Wesley Chapel’s Saddlebrook Resort has a new place to cheer, chill and snack in style. GOAT Kitchen & Bar is now open in the resort’s freshly redone lobby, bringing a sports-centric tavern feel with oversized screens, a wraparound bar and pub food that aims a little higher than your standard wings-and-fries situation. With lounge areas that give a nod to Saddlebrook’s golf and tennis roots, the spot is set up to work as both an athlete’s clubhouse and a local hangout for Tampa Bay sports fans.
Saddlebrook's big reboot
GOAT is the final culinary piece of Saddlebrook’s reported $92 million resort-wide overhaul, which updated guest rooms, event spaces and the golf and pool experiences, according to PR Newswire. The sports tavern is framed as part of a larger strategy to blend Saddlebrook’s athletic programming with its food and beverage lineup. Resort leaders are banking on the refresh to pull in both existing members and Tampa-area locals who have not dropped by the campus in a while.
Menu built for watch parties
The menu leans into shareable, game-day-friendly plates designed for big screens and crowded tables. Coverage in FSR highlights Hall of Fame short-rib nachos, a GOAT smash burger and Florida grouper options as early headliners. Those dishes are backed up by signature cocktails and a rotating mix of local beers meant to keep the energy up during busy sports weekends. Inside, the space folds in memorabilia and a gallery-style hall of fame that ties the bar and dining room back to Saddlebrook’s long-running athletic history.
Local details and hours
Tampa Beacon fills in the specifics from the kitchen. Chef Mark Davis’s menu includes a Wagyu smashburger with aged white cheddar, shallot jam and black-garlic aioli, wings that are sous-vide then crisped after a roasted-garlic herb marinade, and short-rib nachos slow-braised for roughly 12 to 14 hours. According to the Beacon, GOAT serves breakfast daily from 7 to 11 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dinner runs Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. The bar closes at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at 11 p.m. on weekends. Non-resort guests can park and dine for a reported minimum parking charge of about $12.
Who it’s for
The tavern is pitched as a gathering spot for resort members, athletes in training and Tampa Bay locals looking for a casual place to catch a game. As reported by FSR, GOAT primarily operates on a walk-in, first-come basis, while still accommodating private groups and watch parties. For location details and contact information, Visit Tampa Bay lists GOAT Kitchen & Bar at Saddlebrook’s Wesley Chapel campus. Background on the broader renovation that brought the concept to life is available in Saddlebrook’s materials via PR Newswire.
