I’ve never quite understood the sports/food connection. I don’t mean sports bars, where you go to have some wings and a beer or two while watching a few dozen football games on TV. That’s more like a public living room with waitresses added.
I mean the idea of going to a restaurant because it has a sports figure’s name on it. That’s as sensible as eating somewhere because there are guitars and memorabilia from rock stars in the room … oh, wait.
But the growing success of golfer Sam Snead’s Tavern is mostly because they combine a clubhouse kind of atmosphere with good food. Expanding on the success of the original, the latest location at 301 E. Pine Street (407-999-0190) near Lake Eola just opened. Not to mention offering a decent place to eat if you’re out late on a Saturday night (it’s open until 2 a.m. on weekends).
That Sam sure must like to eat.
This article appears in Jan 31 – Feb 6, 2001.