Travel Tips

A surprising find nestled between the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay on Longboat Key
My favorite restaurants are those that look ordinary on the outside, maybe an old house turned restaurant that has the most unbelievable cuisine and the best service and ambiance. Without a doubt this describes the Euphemia Haye and the Haye Loft, a small historic house nestled in Longboat Key. With an intimate, romantic setting, a perfect blend of antique and artistic décor, and amazing aromas all around, experiencing a night of dining at the Euphemia Haye is a must!

This is the kind of restaurant that some folks rave over while others don’t even know it exists, and that adds to the splendor of the place. Known just as much for their amazing desserts as for their signature dishes and award winning wine cellar, the Euphemia Haye will dazzle your taste buds. Everything on the menu is made fresh by Chef Arpke or one of his kitchen staff, which means it is a good idea to make reservations. Of course you can walk in without reservations, but this ever-popular restaurant seems to constantly be busy.

Start your night off right with one of the hummus appetizer dishes or the smoked salmon crepes and then move on to the consistently famous Crisp Roast Duckling with fresh seasonal berry sauce or the Prime Peppered Steak. All of the pasta dishes are made from scratch as are the abundant vegetarian fare like the spectacular Eggplant Parmesan.
 
Finish your night off right by heading upstairs to the Haye Loft, a secondary restaurant with a lighter menu that offers a dessert and lounge area for guests. In the dessert room you will find an endless number of mouthwatering pies and cakes to take back down to your dinner table. Enjoy with a cup of Venezuelan coffee or one of the other exotic beans offered for the night.

The Haye Loft also offers those walk-in guests an opportunity to just enjoy a lighter meal of homemade thin crust pizzas, sandwiches or salads. This part of the restaurant used to be three different apartments, one belonging to the original owner’s son. The apartments were split into two areas, the dessert area and the lounge and now offer guests another way to enjoy the wonderful food of the Euphemia Haye. Stop by for just a signature dessert and some coffee or just enjoy a drink and the live jazz music playing nightly.
Some of the main course dishes are a bit pricey, especially the red meat and poultry dishes, which can exceed $40, but there are also appetizer options for some dishes as well as the option for great deals at the Haye Loft. If you plan on only eating a light meal, the restaurant owners ask that you arrive on a first come, first serve basis, but call for reservations at 941-383-3633 for a full meal in the Euphemia Haye restaurant.

To get to Euphemia Haye, take Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) north to Ringling Causeway, towards St. Armands Key, turn right onto 789/Gulf of Mexico Drive and follow until you reach Euphemia Haye on the north side of Longboat Key at 5540 Gulf of Mexico Drive.