At Lucky 8, our Restaurant experience in Sarasota, FL brings together fresh flavors, thoughtful service, and a space designed for comfort. Guests appreciate our 4.90 rating across 402 reviews, along with accessible facilities and standout great service and quality.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Lucky 8
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
french bread | gulf oysters | mayo | shrettuce | tomato | pickle
sesame seed bun | 2 smashed beef patty | american cheese | onion | pickle | lucky sauce
sesame seed bun | 1 smashed beef patty | american cheese | onion | pickle | lucky sauce
sesame seed bun | crispy chicken | collard greens | swiss cheese | coleslaw
an entire muffuletta (sicilian sesame bread) | ham | genoa salami | mortadella | provolone | olive salad
sesame seed bun | 3 smashed beef patty | american cheese | onion | pickle | lucky sauce
french bread | braised beef | mayo, shrettuce | tomato | pickle
1/4 muffuletta (sicilian sesame bread) | ham | genoa salami | mortadella | provolone | olive salad
1/2 muffuletta (sicilian sesame bread) | ham | genoa salami | mortadella | provolone | olive salad
french bread | popcorn gulf shrimp | mayo | shrettuce | tomato | pickle
whiskey sauce.
Fried chicken thigh | red beans | jasmine rice
roasted poblano cheese grits | andouille sausage | piquillo pepper gravy
roasted chicken | smoked sausage | jasmine rice | pickled banana peppers
louisiana crawfish tails | jasmine rice
romaine | buttermilk ranch dressing | avocado | egg | tomato
anchovy dressing | toasted garlic crumb | grana padana
freshly hand-cut fries | cooked in pure cholesterol-free 100% peanut oil. served with lucky sauce, spicy mayo & ketchup
roasted chicken | smoked sausage | jasmine rice | pickled banana peppers
smoked paprika | rutabaga | watermelon | radish
a new orleans classic
smoked sausage | ham hock | jasmine rice | pickled banana peppers
black pepper butter sauce | french bread
pork shoulder | chicken liver | hot sauce aioli
nuoc cham | cashew sesame crunch | thai basil | coriander
hot honey | toasted pecans | sourdough
fried saltines | voodoo zaps
Hear from our valued guests
My friend had been waiting to bring me to Lucky 8– I’m from the New Orleans area and have been wanting a real Cajun or creole restaurant in Sarasota for years. They didn’t tell me it was NOLA food and I didn’t look it up for once before we met up at this spot— I was pleasantly surprised from the moment I walked in the door! The owners are kind and knowledgeable of everything on that menu. The decor gives such a unique, soulful but elevated vibe and the playlist is so good I downloaded it from their website! 🔥 The food was delicious. I had the chicken and sausage gumbo which was the perfect temperature and seasoned well. The fires were insane and the beet salad was really good too. We actually had a lot and every bite I ate was fire! I wish they had brunch!! Please start serving brunch!!
Response from the owner 4 months ago Thank you for your fantastic review, Samantha! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the authentic NOLA experience we strive to offer. It’s wonderful to know that you loved the gumbo, fries, and beet salad—we take great pride in our menu. Your suggestion for brunch is appreciated, and we'll certainly consider it for the future. We hope to welcome you back soon! The Lucky 8 Team
🌟 Foodie Find Alert! 🌟 Visiting from Texas and we stumbled across Lucky 8 at lunchtime after seeing it recommended on TikTok — and WOW, it did not disappoint! From the moment we walked in, Jaiden and Austin went above and beyond with their friendliness, knowledge, and service. Truly exceptional! 🙌 I ordered the Louisiana Shrimp & Grits, and my husband got the Muffuletta Sandwich — both were absolutely AMAZING. The grits were some of the best I’ve ever had (and I’m not even a grits person!). We couldn’t resist dessert and went all in with the bread pudding — OMG 🤯 it was so good I’m already planning our next trip back just for that! If you haven’t tried Lucky 8 yet, I HIGHLY recommend it! You’ll thank me later 😋✨
Response from the owner 5 months ago Thank you so much for your enthusiastic review, Elizabeth! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your visit and that Jaiden and Austin provided exceptional service. It's fantastic that both the Louisiana Shrimp & Grits and the Muffuletta Sandwich made such a great impression on you. We’re especially glad you loved the bread pudding! We can’t wait to welcome you back for another delicious experience! The Lucky 8 Team
Austin was very accommodating and helpful with my husband and I being new to this place. Austin explained the menue and what the place was all about. Had a great time and the food was awesome too!! Mini smash burger ✌🏻
Response from the owner 4 weeks ago Thanks so much for the great review, Kat. We're thrilled Austin could help introduce you and your husband to our place and that you enjoyed the Mini Smash Burger and the rest of the food. We really appreciate the five-star rating and kind words. Hope to see you both again soon. The Lucky 8 Team
Lucky 8 in Sarasota was a delightful surprise. The shakshouka had us in absolute bliss — rich, flavorful, and perfectly done. The service was attentive and genuinely welcoming. Paired with the beautiful decor and warm, inviting lamps, the ambiance was wonderful. Definitely a spot worth visiting.
