We took a trip down to Sarasota for date night and Big Top came highly recommended. After experiencing the staff (Ben is the best!) and the appetizers (wings and the pretzel) we see why this place is packed. The wings were perfectly cooked and so flavorful (It's all in the brine) and the pretzel was soft and perfect for dipping in the amazing beer cheese. I had the Bee Sting pizza which made me a fan of whipped ricotta because is mellowed the hot honey sauce drizzle over fresh toppings. When I got to the crust I stopped and dipped them in this sensational sauce (I could have ordered the crust alone ). My wife had the sliders (she's not usually a slider person) to try something different and she loved them. The mini burgers were not over cooked and the toppings fit the slider perfectly the a tasty bite. I mentioned Ben because he took the time to come and check on us since it was our first time. He is an awesome man with a heart for people which made the experience top notch. If you're in the area and want great food and varieties of craft beer (I don't drink so I couldn't review) stop by Big Top. I will be back. read more

If you're looking for an amazing environment (indoor or outdoor) and have a genuine appreciation for quality craft beer you must bring your happy ass to Big Top Brewery. It's spacious, inviting, clean, and the art is Top notch. Alex and Courtney were the bartenders whilst I was there, and they were both friendly and engaging. Ben the GM was very approachable and answered my questions with 0 hesitation because he's enthusiastic about the brewery. I drank the Conch Republic Key Lime and the Hawaiian Lion coffee porter. They were equally sensational. Drop in and grab a beer or 5. You can thank me later for directing you there lol. Cheers! read more

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Had a nice time with our friends. We were a group of about 35 and they handled us to perfection. Had the blacked salmon with spinach and rice. Great meal for a sports bar if you're looking to eat healthy. read more

We love this place! Service is amazing! Above and beyond! Cool spot to drink local beer with great food. The Lemongrass potstickers are outstanding. Full of flavor! We ordered the Cobb salad and the Cocky cutlet. Everything was great but -heads up- they put Parmesan in their balsamic vinaigrette dressing. I don't like cheese at all so I sent it back and got cilantro lime vinaigrette dressing instead. Delicious! read more

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This isn't a concert venue and they attempt to be one but they do not have the staff or infrastructure and it's just a big mess. Stay a restaurant and brewery and leave the concerts to others. read more

This kitchen really is above the average bar food. Those wings are exceptional and the pizza is perfect to share or have as a main entree. Reasonable prices make it inviting and love the reservation options. I love that they have creative brewery plus cocktails too. TVs are usually playing the top games too. Music is awesome when it's on. Family friendly with a massive outdoor seating area under the Big Top! Long fully staffed indoor and outdoor covered bars. On rainy days, you can still come and enjoy your meal and a drink. Fun stop with tons of positive energy. read more

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Great outdoor space! You literally are sitting under a big top tent! They have fans mounted to keep you cool on those hot days. Service is great. Attentive and quick. The food is good too! We only had apps this time: We had the Bavarian pretzel, chips and guac (the chips are huge!) I also had a white sangria which was delicious! We're going to go back for dinner for sure. read more

Had a great time they're eating dinner before having a few drinks watching the game. Can't wait wait till the next time I'm back in the area to have dinner. read more

Great massive brewery with plenty on tap To choose from to quench your thirst. Menu has many options and food is way above your typical bar food. They have live music many nights including what it's seems to be a dueling pianos setup. Our waiter was amazing and on point. Great spot to come and have great bites, beers and some jams. read more

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My very first time at Big Top Brewing and the place was very nice! This brewery was huge. They have a very big outside as well as inside. As a restaurant they have a ton of food on the menu. The inside menu is different than the outside menu so beware of that. The outside menu has a lot less food so if you're they're to eat it may be wise to site inside. They beer options are ok as well. Not as much light beers but that's ok. The waiters are on point and food service and timing is pretty fast. Glad I had a chance to check out a new brewery in Sarasota area! read more

