again
(4)
Christina B.
Went for a late lunch. We seated ourselves outside along the sidewalk. Ordered the Mahi sandwich and fried sweets. The Mahi serving was generous and well-seasoned. The sweet potato fries were excellent. The drinks were overpriced, but enjoyed the food, service, and sidewalk seating.
(4)
Bob B.
Great place. Nachos, conch fritters and coconut shrimp all really good. Service was great too.
(4)
Todd B.
Look, I'm giving it a 4 star. It probably doesn't deserve it - it should probably be a 3 or a 3.5 - but I can't give it 3.5 and I think a 3 is an insult. St. Armands Circle in Sarasota is expensive. Every place is outrageously priced with the possible exception of the ice cream places. But it's also a great place to spend some time - multiple restaurants with balconies or outdoor seating, lots of options, and a pretty setting. So where do 2 people go who want to eat at St. Armands but don't want to spend a fortune? Cha Cha Coconuts. This place is a quintessential beach bar/restaurant. It looks like it belongs a couple of blocks away on Lido Beach, but since the beaches in Sarasota don't have restaurants/bars on the beach (for some unknown reason) like nearly every other beach community in Florida, Cha Cha's is as close as it can get (like the beach bars/restaurants in Siesta Village). Anyway, my girlfriend got fish tacos, since the reviews were talking about them, and I got a blackened mahi sandwich. I was thrilled with my sandwich. Fish was fresh, seasoning was awesome. She probably felt her tacos were closer to a 3, but I think she was happy, too. They have an extensive drink menu of specialty cocktails - although we didn't try any - and it looked like they had good happy hour specials, too, though we were there after HH. In any event, like I said, we had a very tasty meal here for a reasonable price, which is so hard to find on St. Armand's. I liked it, and I'll come back. Is it 4 star food? No. But it's 3 to 3.5 star food at prices that won't send you home for the rest of the weekend. I'll be back.
(4)
Chris D.
This is a place we look forward to visit. We are never disappointed with our food or the service we receive. The food is always fresh, tasty, and quickly served. The staff is always very friendly
(4)
Sevarrest A.
Wasn't as great as I anticipated. The food ok. & service was so so. The atmosphere was pretty good & all the servers were up beat & happy. I had the ribs which were not the greatest but edible. My wife had a fish sandwich which she seemed to enjoy. The Sweet Potato fries were the star of our meal which is sad seeing as how it was an accompaniment. Not sure I'd return or recommend it.
(2)
Paul P.
Whenever in Sarasota we always stop by for dinner or lunch. We were there 7/7 for dinner and was disappointed. Our dinners arrived shortly after our appetizers. My wife's burger was rare instead of the medium well she requested and all the bread seemed stale.
(5)
Sha P.
Great place for lunch. Feels like you are in the Caribbean. Great pork chops, coconut shrimp, and nachos. Service is wonderful.
(4)
Sandy H.
Cha Cha Coconuts has an extensive menu, super cool servers and great support staff. It is a fun, family getaway place on St. Armand's Circle.
(5)
Jessica H.
Let me start off with the one compliment I can think of, their service and atmosphere was wonderful and we had a very nice waiter! But besides that, this place is horrible. I ordered the "house speciality" which was pork ribs. I was really excited because they sounded unique. Those were the worst ribs I have EVER had--dry, chewy, no flavor. Also, their "Island Fries" were mushy and just as unflavorful as everything else. My boyfriend reciprocated these feelings for his meal as well. We spoke to his Aunt afterwards and she agrees that Cha Cha Coconuts has horrible food. The bottom line: The food is bland and boring and downright horrible. The atmosphere is fun though. I will not be returning. Bring back the meatloaf!
(1)
Zach P.
This was our second time eating here. The first time was last year during our visit to Sarasota. I would have given four stars for our first visit but after yesterday's dinner, I don't really know what to think about this place anymore. Seems like the portions ate smaller from last year and the food wasn't as fresh. During both visits I had the Mahi Mahi which comes with black beans, yellow rice and plantain. The Mahi Mahi was alright... Not my favorite and I wasn't impressed, but loved it the first time I went. My wife had the Wahoo sandwich and the fish was overcooked. Bummer... However, what was on point were the conch fritters. Those were awesome and the coconut mustard was great too. I've never had their drinks there but I would recommend the conch fritters at the very least.
(3)
Christopher D.
Super casual with friendly staff and open seating. Fried grouper to die for, excellent ribs, great steak skewers. Some of the best key lime pie I've had anywhere. Be warned though, the fish tacos are not Baja-style: they put grilled veggies and black beans on 'em here. Still delicious, but they're not the cabbage-creamy California fish tacos. But. Plantains. Everywhere. Beans, yellow rice, and plantains were sides with almost every dish. The plantains were sweet and tangy and the absolute star of the meal. Highly recommended.
(5)
Jeff H.
okay spot for lunch. got a cuban mixed sandwich and the bread was real hard ... like chip your tooth hard. the wife's mahi mahi sandwich looked great. service was fine. prices were fair.
(2)
Alabaster M.
Dude, no. I wanted to go to Columbia next door, but there was a huge wait and we were exhausted so it was like, fine. No wait here. The service was quick but that's pretty much the only good thing. It was loud as heck. The fish tacos were lame. Literally no flavor. I converted to vegetarianism a few months ago but said I'd make a some exceptions vis a vis fish on my Florida vacation a few weeks ago, and this is the only exception I made that I regret. Should have gotten a quesadilla, those looked appealing when I saw them on other tables.
(2)
Cristina T.
I thought this place was going to be good considering there were a lot of people and the atmosphere looked phone.. But I Got sick from their chicken quesadillas. Will not be returning.
(1)
Erin B.
Great for decent price! Amaze-balls Bahama Mamas! +sit wherever you want even while busy +great tropical mahi with rice, beans, and plantains. Waitress was attentive and cordial. No objections here.
(4)
Eric D.
Great place to eat for lunch or dinner. The fish tacos are a great choice. Our last visit was on a Thursday and we enjoyed the live music. Service could have been a little more attentive but overall we were taken care of. Very glad that they were able to accommodate our party of 13 with no reservation. This is my 4th or 5th time visiting and I'm sure we will be back.
(4)
Julia N.
Pretty good food. Definitely creative. Cole slaw has pineapple in it. .. I wasn't a fan. Conch fritters were delicious tho.
(3)
John R.
Food was okay. Guess this place gets very busy because of location but enough seating to get in and our fast
(3)
Jerry W.
tops in my book. here from Michigan for Christmas week. didn't know where to go for dinner. lots of choices decided on Coconuts and very glad we did. great eats and fantastic service too.
(5)
Sean A.
It is a yearly tradition that my wife and two girls come down here. Always a great time good food and friendly service.
(4)
pomona k.
First lunch is Sarasota was here at Cha Cha Coconuts. It seem like this place should be located on the beach with a sign that says, "No shirt, no shoes, no problem." It has that kind of chilled vibe. You come in, find yourself a seat, and a waiter will find his way to you in no time. Our waiter wasn't friendly (nor was he rude), but he provided attentive service. I had my first of many grouper tacos I would have in my 4 days in Sarasota. Unfortunately, there was no corn tortilla option and I didn't want the flour tortilla, so I just had the fish and everything else that came with it. The waiter didn't even blink when I told him the "modification" to my order; it was just no problem and no problem it was. The food came out and it was delish. The "tacos" came with rice and beans that made me want to lick the plate.
(4)
John D.
