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  • 0

    foodies come here. done and done.

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  • 0

    I usually don't write reviews...but I've had two great experiences at darwin's and I'm compelled to share!

    Can't say enough good things about the place.  What drew me in was that they brew their own beer, but what surprised me (and got me back, parents in tow) was the food.  I was simply amazed.  The unbelievably addictive bite-sized parm biscuits they set on your table set the tone for the kind of meal you're in for.  

    For apps I've only tried the lime chili chicken wings (not sure what the name is on the menu)...crazy good.  

    For entrees I've tried the skirt steak and the arctic char...first was remarkably tasty and the arctic char was out of this world.  Never had anything like it.

    The ambience is the best you'll find in sarasota.  Spanish (classical? colonial?) decor.  It seems to be in some kind of historic building.  I think it was the old citrus exchange if I remember correctly.  

    The staff was top-notch.  They were gracious in accommodating my parents who are...on the old side :)  My dad's a little hard of hearing, and one of the staff was very nice when I asked if it would be possible to turn the house music down a little.   Enrique humored my mother's insane dietary restrictions and my dad's preference for overcooked meat.  And they both raved about their meals.  And let me just say, these people are hard to please.  

    For dessert I've tried the tres leches.  Rich and delicious, and not too big (which is good because I was a little full after my entree but really wanted to try it).

    As for the beer...I did a flight on my first visit and found the ayawasca to be the most flavorful and distinct (you will like this if you like belgians).  The summerdaze IPA was decent, and the others I'd rate as just average.   I'd like to see them do a hoppier beer like a double or imperial IPA.  I bet they'd do a nice job.

    The food is the reason to go to darwin's.  Though the ambience, staff and the beer make it even better.  It's not cheap.  I usually bemoan paying more than $20 for an entree.  But this is one of the rare cases when it truly is worth it.  I will go there again and recommend it in a heartbeat.

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  • 0

    Really, really good. Huge portions, inventive cocktails, and yummy apps. Why are you still reading this?? Go!

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  • 0

    I arrived at Darwin's a little early in the evening and was able to take advantage of their happy hour prices, so I tried two different house beers. The Marron brown ale was smooth and malty, with a strange sort of tangy aftertaste. Ayawasca was very sweet and alcoholic, but oddly flat. Both were interesting but not impressive enough to want to order them again. I did get a sip of a friend's Decimation (their strongest house brew) and was very impressed with it, though. I would recommend going with that one.

    For my entree, I ordered the NY strip steak with parmesan fries. It was artfully plated, and the fries and sauces were nice, but my steak (which I ordered medium) was unfortunately overdone. That's something I can easily forgive if the entree costs less than $29, but...

    I will say that the ambiance is excellent (though our large and somewhat noisy party may have ruined it), the wait staff were on point. You could do a lot worse than Darwin's if you want to have a relatively classy night out in Sarasota.

    Interesting note: this is probably because we had such a large party, but I noticed that our bills all included a 20% gratuity automatically, but still had a blank space in which to write a tip. This might be standard practice; just thought it was worth mentioning since it caught some of our group by surprise.

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  • 0

    Best meal we've had in a long time. Absolutely wonderful food and service. Skirt steak was very tender and flavorful. Grilled duck was very tasty. Portions were generous.  Nice ambiance too!

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  • 0

    This restaurant like so many others in the area !!!! need waitstaff TRAINING big time...
    most establishments spend soooo much money on decor ..advertising... leases or actual purchase of property...... good chef's etc...however when it comes to waitstaff training it is sadly lacking!!!!!!!!! ... an inexperienced  ...chatty ..rude..arrogant..etc..person who just doesn't know how to serve a table ..especially a bottle of wine...is very annoying....... remember you are charging me at least twice to three times what it is worth..just to have someone serve it to me .....it could at least be the proper way...also waitstaff that don't  understand the sequence of how food should come out of the kitchen ...that person can ruin the whole experience...this area is often overlooked in this business.
    This place only gets 3 stars because their waitstaff fits this description
    Food is 4 to 5 star depending what u order........Will try one more time could have been luck of the draw.....:(((

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  • 0

    Caesar salad is so different, but delicious and satisfying. The live music is fun, and the tables are spread out so you have a nice sense of dining with just your table instead of crowds. The steak and fries was perfectly cooked, moist, and exceptionally flavorful with the sauce accompaniments. The sauces come separate which I love. Everything was served with smiles and really great, well trained wait staff. I loved the ceviche app, which was so fresh and flavorful, lime and cilantro.
    Nice night!

