Tampa-Based Fat Rabbit Pub Expanding to Sarasota

Founded in Tampa in 2016, neighborhood pub The Fat Rabbit is preparing to expand to a second location soon, this time in Downtown Sarasota . The new location will open in the space formerly occupied by Fire Fresh Grill , at 1359 Main Street , according to a recent post by Restaurants in Sarasota .

“We were looking to expand after having been very successful in Tampa,” co-owner John Kuemmel told What Now on Tuesday. “We’re an upscale pub, high on quality, high on service, and high on entertainment value.”

The menu will feature most of the same favorites from the Tampa location, including Sandwiches like Black and Blue Chicken ( fried, tossed in our wing sauce, melted blue cheese crumbles, bacon and pepper jack ), Burgers like the Irishman ( baby arugula, sliced tomato, bourbon aioli, caramelized onion, Swiss cheese and Jameson whiskey bacon jam ), and a selection of wing flavors.

“We’re also going to change some of the hot dogs and brats out for seafood,” said Kuemmel. “Crab cakes, shrimp skewers, things like that. We’re going for more variety.”

The Sarasota location will be slightly larger than the Fat Rabbit’s Tampa location, seating 151 to Tampa’s 121. Kuemmel says an opening is expected at the end of April or the beginning of May.

You can keep up with Fat Rabbit news by following @thefatrabbitpub on Instagram.

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