You have to remember what this place is.. An open air bar on the boardwalk. Given that, I rate this at a 4. The food was hot and the fish tacos were great. There was a live band that made the atmosphere even batter... Lots of fun.
(4)
Arthur S.
Came here for lunch with my daughter while on a quick visit with her. It was actually her suggestion to come here. She said I would like the music. Of course I did, the primary theme was Jimmy Buffett. Anywho, we sat down at a table of our own choosing as it wasn't too busy at the time. Our waitress/waiter was very nice and attentive. I say this because we started out with a woman and ended with a man. Not a problem though as there seemed to be communication between the two when we were given a different server. My daughter ordered the Chicken Cheese BLT and I had a the Jerk Chicken sandwich. Both were very good, the portion of a good size, and we left feeling satisfied with our meal and experience. I will definitely try this place again when I'm down here.
(4)
Emily G.
I have been going to cha cha's since I was a little kid and it has always been one of my favorite places to eat on St. Armand's circle. It is always my first choice if I am out there. Service is always great, all the servers are nice. I've never had a bad meal there, although the menu isn't the healthiest but it is good food and a great atmosphere. It is very touristy. I am not sure how the bar selection is because I don't really drink that often but I do believe they have a full bar.
(5)
Dennis B.
A notch above bar food. Our meals took a while to come out (and it was not overly busy), but we enjoyed the guy singing tunes with his guitar while we waited. I had the Grouper Taco which tasted great. The fish was fresh, and the fixings had a nice juicy kick to it. The portion was generous. My wife and daughter shared a plate of hot wings which they said were some of the best they have had. If you want finer dining and have deeper pockets, go next door to Columbia. If you just want to be causual and recover from your third visit in one week to Lilly Pulitzer, then CCC is the place to be.
(3)
Rachel M.
Pros: Location great - outdoor seating in the very pretty touristy st armands circle Prices reasonable Cons: Waiter unfriendly and not helpful. Service extremely slow and not very busy Food blah and tasteless Grilled chicken w bananas and mango on top Yellow rice and plantains Pork chop w mango chutney and same sides Fries were the best part of the place. Won't go back. Hopefully this place is better for drinks bc food wasn't worth even a penny.:(
(1)
Jack B.
Good bar food, reasonably priced.
(3)
David F.
Right on the on the Circle in St Armand's Key! Above average bar food, and they make good drinks. They do get busy, really busy on weekends. I'm always pretty patient with the staff, and don't get upset if it takes a little while. They can get packed quick, and they have to deal without a lot of Blue-hairs and Snowbirds down there. Hit them on a weekday and you should be fine! Try the wings or the burgers! I wish they had a better tap beer selection.
(3)
Chris V.
So the Duo was on vacation and took a day trip up to Sarasota for some sights and beach time ... and we got a bit hungry. Now we were about 24 hours away from embarking on what would turn out to be the meal of a lifetime (translation, fine dining) so we decided on Nachos and beer ! We wandered around Saint Armands Circle and settled on Cha Cha's looking for exactly what we expected ... so so food, cold beer and friendly service. We got everything except the food was well above average. The not so better half of the Duo (that's me) pulled out the yelp* app on the ole droid and scanned some reviews...noticed a positive mention of the server Ryan (thank you Yelper Richard C.) and believe it or not, that same Ryan walked up to our table at that exact moment! The guy was great. Informative, intelligent, funny and honest. All of which are requirements for talented servers ... he is certainly worth requesting next time you go in. We should also give kudos to the manager on duty who stopped by to chat .... only one thing, how did you not know about yelp*?? Don't ignore your digital store front miss ... Oh yeah the food and drink ... we started with a Shock Top and Landshark, respectively and placed our order ... as she wanted, we went with the San Juan Nachos and I opted for the Conch Fritters. The nachos certainly hit the spot but the highlight was the Conch ... now I am not a huge coconut fan but the spicy coconut mustard sauce was divine. Proceed with caution, it does pack a punch. For the entrees it was time for new beers and a couple sandwiches ... I am always a fan of a local brew but was a little put off by the label of the "Jalehouse Light" .. I'd rather drink bleach than light beer but I went for it ... what great beer .. the most non-light, light beer ever created ... DRINK THIS! For the solid stuff we went with the Mahi Sandwich and the mixed Cuban ... both great 'wiches. The mahi was expertly prepared and wonderfully spiced and the Cuban was exactly what I wanted ... but hey guys, how about some more fries??? All in all, it was well worth the trip and we certainly stand behind this review...enjoy this place!
(5)
David M.
Sorry. Bland usual fried menu suspects. Absolutely pitiful Cuban sandwich. Don't need a colossal lunch but one wafer of pork, cheese...on the sandwich? Considering the pressure of being a neighbor to Columbia there could have been half an attempt at margaritas let alone mojitos And the very visible wait station was a wreck. ..Management should have the self respect to paint.
(1)
Margo N.
Fun place to eat and watch the passing crowd on Saint Armands Circle. We always enjoy the friendly service. Good happy hour prices on weekdays.
(3)
Robert C.
Gave them three stars cause 7 of 8 of us enjoyed the meal. Shrimp quesadilla was a hit. The Tony salads is unique and heavily dressed so ask for dressing on side. I had the fried fish and shrimp platter, it did not blow me away, could have been much better. Corn meal style batter on fish. Cole slaw was bland and watery. Coated fries were ok. Drinks were good. Plenty of choices at st Armand's and I will be trying those before I return here. One really bright point was Jason our server, he was great.
(3)
Adrienne R.
Great casual and laid back spot. Nice to sit outside and watch what is going on. I had the shrimp po boy. A little different with melted cheese on top but you can't go wrong with melted cheese. Their fries are the battered and seasoned kind, which I enjoy. My only complaint is the end of the roll of my sandwich was sort of hard, leading me to believe it was past it's prime. The shrimp were popcorn shrimp, which I actually liked because I'm beginning to not dig shrimp as much as I used to. But most people prefer larger shrimp. My companion had a salad and was sad there was grated parmesan sprinkled all over it. Wouldn't have bothered me, but she isn't into parm. Another dining companion had the mahi sandwich. It had a nice dusting of seasonings before it was cooked but I didn't taste it so can't vouch for it. All in all, I would definitely eat here again. Sunday had a $5 Bloody Mary special with Belvedere vodka. Wait staff was super friendly.
(3)
Ryan W.
The food was fair to poor. The margaritas were pathetic and the service was mediocre.. For the price, we won't be back
(2)
Irma B.
Ok so we here on Memorial weekend, they sat us down right away we didn't wait at all even though it was buisy. I had the mahi mahi sandwich, it was descent(not bad but didn't make fireworks in my mouth). My husband had fish tacos,-descent-. Kids ordered cocunut shrimp -so so- and kids burger -so so. Long island -good. Theres many more restaurant on St.Armand's square which I rather try next time.
(3)
Chris W.
Fun place. Great prices and great Happy Hour Specials. $1.50 drafts. Awesome patio in St Armands Circle to sit and vege and people and car watch.
(4)
Jack E.
I stay at Longboat Key over Winter Break. Unfortunately. there are limited late night food opportunities on LBK, so we ventured to St. Armand's Circle. Columbia's was closed, so we went to Coco's, which is next to Columbia's. We arrived at 10:30 pm. A plus--we sat outside. A plus--numerous drink options. A plus: the service was excellent. A negative, the menu. Mostly fried food and shellfish, which we do not eat (our problem). We all ordered the burrito salad, which included iceburg lettuce, chips, and a few extras. I really appreciate that the venue was open, but it would be great to offer burgers or other options, rather than unhealthy bar food.