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  • 0

    Top peruvian cuisine in an unpretentious upscale setting. Professional service at its highest level. Live music. Great mix pf clientele. A treat of rare proportion.

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  • 0

    I wanted to love this place, but a recent experience left a bad taste in my mouth. (Pun intended.) Went with a group, got lots of little plates, which all were pretty good, if a bit fussy and not really constructed to share. Got the beers, which were good. Then came dessert. One member of our party got a very pretty chocolate dessert that tasted off. Very off. He sort of fiddled around with it, and we could tell he wasn't enthusiastic about it. Another person (a chef!) tasted it and said "It's off--either spoiled or not made correctly. So, we flagged down the waitress/hostess, and told her. She carted it off, but didn't offer to replace it.
    We got charged for it. and when we questioned this, she told us that the manager said it had been 1/2 eaten, and thus he had to charge us.  I hope our guest didn't get food poisoning.  I'm stunned that a place needs the $7.00 so badly.
    I was traveling, but my guests were locals, and they were dismayed.
    The food is pretty good, but over-priced for a craft beer joint.

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  • 0

    Darwin's has a nice ambiance and good service, but we were
    a bit underwhelmed by the food and the house craft beers especially given the rating. The crab appetizer we had was nicely presented, but kind of bland. The recommended short ribs were overcooked. The cornish hen dish was ok as well was the burger. The problem is the prices are gourmet quality, so one should expect nothing but excellence. The house made craft beers are kind of bland and flat. The best is a high alcohol beer called Decimation. Darwin's is a decent place to eat but the food could be better given the prices.

    If the prices were more reasonable, I would be more forgiving on the rating.

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  • 0

    This place is great.  I really like the inside, an old castle feeling.  The wait staff is pretty quick and attentive.  The food is very good.  I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

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  • 0

    Service was great and still dreaming about the short ribs. Wife had the cornish hen, and friends had the tuna. Everybody was happy.

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  • 0

    Lobster tacos were great, tender, luscious and spiced well.   Calamari was crispy tender.  

    Wow, must try the beef stir fry!!

    Tiffany the bartender was eccentric, down to earth, and ambivalently attentive, loved the service.

    A little musty inside, a good cleaning behind the bar would help.

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  • 0

    A very unique restaurant that is great for meeting friends. They offer great small plates and entrees. I have yet to order something I didn't like. We had a small get together (10 people) and reserved space upstairs and it was very intimate and the server handled our large party extremely well.

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  • 0

    Basically 3 star food with 4 star prices but the beer is very good and interesting.  

    I've been wanting to try out their beer as what I had at the bradenton beer fest was great.  So between movies of the film festival we decided to try things out.  Got the beer sampler and all were interesting and two were really good.  The oatmeal stout and the argyle were the winners there.  

    For food we decided to try a vareity of the piqueros and other things.  The Picante De Camarones was good but uneven.  Basically some bites were supper yummy and others were more garlic, and raw garlic at that, than it really need.  ANd I love garlic.  So a bit unbalanced or just bad execution?  Not sure. The real zinger was $15 for 5 shrimp, that were the 20-22 count size.  $3 a shrimp, it needs to be better than this.  Similar with the Lima chopped salad, good but uneven.  Some bites were flavorful and interesting and others lacked what you were getting at other times.  With a chopped salad this seemed strange.  The real bummer was the Anticucho De Carne.  $14 for basically 6 oz of over cooked tough beef.  The saving grace was the chimichurii is really good.  I know this one is supposed to be inspired by street food, maybe for $8 this would have been good but not $14.  I usually don't bitch about prices this much but the quality and flavors just don't rate their prices at least for these items.

