bar

Salutes American Meat Market

By Jessica Brady, tbt* Staff Writer
Published December 7, 2007

Vitals: 4802 Gunn Highway, Carrollwood. (813) 963-6644. Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. and Friday through Sunday, 11 to 3 a.m. Credit cards accepted. www.salutesus.com

The spot: There are hundreds of bars in the bay area, but Salutes American Meat Market is one of the most unique and all around fun bars I've been to. Salutes opened in February and has everything a sports bar, restaurant and local hang out needs - pool tables, arcade games, darts, foosball, TVs, projection screens, an area for local bands to perform and a large outside patio. The inside looks like a log cabin decorated with military and civil service flags, neon lights and almost everything is red, white and blue. The owners are ex-military and S.W.A.T., so the theme is pretty self-explanatory and no, they do not sell meat as the name might suggest, just a lot of carnivorous foods. However, there are three rules posted above the bar that go without question - the bartender is always right, if the bartender is wrong, read rule number one again, and absolutely no whining. To top it all off, every month a percentage of the profits go to charities like the Central Florida Autism Institute and the Florida Lion's Camp.

Prime location: Salutes is in a good spot, about two miles west of Dale Mabry on Gunn Highway. The only problem is it's easy to pass. They have a very small sign that is not bright at all and the sign above the bar is hardly visible. That said, look for the giant red sign that reads: Land and Sea Market and turn into that plaza.

The crowd: It's a mixed crowd at Salutes, but everyone is more than friendly. The staff is extremely talkative and introduces themselves to everyone who walks in the door. This is definitely a first name basis bar.

Juice: You want it, Salutes has it - fully stocked liquor bar, beer, wine and everything in between. Happy hour is everyday from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday is college night with 50-cent drafts and free pool after 9. Wednesday is Ladies Night with $1 wells and drafts. On top of that there are daily drink specials.

Music: The music at Salutes varies as much as the crowd does. On Tuesday nights patrons can bring in CDs and the bartender will play them. There are two exceptions: NO Barry Manilow or Meatloaf. Wednesdays and Thursdays live bands perform and some Tuesdays there's karaoke for all those failed American Idol contestants.

Grub: The menu is quite extensive with everything from Fire in the Hole chili to SOS meatloaf and a Global Warming brownie dessert. One of their signature items is the Air Assault Cheez-It chicken fingers served with a honey mustard chipolte sauce. They took quite a while to make and were served hot, but they lacked in flavor. Sure, you can taste the Cheez-Its, but that's about it. Granted, Salutes is going through a staff change, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt on this one. Prices range from $3.25 to $19.95.

[Last modified December 10, 2007, 13:53:13]