(3)
Kathy G.
Very disappointed every time we have ate here. Food, service either way disappointing.
(1)
Jen M.
Popped in for a solo meal at the bar. Opted for the black bean chili. It arrived in a huge bowl topped with cheese and onions and a large handful of tortilla chips on the side. So i was psyched to dig in...especially because it is advertised as having a Caribbean flair. And then crash. No flavor. Straight up salty. No good. And it arrived kinda warm. Fun atmosphere with a dude playing a steel drum on Saturday night. Stick to boozing outside and listening to music.
(2)
Celia B.
Our waitress was great and she alone deserves 5 stars! We came around 9:30pm on a Thursday night after we landed in Sarasota. We chose Cha Cha Coconuts because it was near the house and they had outdoor seating and a great atmosphere. Our waitress greeted us immediately, and there after we engaged in great conversation with her. We literally talked for about 10 minutes about fun things to do in the area, where she was from, where we were from, etc. I wish I had gotten her name so that I could tell her boss that she needs a raise! She was born in Hawaii, maybe that will help him identify her :) They had live music, apparently a group of two who had been playing there for years. They played covers, but it was a nice touch. She told us that we should come back on Sunday when she is working since they will have live music again. We only ordered the fries, but they were good. The menu seemed unappealing and hard to find anything somewhat healthy. The beer selection was actually pretty bad. Had to settle with red stripe as everything else was like the standard Sarasota beers, trashy American Budweiser, Bud Light, Stella, etc. Might as well have water! However, they did have a large drink menu with many different tropical drinks to go with their tropical atmosphere. Since our server was friendly and super cool we will return on our next visit if we are in the mood for some tropical drinks. As I have mentioned in my other reviews, service really does make all the difference.
(3)
Richard C.
Since my move into fatherhood, I always worry about taking my 1 year old daughter to any restaurant. They were very helpful here. Our waiter, Ryan, was particularly friendly, and made sure our stay was comfortable. My daughter was able to run around and irritate the rest of the patrons in and out doors. They have solid cement round tables outside that are not meant to move, their outside eating area is huge! Video games inside at the rear. Great place for all ages. I had some coronas and the Antiqua Burger (bacon and cheese) with fries, their fries are really good, has some kind of spice coating. My friend ordered some appetizer sample platter, that was meh. Everyone else had burgers. Food is not the greatest but it was decent. Wings were awful, so don't order them.
(3)
Carlos H.
A tasty place to grab a quick bite to eat. Their burgers are nice and juicy and the sweet and spicy sauces they use on other meats also bring some flavorful dishes to their menu. Service is decent, but nothing spectacular...make sure you seat yourself or you will be waiting awhile. Most of St. Armand's Circle's restaurant are pricey and will cost you, but Cha Cha Coconuts may be one of the more affordable options if you're visiting Lido Beach and just want a quick bite to eat in town.
(3)
Renee S.
Not the greatest place,but it's a reasonable meal at a cheap price. The waiter was very honest with us telling us what was good and what to stay away from. We enjoyed our selves and the waiter was fast and friendly
(3)
Vince A.
Margarita's on Plastic cups and cold food? definitively ME THINKS NOT
(1)
Jaime M.
There's a reason tourist trap restaurants thrive in tourist trap areas. It should be obvious, but maybe you need a meal at Cha Cha Coconuts to prove it to you. It's because they offer accessible food at only slightly higher prices than we'd pay back home, and they do it in a friendly, colorful and accessible atmosphere. We came here sandy and heavily sunned from an afternoon at Siesta Key. Much of the St. Armand's scene was too rich for our blood and our attire (wet swimsuits and coverups with flip-flops wouldn't fly at a good 75% of the places on the circle). We found a menu full of familiar dishes, some with a bit of flair but mostly fairly generic. My "burrito bowl salad" (vegetarian taco salad with iceberg, cheese, olives, black beans, tomatoes, corn, tortilla chips and a salty mango vinaigrette) was big and tasted all right but certainly didn't stand out as a king among salads. He liked his half sandwich (Cuban press) and side of yellow rice and black beans quite a bit -- and I concurred that the sides were done right. Our key lime pie hit the spot, though it was actually the first full-on key lime pie I've had (I've had lots of 'key lime pie flavored' things), so I don't have much to compare it to, though I'd venture to say the experience left a bit of room for improvement. Service came with a smile and a casual attitude (and plenty of drink refills) and the atmosphere was plenty tropical beach/forest kitschy without quite crossing the total-groaner, manufactured-experience Rainforest Cafe line.
(3)
Genenot I.
Lots of restaurants serve fish that is not grouper and call it grouper, I have no idea WHAT fish this placed served as a grouper but it wasn't close. Gray in color, stronger tasting than grouper and a different texture. NOT good. The service was excellent and my wife thought her nachos were pretty good but the grouper and fries (are they from real cut potatoes or extruded?) were a real turn off. I will NOT return.
(2)
Stacey W.
Fish tacos! Get them. They are wonderful. Came here by myself and sat at the bar. Had a good time.
(5)
Ron P.
Slow service average food but great atmosphere better for a bar then a restaurant.
(2)
Sarah D.
The food and drinks are always great and cheap! Our favorite spot to eat lunch at in the circle!
(4)
Lisa C.
I have been here twice and would definitely go again the next time I'm in St. Armands Circle. The prices are really good, and they have great burgers and the jerk chicken sandwich was very good. I've also tried the nachos and onion stix which were great appetizer choices. It is very touristy, but so is the rest of St. Armands really. It's a great place to go to when visiting with friends and family. Both times I had the same waitress and she was super friendly and the service was also very quick. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
(5)
Diana D.
Fish tacos are the best!!! Rum runner & cha cha platter too.
(5)
Fuzzy B.
We totally agree with a lot of the previous reviews. Don't expect much, and the place will live up to expectations. We came for lunch on Friday and were seated right away. The server was friendly and the food reasonably tasty and very reasonably priced, especially for being right on St. Armands circle. All drinks in plastic cups = party time!
(3)
Heather O.
nothing to write home about. Go for the atmosphere or price, not the food or the service.
(2)
Kate I.
If you want to go to the kind of place you imagine Florida to be, this is your spot! The atmosphere is casual, the singer knows Jimmy Buffet by heart, and there are frosty drinks. It is fun to play tourist here (or be one, I guess) and the atmosphere is great for that & for peoplewatching. I found the actual food to be just ok, although for St. Armands circle it is affordable. I had their signature salad which was alright. It did have lots of stuff in it (olives, cheese, ham, cukes) but it was on a bed of iceberg. I also had a cuban sandwich, and it was unsatisfying. It was an ok sandwich, but not a very good cuban (if you are a cuban sandwich connoisseur). I went with two vegetarians, and they seemed to have a decent range of veg. options. The bright spot was that they have Jalehouse beer, which is a new local Sarasota brewing company. I was excited totry it, so if you're interested in local beers or a local who's been wanting to try the Jalehouse ale, give it a shot.
(3)
Ram H.
Pretty good food and great atmosphere
(4)
Jo R.
Loved it! Passed by here every night thinking it would be lame. Stopped in on my last night in the circle & glad I did! Friendly service. fast service! The drinks are great. The chips & salsa were great, really great salsa. I had some seafood combo which had tasty seasonings, great fries, the coleslaw is awesome, I'd go again just for that. My BF had ribs which had great sauce. Oversized portions and best pricing !!! A nice atmosphere. yum.