    On the good side, the pork taco was very good.  Other than the slightly burned flour tortillas.  Tacos = corn tortillas!!! But the pork inside as great.  That, I could eat more of and this was the best priced item on the menu.  Also the Thai Shrimp Lettuce Wraps were very good.  But there was nothing really Thai about them.  But the chorizo and shrimp were a great combo.  basically what I used get in LA and was called empress pockets but with a twist.  

    I would come back and have a beer and maybe the lettuce wraps or the taco.  But not really interested in repeating what I had otherwise.

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  • 0

    Darwin's was fantastic!

    When dining there are three elements to the experience:  food, atmosphere, and service.  And in all three categories Darwin's excelled.

    We started with the shrimp spring rolls which had a hint of chili but were not spicy hot, instead highlighting and allowing the delicate shrimp, aioli, and pine nut flavors to come through.  It was a wonderful appetizer with our ample cocktails.

    We all dined on lamb, my companions with the lamb chops off the menu, served with roasted onions and a divine whipped parsnip; and I with a lamb loin special, served with a cheesy chili risotto and roasted Brussels sprouts.  The sauce for the lamb was amazing, and the copious fresh rosemary made for an aromatic blend.

    All the while we were tended to by three busboys (and a few others), all directed by our delightful and energetic waitress Rachel.  The manager Matt was charming and came to check on us, and since we had had a lovely conversation, he made an effort to bid us farewell.  

    Since we were having such an amazing meal and savoring the decor and atmosphere, we decided desserts were in order, and ended up with a clever chocolate creme brulee, and a selection of four sorbets, both desserts topped with fresh berries.  

    The background music was intriguing but not loud, and the din of other guests was upbeat, but again, not loud (we do not like noisy restaurants). We loved the occasional flame and the hum of the open kitchen.

    The naysayers on here just don't get fine dining.  If you're not prepared to eat a full meal and not look at the prices, then this is not the spot for you.  The rest of you adventurous, world-class diners, you are in for a treat!

    I cannot wait to return to Darwin's on my next trip to Sarasota:  It will now be the first reservation that I make for dinner.

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  • 0

    Pretty good! I'm holding back a fifth star because my first dinner here was a 5-star but the second only a couple weeks later was unfortunately a 3-star. After the first dinner the second was a disappointment.

    On my first dinner here I was fortunate to have two sharing friends with me so I had a lot to taste. All was excellent and left me wanting more: Shrimp Spring Rolls and  Oven Roasted Pork Taco to start. We each had a different entree and each was equally delicious: Chef Darwin's Skirt Steak, Pato - Grilled Duck Breast and Malbec Braised Short Ribs. Honestly I couldn't pick one over the others.

    On my second dinner just a couple weeks later I had a small plate dinner with a girlfriend. The martini's were great but the plates left me feeling not completely satisfied. I had the Poached Lobster Tacos which were actually pretty good however I was expecting a little more for a $14 appetizer. I also ordered the Anticucho De Carne which had the toughest pieces of meat that I could barely chew them. My friend had one dish that I did try which was the Chifa Ceviche. Ceviche by definition is a raw fish marinated in lime or lemon juice to actually cook it. This was not "cooked" at all and merely mixed with coconut juice and spices and served. Although it tasted good to me my friend was expecting a ceviche. If it's not traditional the menu should note that.

    The dessert was not as good either. I'm being fair with the 4 stars because I am writing this off as an "off" night. I'm looking forward to coming back for another amazing meal like the first.

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  • 0

    This restaurant was great!  Our group of 5 sat upstairs and had a really lovely time.  The hosts were really lovely however the service otherwise left something to be desired.  We all enjoyed the live music that was playing on a Saturday night.  Just a few tips, they should have background music when the live music is off since there was awkward silence.  The food was really great, my only complaint was it all came out at separate times and my food came out last and was cold.  I realize we were upstairs but this really shouldn't happen...BUT I will be back, I will eat the garlic risotto hot or cold!

