A new restaurant and bar is about to make a sizzling impression on Five Points.
The restaurant in question, Sizzle, revolves its food and drink menu around one key ingredient: bacon. Co-owners Matt Canyes and Chef Gary Uwanawich came up with the idea after Canyes graduated from Florida Atlantic Unversity in Boca Raton, Florida and returned to South Carolina, wanting a break from Florida and to return to his home state. The two had met through church, and during the past Christmas season they realized they could help each other meet their goals.
“I kind of wanted to own more of a bar, and Gary wanted to own more of a restaurant, so we put the two together and that’s how it came to pass.” Canyes said.
Although Sizzle is located in Five Points, Canyes wants to be careful about the crowd that his bar will bring. Sizzle will try to keep all their shot prices at around the same price, and will eventually add in a pint night or pitcher special, but Canyes wants to veer away from the dollar-liquor crowd.
“We do want a college crowd, just not the rowdy, you know, crazy people,” Canyes said.
Sizzle will offer other great deals that both college students and business professionals alike will be drawn to; they will have two bacon happy hours, one from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the other from 12 a.m. to 1 a.m. During this time, buckets of bacon will be placed at each table and all down the bar for customers to enjoy with their meal. They will also be playing multiple NFL football games on each of their TVs on Sundays so that fans can have a place to watch their favorite teams play. Canyes wants to do this because he admits that there aren’t too many places around Columbia to be able to watch NFL games as opposed to SEC games or other college games, which are readily available at most bars. The menu is still evolving and changing as well, as Canyes and Uwanawich figure out what their customers love and what they would like to see more of; eventually Canyes wants their Sunday activities to include a brunch menu.
While bacon may seem non-inclusive, Canyes makes sure to note that Sizzle carries veggie bacon, turkey bacon, veggie burgers and a turkey burger. They also offer salads and sandwiches without bacon in it so those that don’t eat meat don’t feel excluded.
For a restaurant that offers a shot called the Maple Baconator (maple syrup, Canadian 357 maple whiskey and a piece of bacon), bacon margaritas and Canyes’s personal favorite menu item, the Tearjerker Burger (diced jalapenos mixed into the burger meat, pepper jack cheese, Sriracha sauce, and bacon encrusted sides), Sizzle looks like it has an exciting future ahead of them. After all, as Canyes admits, “Everybody loves bacon, so why not create a bacon-themed restaurant?”
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