Tarrant’s West can seat nearly 300 people total. (PHOTO: Michael Thompson)
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — Ted Santarella is ready to take on the restaurant chains in the West End.
The Richmond restaurateur is set to open Tarrant’s West at 11129 Three Chopt Road on Dec. 8. It’s Santarella’s third local restaurant in eight years, joining the original Tarrant’s Cafe and Max’s on Broad downtown.
“People tell me they don’t like going downtown or going out to chains,” Santarella said. “I really want to go against the chains. They don’t offer local fare that people want.”
Santarella, 57, spent $1.35 million to transform the old Grandpa Eddie’s Alabama Ribs & BBQ into Tarrant’s West. The 6,700-square-foot restaurant and bar can seat 236 and there’s room for another 60 outside.
Renovations on the property took 10 months and used financing from First Capital Bank. Jeremy Lehman led the construction, and Santarella designed the space himself.
The crystal chandeliers, landscape paintings, mosaic tile and tin roof at Tarrant’s West will be familiar to patrons of the original Tarrant’s. And the menu and postprandial mints are also the same as those in the downtown location.
Ted Santarella is opening a second Tarrant’s Cafe in the West End. (PHOTO: Michael Thompson)
“We make our living one plate at a time,” Santarella said. “The menu at Tarrant’s has proved to be popular.”
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