gRUB TROPICAL BBQ BEGINNINGS & HISTORY
Ben Sato noticed the power of bringing people together via food while growing up on Anna Maria Island.
Ben worked at the restaurants of renowned resorts around Florida after attending Johnson and Wales Culinary Art School, including The Key Biscayne Ritz-Carlton, Sunset Key Resort, Hollywood Beach Marriott, and Longboat Key Club.
Ben fell in love with BBQ during his successful profession. Ben gives his perspective on his favorite food at gRub, in his hometown of Anna Maria, after years of traveling, cooking, and studying. Tropical BBQ is prepared in the classic smoked way, in an island setting where he hopes friends and family will congregate for years to come.
Sato described gRub as a “fast-casual restaurant” where customers order and pay at the main counter.
“My background is in fine dining in Miami, Key West, and Fort Lauderdale,” he said. “I went to the Johnson & Wales culinary school in North Miami and I worked at several fine dining restaurants. I think a family-oriented casual barbecue spot is something the Island needs. We’ve been working on this for three years, but I’ve been thinking about this since I moved back to Island from South Florida around eight years ago.”
BEST BARBECUE FOOD ON AMI: gRUB TROPICAL BBQ
gRub Tropical BBQ offers old friends and new sensations to Anna Maria Island. gRub is the ideal ‘Place to Meat’ because of its fast-casual, modern ambiance and innovative take on traditional smoked BBQ.
gRub has about 40 inside seats, including the bar area, with some additional outdoor seating on the front deck.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
Below are a few sample reviews from Tripadvisor and Google.
A TripAdvisor reviewer wrote:
Decided to stop for our last meal
before heading home and glad we did!! Chicken salad was awesome and my husband loved his cuban sandwich. Great tropical beach feel and the bar is beautiful!! Service was great and the bartender was sooo nice! Can’t wait
to go back in the evening for happy hour and hang out more!
A Google reviewer wrote:
Out and about promoting GI Bins. Stopped to have a wonderful lunch. Owner Ben and bartender Yolanda made our visit very enjoyable. Highly recommend. Food was excellent. Worth the stop!
Recommended dishes Mojo Pork, Brisket Empanada
