submitted
From left, Karen Abel and Jennifer Washington blend both therapy
and relaxation in their massage programs.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar's motto, "We're more than just oysters," may possibly be the biggest understatement in culinary history, and for 20 years loyal customers have been discovering just what an understatement it is. If you want seafood – no problem, pasta – no problem, sandwiches – no problem, burgers – no problem and, yes, oysters almost any way you can think of – no problem.
In 1996, John Horne opened the first Anna Maria Oyster Bar at the end of the city pier at the north end of Anna Maria. A year later, he opened the Anna Maria Oyster Bar Landside on 14th Street in Bradenton, then in 2002, another Oyster Bar appeared on Cortez Road in Bradenton, followed by 51st Street in Ellenton in 2003, and although the Anna Maria Oyster Bar's original pier location has been closed for years, last year Horne managed to get back to his roots and opened another pier location at 200 Bridge Street on the Bradenton Beach Pier.
Not a bad 20 year run for this native Floridian who grew up on Anna Maria beaches and started working in restaurants right after college. He is now president of a company with over 300 employees with very little turnover, some of whom have been with him from the beginning. He rewards them with longevity trips and a fun up to date work environment. In addition, his right-hand man for the past two years and the director of operations for all of the Oyster Bar locations is Steve Ananicz.
But the real star of the Anna Maria Oyster Bar restaurants is the food. It offers daily specials, happy hour and fresh fish, with grouper as one of the favorites. Fish and chips is the biggest seller, there is a prime rib special one night a week and soon Horne will be adding farm raised cobia to the regular menu. Of course, oysters are always on the menu in a variety of ways, including John Horne's personal favorite, chipotle. The menu offers something for everyone with lunch and dinner prices starting at $10.
At the new Bradenton Beach Pier location, breakfast is served every day from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and you just might catch John Horne himself cooking in between watching for dolphins. The pier location offers counter service dining, making it a really relaxed fun place. There also is a shuttle service where you can drop off your guests and follow the shuttle to available parking and/or call for a pickup at 877-743-3264.
To celebrate their 20 years in business the Anna Maria Oyster Bar has created a special Birthday Cake Cocktail containing Pinnacle Cake Vodka, soda, pineapple, cherry garnish served in a special glass rimmed with sprinkles. The cocktail is $5.00 and all the proceeds will go to a different nonprofit group every month starting with The AMI Community Center in January and continuing with the following nonprofits monthly until the end of the year: Tidewell Hospice, Women's Resource Center, PACE Center for Girls, ALS Awareness, Maverick's Vets, MOTS Troop Support, Manatee Education Foundation, Turning Points, ACS/MSABC Breast Cancer Support, Food Bank of Manatee County and Mayors Feed the Hungry.
In spite of his busy schedule , John Horne has always found time to support the community. He started volunteering for the Anna Maria Island Community Center in 1993, served 15 years on their board and still is involved with their annual fundraiser.
When is an oyster bar more than an oyster bar, well maybe it's when your kids or grandkids ten or under can eat for a penny an inch Sunday through Thursday. Or maybe it's when you can eat breakfast while watching the fishing boats headed out for the day. Or maybe it's just a lot more than oysters served by people who have been doing it for 20 years, Anna Maria Oyster Bar four locations available for a fun and delicious meal.
ANNA MARIA OYSTER BAR
6696 Cortez Road W., Bradenton
6906 14th St. W., Bradenton
1525 51st Ave. E., Ellenton
200 Bridge St., Bradenton Beach
778- AMOB (2662)
Hours for Bradenton & Ellenton locations:
Sunday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Hours for Bradenton Beach location:
Sunday – Thursday: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
www.oysterbar.net
All major credit cards accepted