Eat out on the sand

The Sandbar, located on the north end of Anna Maria Island, has for decades been a favorite for locals and a great place to impress your out of town guests. Enjoy our inside dining room or relax before a sunset on the Gulf front deck.
What better way to experience fine Florida dining than to pair it with live entertainment - With exceptional local artists performing at our restaurants on almost a nightly basis, you can be assured that our food won't be the only thing you'll be talking about after you leave.
The Sandbar is also considered the perfect beach location for your wedding, reception, next corporate luncheon, business meeting, after hours function or family get together.

Here's a bit of history about the place from their website.
The tradition of entertainment and relaxation at the Sandbar dates back as far as 1913. In those days Anna Maria was only accessible by boat. Many people came from Tampa, landing on the bay side and making the short hike to "The Pavilion," a favored meeting place for local and tourist alike, and on whose site the Sandbar Restaurant now sits.
In the 1930s a diving platform was erected on pilings, approximately 100 feet offshore and connected to the beach by a cable that met the 'more adventuresome' could make use of, minimizing the chance of falling prey to sharks that inhabited the area waters. Local fisherman still refer to the platform, now marked only by three submerged pilings and visible only at low tide, as the "wire."
A mysterious fire engulfed "The Pavilion" in 1946. A 'bucket brigade' was formed to protect the surrounding buildings, but legend has it that the owners didn't waste much water on the blaze. They subsequently placed two old army barracks on the spot and the Sandbar was born.
The Sandbar was traded around a bit in the following years. One owner, Mrs. Bernice Enaux, added a dance floor in the late 40s which did more to enhance the Sandbar's reputation.
The hurricane of 1950 did extensive damage to the building and wiped out what was left of the platform. Mrs. Enaux, not to be deterred, rebuilt and strengthened the building. After being sold by Mrs. Enaux in the early 60s, it once again saw a period of ownership by many. Extensive remodeling, done in the early 70s removed the bar from the south side and added a new bar and lounge on the north side.
In July of 1979, the Sandbar was purchased by its present owners. It is our intention to remain here for many years to come. We can achieve that goal by constantly providing good food, fine spirits, and polite courteous service. If at any time you feel that we are not maintaining those standards, please let me know. I consider it very important!

Check out the Sandbar here