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Hernando Today

Beef 'O' Brady's Is Coming To Sunrise Aug. 31

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: August 25, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - So many people complain about the lack of restaurant choices east and west of Ridge Manor.

No one knows that better than the owners of the upcoming Beef 'O' Brady's at the Sunrise Plaza - located east of Interstate 75 along Cortez Boulevard. The restaurant is sceduled to open Aug. 31.

"They really need something here," said co-owner Janet West. "They've been wanting this."

"It's the buzz in this area," said her husband Curt, of the anticipated opening. "That's for sure."

The Dade City couple, along with Curt West's father, Bob, had been looking at running a restaurant for some time. They looked at Winners Grill and Cherry's Restaurant, but settled on Beef 'O' Brady's because of its family-centered theme.

Another big part of the experience is sports. There will be plenty of viewing options for fans - particularly during football season.

The restaurant has 27 flat-screen televisions - 24 in the main restaurant, one in the game room and one in each bathroom.

Curt West was an avid baseball card collector when he was a kid. Every time he would move, he would have to lug boxes of cards. He no longer collects them, but never sold them.

The walls - and tables - are decorated with his 3,000 or so baseball cards.

It was another reason for he and his wife to love Beef 'O' Brady's.

The Wests have a daughter beginning her freshman year at the University of South Florida. Coincidentally, she will be waitressing at the new Beef 'O' Brady's on campus.

"They have the best burgers I've ever had," said West of the food. "The chicken wings are by far the best ever."

His wife and father like the fried mushrooms.

"They've got a special taste to them," Bob West said.

The menu also will include more healthy choices - like substituting broccoli for fries and more salads.

Milkshakes and smoothies also will be made and served from behind the bar.

Among the games available for kids - and adults - will be a basketball hoop, all-terrain vehicle simulator and a gift claw.

A multi-arcade machine also will be set up in the room and will offer dozens of "classic" videogames - such as Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and Asteroids.

On the other side of the wall will be a row of tabletop games, which would include poker and trivia. The owners preferred to have them away from the bar so the kids could play them.

Here's more proof the restaurant has drawn attention in the community. The owners received more than 300 job applications as of last week.

"Every time someone sees you with a Beef 'O' Brady's shirt, they'll ask you about it," West said.

The restaurant will have 13 booths, 19 tables and 12 seats at the bar.

Those seated at tables can have a speaker bought to them by request so they can listen and view whichever game they want to see.

Janet and Bob West will take care of the restaurant during the week while Curt West will oversee it all during the nights and weekends, they said.

The latter works full-time for Verizon, so the training was mostly done by his wife and father.

In eight weeks, they learned everything from how to serve customers to how to change the oil in the fryers.

The owners have high expectations. They already have begun their involvement with the local community.

"Everything that Beef's has been about over the past two decades has centered (on) community relationships and the neighborhood," Curt West said. "We're the place for families, local sports groups and church organizations to meet. We're the place people feel comfortable going to."

Biz at a glance:

Name of biz - Beef 'O' Brady's Restaurant

Where it is - 31120 Cortez Blvd.

What it is - Family-oriented sports restaurant

Opening date - Saturday, Aug. 31

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5823 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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