(5)
Barbara L.
One of our favorite places to grab dinner while vacationing at Siesta Key. It offers some very kid friendly fare at St. Armands and it isn't too pricy. The outdoor seating is great. The burgers are a-ok. Sometimes the service is a bit iffy, but overall a good experience.
(3)
Lynne S.
This place had a fun Margaritaville-like vibe with live music. The appetizers were standard of what you'd find at any touristy Caribbean restaurant. They had a Brazilian chicken dish with bananas, mangos and plantains that was pretty tasty. The servers were super-friendly.
(3)
Eddie C.
One of many restaurants in St. Armand's circle. Food was okay, service was even worse. It took close to 5 minutes to even be acknowledged by a waiter. I got the half rack of ribs. The meat was tough, not very meaty, but the BBQ sauce was very good. I would say the BBQ sauce was the best part of the meal. My gf got the fish tacos. Those were pretty good.
(2)
Jessica F.
Find a seat outside and enjoy a reasonably good reasonably priced quick meal. Great service. Super people watching spot.
(4)
Brian M.
Well Cha Cha Coconuts won't dazzle you. Typical tourist rest stop, overpriced beers and a boring menu. The musician looked like the dead guy from Weekend at Bernie's. And in fact he probably knows the Jimmy Buffett catalog by heart. Nothing special about the food but the service good. I knew what to expect before I walked in. Just wish I wasn't right.
(2)
Jürgen P.
The Ribs was so hard that you cant it them? No good food...
(1)
Gulshan I.
Tried their Brazilian chicken. Didn't like it. The group next to our table was so loud that we couldn't hear each other. Prices were reasonable though. Avoid it.
(1)
isabel b.
my first time there, loved the brazilian mango chicken, very tasty, alot of food. great atmosphere, alot of customers, had a guy singing margaritaville. the service is really good and the prices are fair!
(5)
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :417 Saint Armands Cir
Sarasota, FL, 34236
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Monica P.
We were in Sarasota for my birthday and went to lunch here on a whim. We also had our dog with us so the fact that it was very dog friendly was a plus! Our waiter was Andy and although he forgot to bring me a glass of water 3 times, he was extremely apologetic and brought treats for our dog. He was funny and pleasant. The quesadilla was very very good. Just the way I like it, lots of onions, green peppers and cheese. You can also get it with shrimp, chicken or steak. My husband had the coconut shrimp which he said was some of the best he has had! We will definitely go back when we are in Sarasota again.
(4)Winter J.
While visiting Sarasota my brother and sister n law brought us here for lunch. I had the suntanned wahoo and it was amazing.
(4)Cassie F.
Bottom Line: it's consistent and a good solid option in the Circle. All three of us cleaned our plates - so you could tell we enjoyed every bite! I know we'll def go back. We've been coming to LBK for vacation for years and we always go out one or two nights. The Circle has a lot of incredible dining options and most of them are on the $$$-$$$$ side. Cha Cha's is one of the more affordable options. It has outdoor seating and an open front so even when you sit inside it has an outside feel. The whole Caribbean theme is going on, from the decorations to the live music. There was a table of 9 of us, 3 on my bill. I had the blackened shrimp quesadilla - which is a repeat order for me so you know it's good! My son had the Surf & Turf. It was a platter w steak and shrimp skewers. He said the steak was very tender. His gf had the Pork Chop Boonoonoo which was marinated and covered in mango chutney. They both got plantains and rice and beans as sides. My son and I each had 2 beers. Our bill was $70. Our waitress had no problem handling a large table w split checks. She was knowledgable about the menu and even suggested an affordable, $3/bottle Kalik Beer to us. She came back and asked how we liked the beer, she said that since she recommended it she wanted to make sure we were happy with it - nice customer service touch ;-) I sampled some of the nachos my friend ordered and they were loaded! Also tried some wings and they were good too. See you next year Cha Cha's!
(4)Brad S.
Filthy place. No wonder they put hand soap on the tables! Maybe they should try cleaning the place a lot better. The tile floors are quite dirty. The outdoor tables are concrete with mosaic tops, but the concrete is very porous. There is a layer of grease around the edges that could be years old. Who knows? The Cuban sandwich we shared with just okay. Nothing special. The usual ham and roast pork on an average piece of toasted Cuban bread, with fries. Not very big. Service was super slow. No water was brought to the table until the meal was over and then it had to be requested. Are they saving money on ice? And they had the most annoying trivia game going on with the MC booming over a PA speaker at an inordinate volume. There are better options on St. Armand's Circle, for sure.
(2)Felice D.
Love this place, great service and great food. We are not big eaters so we opt for their sampler appetizer and share though my wife tries to hog the coconut shrimp which are the best around. The ribs fall off the bone, buffalo wings are authentic ( we are from upstate NY) and the sauces are good. Not sure why some complain about the service as we have not experienced a problem. Felice D.
(5)Eric R.
This is only a 3 because the service was rough. You seat yourself so there is no guidance. It's odd. Place is also fairly dirty looking. Had conch fritters (pretty good) and fish dip (solid too). Fish tacos were very good and the dish was plenty big. If you get good service this can be a 4. Location is in the heart of downtown. Strongly recommend valet which is right in front of restaurant.
(3)Laurel A.
Great atmosphere and same singer that's been here for the last 6 years. Kalik beer for $3 was amazing and very much like Corona, just slightly lighter in flavor. Prices are lower than other restaurants in the Circle. Worth a try if you're on vacation.
(4)Nick C.
There's nothing here that I particularly like but I'm a very hard person to please with food. My grandparents love this place and have been coming here for 8 years every time we go on vacation here for their ribs.
(4)Mr S.
Great spot in St. Armand's.. Not your typical stuck up ritzy place you would think of like the rest of the Circle. Actually has a normal everyday blue collar feel. My family and I frequent Cha Cha's often. Great drinks. Awesome happy hour. Wonderful easy going atmosphere and service. If u don't like to drink with your pinky our or your nose in the air then this is a great place for you. Be yourself let down your hair and enjoy.
(5)Cello K.
I've been coming here for years- it's inexpensive and serves a decent grouper sandwich. Of late the buns have been stale, so most recently I ordered the grouper dinner and was happy. My husband said his bun was stale :( Live and learn!
(3)Resa G.
I went to this establishment a few days ago and ordered a hot pressed ham and cheese sandwich. My sister had the Cuban sandwich. Both were not very good. They were cooked too long and hard. My sandwich had one slice of ham on it. I ended up taking the meat and melted cheese off of one half and putting it on the other half to make a decent few bites... or it would have been mostly just all bread. My sister's was a bit better in the meat category but still overcooked. She ended up doing the same thing I did. I ordered a Pina Colada and I don't think there was any alcohol in it. Should have gotten a slight buzz of of it but nope. The french fries were the best thing on my plate and they were more than likely frozen. Pricey for a bad meal and I won't be returning. Go to the Columbia next door.
(1)Sarah W.
This was delicious! It has a nice atmosphere, good service and clean tables. I ordered the cheesy quesadilla and had blackened shrimp on it (you have to ask for it to be blackened, which I definitely recommend). The onion sticks, black bean chili, fish tacos and Cubano were also all so delicious!
(4)Gary O.