Response from the owner a month ago Thank you so much for the wonderful review. We’re thrilled Lucky 8 was a delightful surprise and that you enjoyed the shakshouka, attentive service, and our warm decor and lamps. We look forward to welcoming you back soon. The Lucky 8 Team
What a fun place and the food was great. The New Orleans vibe is wonderful here and it feels like a place that would fit right in the downtown of NOLA. The sandwiches were great with lots of flavor, the fries were typical of that area of the country, not crispy but good flavor and hearty.
Response from the owner 3 weeks ago Peter, thanks so much for the great review and five stars. We're thrilled you enjoyed the New Orleans vibe and that the sandwiches and fries hit the mark. We aim for bold flavor and a welcoming atmosphere, so it's wonderful to hear it felt like downtown NOLA. We appreciate you stopping by and hope to see you again soon. The Lucky 8 Team
As an avid burger fan, when my buddies said this was a must try, I immediately got excited. It definitely lived up to the hype. A top notch smash burger in a dive bar setting. You can’t beat it. I recommend it and I will definitely be back
Response from the owner a month ago Thanks for the great review, Big Frank! We're thrilled the smash burger lived up to the hype and that you enjoyed the dive bar vibe. We appreciate the recommendation and look forward to serving you again soon. The Lucky 8 Team
OMG DELICIOUS FOOD 😋 Holy cow! I found this place online while on vacation down here. And it did not disappoint I came in for the double cheeseburger which was out of this world. The grilled onions the sesame seed bun and the fresh beef was delicious. My husband had the red beans and rice and the sausage and chicken gumbo which was very delicious. The service was fantastic they greeted you they came back to check on you to see if you needed anything else I highly recommend it and the atmosphere is so cute inside you feel like they're in New orleans. Come here for outstanding food
Response from the owner a month ago Thank you so much, TLynn “Sunshine” HS! We’re thrilled you discovered us while on vacation and loved the double cheeseburger, red beans and rice, and our sausage and chicken gumbo. I’m glad the friendly service and New Orleans atmosphere made your visit special. We can’t wait to welcome you back next time you’re in town. The Lucky 8 Team
Wow…what an amazing place. We had been hearing about this place for a while and finally made it out for lunch. I’ve got to say it blew us away. We tried the shrimp and grits, roast beef po boy and the double smashburger. The shrimp and grits was amazing. The po boy was very good. The double smashburger…omg…seriously…best burger I’ve ever had…not just the best in Sarasota but the best I’ve ever had anywhere in the world. I make an amazing burger…this is the only one I’ve ever had better than mine. How ironic that a NOLA restaurant not only has amazing NOLA dishes but the best burger lol. Kudos to Chef Mark. The staff are amazing as well. Jordan and Jaden are wonderful…very attentive, friendly and sweet. This is definitely a gem.
Response from the owner 2 months ago Thank you so much for the glowing review. We’re thrilled you enjoyed the shrimp and grits, roast beef po boy, and the double smashburger. Chef Mark and the whole team will be delighted to hear your praise, and we’ll be sure to pass your compliments along to Jordan and Jaden. We can’t wait to welcome you back soon. The Lucky 8 Team
Had the smash burger & WOW…. One of the best if not the best burger in town. Collard greens were A1 and the coleslaw was also delicious. Great service, our server Alyssa was very nice. The ambiance screams NOLA. Highly recommend will definitely be back!
Response from the owner 3 weeks ago Thank you, Mike, for the fantastic review and for the high praise! We’re thrilled you loved the smash burger, collard greens, and coleslaw, and that Alyssa and our NOLA-style ambiance made your visit special. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Alyssa and the team. We look forward to serving you again soon. The Lucky 8 Team
My first time here and it definitely won't be the last! The food, The vibe and the service will make or break a place, This hits all the marks! It's cozy but vibrant, We sat at the bar and Austin was great, He went over the menu with us, told us what was top sellers, we opted for the single smash burger, a shrimp po'boy, hand cut fries and topped it off with the most incredible bread pudding ever! The food was fresh, tasty cooked to perfection. I really loved the vibe of this place and of course the food! I cannot wait to go back and try other dishes
Response from the owner a month ago Thank you so much for the fantastic review, Mikey! We're thrilled Austin and the team made your first visit great and that you enjoyed the single smash burger, shrimp po'boy, hand-cut fries, and bread pudding. It means a lot that the food, vibe, and service hit all the marks for you. We can't wait to welcome you back to try more dishes. The Lucky 8 Team
Common questions about Lucky 8
Lucky 8 is located at 1812 S Osprey Ave, Sarasota, FL 34239, United States, Sarasota, FL, United States.
You can reach Lucky 8 by calling +1 941-444-0155.
Lucky 8 has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on 402 customer reviews.
Lucky 8 features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Lucky 8 features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Delivery, Takeaway, Dine-in.
Lucky 8 features the following highlights: Fast service, Great beer selection, Serves local specialty.
Lucky 8 features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Lucky 8 features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Coffee, Comfort food, Happy-hour drinks, Quick bite, Small plates, Wine.
Lucky 8 features the following dining options: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
Lucky 8 features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
Lucky 8 features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Trendy.
Lucky 8 features the following crowd: Family friendly, Groups, Tourists.
Lucky 8 features the following planning: Accepts reservations.
Lucky 8 features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Lucky 8 features the following children: High chairs, Kids' menu.
Lucky 8 features the following parking: Free street parking.
Lucky 8 features the following pets: Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
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