Beef O’Brady’s, the Irish themed sports bar and grill goes out of its way to tout
itself as family-friendly, fun, and full of delicious food and drinks. Beginning in Florida
and stretching out from there, Beef O'Brady's (or Beef's as it is also known) has only continued
to grow outward. It doesn't pretend to be fancier than it is, and it's proud to be a
community place where people can sit down, relax, and forget their troubles. So let’s
check out the top 10 untold truths of Beef O'Brady's.
Beef O'Brady's Was Established in 1985
1985 was a crazy year. There was a lot going on in the world, and not all of it was great. CNN
reporter Jeremy Levin was freed from captivity in Lebanon, Nelson Mandela refused an offer
from the South African government to be freed, and Coca-Cola changed their formula, resulting
in the much-maligned New Coke. However, things weren't all bad. After all, 1985 was also
when Back to the Future hit theaters, and Live Aid raised millions of dollars for famine
relief in Africa.
1985 was also the year that a humble little bar and grill first opened its doors. The
name of that restaurant was Beef O'Brady's. This little place in Brandon, Florida promised
a neighborhood spot that would serve up great food and drink, as well as showing sports
on the television. It wasn't exactly revolutionary for a bar to devote itself to sports, but
Beef O'Brady's quickly became a neighborhood hangout. From there, things only got bigger
for the little bar and grill as it began to expand and open more locations.
By 2000, Beef O'Brady's had opened 40 locations, and by 2011 it had expanded to 215 locations.
Not bad for a little family-friendly joint that opened back when people had VCR's, watched Alf,
and were sweating to the oldies. It just goes to show that the biggest chains can come from
humble roots and to never underestimate the growth opportunities of local businesses.
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Beef's Originally sold No Hard Liquor
When we think of sports bars today, we think of places where you can not only get beer
and wings, but also all kinds of other food and drink. Maybe you want to have a margarita
and some nachos while you watch the football game? Or, if you're more traditional, maybe
you'd like a rum and coke, or a whiskey ginger, or even a gin and tonic. Either way, your
choices aren't just limited to what's on tap. You can get any kind of drink you want in
most places.
However, this was not the case at Beef O'Brady's when it first opened. The restaurant touted
itself as being "family friendly," and that was really code for something else. Namely,
it meant that the restaurant did not serve hard liquor. You could definitely get a beer,
but when it came to something like whiskey or gin, you'd be out of luck. This policy
changed as the years went by, but Beef's was originally trying to sell itself as a place
that wouldn't be full of a bunch of rowdy drunks who were causing all sorts of problems
or being loud and belligerent.
This seems like an odd rule though. If the place really wanted to avoid people getting
drunk, wouldn't they just not serve alcohol at all? Did it not occur to them that people
can also get drunk on beer? Either way, Beef's loosened up eventually and started offering
cocktails to its customers.
Beef O'Brady's Was not Started by Someone Named Brady
People like to name things after themselves. If you think we're lying about that, then
look at practically any brand on a store shelf. All or most of them are emblazoned with someone's
name, whether it's their first, last or even full monikers. The fact of the matter is that
people want you to know that they created something. They want you to remember that
they were the ones who brought you that great product. They don't like to hide behind fake
names because, well, people have egos that need to be satisfied.
However, this is not the case with Beef O'Brady's. Sure, the name of the restaurant might sound
like it came from a real person. Maybe he was a really buff Irish dude who loved to
cook and serve people beer? First of all, that guy sounds like a hoot, and we wish he
was real. However, the truth is actually far less interesting. Beef O'Brady's was actually
opened by a man named Jim Mellody.
Why the name Beef O'Brady's? Well, the beef part was obvious, as the place is a restaurant
where you could get a burger or even a steak. The O'Brady's part came from the fact that
Mellody and his wife wanted to evoke the feeling of an old Irish pub. Honestly, they could
have called it "Mellody's" and it would have been totally fine, but as we know now, the
rest is history.
Beef's Has a Gluten-Friendly Menu
Most places these days that offer a gluten-free menu are not exactly the kind of places that
the general public wants to go. They're either too out of the way, too expensive, or just
too health-conscious. The problem is that people who can't eat gluten also enjoy the
kind of food they serve at bar and grills. Seriously! Gluten-free people are also people!
And they therefore also enjoy the flavors of wings, fries, drinks, and burgers (as long
as there's a gluten-free bun or no bun at all).
Well, Beef O'Brady's looks after these people. Their menu includes a section that lets diners
know which options are gluten-free, something that you don't really see at too many bars
or restaurants. Some places even go so far as to wear their excluding of people with
food allergies as a badge of honor. "Oh, you can't have gluten? Then don't eat here!" It's
downright rude, and not the smartest business strategy. Beef's isn't like that. They want
everyone to come. It's a nice way for Beef's to say "we know that there are people out
there who can't eat gluten, and we want them to know that they are welcome here.” Beef’s
can still cater to those who have food allergies and want to join in the fun.
Beef O'Brady's is Open on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a huge holiday in the United States. In fact, the day before Thanksgiving
is the busiest travel day of the year. People are going all over the place to see their
families. They're sweating it up in kitchens preparing giant turkey dinners, and they're
barely getting any sleep as they go wait in line for Black Friday sales. So what can you
do if you don't have any of those things going on? Where do you go to get a decent meal?