With our daytrip to Saint Armand's yesterday we didn't realize it was also the art festival. The place was packed but we stopped here for a late lunch. The food, service and drinks were great. The Cuban sandwich I had would make Ybor jealous. My wife's salad and our friends sandwiches with fries we're also brag worthy. Kim our server was always present even though she had multiple tables. She even replaced my partially spilled beer, and was a lot of fun teasing me. Why can't all servers be on the ball like Kim? Great lunch!
(5)Courtney W.
Don't let the looks fool you! I had some of the best and fastest service here during my trip 9/2014! I ordered the appetizer: conch fritters. Now I've never had conch before and wast sure what exactly to expect- it was good! Chewy, but tasted great. Definitely enough to split 4 ways. Entree: I ordered the highly recommended baked fish tacos and I would HIGHLY recommend this. It comes with 2 very large tacos and they do not skimp on the fish! Also a heaping side of rice and black beans.... I only ended up eating 1 taco and saved the rest for dinner the next day! More than enough food! Good beer tap choices too!!
(5)Alyssa H.
Fun atmosphere to enjoy delicious seafood and enjoy a fun night out with friends. The food and service were both great and I would definitely return and recommend to a friend! I would highly recommend the grouper sandwich; it was perfectly cooked and delicious!
(4)Mike P.
If your looking for a cliché tropical resturant, look no further. The food is medocre at best, and drinks are over priced *unless* you at there at happy hour, in which beer is cheap @ $1 a pint or $5 a pitcher. Food wise, I have eaten there many times with my family and the menu varies wildy.. The sweet potato fries are great if fresh, the Uncle ?Freddy? Burger is fantastic, but I've never been satisfied with really anything else. The service is where Cha Cha's gets it's demerits. The resturant is always understaffed, and I'm always left begging for more water. However, if your looking for a burger on St Armands Cr, you really don't have much of a choice.
(2)Jessica J.
We had lunch here just past rush hour. Sat down and waited ages for menus. Then ages to order. Then ages and ages to get food. And did not get water until we asked for it. Need I say service needs improvement? When it comes to food, their signature fish with a rose sauce, beans and plantains where two tiny pieces of rubbery fish, fried about three times as long as needed and thereby hardly eatable. Plantains where three sad pieces and sauce some pink mayonnaise. Fish tacos where ok, though quite greasy and bland. Mango smoothie decent but served with whipped cream on top. Come on- on a smoothie?? They could at least warn! All in all- we would have eaten better at any fast food joint. And a lot cheaper.
(1)Karen C.
Such a fun and fairly affordable lunch spot when wandering around St. Armands. It's nothing fancy but it isn't trying to be. Our waiter was very prompt and friendly once we sat at one of the outdoor tables. We had the chicken fingers and jerk chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries. The chicken fingers hit the spot as I indulged in one of my old childhood favorites and I snagged some sweet potato fries from my fiance's plate and they were delicious...nice and crispy. The sauce with the chicken fingers was awesome - honey mustard with some horseradish for a nice little kick. The sweet potato fries were yummy in this sauce too! Will be back.
(4)Eric E.
You come here for the drinks and to sit on their street-side patio. This affords you the sun, people watching and a good view of the circle. The food is average although I did have a tasty mahi mahi sandwich on one visit. CCC is overprice, but if you value the outdoor seating as we do, and a lengthy drink menu...this is a great choice. Cheers!
(4)Carol B.
Cheerful place to eat and drink. Very beach flip flop,casual. Nice sidewalk tables for people watching. The conch fritters are wonderful. So are,the fish tacos but ask for extra sauce. Enough to share. Can get loud You may have to go find a server if you need something. The staff is young untrained and overworked nest value is happy hour since the drinks aren't strong
(3)Charlie ..
I went here with my grandmother, because I was visiting her for a little. We were pretty hungery and were in the area. We decided to hop in for lunch. They had a sign saying "Please seat your self". We found a nice little spot and waited for someone to come by to take our order. I'm not even kidding you, we waited about 20 minutes for our waiter to come. We eventually had to go request for one. When we ordered our food and that took a long time as well. I got a taco and It was really bad. It had this garlic taste to it and it overpowered the who thing. Would not recommend and we won't be back.
(1)Mia C.
Love the coconut shrimp and sweet potato Caribbean fries appetizer. Thumbs up to both.
(5)Jed M.
Stopped in for a drink on NYE. My margarita was served on ice as ordered, with a salted rim. The tequila to mix ratio was adequate. The size of the glass was small and was completely filled with ice, so I think I only had 6-8 oz of actual margarita. Good table service and free NYE hats!
(3)Ayla Z.
Cha cha coconuts is a great place to go for tourists in the area. Drinks are okay, tropical/fruity as most are on the water here and service varies depending on the waiter, however, I have eaten there multiple times because their fish tacos and conch fritters with coconut mustard sauce is PHENOMENAL. Food at cha cha is consistently delicious, flavorful, cooked properly and keeps me coming back. The bartenders are friendly, and if they get their table servers all on the same page I would give it 5 stars.
(4)Ashley K.
Cha Cha Coconuts is always one of the first places I visit in Sarasota. I absolutely can't get enough of the "Emily's Soca Coconut Shrimp" - get it with their mango chutney instead of the mustard sauce and you'll be in heaven. The cole slaw that goes along with it is so refreshing. The Divi Divi burger is also really great, as are the onion strings. I love sitting outside and the service is usually pretty good. Only thing I haven't been a fan of is their alcoholic drinks. Can't seem to get one that tastes how I want it to. But, oh well - I'm here for the shrimp anyway.
(4)Brad P.
I love the location it is a fun place to hang out. Love the Cuban sandwich. Fun to stop in here while shopping in the area. Good service and great place to stop in to get out of the heat. Would come back again
(4)Christina B.
Went for a late lunch. We seated ourselves outside along the sidewalk. Ordered the Mahi sandwich and fried sweets. The Mahi serving was generous and well-seasoned. The sweet potato fries were excellent. The drinks were overpriced, but enjoyed the food, service, and sidewalk seating.
(4)Bob B.
Great place. Nachos, conch fritters and coconut shrimp all really good. Service was great too.
(4)Todd B.
Look, I'm giving it a 4 star. It probably doesn't deserve it - it should probably be a 3 or a 3.5 - but I can't give it 3.5 and I think a 3 is an insult. St. Armands Circle in Sarasota is expensive. Every place is outrageously priced with the possible exception of the ice cream places. But it's also a great place to spend some time - multiple restaurants with balconies or outdoor seating, lots of options, and a pretty setting. So where do 2 people go who want to eat at St. Armands but don't want to spend a fortune? Cha Cha Coconuts. This place is a quintessential beach bar/restaurant. It looks like it belongs a couple of blocks away on Lido Beach, but since the beaches in Sarasota don't have restaurants/bars on the beach (for some unknown reason) like nearly every other beach community in Florida, Cha Cha's is as close as it can get (like the beach bars/restaurants in Siesta Village). Anyway, my girlfriend got fish tacos, since the reviews were talking about them, and I got a blackened mahi sandwich. I was thrilled with my sandwich. Fish was fresh, seasoning was awesome. She probably felt her tacos were closer to a 3, but I think she was happy, too. They have an extensive drink menu of specialty cocktails - although we didn't try any - and it looked like they had good happy hour specials, too, though we were there after HH. In any event, like I said, we had a very tasty meal here for a reasonable price, which is so hard to find on St. Armand's. I liked it, and I'll come back. Is it 4 star food? No. But it's 3 to 3.5 star food at prices that won't send you home for the rest of the weekend. I'll be back.
