Steel Drum Grill

It’s January. It’s cold. It’s dreary. And all you can think about is a trip to Miami or maybe some place farther south.

You are in luck, because Jeff and Patti Pierce want to send you on an island vacation. And the best part is that you won’t even have to pack a suitcase or brave the TSA.

At their new restaurant, Steel Drum Grill, the Pierces have created an atmosphere reminiscent of a tropical getaway. The walls of the restaurant on Overton Road across from Publix are painted a warm sunny yellow. Large framed photos of sandy beaches and swaying palms adorn one long wall. A full-sized chalkboard boasts not only the daily specials but also the weather forecast in various destinations. The handsome hand-set stone work of the former Sababa location remains and is perfectly suited for the décor here.

 Their “Welcome to the island, we’re glad you’re here. We hope you enjoy your stay” tag line sums up the restaurant quite well.

“We’ve always talked about doing a little restaurant, and the timing was just right on this deal,” Jeff said. “There are a lot of little pieces that came together that we didn’t even see coming.”

Patti was quick to add, “We first thought about a coffee shop, just some place where people could come and relax. It was always a ‘getaway’ kind of place.”  

The menu boasts many of the couple’s personal favorites, things they enjoy cooking and grilling together at their home – salads, paninis, fresh fish, crab cakes, ribeyes, hand-cut fries and more.

“We were inspired by places like Red Bar (in Grayton Beach, Fla.) and Louis Louis (in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.),” Jeff said.

 “The menu started with a lot of our favorite things to eat,” Patti said. “We first thought about just a couple salads and maybe five entrees, but it grew to include so many of the things we love to eat at home.”

If the Pierces look familiar, it is with good reason. They were the heart and soul behind Big Sky Bread Company in its former Mountain Brook Village location. Since closing the brick-and-mortar location, Patti said she has missed seeing loyal customers on a regular basis. She takes comfort in knowing they can still enjoy those same Big Sky Breads at local retailers like Piggly Wiggly, Western, Whole Foods Market and now at Steel Drum Grill. Several of the sandwiches feature signature Big Sky breads. The Pecan Chicken Salad pairs perfectly with the Big Sky cinnamon raisin. The hearty Three Seed bread is ideal for the Pimento Cheese Sandwich.

Jeff still works at Big Sky Bread and will continue to do so, even with the new restaurant. He’s promised Patti he’ll be there in the evenings and on weekends, but Steel Drum Grill is her baby.

Helping her run the kitchen will be head chef Guillermo Lopez. Proving how small the restaurant world is, Lopez comes to Steel Drum already familiar with Big Sky Bread and the quality the brand denotes. Many years ago, he was with the Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club in Orlando, and regularly ordered Big Sky breads for the resort. Little did he know he would one day work with the man who shipped that bread to him.

Rounding out the menu will be domestic and imported beers, like Jamaican favorite Red Stripe and south-of-the-border classic Corona. The restaurant’s signature cocktail will be the Steel Drum Screwdriver, boasting fresh squeezed orange juice.

Patti said she wants feedback from customers and to hear what dishes they’d like to see.

“People travel and always bring back ideas,” she said. “We want to hear those ideas and maybe put them on the menu!”

Summer will come soon enough to Mountain Brook. But until it really warms, we can all enjoy a little island paradise getaway at nearby Steel Drum Grill — flip-flops optional.

Christiana Roussel lives in Crestline and enjoys all things food-related. Follow her culinary musings on-line at ChristianasKitchen.com or on Facebook, Twitter (Christiana40), Instagram and Pinterest.