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Sunday night - What better place to be than the Big Top Brewery for pizza, salad, and of course a cold brewski!!!! The place is always very chilled and laid back - Plenty of TV's for those who want to catch up on their favorite sports games. The wait staff is super friendly and on top of their game!! The food a step above your typical sports bar type places. The atmosphere is very inviting for everyone including families with kids!! Make it a point to visit this establishment - You won't be disappointed!!! read more

Big Top Brewing - Lunch Combos - Until 4pm - Breweries Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

What a fun, spacious, clean place! We sat inside - very tasteful decor with lots of tvs around. Service was prompt and food was delicious. Headliners for us were the pot stickers. A few notes: beer menu only by a QR code!?? Side wall seating, where looks modern, doesn't offer ample foot rests for us vertically challenged types. Had to move seats to make everyone comfortable. All in all, though, a great place that I'll happily patron again! read more

Big Top Brewing - Sliders - Breweries Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Stopped in for a quick lunch at big top brewing. and was pleasantly surprised. Sat outside in their huge patio/ bar area. Great atmosphere! Went with a big top burger that was delicious. I highly recommend ordering this burger. Went down well with a refreshing cold wheat beer. Definitely planning to return and sample more of the menu and their beer. read more

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Fun time a dialing pianos. Great service, drink and food is good. Chicken sliders are terrific!

I've had a couple of issues with this place lately. On my last takeout order, they forgot to include my additional side that I was charged for. When I mentioned it on my next visit, the staff member simply said, "sorry," without much else. Today, I tried to order online, but the site wouldn't accept my Big Top Gift Card. It only allowed payment via credit card. I called to place the order instead, but no one answered after three attempts. Then, I tried the "Make a Reservation" line, which was quickly picked up. The person who answered told me they don't take phone orders, but after explaining the gift card issue, she transferred me to someone who finally processed my order. It took a bit more effort than it should have, but I'm glad they eventually took my money. At this point, I'm wondering if this place is getting too big for its own good. They earn the stars because the food is pretty good. They weren't that busy but somehow even taking the order over the phone still had an issue- we received soft fries rather than the cauliflower mash we ordered. Had the Mojo Sandwich and 24 hour brined wings. Those two were pretty good. I'd say your best bet is to dine-in. Grab a beer. Then you won't mind if they mess up your order. read more

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We decided to try Big Top Brewing last night for dinner. What is busy vibrant place. Even though it was a chilly evening the outdoor area was crowded and the inside looked fully occupied. We had made a reservation and did get a high top table right away. In talking with our server this was not unusually busy. And although loud, we were able to hear ourselves talking, so we ended up having a nice visit. Sports on several TVs held my interest while we waited on our food. My wife wanted to start with their Lemon Grass Chicken Potstickers, that took about 15 minutes. Excellent choice, six pieces that we split, and she liked the soy ginger ponzu sauce so much she used some of it on her entrée choice, their Crispy Chicken Cobb Salad. We both ate and enjoyed that large salad. For my entrée I had their Big Top Burger. It had a mild flavor with a soft bun and a secret sauce that remained a secret to me. Fair is fair, my wife had some of my sandwich, and we agreed it was very good. It was obvious Big Top takes the preparing of food seriously. Even though it was busy we received great service. In fact the only negative we could come up with wasn't anything with the restaurant per se, it was the overall parking challenge for the Fruitville Commons shops and restaurants. read more

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Very nice new venue, I enjoyed Pad Thai Wings with Intercostal Amber, which I found satisfying. My party sat at the indoor bar, served by Haley. Haley was very attentive, informative and personable. My friends enjoyed turkey club sandwiches. read more

