FIRST LOOK – Shebeen Irish Pub & Kitchen
An Irish Pub Comes To Siesta Key!
With St. Patrick’s Day 2023 a mere 72 hours away, we thought it would be the perfect time to pose the question, “Who doesn’t just love a good Irish pub?” It’s not something that I really need an answer to. I’m just tossing it out there to get the holiday party (and conversation) started! 🎉
All the way back in September of 2022, there was a bit of a bump in the Sarasota Irish pub road. Pub 32, long located on South Tamiami Trail, closed its doors. It seemed pretty abrupt to us innocent bystanders. But these things tend to be more complicated on the inside than they appear from the outside.
Ross and Louise Galbraith opened what had become one of Sarasota’s most popular places for Irish fare and drink back in 2012. They had it all when it came to their niche. Irish music, Irish cuisine, and, of course, Irish whiskey (and beer!). They also threw one hell of a St. Patty’s Day party every March 17th!
Ten years and thousands of Guinness pints later, Ross and Louise are re-inventing their vision of just what defines a Sarasota Irish pub. Things are dialed back just a touch from the Pub 32 days. Let’s take a FIRST LOOK at the Shebeen Irish Pub & Kitchen (6641 Midnight Pass Rd. (941) 952-3070) … 🍀
The opening of their new Irish adventure rolled out slowly. And that’s not a bad thing in the restaurant business. It gives you time to adjust and make corrections as needed. 📝I remember when a brand new restaurant in Siesta Key Village thought it would be a fabulous idea to open on Siesta Fiesta weekend. Well, I think you can imagine how that turned out! 😯
Shebeen takes up half of the Big Water Fish Market. (It’s so new they haven’t gotten around to taking down the “Great Little Seafood Place” sign).
The south bridge area of Siesta has a mix of drinking and dining options. And Shebeen seems right at home in their new neighborhood. Their little plaza also hosts Pizza N’ Brew, Miguel’s, Big Water, and the Toasted Mango. It’s a self-contained mini “Eat Street.”
They have the inside decked out in pretty typical Irish pub fashion. The “football” and rugby jerseys, Irish beer swag, and a few whiskey barrels are all part of its charm. It’s a comfortable place to be.
Their hours are a little bit of a moving target. I’m sure they’re still feeling their way around their new house. Moving is always a bit of an adjustment.
For the moment, they’re open at 4PM on weekdays (closed Mondays) and 11:30AM on weekends. That is certainly more than enough time to have a Shepherd’s Pie and a Black and Tan.
At this point, Shebeen is a beer and wine only establishment. (Maybe they’ll work on a solution for that in the future 🤞). So, for now, you’ll have to cozy up to a pint of Guinness, Harp, or Smithwick’s instead of a Jameson. They also have a couple of domestic beers. Space is at a premium here, so beverage options are a touch limited.
Yes, they have food!
The Leek and Mushroom Croquets are panko crusted and fried to perfection. The menu is brimming with Irish “comfort food.”
Getting info on Shebeen can be a little challenging. (They don’t really have a fully formed website yet, and their FB page isn’t very detailed). So, I’m going to give you a little reward for reading this far. I present their current menu for your perusing pleasure…
🍴>> SHEBEEN IRISH KITCHEN & PUB MENU <<🍴
Lots of good stuff on there, right? I’m headed back soon to try the corned beef and cabbage. To me, that dish and Banger’s and Mash are a pretty good measure of the skill set of any Irish pub’s kitchen. If you can’t get those right, then…
THE BOTTOM LINE: If you’re looking for an Irish pub experience, Shebeen Irish Pub & Kitchen can easily get that done for you. Very friendly staff (the day I was there, Charlie was my “beer-tender”. She did a great job!). If you’re looking for more than just drinks, there’s a large menu of Irish dining options. That makes this an easy choice for a late afternoon wind-down after the beach. Or a Saturday evening out with friends on the key. Sláinte!
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🗓️ SARASOTA FOOD EVENTS 🗓️
Here are some upcoming local food events that we think you might find interesting. All you need to do is make that reservation. We’ve provided you with a link to more info. (If you have an event, send us the details! (EMAIL IT)
WEEKLY POP-UP KITCHEN EVENTS – 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop
FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH – Cheese & Wine – Mademoiselle Paris (Downtown)
MAR 17 – St. Patrick’s Day Block Party – Shamrock Pub
MAR 21 – DAOU Wine Dinner – Michael’s Wine Cellar
MAR 28 – Masterworks Dinner – Sarasota Orchestra
MAR 31 – SPARCC Runway Fashion Show – INFORMATION
APR 1 – Wine Brunch & Charity Auction – Florida Winefest & Auction
APR 8 – 35th Annual Easter Egg Hunt – Sandbar Seafood & Spirits
APR 9 – Easter Buffet Brunch – Mattison’s Forty-One
APR 9 – Easter Brunch – Duval’s, Fresh, Local, Seafood
APR 9 – Easter Brunch – Element – Reservations
APR 9 – Easter Brunch – Harry’s Continental Kitchens
APR 12 – Social Club Wine Tasting – Michael’s Wine Cellar
APR 13 – Stag’s Leap Wine Dinner – GROVE Restaurant
APR 15 – Food Trucks, Tunes, & Brews 5 – INFORMATION
APR 22 – Saturday Wine Tasting – Michael’s Wine Cellar
APR 20 TO 24 – Forks & Corks Food & Wine Festival – INFORMATION
🧑🌾 FARMER’S MARKET INFO 🧑🌾
EVERY SUNDAY – Siesta Key Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – Farmer’s Market at Lakewood Ranch – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – The Meadows Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY WEDNESDAY – The Phillippi Farmhouse Market (Oct-Apr) – DETAILS
THIRD THURSDAY NIGHT – RADD Night Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Sarasota Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Downtown Bradenton Public Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Venice Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
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