(4)Chris D.
This is a place we look forward to visit. We are never disappointed with our food or the service we receive. The food is always fresh, tasty, and quickly served. The staff is always very friendly
(4)Sevarrest A.
Wasn't as great as I anticipated. The food ok. & service was so so. The atmosphere was pretty good & all the servers were up beat & happy. I had the ribs which were not the greatest but edible. My wife had a fish sandwich which she seemed to enjoy. The Sweet Potato fries were the star of our meal which is sad seeing as how it was an accompaniment. Not sure I'd return or recommend it.
(2)Paul P.
Whenever in Sarasota we always stop by for dinner or lunch. We were there 7/7 for dinner and was disappointed. Our dinners arrived shortly after our appetizers. My wife's burger was rare instead of the medium well she requested and all the bread seemed stale.
(5)Sha P.
Great place for lunch. Feels like you are in the Caribbean. Great pork chops, coconut shrimp, and nachos. Service is wonderful.
(4)Sandy H.
Cha Cha Coconuts has an extensive menu, super cool servers and great support staff. It is a fun, family getaway place on St. Armand's Circle.
(5)Jessica H.
Let me start off with the one compliment I can think of, their service and atmosphere was wonderful and we had a very nice waiter! But besides that, this place is horrible. I ordered the "house speciality" which was pork ribs. I was really excited because they sounded unique. Those were the worst ribs I have EVER had--dry, chewy, no flavor. Also, their "Island Fries" were mushy and just as unflavorful as everything else. My boyfriend reciprocated these feelings for his meal as well. We spoke to his Aunt afterwards and she agrees that Cha Cha Coconuts has horrible food. The bottom line: The food is bland and boring and downright horrible. The atmosphere is fun though. I will not be returning. Bring back the meatloaf!
(1)Zach P.
This was our second time eating here. The first time was last year during our visit to Sarasota. I would have given four stars for our first visit but after yesterday's dinner, I don't really know what to think about this place anymore. Seems like the portions ate smaller from last year and the food wasn't as fresh. During both visits I had the Mahi Mahi which comes with black beans, yellow rice and plantain. The Mahi Mahi was alright... Not my favorite and I wasn't impressed, but loved it the first time I went. My wife had the Wahoo sandwich and the fish was overcooked. Bummer... However, what was on point were the conch fritters. Those were awesome and the coconut mustard was great too. I've never had their drinks there but I would recommend the conch fritters at the very least.
(3)Christopher D.
Super casual with friendly staff and open seating. Fried grouper to die for, excellent ribs, great steak skewers. Some of the best key lime pie I've had anywhere. Be warned though, the fish tacos are not Baja-style: they put grilled veggies and black beans on 'em here. Still delicious, but they're not the cabbage-creamy California fish tacos. But. Plantains. Everywhere. Beans, yellow rice, and plantains were sides with almost every dish. The plantains were sweet and tangy and the absolute star of the meal. Highly recommended.
(5)Jeff H.
okay spot for lunch. got a cuban mixed sandwich and the bread was real hard ... like chip your tooth hard. the wife's mahi mahi sandwich looked great. service was fine. prices were fair.
(2)Alabaster M.
Dude, no. I wanted to go to Columbia next door, but there was a huge wait and we were exhausted so it was like, fine. No wait here. The service was quick but that's pretty much the only good thing. It was loud as heck. The fish tacos were lame. Literally no flavor. I converted to vegetarianism a few months ago but said I'd make a some exceptions vis a vis fish on my Florida vacation a few weeks ago, and this is the only exception I made that I regret. Should have gotten a quesadilla, those looked appealing when I saw them on other tables.
(2)Cristina T.
I thought this place was going to be good considering there were a lot of people and the atmosphere looked phone.. But I Got sick from their chicken quesadillas. Will not be returning.
(1)Erin B.
Great for decent price! Amaze-balls Bahama Mamas! +sit wherever you want even while busy +great tropical mahi with rice, beans, and plantains. Waitress was attentive and cordial. No objections here.
(4)Eric D.
Great place to eat for lunch or dinner. The fish tacos are a great choice. Our last visit was on a Thursday and we enjoyed the live music. Service could have been a little more attentive but overall we were taken care of. Very glad that they were able to accommodate our party of 13 with no reservation. This is my 4th or 5th time visiting and I'm sure we will be back.
(4)Julia N.
Pretty good food. Definitely creative. Cole slaw has pineapple in it. .. I wasn't a fan. Conch fritters were delicious tho.
(3)John R.
Food was okay. Guess this place gets very busy because of location but enough seating to get in and our fast
(3)Jerry W.
tops in my book. here from Michigan for Christmas week. didn't know where to go for dinner. lots of choices decided on Coconuts and very glad we did. great eats and fantastic service too.
(5)Sean A.
It is a yearly tradition that my wife and two girls come down here. Always a great time good food and friendly service.
(4)pomona k.
First lunch is Sarasota was here at Cha Cha Coconuts. It seem like this place should be located on the beach with a sign that says, "No shirt, no shoes, no problem." It has that kind of chilled vibe. You come in, find yourself a seat, and a waiter will find his way to you in no time. Our waiter wasn't friendly (nor was he rude), but he provided attentive service. I had my first of many grouper tacos I would have in my 4 days in Sarasota. Unfortunately, there was no corn tortilla option and I didn't want the flour tortilla, so I just had the fish and everything else that came with it. The waiter didn't even blink when I told him the "modification" to my order; it was just no problem and no problem it was. The food came out and it was delish. The "tacos" came with rice and beans that made me want to lick the plate.
(4)John D.
You have to remember what this place is.. An open air bar on the boardwalk. Given that, I rate this at a 4. The food was hot and the fish tacos were great. There was a live band that made the atmosphere even batter... Lots of fun.
(4)Arthur S.
Came here for lunch with my daughter while on a quick visit with her. It was actually her suggestion to come here. She said I would like the music. Of course I did, the primary theme was Jimmy Buffett. Anywho, we sat down at a table of our own choosing as it wasn't too busy at the time. Our waitress/waiter was very nice and attentive. I say this because we started out with a woman and ended with a man. Not a problem though as there seemed to be communication between the two when we were given a different server. My daughter ordered the Chicken Cheese BLT and I had a the Jerk Chicken sandwich. Both were very good, the portion of a good size, and we left feeling satisfied with our meal and experience. I will definitely try this place again when I'm down here.
(4)Emily G.
I have been going to cha cha's since I was a little kid and it has always been one of my favorite places to eat on St. Armand's circle. It is always my first choice if I am out there. Service is always great, all the servers are nice. I've never had a bad meal there, although the menu isn't the healthiest but it is good food and a great atmosphere. It is very touristy. I am not sure how the bar selection is because I don't really drink that often but I do believe they have a full bar.
(5)Dennis B.
A notch above bar food. Our meals took a while to come out (and it was not overly busy), but we enjoyed the guy singing tunes with his guitar while we waited. I had the Grouper Taco which tasted great. The fish was fresh, and the fixings had a nice juicy kick to it. The portion was generous. My wife and daughter shared a plate of hot wings which they said were some of the best they have had. If you want finer dining and have deeper pockets, go next door to Columbia. If you just want to be causual and recover from your third visit in one week to Lilly Pulitzer, then CCC is the place to be.
(3)Rachel M.
