Bartender Alissa Stroud with her self-styled Texas Kool-Aid cocktail. (Staff photo by Wade Tatangelo)
Harry’s Sports Bar & Grille, which celebrates its third anniversary later this year, can easily be found on Tamiami Trail about five miles south of downtown Sarasota. The 61 big-screen televisions adorning the indoor and outdoor walls of both bar and dining areas are an obvious draw for sports fans. But Harry’s also appeals to a broader audience thanks to a friendly staff, tasty pub grub and generous drink deals.
Margarita. (Staff photo by Wade Tatangelo)
DRINKS: Be warned, these bartenders know how to pour. During a recent afternoon visit I start with a margarita in a pint glass packing plenty of Jose Cuervo About an hour later, Alissa Stroud, from Dallas, talks me into trying her own creation called “Texas Kool-Aid.” It’s a whole lot of Stolichnaya blueberry vodka, Blue Curaçao liqueur, cranberry juice and a splash of Sprite served with an orange slice and cherry. True to its name, the cocktail tastes like the eternally delicious Grape Kool-Aid. Plus, both cocktails are a deal, costing about 11 dollars total.
As for beer, Harry’s is a classic Budweiser bar proudly serving Anheuser-Busch InBev’s flagship brew, as well as the company’s other brands, such as Shock Top and Stella Artois. Yuengling and Guinness are a couple of the non-AB InBev products available on draft. When it comes to sports bars, wine really never crosses my mind and I didn’t even ask.
Pulled pork pizza. (Staff photo by Wade Tatangelo)
EATS: The extensive menu includes sports bar musts like chicken wings, nachos and burgers as well as salads, soups, pizzas, Mexican food, wraps, seafood, steaks and specials including chicken parmesan and a chopstick bowl. I start with the pulled pork barbecue pizza made with Harry’s house BBQ sauce, pulled pork, mozzarella and cheddar cheese. The crust is at once crunchy and chewy and flavorful, with tender clumps of pork covered in a sweet, tangy sauce and plenty of cheese, making each bite an exciting experience. Two people can easily split this 12 dollar dish.
Loaded chicken sandwich. (Staff photo by Wade Tatangelo)
I also have the loaded chicken sandwich that comes char-grilled or blackened and smothered with fresh mushrooms and melted cheddar jack cheese and bacon ($9.50). My grilled chicken breast is a bit thin but finely cooked and then there are the big, crunchy strips of bacon, fresh mushrooms, quality cheese and a good bun. Spend the extra buck and get the sweet potato fries, which dip nicely in the house barbecue sauce.
Harry's Sports Bar & Grille is at 6606 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. (Staff photo by Wade Tatangelo)
SCENE: I spend my entire visit at the large, open air bar that is tucked back far enough away that I don’t even notice the traffic on this busy stretch of Tamiami Trail. Fans and misters keep it comfy on this balmy afternoon where I am surrounded by a fun staff and welcoming group of regulars. Harry’s, I decide while sipping my killer Kool-Aid,is a neighborhood bar that gets all the key ingredients right.
CALENDAR: If you’re Florida Gators fan, Harry’s is the place to be on game day. Baseball now and football in a few months.
Harry’s Sports Bar & Grille
6606 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 922-1110; srqharrys.com
WADE TATANGELO is a content producer who has been an entertainment editor, reporter, columnist and reviewer 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.Follow @wtatangelo
