Sunshine reflects off the water on a balmy Saturday afternoon as we approach the newly renamed and renovated Evie’s at Spanish Point Restaurant & Tiki Bar. There are seniors, baby boomers, new families with small children, groups of twenty-somethings and virtually every other slice of the population here. People are smiling and mingling, eating and drinking, listening to live music and watching golf on TV, playing corn-hole and playing with their dogs, everyone soaking up the festive waterfront atmosphere. Spanish Point, the jewel of Osprey, has long been a destination for locals and tourists. Today, patrons are invited to see the restaurant and tiki bar following months of renovations.

Nothing discernible has changed about the iconic chickee structure, a palmetto thatch roof over a cypress log frame just like the Seminoles started building centuries ago, which overlooks the pristine waters of Little Sarasota Bay. Practically everything else about the business formerly known as Spanish Pointe Restaurant and Marina, though, has been improved. My wife Kristin and I immediately notice the new wood rails surrounding the new tables and chairs in the open-air dining area, the new tiki bar, the new bathrooms, and the new wood high-top tables placed on the new sod. The fresh grass meets the seawall and a stretch of beach on the north end of the expansive property.

Steve and Mike Evanoff, the father-and-son team behind the local Evie’s restaurant and entertainment empire, which includes White Buffalo Saloon and Office Bar SRQ, purchased Spanish Point in December. In January, they reopened this local landmark established in 1957, but without an operating kitchen and while undergoing a serious refurbishment. I’m reminded of this as I read the letter, from Steve and Mike Evanoff, printed on the back of the menu.

“Please excuse our appearance as we undergo improvements to make Spanish Point even better,” it begins. “Our goal is to keep the same ‘Old Style Florida’ charm surrounding Spanish Point.” The letter then mentions upgrading the building, adding a new bar, modernizing the bathrooms for handicapped accessibility, replacing the old docks and giving the outside grounds a fresh makeover.

Kristin and I are seated at a picnic table with an umbrella, situated between the chickee and the new docks. We’re right on the water; we’re watching boats and birds and enjoying the breeze. There’s not a bad place to be in all of Spanish Point but we can’t imagine a sweeter spot than this one. Pair this location with a libation and you have something at least approaching paradise.

Evie’s at Spanish Point Restaurant & Tiki Bar in Osprey. STAFF PHOTO / NICK ADAMS

Spanish Point has a solid selection of beers, including local craft brews, all served ice cold just like you’ll find the beers at every Evie’s location. I sip on my tall, narrow 16-ounce can of Budweiser ($4) in between sips from Kristin’s Frozen Cactus Pear Margarita ($8), a dangerously delicious concoction of Exotico’s blanco tequila, cactus pear and fresh lime juice. Electric pink in color, it looks dazzling against the bay waters.

Frozen Cactus Pear Margarita. Photo by Wade Tatangelo

Caribbean Sangria. Photo by Wade Tatangelo

I decide to try a cocktail of my own and order the Caribbean Sangria. Unlike just about anything I’ve had before, this creation by Matt White (he transferred to Spanish Point from Office Bar), is outstanding. White deftly mixes Sarasota-based and nationally acclaimed Drum Circle Distilling’s Siesta Key Toasted Coconut Rum — the best and only coconut rum I’ll drink — with pinot grigio, fresh pineapple and orange juice. Other cocktails include beach-y classics like the mai tai, mojito, pina colada and frozen strawberry daiquiri all made with choice ingredients and often clever twists. All are priced around $8, very reasonable considering the waterfront setting.

Evie’s at Spanish Point offers a more streamlined food selection than what you’ll find at the Evie’s Tavern locations across Sarasota and Manatee counties. Spanish Point’s menu is divided into appetizers and baskets with a soup of the day, house salad featuring protein options and a kids’ menu. The appetizers — all around 10 bucks — include conch fritters, fried calamari, coconut shrimp, smoked fish dip and three soft pretzels with queso. Kristin and I order the soft pretzels, which pair nicely with our cocktails.

All the baskets are served with fries or cole slaw. There are burgers, mahi mahi or grouper sandwiches, fish and chips, fried shrimp, chicken sandwich, chicken tenders and a hot dog. I order the mahi mahi sandwich ($13.95) and Kristin gets the “tropical cheeseburger” ($11.95). The mahi mahi is firm yet tender and flavorful — I ordered it blackened — and I recommend it to anyone who wants a seafood experience at Spanish Point. The tropical cheeseburger, well, it’s now on my short list of best burgers around. A juicy patty is covered with a slice of pepper jack cheese, then two long, thick, crispy cuts of candied bacon and a grilled pineapple slice. Lettuce, tomato, onion on top in between a big fluffy bun and, yeah, this is one seriously good burger.

Mahi mahi sandwich. Photo by Wade Tatangelo

Tropical burger. Photo by Wade Tatangelo

Our French bulldog Tucker suns himself on the grass while looking out at boats going by in the bay. He sniffs a dog passing by and then a family of six comes over and the parents ask if their children can pet him. Of course they can. Tucker loves the attention, which started when our friendly and attentive server immediately brought him a bowl of water.

From left, co-owners Mike Evanoff and his father Steve Evanoff pose with Ryan Leline, general manger of Evie’s at Spanish Point. COURTESY PHOTO

The letter on the back of the menu also encourages patrons to take a tour of the improved Spanish Point. General Manager Ryan Leline happily walks me down one of the two new docks where he’s considering offering romantic dinners and perhaps pontoon tours. There are also plans for stand up paddle board rentals and kayak tours. These docks can accommodate as many as 32 boats at a time and are free to use for customers.

We get back on land and check out the indoor bar that originated as a bait shop. It’s cozy and handsome with tile floors and a tile and wood bar. The rich wood ceiling has exposed wood beams decorated with a burgeoning collection of signed dollar bills. The bar, adjacent to the new and improved kitchen, has a nice supply of liquor bottles on shelves made from wood crates. From padded bar stools, we enjoy those spectacular waterfront views.

Alas, we must leave during the afternoon hours. Steve Evanoff, co-owner and longtime patron of Spanish Point, fills us in on what we will be passing up. “The whole place faces the west and unless there are clouds you can’t miss it,” Evanoff says. “It’s the best sunset in Sarasota

EVIE’S AT SPANISH POINT RESTAURANT & TIKI BAR
135 Bayview Drive, Osprey; 941-218-6114; eviesonline.com