Pros: Location great - outdoor seating in the very pretty touristy st armands circle Prices reasonable Cons: Waiter unfriendly and not helpful. Service extremely slow and not very busy Food blah and tasteless Grilled chicken w bananas and mango on top Yellow rice and plantains Pork chop w mango chutney and same sides Fries were the best part of the place. Won't go back. Hopefully this place is better for drinks bc food wasn't worth even a penny.:(
(1)Jack B.
Good bar food, reasonably priced.
(3)David F.
Right on the on the Circle in St Armand's Key! Above average bar food, and they make good drinks. They do get busy, really busy on weekends. I'm always pretty patient with the staff, and don't get upset if it takes a little while. They can get packed quick, and they have to deal without a lot of Blue-hairs and Snowbirds down there. Hit them on a weekday and you should be fine! Try the wings or the burgers! I wish they had a better tap beer selection.
(3)Chris V.
So the Duo was on vacation and took a day trip up to Sarasota for some sights and beach time ... and we got a bit hungry. Now we were about 24 hours away from embarking on what would turn out to be the meal of a lifetime (translation, fine dining) so we decided on Nachos and beer ! We wandered around Saint Armands Circle and settled on Cha Cha's looking for exactly what we expected ... so so food, cold beer and friendly service. We got everything except the food was well above average. The not so better half of the Duo (that's me) pulled out the yelp* app on the ole droid and scanned some reviews...noticed a positive mention of the server Ryan (thank you Yelper Richard C.) and believe it or not, that same Ryan walked up to our table at that exact moment! The guy was great. Informative, intelligent, funny and honest. All of which are requirements for talented servers ... he is certainly worth requesting next time you go in. We should also give kudos to the manager on duty who stopped by to chat .... only one thing, how did you not know about yelp*?? Don't ignore your digital store front miss ... Oh yeah the food and drink ... we started with a Shock Top and Landshark, respectively and placed our order ... as she wanted, we went with the San Juan Nachos and I opted for the Conch Fritters. The nachos certainly hit the spot but the highlight was the Conch ... now I am not a huge coconut fan but the spicy coconut mustard sauce was divine. Proceed with caution, it does pack a punch. For the entrees it was time for new beers and a couple sandwiches ... I am always a fan of a local brew but was a little put off by the label of the "Jalehouse Light" .. I'd rather drink bleach than light beer but I went for it ... what great beer .. the most non-light, light beer ever created ... DRINK THIS! For the solid stuff we went with the Mahi Sandwich and the mixed Cuban ... both great 'wiches. The mahi was expertly prepared and wonderfully spiced and the Cuban was exactly what I wanted ... but hey guys, how about some more fries??? All in all, it was well worth the trip and we certainly stand behind this review...enjoy this place!
(5)David M.
Sorry. Bland usual fried menu suspects. Absolutely pitiful Cuban sandwich. Don't need a colossal lunch but one wafer of pork, cheese...on the sandwich? Considering the pressure of being a neighbor to Columbia there could have been half an attempt at margaritas let alone mojitos And the very visible wait station was a wreck. ..Management should have the self respect to paint.
(1)Margo N.
Fun place to eat and watch the passing crowd on Saint Armands Circle. We always enjoy the friendly service. Good happy hour prices on weekdays.
(3)Robert C.
Gave them three stars cause 7 of 8 of us enjoyed the meal. Shrimp quesadilla was a hit. The Tony salads is unique and heavily dressed so ask for dressing on side. I had the fried fish and shrimp platter, it did not blow me away, could have been much better. Corn meal style batter on fish. Cole slaw was bland and watery. Coated fries were ok. Drinks were good. Plenty of choices at st Armand's and I will be trying those before I return here. One really bright point was Jason our server, he was great.
(3)Adrienne R.
Great casual and laid back spot. Nice to sit outside and watch what is going on. I had the shrimp po boy. A little different with melted cheese on top but you can't go wrong with melted cheese. Their fries are the battered and seasoned kind, which I enjoy. My only complaint is the end of the roll of my sandwich was sort of hard, leading me to believe it was past it's prime. The shrimp were popcorn shrimp, which I actually liked because I'm beginning to not dig shrimp as much as I used to. But most people prefer larger shrimp. My companion had a salad and was sad there was grated parmesan sprinkled all over it. Wouldn't have bothered me, but she isn't into parm. Another dining companion had the mahi sandwich. It had a nice dusting of seasonings before it was cooked but I didn't taste it so can't vouch for it. All in all, I would definitely eat here again. Sunday had a $5 Bloody Mary special with Belvedere vodka. Wait staff was super friendly.
(3)Ryan W.
The food was fair to poor. The margaritas were pathetic and the service was mediocre.. For the price, we won't be back
(2)Irma B.
Ok so we here on Memorial weekend, they sat us down right away we didn't wait at all even though it was buisy. I had the mahi mahi sandwich, it was descent(not bad but didn't make fireworks in my mouth). My husband had fish tacos,-descent-. Kids ordered cocunut shrimp -so so- and kids burger -so so. Long island -good. Theres many more restaurant on St.Armand's square which I rather try next time.
(3)Chris W.
Fun place. Great prices and great Happy Hour Specials. $1.50 drafts. Awesome patio in St Armands Circle to sit and vege and people and car watch.
(4)Jack E.
I stay at Longboat Key over Winter Break. Unfortunately. there are limited late night food opportunities on LBK, so we ventured to St. Armand's Circle. Columbia's was closed, so we went to Coco's, which is next to Columbia's. We arrived at 10:30 pm. A plus--we sat outside. A plus--numerous drink options. A plus: the service was excellent. A negative, the menu. Mostly fried food and shellfish, which we do not eat (our problem). We all ordered the burrito salad, which included iceburg lettuce, chips, and a few extras. I really appreciate that the venue was open, but it would be great to offer burgers or other options, rather than unhealthy bar food.
(3)Kathy G.
Very disappointed every time we have ate here. Food, service either way disappointing.
(1)Jen M.
Popped in for a solo meal at the bar. Opted for the black bean chili. It arrived in a huge bowl topped with cheese and onions and a large handful of tortilla chips on the side. So i was psyched to dig in...especially because it is advertised as having a Caribbean flair. And then crash. No flavor. Straight up salty. No good. And it arrived kinda warm. Fun atmosphere with a dude playing a steel drum on Saturday night. Stick to boozing outside and listening to music.
(2)Celia B.
Our waitress was great and she alone deserves 5 stars! We came around 9:30pm on a Thursday night after we landed in Sarasota. We chose Cha Cha Coconuts because it was near the house and they had outdoor seating and a great atmosphere. Our waitress greeted us immediately, and there after we engaged in great conversation with her. We literally talked for about 10 minutes about fun things to do in the area, where she was from, where we were from, etc. I wish I had gotten her name so that I could tell her boss that she needs a raise! She was born in Hawaii, maybe that will help him identify her :) They had live music, apparently a group of two who had been playing there for years. They played covers, but it was a nice touch. She told us that we should come back on Sunday when she is working since they will have live music again. We only ordered the fries, but they were good. The menu seemed unappealing and hard to find anything somewhat healthy. The beer selection was actually pretty bad. Had to settle with red stripe as everything else was like the standard Sarasota beers, trashy American Budweiser, Bud Light, Stella, etc. Might as well have water! However, they did have a large drink menu with many different tropical drinks to go with their tropical atmosphere. Since our server was friendly and super cool we will return on our next visit if we are in the mood for some tropical drinks. As I have mentioned in my other reviews, service really does make all the difference.
(3)Richard C.