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  • 0

    This is a review of the customer service and management (Vinny) at Darwin's on 4th.

    I purchased a gift certificate in the amount of $100 for my parents from Darwin's this past Christmas, thinking it would be a nice place for them to have a dinner.

    They recently went to Darwin's on a weeknight Wednesday, 2/27/13 for my mother's birthday. They were sat at a table, and the waitress was named (Erica). The waitress took so long to come and take they're drink order, my father had to go to the bar to get drinks. When (Erica) does finally arrive at the table to introduce herself and take the order, my mother has some questions about the menu, so Erica went off to get an answer but does not return. After (Erica) came back to the table my mother asks if is had an answer to the question about the menu, she said "Oh, I forgot", and went off again. My mother sees her go to other tables and (Erica) even looks at her but doesn't come back to the table. At this point it's 30 min. after sitting, they ask for the check to leave. For my parents to leave a restaurant due to service it must be BAD, as they've never done this.

    After paying my father goes up to the hostess stand to ask to speak with a manger about the service. The hostess says "I'm sorry, he's busy". Whaaat? I've worked in restaurants in New York, and this would never happen. The manager should NEVER be too busy to help to unhappy customers. Customers should be your #1 priority, apparently at Darwin's this is not the case.

    The next day my father calls Darwins to speak to the manager, he speaks to Vinny and explains the dining experience from the prior evening. Vinny says he's sorry about they're service, and offers to buy them drinks and appetizers if they came back to the restaurant to make up for the poor service.

    I also called Darwins to speak with Vinny to express my unhappiness with the service my parents received, and that I now looked bad giving a gift certificate to a restaurant which I talked up as being very good. Vinny said he was sorry, and that he had spoken to my father, and that he had promised to buy them drinks and appetizers if they would come back to give the restaurant a second chance. Vinny told my father to personally call him before they came in to make sure they were taken care of.

    They recently went to Darwins this past Friday 3/8/13, to give Darwin's a second chance. When they arrive, they ask the hostess to speak to Vinny, she responds that Vinny is not in, but will send over the other manger (Matt). (Matt) says he will take care of them, but the drinks and appetizers were not taken care of.

    Needless to say my parent's will not be going back to Darwin's, and I will not be purchasing gift certificates from them or recommending Darwin's to anyone.

    Again, this review was about the customer service and management of Darwin's, and as someone who has worked in high-end restaurants, customer service is just as important than the food. If this is how Darwin's treats it's customers than natural selection will make sure this restaurant eventually goes extinct.

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  • 0

    Excellent Peruvian influenced food in an interesting setting. On our recent visit to Sarasota, our friends took us to Darwin's on 4th, one of their favorite restaurants. The dark wood interior gives the bar area a warm feeling and compliments the beer brewing vats which you can see behind glass enclosures. We were immediately attended to and water and cocktails followed soon thereafter. The waitress was especially helpful explaining some of the more "exotic" dishes on offer. The salads were fresh, the interestingly presented main courses were delicious and we couldn't resist the deserts. A must try when you're in Sarasota.

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  • 0

    I've eaten here several times more. Consistently great food, service and drinks. Highly recommend the caipirinha! Still one of my favorites in Sarasota.

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  • 0

    food was great.  Their tap water was aweful as it tasted sulphurous.  We were forced to get bottled water.  Cerviches were wonderful with very complex, tasty flavor.  One suggestion to them would be that they should work on their tap water.

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  • 0

    The place is great and I agree with most of the other reviews but be careful at Happy Hour and 'check' your bill before paying. It has happened to us more then once that you will be charged 'regular' prices instead of HH price. We brought this up with our male server who was "sorry he didn't know the time."  'Sorry'  but that doesn't fly - your
    cash register  has the time on it.  Large groups should really pay attention - another time,  we were charged food and drinks we didn't order.  From now on, we will pay as we receive.

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  • 0

    The food, service and wine were all outstanding.  Great atmosphere, seems good for dates.  The short ribs were to die for.. perfectly done and very flavorful.  Also try to pork taco.. delicious.  The banana flan chutney could have been better, but other than that.. everything was great.

