entertainment dining profile
Sundown Southern Eatery
A parallel history by B r e n t S i mmo n s
Nicholas “Nick” Christy opened the doors to Chirsty’s Sundown Restaurant in the early 50’s, and operated the well-known and much loved establishment until 2007. Many loyal patrons and friends mourned the closing of the restaurant then, and earlier this year the passing of the man himself. The restaurant and the man were inseparable and both were significant and much loved fixtures in the community. At about the same time Christy opened his restaurant in Winter Haven, Elton and Evelyn Johnson were starting a family tradition in the restaurant business in Plant City, Florida. Their son, Fred and his wife Tammy carried on the tradition, and like Christy they are respected, successful restaurateurs. They’ve grown to operate four Fred’s Southern Kitchens, two Johnson Barbeques (run by their son Owen), and Southern Gourmet Catering. These two histories came together when Fred and Tammy were presented the opportunity to reopen a restaurant where Christy’s had been operated for over 50 years. It was however, a daunting task. The building had to be renovated and a menu developed. The Johnson team knew there would be the inevitable comparisons to the much-loved Christy’s. Fred and Tammy turned to their youngest son Michael, a graduate of The Institute of Culinary Education in Manhattan to manage their newest venture. In May they opened the Sundown Southern Eatery. I went to dinner at the Sundown with a group of 15
family members, and I have to say I was impressed. The newly remodeled building looked incredible. Just like the name, they kept part of the old to honor the past. The changes they made both opened up the space and updated the atmosphere. I especially loved the artwork – depicting scenes of Florida, and the bar area with a baby grand piano. The higher ceilings create a more spacious feel. The service was impeccable, which is something you can expect from any Johnson run establishment. We went when the staff was still green, and even though our party was large and it was a busy Saturday night, the intense training each server received was evident. They were knowledgeable, friendly, and got the job done. Michael is an ever-present fixture in the dinning room and his goal is to make sure every guest experience is a great one. Chef Patrick Schaefer spent over 14 years honing his culinary skills with Disney. What makes the difference is his and his kitchen staff ’s attention to the details and their focus on fresh, quality ingredients. The good thing about going with such a large family group was that we ordered and shared nearly everything on the menu, and everything was great. The menu is billed as “classic southern dishes that have been revamped to offer new and exciting flavors,” and it lived up to its billing. Another thing about the menu is that it will always be a work in progress. Since I was there for dinner I stopped by for lunch and the Chef
has already reworked some of the dishes, added others, and removed some. Why? I asked the Chef and he said, “We want to have something for everyone, and we want to listen to the feedback of our guest.” Last but not least, the Sundown has a great lounge that sports wonderful drinks and a good selection of beers and wines. Desert is not required but is highly recommended.
Sundown Southern Eatery 1100 3rd Street S.W. Winter Haven, FL 33880 It is open for Lunch and Dinner Monday thru Saturday. Reservations are recommended for Dinner Service. 863.293.0069
PAN FRIED TROUT - Pine nut stuffing, roasted baby potatoes, watercress salad and sage butter. Photos by Brent Simmons
Newly remodeled – The restaurant maintains a connection to the past while updating the décor. Photos by Brent Simmons
Third Generation Restaurateur Michael Johnson and Chef Patrick focus on the details and each guest’s experience. Photos by Brent Simmons
FOCUS Magazine greater winter Haven july 2010
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