Darryl Strawberry Opening Up Sports Grille / Restaurant

[suave1477]

Former Mets, Yankees star Darryl Strawberry stepping up to restaurant plate with Queens eatery

BY Nicholas Hirshon
DAILY NEWS WRITER
Friday, July 30th 2010, 4:00 AM


Warga/News
Former Mets and Yankees great Darryl Strawberry said he hopes fans of both teams will visit his new eatery in Douglaston, Queens.

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Darryl Strawberry struck out on "Celebrity Apprentice," but he's hoping to hit one out of the park with a Queens restaurant that opens next week.
Strawberry's Sports Grill starts serving customers on Thursday, and the former Mets and Yankees slugger plans to take a very active role.
"I might surprise people sometimes - come out and be the waiter," he said yesterday while leading the Daily News on an exclusive tour of the eatery.
Settling into a booth, Strawberry said he hoped fans of both local teams will frequent the restaurant on 235th St. in Douglaston.
But the Straw Man, who will be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame this weekend, singled out his link to the Amazin's, where he played from 1983 to 1990.
"Queens is home and I have a lot of history here," said Strawberry, the Mets' all-time leader with 252 home runs, 662 runs and 733 RBI.
"This is my way of being able to give back to my fans."
Longtime friend Eytan Sugarman, of the Southern Hospitality BBQ joint in Manhattan, had often prodded Strawberry to launch a restaurant.
The outfielder was hesitant - until a plot became available in eastern Queens and he appeared on Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice."
"After spending time with Mr. Trump, you realize more than anything what an entrepreneur is," Strawberry said.
The restaurant has plenty of memorabilia: Strawberry's rookie jersey from the 1983 Mets and his Shea Stadium locker. Ex-Yankees teammates Charlie Hayes and Chuck Knoblauch are loaning World Series trophies.
The menu includes baseball-themed offerings like a Grand Slam appetizer platter and more sophisticated fare like crawfish and cheddar hush puppies.
Proceeds from the Strawberry Burger - a 10-ounce patty with chili, bacon and cheese - will go to his autism foundation.
"You don't want to go to a sports bar and continue to get the same thing - a hot dog," he said. "You can have a great place, but if you have crappy food, no one's coming."

[metsbats]

Suave,

We should all meet up there and have dinner. Make sure Straw is there that day.