Seating 80 patrons, serving a variety of dishes and scheduled to open by the end of the year, the sports-themed Just Pepe's will soon be Coral Bay's newest bar and grill.
"It's a middle-of-the-road restaurant with medium-priced affordable meals, appealing to both locals and tourists," said Pepe Brown, owner/manager of the new bistro.
Located along the South Shore Road, in the heart of Coral Bay, the new restaurant will also be serving Philly steaks, Reuben sandwiches, steak tips, an assortment of beers, and regular and frozen drinks.
"We will be specializing in Caribbean-style, fantastic-tasting chicken wings," Brown promised.
He said that with some tables and umbrellas set outside, there will also be seaside dining.
Planned to open in time for New Year's Eve, Just Pepe's will be open seven days a week and feature a sports ambiance. Brown, originally from Boston, vowed that Just Pepe's will be the "Caribbean home of the Red Sox."
"We will have four 27-inch televisions and great sports memorabilia," the owner said. Another appealing feature of the new venture is a 20-foot-long teak bar designed and built by master craftsman Stephen Schultz.
Brown is no neophyte in the restaurant business as he already owns Pepe's Sports Page Bar in West Palm Beach, Fla.
"I love the islands and its people and decided to try my hand at running a restaurant here," he said. "What better place than St. John and in Coral Bay."
In addition to the regular menu, Just Pepe's will be serving breakfast and a Sunday brunch.
Just Pepe's phone number is 776-6800.