Restaurants Gain Further Approvals

The table is set for two Upper St. Clair restaurants, thanks to township commissioners.

On Monday, they gave final approval to an and adopted a resolution for the transfer of a liquor license in preparation for a new restaurant to the area, Bonefish Grill.

For Rodney and Tammy Ardolino, the approval means they can shift their attention from municipal matters to building a 1,600-foot restaurant to the rear of their existing building off Boyce Road.

“We’re really done here,” a visibly relieved Tammy said, half-questioningly, after the commissioners’ vote. She and her husband aren’t quite sure about an opening date at the moment.

“We’re making our way there,” Rodney said. “We’re going to get there.”

For Bonefish Grill, which is being built on a South Hills Village outparcel near the under-construction Target and Dick’s Sporting Goods, the restaurant could be ready in time for the holiday rush.

Mark Kozar, an attorney representing Bonefish parent company OSI Restaurant Partners Inc. for the liquor license transfer, told commissioners an opening is planned for November. .

“This will be the first bf grill in Western Pennsylvania,” Kozar said. “Currently, the closest one is soon to be opened in the Harrisburg area.”

The restaurant will have indoor seating for 184, with 34 additional patio seats. It will employ about 65 to 80 full- and part-time workers.

“Alcohol is served as a complement of food at Bonefish Grill and not as the main attraction,” said Kozar. “Alcohol is served in all Bonefish Grills, which makes it a consistent national product.”

OSI operates 152 Bonefish Grills nationally. The corporation also owns Outback Steakhouse.

For locally owned Ardolino’s, the new restaurant will be accessed by Maple Lane, a private drive off Boyce. Plans call for improvements to Maple and for increased parking at the site. The current access road will be widened.

The Ardolinos hope to lease the existing building for a complementary use, and they plan to host acoustic music performances on the patio of the new structure.

“That’s part of our development, a nice little venue for music,” Rodney said.