Bar Tab: The Angry Pickle Pub and Grill lives up to its name

Frank Presti and Allison Sgambelluri

On Black Friday, in the former home of the Irish Rover, the Angry Pickle opened its doors to Gulf Gate, hoping to hook bar-goers on spicy spears and pickle juice martinis.

The pub and grill, run by Frank Presti and Allison Sgambelluri, has its gimmick locked down. I’m still daydreaming about the dills.

“We make all our pickles right here, which makes us unique,” said Sgambelluri, who moved with Presti to Sarasota from Rocky Hill, Conn. only six months ago. “The pickles sit for three days in a five-gallon bucket, and for the ‘angry spicy’ ones, we use arbol chili and jalapenos.”

With a Heineken draft and some ranch dipping sauce, a fried (or naked) green slice at the pub is as refreshing as it is unusually hip. Pickle culture, welcome to Sarasota.

Of course, that’s not the only reason to frequent this newly revamped Gateway Avenue haunt. Grab a stool at the wooden bar under the red tulip hanging lights between 2 and 7 p.m. for daily happy hour, and pick one of 12 bottled beers and 14 drafts, including Magners Irish cider and Tampa’s own Cigar City Jai Alai IPA. There are 150 total seats in the 2,800-square-foot joint, including booths and tables in the restaurant section, and you can eat outside.

I sampled the homemade crab cakes and remoulade sauce with a side of fresh corn and black bean salsa for $10. Sgambelluri whipped me up a complementing margarita with tequila, triple sec, lime juice, sour mix and a splash of melon liqueur. Ellie Goulding and Kings of Leon played on the piped music sound system as Presti and I chatted about food – his favorite topic.

“About 99 percent of the recipes here are mine,” said Presti, who was psyched to leave the snow in his 18,000-person hometown and open his first venture in Sarasota. “I love food. I’ve been around it since I was 13, when I worked in a neighbor’s pizza place.”

Chef Tony Sanchez helps Presti pump out Philly cheese steaks, buffalo and teriyaki wings, chili, coney dogs, and hand-pattied burgers (from mushroom Swiss to jalapeno) for $7 to $9. Sandwiches like “The Italian Job” with marinated chicken breast, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers, tomato and pesto mayo are $10, and the rest of the menu items hover around that price point. Come in between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. for a single hamburger and 10-ounce domestic draft for $5.

Watch the game on the projection screen or flat-screen TV, bring your laptop for free Wi-Fi surfing while you sip, and pack up a bite to take home after work. The pub even delivers to Gulf Gate residents.

The entertainment calendar is evolving, but Mind Zion (an acoustic act with a sitar and banjo sound) is currently playing from 8 p.m. to close every Wednesday eve. Amateur comedy nights are future possibilities.

Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. on Sundays.

“We want this to be a nice, cool, easygoing place to hang out, relax and chill,” Sgambelluri said. “I’m also hoping Stephen King will come in sometime. I’m his biggest fan.”

Take note, Mr. King. Everyone else, drop in for a champagne toast on New Year’s, and before then for a brined cuke that’ll tickle your chops.