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  • 0

    Darwin's for Yuppies!
    A place to mingle and tantalize your date for the evening, however, I found this place to be pricey but tasty and in little portions. Reminds me of a beautiful weight watchers' gathering place.
    They are of Peruvian flare in foods, maybe that explains the portions.
    I love their decor inside, the settings can accommodate a group or a romantic couple.
    And the bar reminds me of the old 20's style saloons.
    The lighting is dimmed and you can have privacy in some seating's.
    I had the "Lomito Al Jugo" a square tender beef tenderloin with caramelized onions, tomatoes, drizzled with soy sauce and cilantro. With a side of yellow rice and special yucca fries.  Good tasting and left me with room for desert. like the  "Fruit Crepe and banana flavored flan.

    It is a good place to entertain, bring your credit card.

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  • 0

    My wife and I brought our daughter (foodie) to Darwin's on a neighbor's recommendation.  We had a great time.  Darwin's food and service were among the best in Sarasota, a city full of good restaurants.
    We had the Mahi special and the short ribs.  Both were well prepared and presented and the food tasted great.  
    What also made our dinner fun was our server who had a great knowledge of the menu and a sense of humor to boot.
    As Arnold says, "we'll be back".

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  • 0

    Lomitio al jugo was delicious.  A bit over priced but food presentation was top notch.  Micro brews I tried were just okay. One was dark and one was light.  Can take it or leave it.

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  • 0

    Yesterday was my honey's birthday. We searched a few menus online of restaurants that we've heard great things about and ultimately decided on dining at Darwin's to celebrate. We arrived to find a very cool looking building.  Inside was dim, with romantic lighting and beautiful attention to detail in everything from the ceiling, draped in rich colored fabrics hanging from wrought iron fencing, rustic lamps, woven placemats, all the way to the awesome open kitchen where we could watch the chefs make their magic happen.
    We were warmly welcomed, first by the hostess and then by our waiter. He told us that hand-crafting beer was one of their specialties- but neither of us are really beer drinkers. That said, the descriptive menu was so appealing that I felt like I had to at least have a taste or two- and our waiter was more than happy to oblige. I tasted the pumpkin spice and their signature beer, and while I'm still not really a fan of beer in general, I can understand that there are different notes and flavors to be appreciated just like with wine.
    We looked over the menu, full of very appealing choices, and had a chat with our  waiter about his favorites. Apparently, he pretty much loves everything there- and had a lot of excitement in describing a few of them. We decided to share a bunch of appetizers rather than limiting ourselves to just 2 entrees. We are always happy to share plates (just another reason why I love him) and agree on just about everything food-wise- which really isn't difficult since we both love eating.
    The bus-boy brought out a few little popover-type rolls- they were almost identical to the ones they serve at Derek's Culinary Casuals, just down the street, so I (wrongly) assumed that perhaps the chefs were buddies from culinary school. Very soon after, our first 3 choices arrived and were presented beautifully- full of color, texture and creativity.
    The first was the Yuzu butter poached lobster taco: Miso-truffle black bean puree, avocado, pico de gallo, soft flour tortilla. It had generous pieces of lobster claw meat and that bean puree was incredible- smooth and just the right amount of truffle oil. The tortillas were fluffy and fresh. It was the perfect amount for 2 people- one taco each, and just delicious.
    The 2nd was the Limi chopped salad: Spring mix, romaine lettuce, tomato, onions, avocado, choclo, black beans, queso fresco, orange chipotle vinaigrette. It had been recommended to us by a co-worker of Gabriel's so we felt we better try it. It was colorful and filled with fresh produce, beans and queso fresco to make a refreshing combination. That said, it didn't blow us away as something all that special- but it was still a nice, light compliment to our other, heavier dishes. I could see ordering it for lunch with another app and feeling like it was the perfect light meal.
    Our 3rd plate was the Octopus Tiradito: Sashimi-style tender octopus, black olive puree, onions, avocado, toasted bread. Octopus is Gabriel's favorite so we had to try it. It was tender, but not as melt-in-your-mouth as we have had it on a few occasions. The olive tampenade was an interesting contrast that I didn't think would work, but in reality was quite tasty in and a cool texture along with with the chewier meat and soft, creamy avocado.
    After those first 3 dishes, we wanted something salty and crunchy and were excited to see tostones on the 'sides' menu. (So sorry that we dove into these and polished them off before I remembered I hadn't taken a photo!) They are one of my favorite snacks when done right and these absolutely were. Wow. Hot, crispy, just the right amount of batter and with a wonderful, herby, chimichurri-type dipping sauce alongside. These were really awesome, and as a classic, authentic Peruvian dish, I'm sure that Darwin has had these under his belt for a while. Finding genuine, ethnic food in Sarasota never ceases to amaze and surprise me. I should really stop doubting how many fantastic restaurants hosted by talented chefs this area offers.
    We wanted one more small dish to end this awesome meal and so we asked our waiter one more time for a recommendation. He told us that the Tuna Tiradito was not to be missed. It is Darwin's signature Sashimi-style tuna, ginger soy sauce, cubes of fresh watermelon, leche de tigre. I'm SO glad that we listened to his advice because this ended up being my favorite of the night. The sweet, cool, juicy watermelon was a fantastic contrast to the tender, fresh, raw, tuna and the lemony sauce that came alongside was a tart compliment to the whole dish. It was beautifully presented and tasted even better than it looked.
    We were about to ask to see a dessert menu when our attentive waiter, Enrique, showed up with a surprise 'Happy Birdday' dessert for Gabriel. Yes, birdday. Ummm. Cute mistake. The dessert was the Lavender Poached Pear with Goat cheese ice cream, black pepper caramel sauce.
    Visit big fork in mouth dot com to read the rest of this review!

