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Game Stop Serves Gourmet Without Attitude

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By LAURA CONE

The Sun

Published: December 10, 2008

Mushroom caps with snails soaking in garlic butter sauce are on the menu at the new Game Stop Bar & Grille in Sun City Center. But this fancy French Escargot dish is listed on the menu as simply, "Them There Snails."

Owner Dave Mimbs wanted to open a restaurant with gourmet quality food, but Mimbs, as well as his sports bar, is far from pretentious.

They serve a variety of lunch and dinner items including wings, salads, New England Clam Chowder, seafood, steak and chicken dishes.

James Selvey, a customer who lives in Fort Lonesome, ate lunch at Game Stop recently, but also frequents the restaurant for dinner with his 2-year-old daughter, Emily.

"I love it," Selvey said. "It gives more variety than what has been around here that is etched in stone. There is not a lot around here other than chains."

Selvey said he usually orders steak for dinner, but tried the gyro for lunch.

"It's the best food around," he said. "The hamburgers are phenomenal."

John Bibel, the manager, said some of the changes planned for the near future include adding breakfast including the standard eggs, bacon, sausage and pancakes.

"We will keep it simple," Bibel said. "It's all about what our customers want."

Located in the former Hungry Howie Buffet restaurant, with close to 3,000 square feet, the restaurant serves beer, wine and soft drinks. They are in the process of obtaining a full liquor license. Future plans include a canopy and deck outside.

"We will have live entertainment and karaoke," said Selvey, adding they officially opened Oct. 21.

Mimbs, who lives in Wimauma, hopes to attract senior citizens as well as families.

"We hope to attract the people who want to eat at 5 or 6 p.m. and then, after that crowd goes, we want to attract the sports people who want to come in and hoot and holler," Mimbs said.

On Sundays, the church crowd often eats an early lunch and is followed by the afternoon football crowd.

Mimbs said the restaurant is not part of any franchise. He asked local people for input for the menu, for instance, instead of hollandaise sauce for the oysters, he serves them with a honey lime sauce. Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m. they host a fish fry. They have catfish, grouper and Mahi Mahi on the menu.

Happy hour is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with $1.50 for 16-ounce draft beers and $2 for wine. They open every day at 11 a.m. and stay open late to cater to customers.

For more information on the restaurant, 3858 Sun City Boulevard, call (813) 634-9606.

Editor Laura Cone may be reached at lcone@mediageneral.com

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