So we had lunch at the new location yesterday afternoon. We wanted to sit outside and there were no available tables, but they did have one available inside which turned out well. The decor was brick modern bar and felt comfortable. We had the guacamole appetizer which was different from your average guacamole appetizer in that the avocado hat a layer of soft cheese underneath (interesting) I'll give it a 7. The parmigiana chicken sandwich that one of my guests had was in the opinion worth ordering again. The pretzel and fondue dip was ok based on one taste test. Lastly the stinger pizza I ordered was a little messy but filled with flavor for those looking wow their taste buds. I give it a 9. I will return. read more

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Love the atmosphere and the big outdoor area. I'm a brewery lover but even if the classic brewery vibe isn't your thing, you'll still love this place. I had the crusted chicken reggiano and it was fantastic. Two in my party had salads and enjoyed them but be warned, they are huge. If you have light eaters in your group you can definitely split one between two people. Another had the cubano tacos and gave it a big thumbs up. Service was solid although not elite. That said, my only suggestion would be to share more about the size of the salad entrees. Salads don't do take home well. read more

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We had a big group and we wanted to sit and chat all night. We had great service and she separated our checks - which was fantastic. We had delicious beer and we enjoyed our food, but it wasn't out of this world. If it had been a little bit warmer, we would have enjoyed to sit outside and enjoy the evening. read more

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First time at the new location for Big Top. Love the vibe inside and out! The outside is nice and spacious and had a nice breeze. If you go on Thursdays they have a corn hole tournament but still was not too busy for us to enjoy. I did think it was weird that the food was served in paper products when outside. I was not expecting that. But everything we ate was delicious! The egg rolls were a recommendation from our server and boy was he right! So fresh and flavorful! Definitely dip it in the crema sauce. Also appreciate that they have Mocktails. I am pregnant and It was great to have a fun drink as well as everyone else! read more

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We met some old friends from Maryland there to catch up with old times. The food service was excellent.

Awesome spot - beer is great and atmosphere is even better. Huge outside area where kids and pets can run around, plenty of shade and a self service bar. You can sit outside or inside - so many tables and service was quick. Food was delicious and I would definitely recommend the salad!!! Can't wait to come back! read more

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We had always wanted to check out this place based on their beer we have had at other venues, but we were blown away by their menu! After being seated, we were greeted by our waitress, Justine, who was excellent. She told us about their appetizers, main menu, and beer selections and was very thorough. We started with the Philly Cheesesteak Nachos, which were good but could have used a layer of cheese between the chips on the tray and the nucleus on top. There were a lot of chips underneath that were completely untouched by any toppings. For our entree, I had the Big Top Burger, which was very flavorful, along with a side of Cuban Black Beans. The Cuban Black Beans were fantastic - a little spicy but with huge flavor and some brisket mixed in, making it perfect. My wife had the Street Corn Chicken Bowl, which she said was delicious and very fresh. She mentioned that she would order it again. We also had the pleasure of being greeted by one of the managers, Ben, who inquired about our meal. We had a very nice conversation with him about their mission to serve great beer with a fresh and delicious menu. Mission accomplished! Ben was very friendly and informative, keeping us posted on their beer brewing schedule so we know when our favorite beer of theirs will be available in cans again. He also invited us back to dine with them. You don't see that kind of hospitality at many restaurants these days. Thank you to Justine and Ben for a wonderful dining and drinking experience. We will definitely be back! read more

Had a great time here! Staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. Service was great! The building itself has a great atmosphere. Interior is large and open with a variety of seating. The exterior has a massive turfed backyard. Amazing place to take the family for a fun night out. Pizza was delicious with a great crust! Chewy and crispy at the same time. Also has thinly sliced garlic on top. The sliders were delicious and perfectly cooked. Patties were seasoned and juicy. Lastly, the Guac was a big surprise! With fresh chips it was so good! Queso base, with Elote toppings and Guac. Probably one of my favorite things. Also came with a delicious salsa verde. We loved this place and will definitely be back in the future. read more

