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Get Dad something he really wants for Father’s Day, like a great cut of prime rib, steak or burger paired with a fine bourbon or perhaps a free beer!

Here’s our list of about 15 restaurants in Sarasota-Manatee offering fun dining specials and more including complimentary adult beverages on Father’s Day, which, in case you forgot, is Sunday, June 20.

Restaurants are presented in alphabetical order. 

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Anna Maria Oyster Bar

multiple locations, oysterbar.net

Locally owned restaurant group Anna Maria Oyster Bar is best known for their seafood, but they also serve a beloved prime rib special, which will be on the menu for Father’s Day priced at $17.84 and including two sides. (Prime rib is available all day at the Landside on U.S. 41, Cortez and Ellenton locations). Plus, Pops receives a complimentary beverage June 20 at all locations, including the waterfront AMOB on Anna Maria Island at the Historic Bridge Street Pier. 

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Bistro at Sarasota Art Museum

1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-330-9881; sarasotaartmuseum.org/bistro

If you’re taking your dad out for a day of culture, this restaurant at Sarasota Art Museum will offer Father’s Day specials such as bacon waffles with brown butter maple, steak au poivre sandwich with ciabatta and arugula, and warm turtle brownie topped with spiced pecans and salted caramel.

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The Blue Rooster

1525 Fourth St., Sarasota; 941-388-7539; blueroostersrq.com

The Sarasota music venue and Southern comfort food restaurant will hold its Sunday Gospel Brunch featuring live music by Truality, with two seatings at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The All You Can Eat buffet includes breakfast dishes such as scrambled eggs, bacon, ham, biscuits and gravy, waffles, cheesy grits and fruit salad; regular menu items like fried chicken, meatloaf, catfish, mac-and-cheese, fried green tomatoes, collard greens, Brunswick stew and Barnyard Salad; and chocolate chip cake and cream cheese-frosting lemon cake for dessert. It costs $24.99 adults, $12 ages 6-12 and free under 6.

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Bonefish Grill

multiple locations, bonefishgrill.com

The popular seafood chain headquartered in Tampa is serving a Filet & Lobster Tail entrée for Father’s Day featuring a seven-ounce cut with a seasoned and steamed cold water lobster tail. Bonefish recommends pairing the dish with their top-shelf Smoked Old Fashioned craft cocktail, featuring Woodford Reserve bourbon and a touch of maple with Angostura bitters and Bordeaux cherry smoked with oak and served over a colossal ice cube.

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Carrabba’s Italian Grill

multiple locations, carrabbas.com

Just in time for Father’s Day, the popular Italian restaurant chain headquartered in Tampa has unveiled a Summer Selects menu featuring a new Filet Parmesan coated with Mama Mandola’s breadcrumbs, sautéed and topped with a scratch-made pomodoro sauce, parmesan, romano and mozzarella cheese for $19.99. The restaurant recommends pairing this entrée with an Italian Old Fashioned – a Carrabba’s twist on an American classic with Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Disaronno Amaretto, fresh orange and cherry.

The Crow’s Nest

1968 Tarpon Center Drive, Venice; 941-484-9551; crowsnest-venice.com

The landmark waterfront restaurant and marina in Venice will hold a Father’s Day Best Dad Joke Contest, with a prize of a dinner for two including an appetizer, two entrees under $40, one dessert and two nonalcoholic drinks. Record your best Dad joke and send the video to [email protected]; they’ll then be posted to the restaurant’s Facebook page and the video with the most reactions at 11 a.m. Father’s Day wins.

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Duffy’s Sports Grill 

multiple locations, duffysmvp.com

Duffy’s Sports Grill, which debuted in Palm Beach County in the 1980s and has a Sarasota location at 3005 University Parkway, will celebrate Father’s Day both Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th. Specials include hearty steak meals, their New Old Fashioned Arnold Palmer craft cocktail, and a free first pint of beer (Bud Light or Miller Lite) for Dad with the purchase of a
meal. The filet mignon is an eight-ounce USDA choice cut aged 28 days with the choice of two sides for $25.99, and there’s also a New York strip option, 12-ounce USDA choice steak aged 28 days, with the choice of two sides for $20.49. The New Old Fashioned Arnold Palmer contains High West American Prairie Bourbon, Angostura bitters, unsweet tea, lemon sour, and simple syrup.

