Ray Mabalot is not an a-hole. He’s not yelling, throwing things, or—Gasp!—launching Mouthole BBQ’s signature “jizzle” sauce into the sky like a T-shirt cannon at a Nickelback concert.
When Mouthole BBQ first hit the streets with their food truck, they built a reputation fast: sell out the goods, never sell out themselves. Ray and his wife, Nikki, aren’t big on performative hospitality. Phrases like “the customer is always right” or “you’re on stage in front of the guest” don’t really land here. And why should they? One of the perks of running a food truck is not having to slap on a fake smile for every Tom, Dick, or Karen with a Yelp addiction. You can be real, you can be generous, and you can sling incredible food—no pandering required.
Naturally, the first people to get it were their fellow service industry folk. Ray and Nikki built a loyal following among those who recognized that they don’t half-ass anything. Long before their Gulf Gate brick-and-mortar, they were already known in the neighborhood. Sixteen years ago, when Nikki was running her fashion line Punk Rock Betty, they hosted parties outside her shop with fire dancers, runway shows, great music, and better food.
These days, the truck has evolved into a full-on restaurant that’s always busy and consistently banging. Nikki holds down the front while Ray commands the open kitchen, shouting and grilling with equal gusto. “Nikki will step away and I’ll ask what someone wants, and they’ll ask to wait for Nikki,” Ray laughs. “I say ‘Shut up and just tell me what you want.’” On especially busy days, a couple of extra hands jump in, and there’s a sous chef named Todd who’s earned Ray’s respect—even if regulars mostly know him as “Damn it, Todd,” because, well, that’s what they hear most often.
People flock here for what I will officially call the best smash burger in Sarasota. And I don’t mean “pretty good for a BBQ joint.” I mean I’ve eaten it, and it’s the best one in town. Fridays and Saturdays are BBQ days, and you’ll want to plan accordingly.
Sure, they’ve got great reviews—4.6 on Yelp, 4.7 on Google—but Ray and Nikki get just as much joy from the bad ones. Case in point: There’s a plaque by the register proudly displaying one of their all-time favorites (presented exactly as written, grammatical chaos and all):
“1 out of 5 Stars—Descriptions on menu is attention-getting but umm…. aggressive….and sometimes unappetizing depending on state of mind… “Throat Choker”… “jizzled”… I surmise the owner only wants to appeal to a certain type of demographic. That’s unfortunate. I’d visit the restaurant but not after reading what the owner chooses to use in descriptions. Turn off. Seeing how the owner responds to reviews, Im sure he would not care one iota if I did not patronize his establishment anyway.”
And to be perfectly honest, I don’t think Ray or Nikki are losing sleep over people who leave one-star reviews for a restaurant they’ve never actually eaten at. They’ve got more important things to worry about—like seasoning the brisket, running the line, and making sure “Damn it, Todd” doesn’t burn the buns.
So do yourself a favor. Head to Mouthole Smashburgers and BBQ. Order something. Try it. Put it in your mouth hole. And if you’re still thinking about complaining—maybe just chew first.
Mouthole BBQ
2637 Mall Dr, Sarasota
727-746-4653
moutholebbq.com