Well, you could drop into Beef O'Brady's, because they are open on Thanksgiving. That's
right, if you're the kind of person who is stuck because they couldn't get a flight or
had to work, you can always go to Beef's where they will treat you like family. You might
not be eating turkey, but at least you can get a burger and watch some football. Maybe
you can even have a few beers and make some friends with the other folks at the bar. Either
way, if you're alone on Thanksgiving, or if you're just the kind of family that doesn't
want to cook an entire meal, Beef's has you covered.
Beef O'Brady's Does Catering
We've all been in a situation where we need a lot of food for a party. Then you go to
figure out what to get, and you realize that a lot of catering places just do the same
old stuff: sandwiches, veggie trays, and maybe an okay dessert platter. That's not enough
for you, though! You're trying to impress people. You want to wow them, fill them up,
and leave them wanting more. Also, you might want a few delicious leftovers for yourself.
Well, there's some good news for you. Beef O'Brady's provides catering services. It's
true! You can call ahead to any Beef O'Brady's location, give them your order, and they'll
bring trays of delicious food to your event! What kind of food can you get? All of the
best kinds! We're talking wings, quesadillas, taco bars, desserts, even fried shrimp and
cheeseburger wraps! It's all the best things you want to see at a catered event, with none
of the pretense.
Beef’s Serves a Burger with Five Cheeses
Everybody loves cheese. Okay, not everybody, but most people can't get enough of it. That's
simply because cheese just makes everything better. Got some veggies? Put cheese on them!
Pizza? Extra cheese! Dessert? Cheesecake! It's undeniable. Cheese is the lifeblood of
food. It's what makes things go from being just plain delicious to being extraordinary.
So how does Beef O'Brady's make their cheeseburger even more special than anything else?
Well, if you check out the burgers on their menu, you'll find plenty of different flavor
combinations. However, one burger stands out among the rest. What makes it stand out? How
about the fact that it includes not one, not two, not three, not even four, but five cheeses!
Come on! Beef's went and did it with their Five Cheese Burger, which uses American,
provolone, cheddar, and Monterey jack cheeses, but also crusts the bun with a layer of parmesan
for extra flavor and crunch.
On top of all of that, the burger is then garnished with a mozzarella stick. Honestly,
do you think you could find a burger cheesier than that anywhere else? We didn't think so.
So if you really need some cheese and you don't want to stick to just having it with
plain old crackers, then you need to try this burger at Beef's. You definitely won't regret
it!
Beef’s Wings Come in 12 Flavors
Wings, wings, and more wings. That's what makes the world go around, and it's what makes
life worth living! After all, who doesn't love a platter piled high with delicious,
crispy chicken wings coated in a delicious sauce? Everyone has their favorite flavor,
whether it's regular old honey garlic or the absolute hottest, burn your mouth off sauce
on the menu. Some places offer the standard five sauces, and that's all well and good,
but true wing lovers want something more. They want to know that when they walk into
a place, they're going to have a hard time choosing a flavor.
Well, Beef's wouldn't be any help in that department, because they feature not five,
not eight, but 12 wing sauces! That's enough to keep the table debating for at least an
hour over what flavors to get (before just deciding to get all 12, of course). The flavors
range from mild tastes like garlic parmesan and teriyaki, all the way up to the hottest
flavor on the menu, atomic! Beef's wings even come in dry rubs, which is great for those
who don't like their wings super saucy.
So if you need to have wings right this instant, and you want to go somewhere where making
the choice of what sauce to get is going to be more difficult than just about anything
else in your life, then Beef's is definitely the best place for you to go.
Beef O'Brady's Had a Football Game Named After It
After apple pie and cheeseburgers, there may not be anything more American than football.
People gather around TV's in bars to have drinks and watch football games almost every
single day. There's the NFL, college football and even high school football draws in its
loyal viewers. Well, Beef's knew the value of football and branding, which is why they
had an annual college football game named after them.
That's right! Beef O'Brady's was the main sponsor of the St. Petersburg Bowl. During
that time, it was known as (what else?) the Beef O'Brady's Bowl. This game is held every
year in the college post-season. However, Beef's was only the lead sponsor from 2009
to 2013. Currently, the game is known as the Gasparilla Bowl. Still, having the name on
a Bowl game of their own was a huge leap for Beef O'Brady's which got to share its name
in its native Florida as well as anywhere else the game was being broadcast. People
outside of the state might have wondered what exactly Beef O'Brady's was, but it didn't
matter, because now they knew the name.
Beef's has always had a relationship with football. After all, it is a sports bar. The
Bowl game was their way of showing that they are big football fans and they want everyone
to know it. Years later, though, there would be another football connection with Beef's
and it wouldn't exactly be positive.
Beef O'Brady's Got Involved with NFL Protests
During the 2016 NFL season, quarterback Colin Kaepernick chose not to stand during the national
anthem. He did it as a form of protest against racial injustice in America, but it would
go on to be defined by critics as an insult to those in uniform (even though most people
in uniform actually supported the form of peaceful protest, since that sort of liberty
is exactly what they fought for). Either way, Kaepernick's act rubbed some people the wrong
way, and they bought into the narrative that he hated America and was insulting the troops.
Several owners of Beef's franchises decided not to air NFL games during the season because
they thought the protests were inappropriate and an insult to US armed service members.
It's not exactly like the NFL is hurting for money or ad revenue as it is. Still, the decision
for a restaurant to get political also sparked a debate on the last place you would think:
Yelp.
Yelp reviewers were split down the middle on the restaurant's decision. Some of them
gave it five-star reviews, saying they were on its side for not airing the games. Others
gave them one-star reviews, citing their disagreement with the policy (and also taking shots at
the food).
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