Since my move into fatherhood, I always worry about taking my 1 year old daughter to any restaurant. They were very helpful here. Our waiter, Ryan, was particularly friendly, and made sure our stay was comfortable. My daughter was able to run around and irritate the rest of the patrons in and out doors. They have solid cement round tables outside that are not meant to move, their outside eating area is huge! Video games inside at the rear. Great place for all ages. I had some coronas and the Antiqua Burger (bacon and cheese) with fries, their fries are really good, has some kind of spice coating. My friend ordered some appetizer sample platter, that was meh. Everyone else had burgers. Food is not the greatest but it was decent. Wings were awful, so don't order them.
(3)Carlos H.
A tasty place to grab a quick bite to eat. Their burgers are nice and juicy and the sweet and spicy sauces they use on other meats also bring some flavorful dishes to their menu. Service is decent, but nothing spectacular...make sure you seat yourself or you will be waiting awhile. Most of St. Armand's Circle's restaurant are pricey and will cost you, but Cha Cha Coconuts may be one of the more affordable options if you're visiting Lido Beach and just want a quick bite to eat in town.
(3)Renee S.
Not the greatest place,but it's a reasonable meal at a cheap price. The waiter was very honest with us telling us what was good and what to stay away from. We enjoyed our selves and the waiter was fast and friendly
(3)Vince A.
Margarita's on Plastic cups and cold food? definitively ME THINKS NOT
(1)Jaime M.
There's a reason tourist trap restaurants thrive in tourist trap areas. It should be obvious, but maybe you need a meal at Cha Cha Coconuts to prove it to you. It's because they offer accessible food at only slightly higher prices than we'd pay back home, and they do it in a friendly, colorful and accessible atmosphere. We came here sandy and heavily sunned from an afternoon at Siesta Key. Much of the St. Armand's scene was too rich for our blood and our attire (wet swimsuits and coverups with flip-flops wouldn't fly at a good 75% of the places on the circle). We found a menu full of familiar dishes, some with a bit of flair but mostly fairly generic. My "burrito bowl salad" (vegetarian taco salad with iceberg, cheese, olives, black beans, tomatoes, corn, tortilla chips and a salty mango vinaigrette) was big and tasted all right but certainly didn't stand out as a king among salads. He liked his half sandwich (Cuban press) and side of yellow rice and black beans quite a bit -- and I concurred that the sides were done right. Our key lime pie hit the spot, though it was actually the first full-on key lime pie I've had (I've had lots of 'key lime pie flavored' things), so I don't have much to compare it to, though I'd venture to say the experience left a bit of room for improvement. Service came with a smile and a casual attitude (and plenty of drink refills) and the atmosphere was plenty tropical beach/forest kitschy without quite crossing the total-groaner, manufactured-experience Rainforest Cafe line.
(3)Genenot I.
Lots of restaurants serve fish that is not grouper and call it grouper, I have no idea WHAT fish this placed served as a grouper but it wasn't close. Gray in color, stronger tasting than grouper and a different texture. NOT good. The service was excellent and my wife thought her nachos were pretty good but the grouper and fries (are they from real cut potatoes or extruded?) were a real turn off. I will NOT return.
(2)Stacey W.
Fish tacos! Get them. They are wonderful. Came here by myself and sat at the bar. Had a good time.
(5)Ron P.
Slow service average food but great atmosphere better for a bar then a restaurant.
(2)Sarah D.
The food and drinks are always great and cheap! Our favorite spot to eat lunch at in the circle!
(4)Lisa C.
I have been here twice and would definitely go again the next time I'm in St. Armands Circle. The prices are really good, and they have great burgers and the jerk chicken sandwich was very good. I've also tried the nachos and onion stix which were great appetizer choices. It is very touristy, but so is the rest of St. Armands really. It's a great place to go to when visiting with friends and family. Both times I had the same waitress and she was super friendly and the service was also very quick. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
(5)Diana D.
Fish tacos are the best!!! Rum runner & cha cha platter too.
(5)Fuzzy B.
We totally agree with a lot of the previous reviews. Don't expect much, and the place will live up to expectations. We came for lunch on Friday and were seated right away. The server was friendly and the food reasonably tasty and very reasonably priced, especially for being right on St. Armands circle. All drinks in plastic cups = party time!
(3)Heather O.
nothing to write home about. Go for the atmosphere or price, not the food or the service.
(2)Kate I.
If you want to go to the kind of place you imagine Florida to be, this is your spot! The atmosphere is casual, the singer knows Jimmy Buffet by heart, and there are frosty drinks. It is fun to play tourist here (or be one, I guess) and the atmosphere is great for that & for peoplewatching. I found the actual food to be just ok, although for St. Armands circle it is affordable. I had their signature salad which was alright. It did have lots of stuff in it (olives, cheese, ham, cukes) but it was on a bed of iceberg. I also had a cuban sandwich, and it was unsatisfying. It was an ok sandwich, but not a very good cuban (if you are a cuban sandwich connoisseur). I went with two vegetarians, and they seemed to have a decent range of veg. options. The bright spot was that they have Jalehouse beer, which is a new local Sarasota brewing company. I was excited totry it, so if you're interested in local beers or a local who's been wanting to try the Jalehouse ale, give it a shot.
(3)Ram H.
Pretty good food and great atmosphere
(4)Jo R.
Loved it! Passed by here every night thinking it would be lame. Stopped in on my last night in the circle & glad I did! Friendly service. fast service! The drinks are great. The chips & salsa were great, really great salsa. I had some seafood combo which had tasty seasonings, great fries, the coleslaw is awesome, I'd go again just for that. My BF had ribs which had great sauce. Oversized portions and best pricing !!! A nice atmosphere. yum.
(5)Barbara L.
One of our favorite places to grab dinner while vacationing at Siesta Key. It offers some very kid friendly fare at St. Armands and it isn't too pricy. The outdoor seating is great. The burgers are a-ok. Sometimes the service is a bit iffy, but overall a good experience.
(3)Lynne S.
This place had a fun Margaritaville-like vibe with live music. The appetizers were standard of what you'd find at any touristy Caribbean restaurant. They had a Brazilian chicken dish with bananas, mangos and plantains that was pretty tasty. The servers were super-friendly.
(3)Eddie C.
One of many restaurants in St. Armand's circle. Food was okay, service was even worse. It took close to 5 minutes to even be acknowledged by a waiter. I got the half rack of ribs. The meat was tough, not very meaty, but the BBQ sauce was very good. I would say the BBQ sauce was the best part of the meal. My gf got the fish tacos. Those were pretty good.
(2)Jessica F.
Find a seat outside and enjoy a reasonably good reasonably priced quick meal. Great service. Super people watching spot.
(4)Brian M.
Well Cha Cha Coconuts won't dazzle you. Typical tourist rest stop, overpriced beers and a boring menu. The musician looked like the dead guy from Weekend at Bernie's. And in fact he probably knows the Jimmy Buffett catalog by heart. Nothing special about the food but the service good. I knew what to expect before I walked in. Just wish I wasn't right.
(2)Jürgen P.
The Ribs was so hard that you cant it them? No good food...
(1)Gulshan I.
Tried their Brazilian chicken. Didn't like it. The group next to our table was so loud that we couldn't hear each other. Prices were reasonable though. Avoid it.
(1)isabel b.
my first time there, loved the brazilian mango chicken, very tasty, alot of food. great atmosphere, alot of customers, had a guy singing margaritaville. the service is really good and the prices are fair!
(5)