Last week it was Roy's, this weekend we hit Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for dinner. Sarasota is no stranger to high end steakhouses. In addition to Ruth's Chris, Sarasota also boasts a Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, a Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse, the locally based Zak's Steakhouse, and seasonally, Mattison's Steakhouse on Longboat Key.

Friday night, I started with the Ruth's Chopped Salad and continued with a Petite Filet Mignon, cooked rare, seared to 1800 degrees and topped with sizzling butter. A la carte sides of onion rings and creamed spinach (it's a steakhouse after all, not a spa!) completed the entree.

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion, the upscale restaurant chain bearing the first name of founding chef Roy Yamaguchi, has been open in Sarasota, at the intersection of Tamiami Trail and Siesta Drive, for just shy of two years and rarely fails to consistently deliver one of the best seafood dining experiences in town.

Reservations are a must to secure desirable booth seating offering views of the small, and usually busy main dining room. Saturday night, I started with Roy's Spicy Tuna Roll, and continued with Roy's Classic Trio--individual portions of signature menu items, Hibachi Grilled Chicken, Roy's Original Blackened Ahi Tuna & Hawaiian Style Misoyaki Butterfish--and finished with the Signature Melting Hot Chocolate Souffle.

The high humidity we've been dealing with this fall finally broke on Friday, making the weather ideal for outdoor dining at Ophelia's On The Bay on Siesta Key. Chef Dan Olson's signature take on seafood and game never fails to impress. The menu items change nightly.

Friday night, I started with the Heirloom Organic Green Salad with Spiced Walnut, Pears and Gorgonzola Cheese Drizzled with Black Truffle Oil and Sherry Vinegar Basil and followed with the rack of lamb. The base nightly menu is available online here. Thanks to my handy iPhone, I've included a couple of more photos after the jump.

Cork is one of the newer restaurants in Sarasota, having opened its doors earlier this year. The main restaurant is located on the upper level, overlooking the crowds on St. Armands Circle. And while you'll never mistake your surroundings for New York or L.A., Cork has a very contemporary, metropolitan feel. The lower level, The Bottleshop, is a wine bar and brasserie-type cafe, and is also open for lunch.

I've dined at Cork twice since the beginning of July. The first time, I started with the Heirloom Tomato Salad, and for an entree chose the Orange & Coriander Crusted Tuna. This past weekend, I started with the Foie Gras: Summer Suite and for the main course chose the Lamb and Gnocci. Cork is also one of the few restaurants in Sarasota to feature true Souffles on the dessert menu.

Everyone in our party had excellent experiences both visits.