New restaurant serving barbecue, smash burgers now open in Sarasota

Jimmy Geurts, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·3 min read

After opening as a food truck a decade ago, then briefly operating at a different location, a Sarasota barbecue and burger purveyor has settled into its new home.

Mouthole Smashburgers and BBQ recently opened in Sarasota's Gulf Gate neighborhood at 2637 Mall Drive, in the former space of Shiny Gumbo. Mouthole is owned by husband and wife Raymond and Nikki Mabalot, who started the business as a food truck in 2014.

Last year, Mouthole started operating out of Heritage Cigars at 4571 Clark Road in the former space of Goodfellas Cafe & Winery, but they outgrew the space, Raymond Mabalot said. Then when their friends at Shiny Gumbo wanted to get out of their lease, Mabalot said they took the opportunity to join Gulf Gate's roster of restaurants and other businesses.

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"We love our neighbors — they've been regulars of ours for a very long time, a lot of the businesses here and a lot of the people that live in the surrounding area, they've supported us for the past 10 years," Mabalot said. "Now we're pretty much in walking distance of a lot of these people, so they get to see us a whole hell of a lot more."

Mouthole Smashburgers and BBQ serves a variety of burgers including The Gouda Smash with onion rings, bacon, barbecue sauce and smoked gouda, pictured here.
Mouthole Smashburgers and BBQ serves a variety of burgers including The Gouda Smash with onion rings, bacon, barbecue sauce and smoked gouda, pictured here.

Mouthole serves smash burgers that differ from most others by using a 5.5-ounce patty rather than the more typical 2.5 or three ounces. Some burgers are always available and others as specials, with some specials proving popular enough to be added to the menu permanently, Mabalot said — such as the Gouda Smash with onion rings, bacon, barbecue sauce and smoked gouda or a Black & Blue Smash with a blackened seasoned patty, bacon and blue cheese crumbles.

On Fridays and Saturdays, Mouthole offers barbecue such as pulled pork and brisket smoked the night before, and on Saturdays starting at 5 p.m., it serves St. Louis-style ribs smoked that morning. Barbecue is served in a variety of dishes including sandwiches, bowls, mac-and-cheeses, plates with or without sides, and The Meat Locker, which features all the meats and sides and serves multiple people. Mabalot said they hope in the future to add a monthly Hawaiian brunch as well, with dishes such as Kalua pork, macaroni salad and poke bowls.

Mouthole Smashburgers and BBQ also serves barbecue dishes such as The Meat Locker featuring various meats and sides, pictured here.
Mouthole Smashburgers and BBQ also serves barbecue dishes such as The Meat Locker featuring various meats and sides, pictured here.

The restaurant plans to serve beer and wine in the future, and currently offers fountain drinks. It seats around 54 in an interior featuring artwork of Mouthole's Pig Man mascot by artist Will Ralston of Oddity Tattoo, with two tables outside as well.

Mouthole is currently open Tuesday through Saturday, noon-3 p.m. for lunch and 5-8 p.m. for dinner, and closed Sunday and Monday. For more information, call 727-746-4653 (HOLE) or visit facebook.com/inyourmouthole.

Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New restaurant offering barbecue, smash burgers now open in Sarasota