David L. Trent practically grew up behind the counter, learning about restaurants as a teenager working at his uncle's sports bar in Newport News, Virginia. It was located in a Navy shipyard, and sailors and other sailors frequented the sports bar.
“I really value comfort foods,” Trent said. “I want it to be something you can eat every day. I want it to be a place where you can feel free to come and have fun. Every day, 40 or 50 people gather and want to have a good time. It was a lifelong vision.”
He carried on the culinary tradition inherited from his father, who was a chef and taught him everything he knows about cooking.
He carried this knowledge with him throughout his career managing a series of restaurants, eventually landing on Dave T's, which will serve burgers, wings, seafood, salads and desserts starting in October 2023. He has already built a welcoming community.
The restaurant community is mostly retired veterans and gentle older folks who ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. On Fridays and Saturdays, the restaurant is packed with rows of Harleys parked in front of it.
Some of his customers were left over from previous restaurants, and his personality was so evident that regulars called each restaurant “Dave's” rather than its official name. Dave T is no exception, and this was born out of his past experiences.
He is the former owner of Dave's American Bar & Grill, located off Sebring Parkway until 2022, and said the new restaurant, located in the former L&M Grocery in Sebring, will have a better location to get closer to customers. He commented that it was structured. He continued that his previous bar and grill was too large and required extra effort to maintain, which took away from the cozy atmosphere he had chosen.
Trent has stuck to the same menu for 20 years, perfecting the recipes for traditional American comfort food, but adding his own twists in the kitchen with a variety of seasonings to make the dishes pop. Popular menu items include wings, burgers, Philadelphia cheesesteaks, and Boom His Boom His shrimp.
“My customers all know me and know that I cook and that I put a lot of care into my food,” Trent said. “They know that my goal is to make them happy and comfortable and feel at home. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure they're happy and do it.” That's what I do. If you do those things, business will naturally be created.”
Dave T's can be described as customer-centric, not only because of its approach to customers, but also because of the variety of food options. He wants to prepare the food exactly the way the customer wants, down to the last detail, with the goal of complete customer satisfaction.
“Just keep being a good person. Usually if you're a good person with good service and you treat people right, your business will grow,” Trent said. “This is the culmination of years of serving people. I think now we're finally starting to grow into who we are and what we do. It's great. .”
The bar features musical entertainment, a pool table, and 6 televisions.
Dave T's is located at 1411 Roseland Ave. in Sebring. Business hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. For more information, call 863-664-2047.