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This is a cool location. Love the building and overall feel. Big Top beer is not my favorite but it's still good. Love to support a local brewery. This is a cool concept with the full menu and dinning. I will say service is very hit or miss. I've gone and sometimes they say they only have one server and it'll be a wait when it's empty. Today however made a reservation, staff were friendly and service was good. Beer- like there Hazy Sky Wire. It's an okay New England IPA and lately I've enjoyed their key lime beer. Food-honestly haven't had anything bad here. Like their take on chips and guacamole with the giant tortilla chips you break, wings are good, finally tried the pizza and enjoyed that, and Brussels sprouts were great. Enjoy this place overall! Give them a try! read more

1 Star -- If I could give zero, I would. We chose Big Top Brewery to celebrate my friend's graduation as a Registered Nurse, and it turned out to be one of the most unprofessional, uncomfortable, and downright embarrassing experiences I've ever had at a restaurant. It all started over a single can of beer. While waiting to be seated, one of our guests grabbed a can from the fridge with every intention of adding it to our table's tab -- something we've done at other breweries without issue. Instead of handling the situation with basic courtesy, Raul (the manager) stormed over and approached the graduate as if she had stolen something. His tone was aggressive and accusatory, completely unnecessary for a simple misunderstanding. We paid for the six-pack and even asked Raul to put it on ice, trying to move on and enjoy our time. But moments later, another woman claiming to be a manager came out and rudely scolded us again -- this time saying we couldn't drink the canned beer on the property. There were no clear signs stating this, and at that point, we'd already been "reprimanded" twice over a beer we had purchased. We had 15 more guests planning to join us, but after being treated so poorly, we decided to take our celebration elsewhere. We left and went to Twin Peaks (right in the same plaza) where the staff was friendly, professional, and welcoming -- exactly what customer service should look like. Big Top Brewery completely ruined what should have been a joyful celebration. If you're looking for a place that values its customers, knows how to treat people with respect, and understands hospitality, skip Big Top and head straight to Twin Peaks. They outshine Big Top in every way -- food, drinks, and above all, customer service. Bottom line: Big Top Brewery is rude, unprofessional, and clueless about how to handle guests. Save yourself the headache and go anywhere else. read more

I visit Sarasota area about once a month and just found this place. It's awesome. Restaurant set up on the inside w TVs, but the outside is the best part. Long table, picnic tables and fire pit seating. Two fire pits. TVs with sports on and kids moving around. Big area for baggo and other games. Food was great. And the beers and mixed drinks were unique and excellent. The service was top tier but we definitely got the best waitress there. She was amazing with knowledge of all the beers, drinks and food. She was always attentive and chill. Definitely a return visit in the future. read more

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Grand opening week - had dinner on Thursday. They are off to a fantastic start! We opened with the giant chicken meatballs. They were large and filling, very delicious! For dinner we had the pizza and loved it! Very spicy. The beer and hand crafted cocktail were both very satisfying! The new service staff was very attentive. Love the ambiance, the inside is large, open and noisy like you would expect at a brewery. Small thing we didn't like - the menu doesn't tell us about the ingredients in the food or drinks. Our waitress told us that was by design so that the servers would describe. That's just a terrible idea, and a simple fix to the menus would solve that. Especially for those with food allergies. Will return. With friends! read more

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Very nice atmosphere- very large outdoor area with TVs and shaded area. Perfect for large groups on a nice day. The inside also looked nice and spacious. Great service. The beers were wonderful. We just had a few appetizers and they were decent. read more

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Big Top is not only great for the brews but their scratch kitchen is great. I had the tuna appetizer. Cubed tuna on top of a bed of fried rice perfect. And i had the fried shrimp and fish basket. It was a great combo of fried goodness. Go for the beers stay for the food! read more

Yummy food and drinks. Got the crusted chicken reggiano---great (I should've ordered extra sauce!). Pesto creaminess and crisp chicken (and enough to bring home!). Hubby got the Cubano Tacos--loved it. I had a great Raspberry lemonade cider. Good service. Only disappointment is for a brewery the drink selection is very small. read more

