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Hernando Today

Brook House Is Fit For A Brit

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: November 17, 2008

SPRING HILL - The owners of the Brook House had to convert a former sandwich shop into a full-fledged ethnic restaurant.

The process has not been devoid of headaches.

"We're trying to get it in operational mode," said co-owner Michael Levinson. "It was a lot of work and a lot of worry."

Levinson and his wife, both English, have more than three decades of experience owning and managing pubs. They opted for a quaint restaurant in Spring Hill instead.

They decided to put the long hours and stress of running a bar behind them. They thought it would be easier this way.

Eventually, it will be. There were just a lot of inspections and delays that caused them to push their opening date back several times.

They officially opened Thursday.

"Samantha came in to run the business," said Levinson as he turned and asked a tall, slender, brown-haired woman to join him at the table.

Samantha is his daughter. She has worked in restaurants since she was a teenager. After that, she worked in insurance and for the constabulary, or police dispatch, in Lancashire, England.

She is a world traveler. When her parents asked her to join them, she eagerly accepted. Managing a constabulary for eight years can be overwhelming. She needed a calmer lifestyle. To her, managing a restaurant offered her that.

"I've always loved working at restaurants," she said. "It was a good opportunity to be engaged in a business. I love to meet people."

Samantha Levinson and her parents were undeterred and unfazed by the slumping economy. They new they had a niche. There were no restaurants cooking and serving fish and chips or other English staples around town.

Secondly, there are a lot of British in and around Spring Hill, they said.

"If you can keep prices right and (pick) the right location, it can work," Levinson said. "(But) the food must be just right."

The new restaurant manager barely had time to sit and talk. She was dashing back and forth from the kitchen to the dining area and waiting for the last inspection prior to the opening.

Prospective customers, mostly from Timber Pines, have routinely called and knocked on the door during the past seven months asking about when the Brook House would open.

It has given the owners some idea of what to expect. They ones calling and knocking haven't all been British. There are a lot of red-blooded Americans who have traveled abroad and tasted foreign cuisine. When they return home, they look for places where they can eat it again and again.

"For this type of location, it was right to have an ethnic-driven store," said Michael Levinson.

The walls are covered with photos and paintings of historical people and events. Janet Levinson's favorite is a photo of Frank Sinatra meeting the Queen of England.

Regulars might also be interested to know Michael Levinson is National Parliamentary chairman for the Licensed Trade. He served in the House of Commons for a total of 12 years.

The restaurant serves a variety of appetizers, children's menu selections, desserts, soups, "lite bites," sandwiches and salads.

The fish and chips portion of the menu is likely to be the most popular. It includes haddock, cod and catfish, along with shrimp, crab cakes, salmon and tuna.

There also is a variety of hot meat entrees - from homemade shepherd's pie to lamb curry.

The restaurant also acquired a beer and wine license in time for the opening.

"We expect to draw a lot of people in, American people as well," said Levinson. "Our phone has never stopped ringing. It's been a seven-month process. The people here have been very supportive."

Biz at a glance:

Name of biz - The Brook House Restaurant.

Owners - Michael and Janet Levinson.

What it is - English food restaurant.

Where it is - 2701 Forest Road, near the entrance to Timber Pines.

Hours of operation - 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Get in touch - 352-688-0990.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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