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  • 0

    Great waiters and waitresses but the portions are tapas-- so they are small. Intimate bar area that is great for conversation.

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  • 0

    Wow!  Visiting from the restaurant mecca of the US (New York), I have to say my expectations weren't extremely high.  To say that I was pleasantly surprised would be a gross understatement.  My girlfriend and I both agreed that Darwin's on 4th provided some of the best food that we've ever had.  The shrimp spring rolls were out of this world and the malbec braised short ribs rank as one of the top entree's I've ever tasted.  Even the wine selection was outstanding!

    Our server Rick (Enrique) made our evening a touch better and was spot on with his recommendations.  

    GO HERE IF YOU ARE EVER IN SARASOTA

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  • 0

    My husband and I have eaten here twice, once on our own and once in a group of friends. The first visit we were kind of surprised because we hadn't heard of the restaurant before and it is in kind of an odd location. The entrance of the restaurant looks really cool and once you step inside you can see the interior is very well put together, too. We were very happy with our meals, and the food is certainly unlike any other restaurant in Sarasota.

    Our second visit with friends was equally as satisfying. A group of 6 and everybody loved their meal. Both times I ordered the skirt steak with chimichurri, I just couldn't pass it up after it was so good the first time.

    The dessert is also amazing. They have a creative cocktail menu and the drinks are good, too.

    I'm sure we will be dining here again!

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  • 0

    This is a great date place. The atmosphere dark and cozy. You will need to use an alternate light source to reed the menu though. I sat in the bar area because I like the atmosphere better and there was a lone guitarist playing.  

    I am a craft beer snob and their micro-beers were very drinkable. I wish there was a larger selection of local and popular craft beers; however, for Southern FL I was happy.

    We had a couple appetizers and they were both good. My only complaint was the lettuce wraps. The lettuce boats were incapable of wrapping anything. The asparagus tacos were good. I had the sampler entree and I must say everything was excellent accept the yucca--which to me were undercooked as more of a veggie than a starch.  The tempura was done very well not too oily ad the spice was a good slight kick without taking away from the fish which were small portions in the sampler.

    I will come again when the opportunity presents itself.

