February 20, 2026

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A Burger A Week – Wally’s Pour House

We’re back on the burger trail! At least for a minute.

🗺️ Sarasota is a BIG county. Believe it or not, it’s nearly half the size of the entire state of Rhode Island. It takes 40 to 45 minutes to drive from UTC to North Port. And I think that’s on a light traffic day.

So, sometimes I need a little help covering it all. That’s where my eyes, ears, and taste buds in Venice come in super handy. My friends Chad and Kyle have been calling out recommendations to me for a while now. And it is appreciated!

A couple have made it into “print” already. I’m hoping you remember Chef Tony at the Suncoast Cafe and that delicious Banana Pudding that Darrell’s serves (Chad’s Grandma’s recipe, actually.)

Well, we can now up that number to three! Today we’re off to Wally’s Pour House for a burger! 🍔

I’m going to cut directly to the chase. Wally’s is a dive bar. And I say that with the utmost affection. I LOVE a great dive bar. And Wally’s is just that!

These kinds of places really don’t need much description. They all have bar seating…

They usually have a little bit of table seating…

Most have a pool table.

And, of course, they always have some interesting signage.

There is the required mirror with the place name prominently displayed.

And, in this particular case, there’s a sign that applies to maybe only half of the customers.

We could dedicate an entire piece to bar signs that skirt the line between acceptable and out-of-bounds. Maybe someday we’ll do just that! 😀

📝 If this were my old stomping grounds in Chicago, a full illuminated Old Style or even Hamm’s sign would have to be proudly displayed.

📋 Wally’s Menu Has Something for Everyone. You can get pretzel bites, mini corn dogs, a Reuben sandwich, wings, a variety of burger creations, and oddly, pierogis!

Yes, you read that correctly, pierogis. They even have a Pierogi of the Month! The right move here if you’re in the mood for this Polish delicacy is the Pierogi Sampler. That includes two of each flavor (Potato & Cheese, Sauerkraut, Cheeseburger, and the Flavor of the Month).

But we are not here today for a pierogi sampling (although that would be great!). We are here for the burger!

🍔 Wally’s Has Options. When it comes to burgers, you have five choices. You can order the standard Wally Burger (7 oz burger, cooked your way, with your choice of cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion). There is also the Rodeo Burger (Wally burger, cooked your way, with American cheese, an onion ring, bacon, BBQ sauce, lettuce, tomato). But for me, the choice was pretty easy, Patty Melt!

My server/bartender on this fine Monday afternoon was Michelle. Not only does she work there, but she is family. Not part of my family, but the Wally’s family. And Wally’s is most definitely a family affair.

📝 Not only is Michelle a fantastic ambassador for the restaurant, but she is also an award-winning karaoke singer. (Harper Valley PTA is her signature number 🎶).

Turns out I need Michelle for some expert burger advice. The doneness choices for the patty melt are “pink inside or no pink inside.” But there was another option that Michelle suggested. I could have my patty melt Smash Burger style! Discussion over.

One more choice needed to be made: my side. Again, Michelle to the rescue. Her recommendation, their World Famous, Best in Show Tater Tots. No arm-twisting necessary. When someone says “Best” or “World” anything, I’m in!

Let’s see how all this turned out…

RESTAURANT: WALLY’S POUR HOUSE (1730 S. Tamiami Trl. | 941-786-1956)

DATE OF VISIT: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2026

BURGER TASTED: PATTY MELT

📒 OUR TASTING NOTES

🍔 This burger is listed on the menu as: Swiss cheese, sautéed onions, Thousand Island, served on rye bread ($12.00)

• Wally’s version of the patty melt was delicious. It ended up being a double burger patty. And it was perfectly smashed and still perfectly juicy.

• This burger had the ideal ratio of cheese to Thousand Island Dressing. That can sometimes be hard to get right.

• Although not exactly burger-related, the presentation exactly matched the feel of Wally’s. It is SO hard to beat newsprint in a basket. Especially for a place like this!

• THE FRIES. Or in this case, THE TOTS! Michelle didn’t oversell these. They were crispy, expertly fried, and delicious. As much as I love a good French fry, the tots are a slam dunk. 🍟

Let’s check out how all of this looked when I ordered it…

📸 Wally’s is dark, just like any self-respecting dive bar. So, you’ll have to cut me some slack on the photos. Less than ideal conditions. But you’ve got to take pictures of these burgers in their natural environment! 😄

Let’s Wrap This Burger Up. Wally’s qualifies in my book as a “hidden gem.” But if you’re from the Venice area, it’s not really hidden at all. It fronts onto Tamiami Trail and, from the looks of it, has a great regular following. (It was empty when we got there at 11:45AM. When we left at 1PM, it was nearly full.)

If you’re down in South Sarasota County AND you’re a lover of dive bars and great burgers, then Wally’s is a stop you’ll need to make. Great food, great service, great fun!

📝 END NOTES –

(a) Thanks so much to Kyle and Chad for steering me towards this spot. Yes, in case you were wondering, they were my lunch companions (along with Bailey).

(b) Wally’s IS NOT a “small plate” kind of place. You will get more than enough for your money! 💵

(c) I really wanted the pierogis. But I was on a burger mission, and I knew there would be zero room for those. If you’d like to try your hand at making some – HERE’S A PIEROGI RECIPE FOR YOU! They may not be as good as Wally’s, but, hey, at least it’s something.

(d) We’ve got more burgers on the way (since you’ve requested that!). Do you have an out-of-the-way burger spot that may not be on everyone’s radar? We would love to add it to our list. – DROP US AN EMAIL! 📩

~ LH

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🗓️ SARASOTA FOOD INFO🗓️ 

Here is some local food information that we think you might find interesting. We’ve provided you with a link to more info. 

📖 BUY A COPY OF OUR 2026 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖 

📋 MENU OF THE MONTH!! – Mirna’s Cuban Cuisine – MENU HERE! 

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🧑‍🌾 FARMER’S MARKET INFO ‍🌾 

EVERY SUNDAY – Siesta Key Farmer’s Market – DETAILS 

EVERY SUNDAY – Farmer’s Market at Lakewood Ranch – DETAILS 

EVERY SUNDAY – The Meadows Farmer’s Market – DETAILS 

EVERY WEDNESDAY – The Phillippi Farmhouse Market (Oct-Apr) – DETAILS 

EVERY THURSDAY – Englewood Farmer’s Market (Oct-May) – DETAILS 

EVERY SATURDAY – Sarasota Farmer’s Market – DETAILS  

EVERY SATURDAY – Downtown Bradenton Public Market – DETAILS 

EVERY SATURDAY – Venice Florida Farmer’s Market – DETAILS 

THIRD THURSDAY EVERY MONTH – UTC Night Market – DETAILS 

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