Big Top Brewing - Cubano Tacos - Breweries Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

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Excellent food and service!!! We visited for the first time Tuesday for lunch, we sat at the beautiful bar...Zack was excellent!!! We will definitely be back !!! read more

Good beer selection in a spacious restaurant inside and outside. The mojo sandwich was very good. Service was good and attentive. read more

Big Top Brewing - Dueling pianos! - Breweries Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Off the chain awesome! Man I wished I lived closer. Big Top is one of my favorite beer co. I buy Hawaiin Lion at home all the time, so I was very excited to try this place. It was a little confusing in that this is the Restuarant option versus the actually brewery with the food truck. Very new, clean, industrial vibe. Tons of seating outside for when it finally cools down. Server was awesome and let me try 3 different options, but of course I went to Hawaiin Lion in the end. I got the White Chicken Chili soup with the mashed cauliflower. OMG sooooooooooooo good and filling. Giant bowl. Had a side salad with it and didn't even bother having dinner that night I was still so full. Love it. read more

Big Top Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Two supposed managers of the kitchen and rest of the establishment have 0 customer service skills very rude and arrogant . Will not be returning read more

We were in the area and wanted to stop somewhere we hadn't been before. Found Big Top Brewing on Yelp and headed that way. The building is an all brick building giving it a unique atmosphere and a nod to the past with the Edison bulbs. We stopped by to just grab a couple drinks and appetizers, so we didn't have traditional menu items. The Big Top Brewers Collective in Lakewood Ranch is closer to our home and they don't have a kitchen so it is revolving food trucks. Which is nice but also typically more expensive in some cases. Our waitress was attentive and helpful when questioned about the Pumkin Stiltskin (seasonal). Pumpkin beers are a hit or miss, mostly misses. This one however I would order again. Even had a sugar and pumpkin spice on half the rim. Nice touch. Also had the blackberry stout which was different and not for everyone, but I liked it. My wife had 2 Brave Lime lagers (seasonal) she liked it so much. It was late afternoon so we just grabbed a couple appetizers. The pretzel and Tex Mex egg rolls. The beer cheese was good and the pretzel was huge. The egg-rolls had great flavor, I didn't have the crema one them cause I am not a fan of that. The fresh small cup of pico/salsa was a a good compliment to it, could have a little more of that with it. The manager (Ben) came out, introduced himself, even delivered our pretzel to the table. Seems attentive and ensuring things are running smoothly. Will definitely come back, maybe next time for a full meal versus appetizers. read more

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Wonderful large place. Outdoor area is an amazing addition to the beautiful indoor space. Tv games sun. All great. Menu was small but overall everything we had was good. Wishing for more seafood on the menu. Shrimp pizza was a hit with the kids and me. Very tasty. Citrus circus ipa was delicious and traditional. Definitely recommend for families looking for good beer and environment read more

Big Top Brewing is a cool local brewery and a great place to hit up with friends in the Sarasota, Florida area. The service here is friendly and with a pretty nice laid back approach. The ambiance here is also relaxing and adds to the overall experience. They have a pretty cool selection of beer, enough to keep your interest. Breweries are a great choice if you are a fan of beer. To drink something made locally instead of the standard big name brands. If you find yourself in the Sarasota. Florida area, Big Top Brewing is a great place to go and hang out and spend a bit of time at. read more

Met up with friends for food and a few drinks. The guys enjoyed a selection of beers, both deciding the hazy beer was best out of three. I am celiac so I had a spicy margarita and it was delicious. I appreciated the gluten free menu and having options other than salad. Our server was friendly but forgetful, but it was quite busy. Restaurant was noisy but not overwhelming. The biggest disappointment was the lack of dessert options to round out the night. A good choice, but could use more desserts! read more

Big Top Brewing - Spicy margarita - Breweries Near Me - Sarasota, Florida