(Photo by Tim Leininger/Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.)
Since reopening on April 1 after months of renovations, The Hollow has seen “a lot of new traffic, especially from the community who come in just to dine,” as well as a pickup in group events that “is just short of astounding,” says Food and Beverage Operator Randy McNamara. Nearly half of the daily customers are women, McNamara adds, confirming the success of a redesign that emphasized natural lighting and a new atmosphere for the “everyday golf course pub” that he says “was designed with women in mind [and recognizing] the need to represent that demographic.”
After months of renovations (https://clubandresortbusiness.com/manchester-conn-cc-renovates-clubhouse-revamps-dining/) Manchester (Conn.) Country Club, opened the doors of its rebranded restaurant, The Hollow, on April 1, offering an upgraded setting and elevated menu for not only golfers, but casual diners as well, the Journal Inquirer of Manchester reported.
According to Randy McNamara, the restaurant’s food and beverage operator, the reception from the community as well as the country club’s members since the reopening has been good, the Journal Inquirer reported.
“We’ve seen a lot of new traffic, especially from the community who come in just to dine,” McNamara said. “Upstairs is an elegant, but approachable, group dining experience, and downstairs is an everyday golf course pub.”
And group events have been in abundance at The Hollow since its reopening, McNamara added.
“The number of events is just short of astounding,” he said, “because everyone is catching up from being closed for a year. We had to hire [an event coordinator] just to handle that.”
The Hollow offers two indoor banquet spaces and one outdoor tented space that accommodates 60 to about 175 people, McNamara told the Journal Inquirer.
Almost any event is welcome, including birthdays, weddings, funerals, bar and bat mitzvahs, and retirements, with both buffets and plated meals offered, Event Director Lisa Baehre told the Journal Inquirer. “We have a lot of teacher retirement parties this time of year,” she noted. “
The concept of the “everyday golf course pub” has evolved over the decades, the Journal Inquirer reported. Gone is the dimly lit, wood-paneled, smoke-filled stereotypical men’s club of the past. The Hollow is bright, with plenty of natural lighting and atmosphere.
“Our female guests are 45-50% of our daily customers, and we designed a lot of this with women in mind,” McNamara said. “We recognize the need to represent that demographic.”
The menu also represents a more diverse collection of items than a hamburger and a hot dog, the Journal Inquirerreported, with five salads, six sandwiches and wraps, four pasta dishes, and a variety of appetizers.
With Chef Corey Wry, who once ran Corey’s Catsup and Mustard on Manchester’s Main Street, now leading the kitchen, there are still going to be hamburgers, too, but they have his distinct touch, the Journal Inquirer reported.
The five burgers on the menu are named after the four Grand Slams of the PGA Tour: The Masters, The US Open, The Brit, and the PGA, with the fifth burger—a turkey burger—named after what McNamara considers the unofficial fifth Grand Slam tournament, the Players Championship.
The burgers are served on an “everything” pretzel bun and are also available on a gluten-free bun for an additional $3, or as an “Impossible” burger for an additional $2, , the Journal Inquirer reported.
Wry creates specials for the menu as well, McNamara said, including a shrimp-and- crab salad and twin-loaded hot dogs with chili and cheese.
Manchester CC’s cocktail menu offers its own menagerie of clever beverages, the Journal Inquirer reported. Created by Matti Harrington, The Hollow’s General Manager, it offers drinks such as The King, aka “Mr. Palmer’s Mule,” made with Deep Eddy’s Sweet Tea Vodka, a splash of lemonade, ginger beer, and a squeeze of lemon; and The Angry Gilmore, made with Fireball whiskey with lemonade, a splash of grenadine, and a cherry on top.
“I think they did a beautiful job,” William Troy of Manchester, who has been a member of the club for 10 years, told the Journal Inquirer. “They upgraded the facility tremendously. I stop by every day.”
Troy said his favorite dishes include the Friars Club Wrap with roasted turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo in a whole-wheat wrap; the New York Strip Steak; and the Fancy Smancy Bacon and Eggs, with smoked pork belly, deviled eggs, and honey-maple glaze.
David Shapard of Manchester said he loves the upgrades as well and couldn’t determine his favorite dish, the Journal Inquirer reported. “It’s really well prepared,” he said. “To narrow it down would be unfair.”
First-time visitors, Shapard suggested, should try the shrimp cocktail, the sliders, the Brussels sprouts, or one of the burgers. “The [potato] chips are not to be underestimated,” he added. “They’re made in-house.”
Clare Miller of Manchester told the Journal Inquirer that she was happy to have The Hollow back open. “It’s comfortable,” she said. “I’ve been here since it opened. It’s bright, open, and Corey is a great chef. I love the Brussels sprouts. The other thing was the Fancy Smancy Bacon and Eggs. Everything is fresh.”
Terry Frolich of Manchester, whose favorite dish is Geno’s Philly Cheesesteak, agreed with Shapard and Miller, with whom he was dining, the Journal Inquirer reported.
“It’s fresh, clean, the food is good, the help is very nice, and the service is really good, and it’s very reasonable priced.”
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