The Green Orchid by Michael's On East

February 16, 2025 - 4 for lunch. We are long time members and this is my first time since all the renovations and work. First time to The Green Orchid. Perfect name! We had friends in from snowy cold NY / LI and this was one of the key stops with them during their stay. The place was pretty packed in season. No outdoor spots and we waited a few minutes for an indoor four top. Service was spectacular. The food was very good as we got a bunch of salads and light food entrees. There were a few cocktails as well for the wives. My salad was a lot of romaine but very spartan on edamame, onion, nuts or anything else. The green dressing was good. Clean as a hospital operating room!! Food was fresh and delightful. All the entrees we had were mid $25 range and with a beer at $8 and mixed drinks at $15 we zoomed up to about $42 per person or $174 for 4 people tax and gratuity. It was surely "tourist" and higher priced for a lunch. I picked up the tab for our guests and with the over 65 restaurants I have reviewed on Main Street and in Sarasota....... I am not sure this was so convenient and easy to be worth the cost/value for what you got? We might walk the waterfront or head down Lemon or Pineapple and hit Main Street as an option? More friends in a few days and a few in March. The "boss" and social director will make the call.!!!

We’ve been here a few times and have tried different items on the menu and they’ve all been superb. I love that the vegetarian options don’t feel like an afterthought (try the portobello mushroom burger!) and everything feels fresh. The service is always great and Gabi is a friendly gem that really made us feel welcome. I do wish there was some background music or just something to liven up the restaurant more. Sometimes it feels like you can hear all the conversations around, not because people are loud, but because it’s so quiet there. It’s such a bright restaurant, I wish the ambiance would match. Nothing major though, as the food and service more than make up for it.

We popped into The Green Orchid for dinner after Lights in Bloom at Selby Gardens and were so glad we did. The restaurant was fully decorated for Christmas…so festive and fun. We started with the Japanese BBQ calamari, which was hands-down some of the best we’ve had. If you like calamari, it’s a must-try. The pull-apart bread was a hit with the family too, with cinnamon butter that made it taste a little like a cinnamon roll without the icing. For dinner, the kids loved the Cape Malay Street Tacos, while the honey mustard salmon and Hatfield Ranch pork chop were both amazing. The honey mustard glaze on the salmon and raspberry glaze on the pork chop really took these to the next level! For dessert, we had vanilla and coconut lime ice cream. Both are made in-house and were so good! They’re perfect if you want something sweet but light after dinner. If you’re planning to visit Selby Gardens and need a great spot for lunch or dinner, The Green Orchid is definitely worth checking out!

I have recently discovered the Green 0rchid in the Sarasota Botanical Garden. Excellent service from Rebecca, very good advice about the food choices. The ahi tuna poke bowl was full of flavours and enough for 2 people. A special note for the green energy they use from solar power and the excellent atmosphere.

This place was so refreshing. We were in the area on our 2nd anniversary and stopped by while visiting the Marie Selby gardens. Our Waitress Amy was easily the kindest most professional server I've ever experienced. She was so thoughtful about our anniversary and very attentive. I will definitely come back again in the future. The food was delicious and very much worth it.

A great restaurant within Selby Garden. The food is delicious and the service was so friendly and welcoming! We’re looking forward to visiting again because there’s plenty more on the menu you we want to try. If you are going to visit Selby Gardens, plan on lunch here, you won’t be disappointed.

The food was exceptional. We usually love Fins in Venice and thought we would give this a shot. The salmon was cooked to perfection, as was the porch chop. Both of our meals were actually hot- not warm, which tells us it went directly from the kitchen to us with zero wait. The service by Ann was friendly and outstanding. We will be back, and may have found a new favorite restaurant. Highly suggest you try it.