Bar Tab: Famous Tavern (updated with video)

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Owner Mark Sherman with bartender Maria Farabee at Famous Tavern, a rockin' new gastropub in downtown Sarasota. STAFF PHOTO/WADE TATANGELO

Owner Mark Sherman with bartender Maria Farabee at Famous Tavern, a rockin' new gastropub in downtown Sarasota. STAFF PHOTO/WADE TATANGELO

I had a good feeling about Famous Tavern the moment I walked in and saw several of my favorite rock and pop stars hanging out on the west wall. Large, impressive photos of The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, U2, The Eagles and Led Zeppelin were grouped together with a young Cher glancing over from the north wall. Deep tracks by many of these musicians played during my recent visit to the new gastropub in downtown Sarasota.

Famous Tavern occupies the space that used to house Yume before the first-rate sushi restaurant moved across Main Street. The room manages to be both modern and cozy with a chalkboard advertising upcoming trivia nights, movie nights and live music. Famous Tavern’s logo is a microphone with the slogan “Food, Drinks, Tunes.” Open for lunch daily, and as late as 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, the place has the ability to reach a large audience.

Opposite the rock star wall is the bar featuring an equally impressive roster of beer luminaries on tap ranging from Sarasota and Bradenton craft favorites by JDub’s and Darwin Brewing Co. to national and international classics like Harpoon Brewery and Guinness. I spotted a total of about 20 handles. Famous Tavern also stocks a long list of canned and bottled beer ranging from Budweiser and Miller Lite to Lagunitas and selections from Tampa’s Cigar City, which can also be found on tap. There’s a solid offering of wines, too. My recent afternoon visit started with a deliciously hoppy pint of JDub’s Up Top! IPA ($6.50).

Roast beef sliders topped with brie pair nicely with a pint of locally-brewed JDub's Up Top! IPA at Famous Tavern. STAFF PHOTO/WADE TATANGELO

Roast beef sliders topped with brie pair nicely with a pint of locally-brewed JDub's Up Top! IPA at Famous Tavern. STAFF PHOTO/WADE TATANGELO

As for the food, the mere names made me smile. The “opening acts” section of the menu includes the classic rock referenced “Wings over America” baked chicken wings, “Don’t Fear the Meatball” seasoned beef meatballs served with marinara sauce and “The ZZ Top” bronzed chicken tenderloin with a tropical fruit salsa, brown sugar and chipotle barbecue sauce. Gino Vanelli has his own cold cuts Italian sandwich and “The Whole Lotta Love” is an open face sloppy joe on a toasted roll with mayo, diced sweet onion and dill pickles served with fries, tater tots or cole slaw. There are also flatbreads, soups and salads named after Charlie Daniels, Widespread Panic and the Elton John album “Captain Fantastic (and the Brown Dirt Cowboy).”

I start with the beef sliders. For $10.95 you get three nice-sized sliders filled with tender, tasty house-made roast beef topped with chunks of brie, crispy onions and A1 bourbon sauce. The beef sliders are delicious. While sipping a pint of Darwin’s spicy and sweet Charapa ($6.50) I ordered the Ol’ Blue Eyes flatbread ($12.95) named after one of several Frank Sinatra sobriquets. Chances are, my crooner hero would have approved of the house-made marinara sauce, mozzarella, parmesan, mushrooms, tomato slices, basil and Taverrite’s Italian sausage combination.

The back of the menu credits all the food to Scott Klein, a celebrated chef who has worked at Michael’s on East, Jackson’s in Tampa and Pier 22 in Bradenton back when it was called Twin Dolphin. Klein has assembled a smart menu that should appeal to the lunch crowd (ask about the $5.99 lunch specials) as well as the party people and sports fans. The kitchen is open until 11:30 p.m. and Famous Tavern has the NFL Ticket to go with its strategically-placed flat-screens.

The gastropub is owner Mark Sherman’s first restaurant/bar and talking to him it is immediately apparent this place means more to him than just business. Famous Tavern is an extension of Sherman’s passion for music (yes, he’s a musician and used to work in the business), cuisine and quality brews.

“I love craft beers and I just wanted a hip little place with good, healthy food at a fair price with music,” Sherman says. “I’ve been a music nerd my whole life."

Yep, Famous Tavern is my kind of place.

Famous Tavern
1537 Main St., Sarasota; 954-2360

Have a suggestion for a place or event to be featured in Bar Tab? Comment below, email to wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com or contact me on Twitter: @wtatangelo For past Bar Tab columns, slideshows and SNN videos visit the archive.

Famous Tavern
1537 Main St., Sarasota; 954-2360

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WADE TATANGELOis the editor of TICKET + and a contributor at TicketSarasota.com. He has been an entertainment editor, reporter, columnist and reviewer for more than a decade at publications nationwide. He is a Hershey, Pa., native who grew up in Tampa and graduated from the University of South Florida. Wade joined the Herald-Tribune in 2013 and writes the weekly Bar Tab column. He can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4955.
Last modified: December 18, 2014
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