“What you don’t expect, you’ll get here. And man it’s good,” said Food Network’s Guy Fieri of the Scully’s Tavern experience.
Those words have helped put Scully’s on the map in Kendall and beyond. Fieri touted Scully’s as “something different” during his show and featured one of owner and chef Chris Hirsh’s famous recipes in his book Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.
So what does Fieri, and everyone else who visits Scully’s Tavern, love about this unassuming neighborhood tavern run by Hirsh and wife Cass?
“It’s some legit food. It’s a sports bar that serves escargot,” Fieri said.
“Travelers who watch Guy’s show or have his book will stop by, have a meal and then cross us off their list of places to visit,” Chris said. “The good news is that they all say they will definitely come back. We’ve sold about 500 copies of Guy’s book at Scully’s and I’ve autographed about 400 of them.”
The Hirsh’s opened Scully’s Tavern in March 1989 with a plan in mind — to open a cozy, friendly spot that served better food than your average sports bar. Mission accomplished — 23 years and counting.
Chris, who started working in the restaurant business at the age of 14, lends his French restaurant training to dishes such as Oysters Benville — oysters with jalapenos and melted provolone — and Scampi Style Chicken Wings and Mussels Provencal, both cooked with Chris’ famous garlic butter.
Even the usual fare is hardly usual at all. Cass points out that Chris smokes the fish for Scully’s famous fish dip and the pork for the pulled pork sandwiches on the large outdoor smoker.
Chris’ most famous creation is the Incrusted Dolphin Sandwich, a mahi mahi fillet battered in a crushed potato chip crust and served on a Kaiser roll. The recipe for this one-of-a-kind sandwich is the one featured in Fieri’s book and he writes, “If anybody ever says they want a fish sandwich, this should be it.”
Do as the locals do — pick any of Scully’s daily and nightly specials and make it a weekly tradition. All you can eat barbecue ribs are the Sunday and Monday special — a perfect companion to football on the flat screens. Prime rib is offered on Wednesday, fish and chips is the Thursday favorite and New York Strip and Pork Shank with Rosemary sauce are popular entrées served every night.
It’s not just the good food that keeps folks coming back to the “Cheers-esque” neighborhood spot. Cold beer and double shot drinks are flowing during Scully’s happy hour, 3-7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and a free buffet at 5 p.m. satisfies the munchies.
Cass runs the “front of the house” and the action she has planned at Scully’s is sure to make everyone happy. College students, families and sports fans gather to watch the big game, play pool or listen to the band play classic rock on Friday and Saturday nights, with no cover charge. Scully’s comes alive on Wednesdays during Karaoke Night and bikers rev it up on Thursdays during Biker Night.
“We’re all about good friends and good times,” Chris said. “Scully’s is a way of life. There’s a really good vibe in here.”
Become a regular at Scully’s Tavern, located at 9809 Sunset Dr. Scully’s opens for lunch at 11 a.m., Monday-Friday, and at noon on the weekends. For more information, call 305-271-7404 or visit online at www.scullystavern.com.
