Spoto nears grand opening of Grill 131
Portobello Square location covers 4,000 square feet, has seating for 154
By BOB McCLURE
| Article published on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 |
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| Photo by BOB McCLURE |
| Bob Spoto plans to open Grill 131 in late June or the first week in July. |
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SEMINOLE – One of the city’s most well-known names in dining excellence will soon be back on the landscape.
Bob Spoto, most recently the owner of Spoto’s Steak Joint in Seminole and Dunedin, will be opening Grill 131 at 13079 Park Blvd. in the Portobello Square shopping center in late June or the first week in July.
The 4,000-square-foot eatery with a seating capacity of 154 is located at the site of the former Vincent’s Italian Restaurant and has been remodeled completely from the floor to the ceiling.
Spoto, 75, and his wife Kathy will operate the business. His daughter Randi will be the manager.
The menu will feature Spoto’s signature barbecued ribs, which he first made famous at the Stockyard Inn (now the site of a nearby Winn-Dixie grocery store on Park Boulevard) from 1971 to 1989.
“Barbecued ribs will be the main item here,” Spoto said. “Our ribs will be smoked in our smoke house and when an order comes in, cooked again on a broiler and delivered to the table.”
Other menu items will include a wide range of seafood, steaks, duck and chicken.
Dining will be offered both inside and outside on a porch.
Indoor amenities will include a cocktail lounge with seating for 46 and 14 at the bar, two high-definition televisions, a social bar that seats eight to 10, a high-quality sound system and a 20-foot Casablanca fan in the dining room.
The inside decor will feature red mahogany paneling with antique gold walls in the cocktail lounge area and cream yellow walls in the dining room.
Running the kitchen will be executive chef Chris Lyon, formerly of Aramark Food Services at Walt Disney World. Longtime Spoto associates Paul Chelstowski and Rick Feraco will serve as managers of the dining room and bar, respectively.
Spoto ended a 54-year career in the food business and a 37-year run as a Florida restaurateur three years ago. Retirement looked good so he sold his two Steak Joint enterprises.
“I’m going back because I miss the people,” said Spoto. “The people are what makes the restaurant.”
Spoto also said his daughter expressed an interest in getting into the business. He said the only way that would happen would be if it’s in Seminole.
So the search for a site began and a lease was signed with Dr. Ed Lurie for the location at Portobello Square, which ironically was the site of Spotos’s Supper Club in 1991.
“Eight months after I was open doctors discovered I had colon cancer and they gave me three to five years to live,” said Spoto. “So I sold it.
“Since then seven different owners have come and gone, but I was very happy here and successful.”
Spoto said the emphasis will again be on food quality and customer service.
“I want you to come in happy and leave happy,” he said. “If you’re unhappy with a meal, tell me about it so I can rectify it. That way I can repair it and maybe you’ll come back.”
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Article published on Tuesday, June 10, 2008
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