SARASOTA – In the suburbs of this beach oriented town, amidst an industrial and warehouse area close to 1-75, right near a Cemex concrete plant is the White Buffalo, a next-generation country dance hall.
The White Buffalo is a country and western bar without honky tonk. That’s good. It’s a themed restaurant that includes a giant dance floor, very long bar, and outdoor patio. Every week, they have free dance lessons; on the dance floor will be a very clean-cut gathering of all ages, learning new steps. Staff is freshly scrubbed and clean cut; no extreme piercings or tattoos will kill your appetite.
The point about being family friendly is no minor feat. Very often, such a place will either be too themed and antiseptic, or too much of a pickup spot. Or worse yet it will become a biker location filled with posing Baby Boomers. The White Buffalo seems to be able to pull this off successfully; part of reason is that it is big space and the design is well thought through. In fact, there were only a handful of bikes in the parking lot when we went.
The menu is straightforward, and inexpensive, and not fancy, with brisket dinner around $11 and burgers at $9. Families tend to come earlier in the evening for gatherings.
The only problem is parking; while they have valet if you want to park on your own you will have to go across the street.
Visit them at thewbsaloon.com.
