TJ Carneys Pub & Grille is a little bit of Irish all through the year.

TJ Carneys Pub & Grille features delicious Irish and American cuisine.

TJ Carneys is one of a handful of Venice restaurants in our Sarasota Dining guide; an Irish Pub and Grille that serves both Irish and American Cuisine in a wide and creative menu, TJ Carneys is located in Historic Downtown Venice. They have sidewalk café style dining and an indoor pub too.

The occasions I’ve dined here have been for lunch, with sidewalk table seating, which I really liked as I like to be outside as much as possible. After all, this is Florida! The service staff has always been fast, friendly and attentive. While I’ve had only a couple of lunch menu items at TJ Carneys Pub, from the quality that I’ve experienced, I don’t think it would be too much of a stretch of the imagination to think that the rest of the menu items as well as those on the dinner menu are as good.

My lunch companion and I have enjoyed the open air, outdoor seating on a number of occasions and while the lunch menu is large and creative enough, we keep coming back for the Shrimp and Crab Wrap ($8.99), The Cuban ($7.99) and The Hamburger ($7.95). The sandwiches on the lunch menu are all served with chips and a pickle, as well.

Let me tell you a little bit more about these treats. The first time at TJ Carneys, my lunch companion struck “pay dirt” by ordering the Shrimp & Crab Wrap. Now this is a large wrap. You might have to take some back with you. It is stuffed with fresh shrimp and crab salad, lettuce, tomato and carrot and rolled into a large, sun-dried tomato tortilla. When this platter is served, it looks fantastic. And it tastes even better, as I’ve been assured, by my lunch companion. I’ve been tempted to order their Shrimp & Crab Wrap as well. It looks so very good.

TJ C arneys Shrimp and Crab Wrap

I like the Cuban sandwich. The Cuban sandwich at TJ Carneys is another winner. This Cuban sandwich comes with pork, salami, ham and Swiss cheese on pressed Cuban bread with pickles and mustard. It’s delicious, filling, served hot and as good of a Cuban sandwich as I’ve found around the restaurants in Sarasota and Venice.

The Cuban Sandwich at TJ Carneys Venice Florida

The same can be said for the Pub Burgers at TJ Carneys. They’re 8 ounces of certified Angus beef, grilled to your order and served with lettuce and tomato on a toasted bun. The toasted bun is a nice touch, because not every restaurant will take the time to prepare the hamburger bun this way. You also receive chips and a pickle with your Pub Burger, which you can also order as a Cheeseburger or Bacon Cheeseburger.

The lunch menu also features a few Irish specialties that are hard to find at Sarasota restaurants except for around St. Patrick’s Day. There is an Irish Reuben ($8.99), Baked Irish Onion Soup ($4.99), Irish Potato Skins ($6.99), an Irish Dip sandwich ($8.99) and not to be left out, The Corned Beef Special ($8.99): New York style corned beef on deli rye bread, with Russian dressing and Cole slaw.

TJ Carneys at lunchtime in downtown Venice Florida

The lunch menu also features a smattering of seafood menu items like a Blackened Grouper Sandwich, Carneys Crabcake, Sashimi Tuna and New England clam chowder as well as the Shrimp & Crab Wrap mentioned above.

As dinner time rolls around from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. you’ll find additional Irish Cuisine treats on the menu: Irish Lamb Stew, Braised Corn Beef and Cabbage, Shepards Pie, Roast Pork and Sauerkraut, Fish and Chips and Chicken Pot Pie. There’s also traditional American Cuisine such as Barbeque Ribs, which are slow cooked Danish Baby back ribs and N.Y. Strip Steak ($19.99), there’s also Blackened Mahi-Mahi, Grouper Filet, Broiled Sea Scallops, Shrimp and Scallops marinara, Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo and more.

TJ Carneys Sidewalk cafe in Venice Florida

As I mentioned above, although I’ve only experienced lunch here, I think the dinner menu and service would be worthwhile trying. It’s a wide and varied menu.

With the highest lunch menu price at $8.99 and the highest dinner menu price at $19.99, there’s plenty to choose from at this moderately priced pub and grille. The food has always been good and filling and the service has been excellent.

There’s full bar service and usually nightly entertainment. TJ Carneys is a fun place to be. I like the outdoor sidewalk seating, but the indoor pub looks nice too. It’s comfortable and inviting and is like a traditional pub, dark and woody.

If you have the opportunity to visit Historic Downtown Venice, you might want to consider lunch or dinner at TJ Carneys Pub and Grille. Here’s an idea; combine your site seeing and souvenir shopping in downtown Venice with lunch or dinner!

Directions: From the Sarasota area take U.S. Rt 41 south to Venice and follow Business Rt. 41 over the bridge into the downtown area. Turn right at Venice avenue. TJ Carneys Pub & Grille is located at 231 W. Venice Avenue in Historic downtown Venice, Florida. There’s a free parking lot in the center of downtown between Tampa and Venice Avenues.

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