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It's called the Ugly Tuna Saloona a name perhaps
more suited for a rock band than a restaurant and it's a new Bird
Road restaurant and sports bar that promises to be a big winner with
sports fans and seafood lovers.
Owned by Robert Quattrone and Dave Lageschulte -- the
man behind all of the South Florida Hooter's restaurants, Iguana
Cantinas, Dan Marino's Town Tavern and the reincarnation of the Taurus
in Coconut Grove this place serves outstanding food at a
within-your-budget price. The atmosphere is warm, cozy and friendly,
with a rustic décor spiced with a nautical theme.
Quattrone, 46, who began his career in the restaurant
industry in California 20 years ago as one of the early employees in
the Tony Roma's operation, says he and Lageschulte came up with the
design for the restaurant after a few trips to the Bahamas, searching
for concept incorporating the idea that a fish owned a restaurant.
As you drive west on Bird Road, you can't fail to
notice the Ugly Tuna Saloona, at 7725 SW 40 Street, with its aged wood
appearance and flashy neon sign. The place resembles something that
would be found in the Florida Keys or on a Caribbean island. And,
that's just what it was intended to be.
The wood that frames the exterior and interior of the
building are actual shrimp doors, boards that the shrimpers use to
weigh down their nets at sea. The shrimpers discard the wood after
several months of being dragged through the sea. Quattrone buys the
waterlogged boards, cleans them up and re-cycles the wood as paneling
for his restaurants.
"We spent a lot of time trying to make this
building look old," said Quattrone with a laugh. "These old
shrimper doors provide us with a great way to do that."
Quattrone, originally from Connecticut and a former
vice president-director of operations for Hooters of America, says the
Ugly Tuna is a spin-off from an eatery he owned in Naples and is the
second one in Southeast Florida. He says he and Lageschulte formed a
friendship while he was at Hooters, wanted to operate a dining spot
together and opened the first Ugly Tuna in Fort Lauderdale's Las Olas
Riverfront two years ago. He says this may be only the beginning.
"So far we've been so well received by the
community, it's almost overwhelming," Quattrone said.
"Obviously, you crawl before you walk, but the hope is that if
both markets do well, it gives the concept some wheels."
Beyond the décor, though, the food is superb. The
tuna steak is enough to make your mouth water just thinking about it
and the chicken sandwiches are equally delectable.
The tuna steak may be ordered either as a sandwich or
a platter, costs $6.95 and the portion is as large a slice of tuna as
you will get in Miami-Dade County for the price. You can order it
grilled, blackened, mesquite or Jamaican jerk, and it comes with a
choice of French fries or rice.
If you like chicken wings, you'll like what the Ugly
Tuna has to offer. You'll be licking your fingers with glee after
you've tasted the hot wings. Some of the best we've run across.
"Our handle is fresh fish, ugly owners,"
said Quattrone with a smile. "We're an old Florida raw
bar-seafood grill, with no frills. We do pasta, oysters and clams
shucked to order, fresh fish and all our sauces and dressings are made
on the premises. But, again, it's no frills plastic plates, plastic
knives, forks and spoons -- with a price point of $4.95 to
$9.95."
For more information, please call 305-267-7778.
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