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  • 0

    Had a group of 3 couples and chose Darwins on 4th for our dinner.  The evening was fun all around and was made even better by the great server.  I ordered the Caesar salad and found it to be a little different but delightful with fried plantains as crutons and a very tangy dressing.  I also had the Tuna and Watermelon appetizer which was out of this world.  Great quality tuna and the watermelon and soy dressing went together nicely.  For dinner I had the short ribs with rizotto and it was awesome!  I would definitely dine here again and might even get the ribs again as they were out of sight!  Thanks for a great evening!

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  • 0

    Selva with 20% less pretension.  Outstanding food.  Octopus appy perfectly done.  Great skirt steak.  Consistently good.  Can it be that 2 of the top 10 joints in Sarasota are Peruvian?

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  • 0

    Given all the fantastic reviews I was really excited to try this place. The food and the space (which is beautiful) did not disappoint.  I enjoyed the Tuna Tiradito appetizer and the Arctic Char main (see photos).  The fish was so light and fresh and perfectly complemented by the sweet glaze.  My husband devoured his Pork Taco and equally enjoyed the grilled duck breast.

    Service, sadly, was a tad frazzled, hence the 4 stars.  Honestly, it was not bad enough to ruin the experience for us.  However, our waitress was so absent throughout the evening that we felt we should directly tip the food runners, bus boys and the hostess, as they were they ones constantly taking up the slack.  Which, to be fair, they did very well.  Indeed, we very much appreciated the hostess taking our drink order, and then delivering it, otherwise we would have been waiting a very long time for our own waitress, who seemed overly distracted by one large table, to the detriment of all her other customers.  

    We hope to return to Darwin's but will try to secure a different server next time...

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  • 0

    Great selection of ceviches. While everyone raves about the tuna & watermelon, I prefer the wahoo.

    The pork taco is a must as an appetizer and the vegetable taco is surprisingly good for this carnivore!

    My absolute favorite entree is the skirt steak! The flavors imparted by the grill combined with chimichurri and sweet chili are amazing. The sweet plantains are a bonus.

    The bill does add up quickly with so many good options to eat and some tasty cocktails.

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  • 0

    This place was amazing! Being Peruvian I'm usually pretty harsh and over critical on most Peruvian restaurants especially those that are gastro-fusion-froufrou and so on. The service was quick and friendly and had the pleasure of meeting Darwin at the end of my dinner. This is quite the gem in Sarasota and something for everyone who isn't as adventurous.
    The Wahoo Tiradito was incredible!
    I'll definitely be back when in town.

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  • 0

    There seems to be some confusion that chef Darwin still owns other restaurants, such as Selva, but he does NOT. Though he was its first chef and founder, he is no longer part of the restaurant. Since his departure, food at Selva has gone down in quality and up in price. Darwin's is the return of the old Selva with a few more exciting additions to the menu and a microbrew which serves up some pretty tasty beers for a new micro.

    They have excellent happy hour deals that you should try to take advantage of. Ceviche is amazing as is the pork taco. Skirt steak is superb and the burger is one of the best I've ever had despite the fact it was slightly over cooked (I prefer my meat on the rarer side).

    BUT the biggest difference between the new selva and Darwin's is the return of delicious desserts. The pot of mousse had suffered under the new selva but it is back in all its glory at Darwin's. Goat cheese ice cream is out of this world. Highly recommend to anyone who wants to taste how the old selva was.

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  • 0

    Darwin's has taken the top spot as my current favorite restaurant in Sarasota for a couple different reasons.

    The most impressive aspect is the food. Darwin hooks it up with multiple South American dishes that explode with taste in your mouth.

    I've had a couple of his ceviches, some octopus, the short rib/risotto amazingness, and the swordfish. All fantastic and quite authentic.

    The bar area is a completely different scene at this location. It's full of 1st Round Draft Picks of talented women who come for the cosmos, dance floor, and I like to think to meet men like me.

    Annnnnnd they brew their own beers on-site, winning.

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  • 0

    Great Peruvian flavors, terriffic service, trendy atmosphere.

    I definitely recommend the skirt steak.  Causa was delicious too.  The Lazy Pirate Stout wasn't bad - very good for a brand new microbrew.

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