Making it work, family-style

They specialize in family fare. The Woodside Inn Family Restaurant opened in late September and claim they haven't had a quiet moment since. Currently serving lunch and dinner, they will begin opening for breakfast on Monday, Dec. 14.
The Woodside is a family-owned and operated establishment. Brothers Troy, Jay and Christopher Tinkham and their mom Rebecca say they want to establish a good reputation for having made-from-scratch meals at "less than fast food prices." They are located on West Jefferson near Tom Varn Park.
Troy Tinkham took some time from his kitchen duties to share a little about the Woodside Inn and his family's food service background. He says his family has always been in the restaurant business. His parents came to Florida from Rhode Island many years ago. All three Tinkham boys were born here and attended Brooksville schools.
Dad and mom Tinkham owned Luigi's Pizza in Spring Hill for many years. As a boy, Troy (the oldest brother) would help at the restaurant in the morning before going off to school. "I've learned a lot on this trail," he said of his chef experiences. He learned the finer points of 'high end' cooking while working for a four-star steak house in Denver, Colorado.
From there he and younger brother Christopher went to Hampton Bays, New York, where Troy was head chef at Top of the Wharf. He says it was there that he refined his skills in preparing seafood and other fine dining fare. While working in New York, Troy and Christopher decided to investigate restaurant opportunities in Hernando County with their brother Jay and mother, Rebecca.
"We did it all from New York," proclaimed Troy. "It was meant to be. Everything fell into place with no glitches. Jay found this location within three weeks. It took another six to open. We did a lot of cleaning, and mom did all the decorating."
The Tinkhams say the interior of their new eatery looks very different from that of previous occupant Jimmy Diablo's Wicked Wings.
"We offer a cozy, warm, relaxing atmosphere," added Troy. He said they chose the name Woodside Inn because of their proximity to Tom Varn Park and the many trees surrounding the property.
Although they have a full liquor bar, their emphasis is on family dining. "We don't push the alcohol," said Troy.
"We don't have happy hour or two-for-ones. If somebody wants a drink with dinner, we are happy to accommodate. Most patrons are families or people looking to save money. Our focus is on providing a complete home-cooked meal with salad, drink and dessert for less than a fast food price."
The Woodside's menu offers appetizers, soup, salads, entrees, dessert, and a children's menu. "We do our own thing," chef Troy announces. "We have seafood, steaks, Italian food, and more. Two popular house specialties are our Salmon Athena and Pistachio Encrusted Cod. We also have prime rib on Sundays for $8.95 and Fridays are our all-you-can-eat fish fry."
Dinner prices include the option to order the family-style "Italian Extravaganza" as an individual meal for $7.49 or as "all-you-can-eat" for $9.99. They offer two complete dinners for $14.99 (salad, entrée, rolls, dessert, coffee or ice tea). The lunch menu is simple. Everything (burgers, sandwiches and wraps) is $5.95. "We pride ourselves on offering the lowest possible prices on great dinners," Troy announced. "I'm just here to make a living and take care of my family."
Jay added that they have been busy since they opened and have lots of reservations for office and holiday parties. He said they frequently serve the Hernando Youth League Softball and Basketball, the Cloverleaf Square Dance Club, Red Hats, the New Hampshire Club, local police and firefighters, and others. They plan to sponsor a softball and bowling team when the next seasons begin.
The Woodside can accommodate up to 152 people. They currently have 10 employees and say everyone works long and hard.
"We hit the ground running and haven't stopped yet," Troy said.
The Woodside Inn Family Restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Beginning Dec. 14 they will open every day for breakfast at 6 a.m. To celebrate their new breakfast hours, they will offer a special on Dec. 14 of a full rack of ribs with potato and vegetable for $7.95.
Biz at a glance:
Name - Woodside Inn Restaurant
Location - 915 W. Jefferson, Brooksville
Telephone - 352-797-3575