Best of the Suncoast 2009: Best bar to avoid
October 19th, 2009 by CL Staff in Best of the Suncoast 2009BEST BAR TO AVOID
PT’s Sports Bar & Grill, 5520 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota
It may sound ridiculous, but we worked damn hard to bring you this year’s Drinking Guide, a special issue featuring all those neighborhood dive you cruise past on your way home, wondering what the heck goes on in there. We included 19 establishments, but we visited more than that, a few of which were so rough-and-tumble we honestly did not want to encourage readers to visit them without a stern warning. The toughest spot we visited, hands down, was PT’s Sports Bar & Grill — a quiet, smoky and dark little watering hole out near the Interstate. To say we felt a little uncomfortable in the bar’s environs would be an understatement: We made some pleasantries, bided our time and then split as soon as we could. Honestly, we’re probably just wimps.
October 26th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Not sure when you went to PT’s, yes it is dark and smoky but I to have been to my share of dive bars in Sarasota area, this is not even close to the most rough. The only thing rough-and-tumble is the owner Dion, he keeps the place in order, there is no fighting or even cussing allowed. The majority of people that go to P.T’s are Blue collar hard working types. To be honest I read the other Dive bar reports, they are alright not to far off. But this one on PT’s is just wrong, you missed the mark. As a reporter you need to revisit, and if you have not tried PT’s makes one of the best Cuban Sandwiches in town.
October 28th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Toughest spot…are you kidding me? I will admit that PT’s Sports Bar is dark and smoky, what bar isn’t! At least Dion, the owner of the bar, makes an attempt to clean the air for those of us that do not smoke. He has two very large smoke eaters and will always open a door if you ask. That is a ton more than I can say for a lot of other bars in this area, in fact I was just told a couple weeks ago at Champions that we could not open the door because the air was on. The smoke was so thick you could barely see the dart boards. PT’s is a great place to hang out for a quick beer on the way home from work or on a night out. The beers are always ice cold and reasonably priced…cheapest I have seen! There are always friendly people at PTs and like the previous commenter said, Dion does not even allow the “F” word to be used. The jukebox is great and there are also pool tables and dart boards and many many TVs.
I really think you need to rethink your rating on PTs; obviously you did not give it a fair chance. Personally, I think your observations are dead wrong and really shows how narrow minded you are. I would think someone rating places around town for people to visit should be a tad more observant. To be honest I would have to doubt all of your ratings on other places as well.
October 29th, 2009 at 9:39 am
It’s hilarious that the PT regulars are so upset. The articles says “honestly, we’re probably just wimps.” What more do you want?
My guess is that there’s not a lot of want-to-be hipsters that frequent PT’s Sports Bar & Grill.
October 29th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Zing!
October 31st, 2009 at 6:07 am
too who may it concen:
i recentley read your article in your magazine. how do you have any right to say to avoid my place, hands down, i will explain something to you and your readers. i do not know what i did or one of employees and maybe one of my customers did to you. i have pretty good customers that come in too my bar, not all great, but very friendly. my bar is a working class bar. i have a list of people looking for jobs, here is a list: framers, plumbers, air conditioning, cooks, tree service, lawn maintence, tile/ carpet layers, and some times bartenders. you can walk into my bar and need something done at your house, maybe business and find someone or persons that can help u out, in these giving times and knowing my customers probaly will get a pretty good deal, not all the time, but you never know. let me tell u about myself a little bit: i have owned a bar 16 years in march [don't quote me on that, it might be 15] i do know my first day owning a bar is st. patricks day, i am not even irish, i am half hungarian, half italian [not sure that i spelled any of these words right but i got italian right, have a bottle of salad dressing in the fridge]. i owned a bar on fruitville road for 5 years and been at this location for 10, been at this location longer by far, then any other bar that was here, alot of it is that i don’t have many problems, i don’t even like cussing because sometimes i might have a customers kid in, somebodys wife, girl friend or significut [spelled wrong] other. i am 46 years old have never been married besides to a bar, no children accept for my customers if u know what i mean. worked many hours for little pay!!!!! went too michigan last year for the first time in 12 years, saw a few people i haven’t seen in along time. enjoyed! went too three baseball games which i have never been to comerica park. nice park but my boys lost 2 out of 3 too twinkees. but when i came back it is the same economy, same job, but at the time i have some of the best emoloyees anybody could have!!!!! my mother and father has helped all the family [2 bros, 1 sis] especially me, i might not ever be able
