Slater’s was sold to a new owner on April 1, but customers can expect their favorite dishes to remain on the menu. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

PORT CLINTON – When Cleveland restauranteur Frank Lord purchased Slater’s Food and Spirits from former owner Aimee Slater on April 1, he knew he was walking into working success. Slater built a thriving business and a loyal customer base, so Lord kept the name and is only adding some of his original touches to the menu.

“He’s making just a few changes. He wants a different overall vibe, but he wants the same Slater’s tradition at the same time,” said Slater’s bartender and server, Holly Everett. “I think his overall vision, endgame-wise, is going to be amazing.”

Lord also owns the popular Cleveland restaurant, Bronco’s Western BBQ, with business partner, Gary Carrino. Carrino’s award-winning barbeque dishes have won over 200 rib burn offs across the country.

“Barbeque is in his blood. It’s his family heritage,” Lord said. “We make everything from scratch and make our own sauce.”

Lord is bringing Carrino’s barbeque dishes to Slater’s.

“He introduced his ribs, pulled pork and brisket. He’s doing a slow introduction,” Everett said. “Everything I’ve tried is amazing, and I also love the gyros. We roast the lamb all day and cut it off the cone.”

Lord said he will eventually introduce pizza and probably corned beef, but he’s keeping much of the Slater’s menu.

Slater’s Bar Manager, Sherry Depner, said customers have enjoyed the new barbeque dishes on the Slater’s menu. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“I want to maintain the restaurant’s framework. That’s why I kept the name,” he said. “There are a lot of customer favorites on the menu, and I don’t be the guy who came in and took away their favorite meal.”

Part of keeping the Slater’s framework is maintaining Jazz Night on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Trivia nights on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Slater’s Bar Manager, Sherry Depner, said the Jazz Night customers have enjoyed the 10 wings for $10 special on Jazz Night.

“We have a little 90-year-old named Miss Pat who has been coming to Jazz Night for 20 years. She said it was good to have spicy barbeque to eat,” Depner said.

Depner said the wings are huge.

“They are dinosaur wings,” she joked. “His barbeque sauce is awesome. He’s going to brand it under the Slater’s name and sell it.”

Lord said his mission is to offer the best food for the best price.

Slater’s bartender and server, Holly Everett, stops into Slater’s for lunch on her day off. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“I want it to be value-driven,” he said. “With everything we’re making, I don’t want to compromise quality for price and vice-versa.”

Slater stepped away from the restaurant business to focus on her longtime massage therapy career. Read more about Slater’s new season of life in “Aimee Slater says goodbye to the kitchen to focus on her healing career” in this issue of Coastlines in this week’s Beacon.

Although losing Slater was a hard adjustment for her staff, they are enjoying working for Lord. Depner and Everett said he willingly jumps in to do the “grunt work” of washing dishes, cleaning tables and rolling silverware.

“He is an amazing boss,” Depner said. “He cares about all of us. He’s a good soul.”

Slater’s Food & Spirits is located at 1634 E. Perry St. in Port Clinton. For more information, visit the Slater’s Food & Spirits Facebook page or call 419-732-2030.