Families And Sports Fans

Meet At Hot Shots Grille

Hot Shots Grille at 130 Mt Pleasant Road is a restaurant and sports bar that offers family dining as well as venue for sports enthusiasts. The popular eatery has been under new ownership for the last 15 months and owners Angelo Silano and Roland Bomova have been doing a some decorating — bringing in old-school upholstered leather banquettes and “lightening up the place” — and expanding and upgrading the menu to include “everything from wings to pizza, pasta to filet mignon,” says Mr Silano.

“We’ve worked hard to create an environment where everyone feels welcome,” he continued. “We want everyone to feel comfortable here and we take pride that a lot of families are coming in for lunch and dinner. We are pulling in a broad audience.”

Jose Arias, a native of Costa Rica who has been working in local restaurants for a dozen years, including four each at Café on the Green in Danbury and Redding Roadhouse, is the chef at Hot Shots. “Jose takes such pride in what he does,” said Mr Silano. “Many people come in here expecting bar food and are pleasantly surprised at our full and delicious menu.”

Dinner entrees include seafood linguini, $21.99; chicken Margherita, $16.99; grilled salmon, $18.99; teriyaki combo (marinated chicken and an eight-ounce New York strip steak grilled in teriyaki sauce) $15.99; and Hot Shots’ Baby Back Ribs, smoked on the premises, $17.99 for a full rack, $12.99 for a half rack.

The wide menu also features nearly two dozen appetizers, salads, $3.50–$7.99; burgers, $6.99–$7.99; pasta, $9.99–$21.99; and side dishes, $3–$3.50. Appetizers, $5.99–$12.99, range from Buffalo style chicken tenders, smoked baby back ribs, and coconut shrimp to a combination platters with chicken tenders, hot wings, mozzarella sticks, and jalapeno poppers. Panini and wrap sandwiches are $8.99, grinders and other sandwiches, $5.99–$9.99. There is also a kids’ menu with meals that include soda and fries for $4.95.

According to Mr Silano, the best sellers are the smoked ribs, wings, and thin crust pizza, available in two sizes and with a full range of toppings.

Everything on the menu, including weekly specials, is available for takeout; Hot Shots offers free delivery as well.            

The main area has a long Z-shaped bar and a number of seating choices throughout — tables, bar tables, or banquettes as part of the crowd or in cozy corners — a proliferation of flat-screen television sets, 16 in all, ranging from 20 to 62 inches, and two pool tables. There is also a wraparound outdoor deck with 15 tables and tiki bar that is open in the warm weather and an upstairs room that can host private parties or serve as a second lounge with DJ. It seats about 50.

Music is part of the environment, with soft sounds during the dinner hour and bands and DJs later, depending on the time of year. Currently, the bar hosts two DJs on Tuesday night, one on Thursday, and DJs and karaoke on Friday and Saturday.

Hot Shots Grille is open for lunch at 11:30 am daily, except Monday when it opens at 3 pm. Happy hour in the bar is from 4 to 7 pm weekdays. The kitchen serves until 9 pm Sunday though Thursday, and until 10 on Friday and Saturday. Appetizers are available until 10 pm Sunday through Thursday, 11 pm on Friday and Saturday. The bar, is open until 2 am on weekends; 1 am during the week. All major credit cards accepted. For more information call 270-3373.