to repay them back, but trying, maybe someday. u got too love mom and dad!!!!!! i have owned a bar for 16 years almost, which i already mentioned but i have helped more people than you could ever think of!!! i have seen alot over the years, divorce, death, marriages, children, people in hospitals [which one of my regulars has lukiema right now, in hospital, had 21 visitors the other day not all my customers but a few]. my bar is based on sports, mainly, it is a detroit bar, but my customers are not all detroit fans, completly almost the opposite [dont understand y] [ha!!ha!] i have about 10 tv’s, which i purchase the football/baseball package not other sports which i could, but all these options cost money!!!! and sometimes people that like these sports can’t come out because of this economy!! including me. i have been offered many times by my customers too work, just for tips or little money, maybe an exchange a little bar tab, if i had the money no problem, but it just isn’t that way. times are tough just not for my bar but many businesses [spelling don't look right] i had 2 gentleman that helped me purchase the property that i am on, unfortunetly one did pass away his son from out of town has passionatly waited for payment but the money just isn’t there. the other person that i know very well and his wife are unbelievable, i can’t tell u how much they have helped. all i can say too these people is thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! my bar is not a pick up joint,it is friendly place, i only sell beer and wine. [sorry] i will leave u with this, my customers are great, family is great, u just don’t understand????? i have sponsered softball teams, dart leagues and pool teams, try too help economy for other bars and restaurants i wish it could be more. i do know that my place isn’t attractive: yellow siding, brown building and dirt parking lot. i wish i could make it better, but it is what it is!! yes it is smokey sometimes and dark, spent $4000 on smoke eaters, they charge $72 dollars a month for 5 minutes worth of work a month, these smoke eaters went on credit card at 27% interest. i haven’t paid this company, trying too do it myself, maybe not right, but i am working on that. i am sorry for that.
for u too even print this paragraph, is absurd, like i said earlier not the most attractive bar from the outside? but there has always been a phrase it is not what is on the outside but whats in the inside: good people, good friends, good cubans sandwiches and alot of good times!!!!!!!!!! which ever way this economy goes i appriceiate everybody that has ever helped me!! finally your comment in your magazine about the best bar to avoid, hands down and toughest is wrong. i like to meet the writers or persons that came in, i do not know what happened that day, i would like too know, i understand the last comments about u being wimps, gives me a little lee way, but too put the best bar too avoid in these economics times is not right, my opinion. i would think about what u print before knowing???? thank u for your time, hope too see ya soon!!!!
signed bar owner
go:lions-tiger-red wings-pistons-wolverines-spartans: [there are more teams than that, but i got the main ones] thankx!!!!!!
October 31st, 2009 at 11:09 am
The use of more then THREE exclamation points in a sentence is the sign of insanity. I will not go into the number of question marks, the thoughts about paragraphs and run-on sentences either.
November 1st, 2009 at 11:32 am
Neuro you read what the owner wrote and all you can do is go over his grammar? You need to get away from your computer’s red marker and get a freaken life!
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Reality check: Bar to discover, not to avoid. No question, if you’re seeking elegance, look elsewhere. But PT’s is a friendly spot with a group of predominantly blue collar regulars many of whom have been hit hard by the flagging economy. They’re there to unwind and share a few beers plus the excellent sandwiches. The popular owner, Dion, is full of good cheer and has a heart as big as this earth. The house will gladly put on the game of your choice on one of the many TV’s and you can puruse the dozens of sports cards laminated on the bar itself. I’ve rarely heard people raise their voices there, and have never seen a fight. Don’t judge a book by its cover: PT’s is a gem.