Hamlet’s Eatery

821 Apricot Ave., Sarasota; 941-445-1938; hamletseatery.com

Located in the courtyard of The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime, Hamlet’s Eatery will host a Rockin’ Brunch on Father’s Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring both traditional and vegan dishes such as build-your-own omelets and tofu scrambles, as well as live music by Clint Justesen and JSanti.

Happy Soul/Sugar Cubed

531 13th St. W., Bradenton; bradentonbrunch.com to reserve

The vegan restaurant and bakery that share a space in downtown Bradenton will also team up for a 2-5 p.m. Father’s Day brunch offering both traditional and vegan options, with entrées including a braised short rib burger and fried chicken wings, or vegan versions of barbecue ribs and Philly cheesesteak. The cost is $30 per person and includes choice of appetizer, entrée, two sides and a drink.

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Libby’s Neighborhood Brasserie

1917 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota; and 8445 Lorraine Road, Lakewood Ranch; libbysneighborhoodbrasserie.com

The locally owned Libby’s, with the original in Sarasota’s Southside Village location and a second one in Lakewood Ranch, invites folks to show Dad some love with a 16-ounce ribeye, plus a free draft beer. The Creekstone Ribeye will be served with roasted shallot cabernet butter and house-made jalapeno mac n cheese.

Mattison’s

multiple locations; mattisons.com

All three of Chef Paul Mattison’s namesake restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton will be open on Father’s Day with special brunch and dinner menus, and in-person or to-go options. Anyone who dines at Mattison’s or gets their meal to-go can also enter to win prizes like a fishing charter with Son of a Fish Fishing Charters, golf outing at Pinebook Ironwood Golf Course or Marina Jack II dinner cruise.

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Metro Diner

multiple locations, metrodiner.com

For Father’s Day, the Southern comfort food chain headquartered in Tampa is offering their newest piled high Breakfast Burger, featuring a 100% Angus burger topped with melted cheddar cheese, hash browns, lettuce, tomato, bacon, an egg any style and drizzled with hollandaise sauce. They also serve the Classic Cheeseburger, All American Burger, and the Bacon Mushroom Swiss Burger featuring a 100% Angus burger, hickory-smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, Swiss cheese and sautéed mushrooms. For chicken enthusiasts, there’s the Sticky Chicken & Waffle featuring Metro Diner’s famed fried chicken covered in sauce and a waffle topped with seasoned butter and served with a signature sweet and spicy syrup.

Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant

995 Riverside Drive, Palmetto; 941-729-0616; riverhousefl.com

Featuring indoor and outdoor seating right on the Manatee River, Palmetto’s most popular waterfront restaurant is offering dads a free beer for Father’s Day along with their Hanger and Mash special. It’s hanger steak with garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus, served with housemade bacon jam and blue cheese fondue for $26.⁣ Enjoy indoor or outdoor dining at the Reef & Grill or have a casual evening at the Snook Deck with live music. ⁣⁣

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Rosemary & Thyme

511 N. Orange Ave., Sarasota; 941-955-7600; therosemarysarasota.com

The restaurant in Sarasota’s Rosemary District will be open on Father’s Day for brunch 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and dinner 4:30-9 p.m., currently serving a $39 three-course Summer-Thyme dinner menu. Rosemary & Thyme will also offer barbecue specials during both brunch and dinner, featuring brisket and sausage.

State Street Eating House + Cocktails

1533 State St., Sarasota; 941-951-1533; statestreetsrq.com

A top spot for creative comfort foods and craft cocktails, including one of our favorite burgers, State Street in downtown Sarasota serves one of the city’s top brunches Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For Father’s Day, they’re adding a couple of “Dad centric” items to the menu, such as the chef’s take on “Steak and eggs” to be paired with a new Espresso Martini. There will also be the music of violinist Matt Dendy.