SURFS New Restaurant
Into Town By: Stephen Haberdorn
he only thing that has ever come easy to Untavious “Tavy” Davenport is cooking. Before opening his Surf’s Up restaurant in DeKalb, the 37-year-old entrepreneur grew up poor on the west side of Chicago, spent time in prison, and hustled to build a myriad of businesses before arriving where he is now. Surf’s Up is a restaurant franchise that began in 2012 in Hillside, Illinois, and currently has about a dozen locations, mainly in the Chicago area. They feature a wide array of seafood, chicken, and soul food at affordable prices. Davenport worked with the founder of the franchise at their Oak Park location and has added many of his personal recipes to the menu. Despite a rave reception to the food at Surf’s Up and a growing following, starting a business in a new city during a pandemic has been a challenge.
They opened their restaurant at 850 Pappas Drive, Suite C in March of 2020 and voluntarily shut down for two weeks when the coronavirus epidemic hit the United States. They reopened in April and have been open since. Surf’s Up offers everything from a fivedollar sandwich to a $68-dollar beach feast. Items on their menu include tender fried lobster tails and crab legs, Cajun -seasoned shrimp, po’boy sandwiches, catfish, tilapia, fish and shrimp tacos, chicken wings, turkey greens, dirty rice, and fried green tomatoes. The only dessert on their menu is fried biscuits, which is a sweet specialty of theirs. “The menu fits whatever your appetite is, and whatever your pocketbook is,” said Davenport. He said that he and his staff are willing to walk you through the menu in order to help you make a selection.
14 | September 2020 | DEKALB COUNTY MAGAZINE
DC_Sept 2020.indd 14
9/9/20 4:12 PM
