Feature Story and Photos by Larry H. Oskin, South Lake Tablet
After long delays from the Covid pandemic, Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ of Clermont celebrated its official ribbon cutting with the South Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ of Clermont is an award-winning casual dining restaurant worthy of your flavorful desires and tasteful pleasures. Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ has a very proven first location in nearby Ocoee. She had opened other very successful food service locations in Disney and the Orange County Convention Center. When the Covid pandemic hit, Korbin faced a major unfortunate downturn going from 92 to 12 employees. With all of the big challenges at hand, she took the risk to open again in Clermont. She hired back some of her former employees and provided new employment for others.
Owner Ellen Korbin originally bought the Clermont land in 2005 to build the Café Boquett Restaurant featuring gourmet foods and coffees from around the world in this very same location. With the changing economy, she had no choice but to sell the building and close her restaurant. She teased the new owners not to remove the special walk-in cooler, the cooking hood and vent system in case they could ever come back. When the building eventually came back up for sale, Korbin jumped at the opportunity to come back with her new brews and barbecue restaurant concept.
Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ i best known for their tasty Saint Louis Style Ribs. Their Specialty Sandwiches, Chopped BBQ Dishes, Family Fixins’ and their wonderful side dishes. Everything is made completely from scratch with fresh high-quality foods and their very own recipes. Ellie’s Favorites include a delicious Loaded Baker, BBQ Cobb Salad and Pit Boss Nachos. The 3-cheese mac n’ cheese is really delicious! Their made from scratch Signature BBQ Sauces include Kansas City Sweet, Memphis, Carolina Gold and Southern Lava. Their Lil’ Rascal’s Menu is available for children. There’s plenty more choices on their a la carte menu. It’s worth trying all three of their different brisket, turkey and pork barbecue sandwiches with all of their sauces. The turkey, brisket, pork and meats are all very tender and moist with layered flavors.
The Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ restaurant name came from her childhood. Korbin’s father used to fondly call her ‘Ellie Lou’ to remind her of her true southern roots. She was born in Mississippi and he was a ‘Yankee’. Ellen Korbin shares, “We believe that you must start with a high-quality food product and customized restaurant services. We use the best fresh high-quality ingredients that are consistent with our BBQ methods. We really don’t take shortcuts. All of our meats and sauces are gluten-free as are some of our side dishes and desserts. We offer a vegan option called ‘Oumph’. It is a shredded soy protein product that we season with our Kansas City BBQ Sauce. Oumph has a taste and texture similar to chicken. We serve Coke products and craft beers mainly from here in Florida.”
Ellen Korbin is originally from Meridian, Mississippi. She grew up in Virginia. Her mom was a terrific cook and her father had a law degree. With a self-described ‘blessed life’, she has always taken on many entrepreneurial risks, challenges and opportunities with endless optimism. Korbin has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and a Master’s Degree in Psychology. She loves to help inspire others to become successfully self-sufficient and pleased with themselves. She shares that she has loved all of her career experiences.
Chef Dennis Cheplick: In 2010, Chef and Pit Boss Dennis Cheplick joined their team as Executive Chef creating new menus for all of their food service locations. He became the true inspiration for starting to expand with their new barbecue recipes, menus, made from scratch sauces, rubs and side dishes. Chef Dennis is a Suma Cum Laude graduate of the prestigious Johnson & Wales University. He helped run Chef’s Table Delicatessen, a family-style restaurant business in Clermont for 8 years. He was formerly a very respected chef for Walt Disney World from 1989 to 2010. He notes his pride from working for so many years as a partner with Ellen Korbin and their entire team. His business card says, “I rub the butts!”
Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ Parties, Events & Specialty Catering Services: Supervised by
Catering Manager David Petrek, they have experience catering small family and business events to larger anniversaries, birthdays, weddings and much more with full-service buffets. They have successfully catered for thousands of people with large Southwest Airlines, Disney and Amazon events. They actively work with numerous local community groups and organizations on fundraisers and catering projects. They support our community while working with the South Lake Chamber of Commerce, First Responders and Clermont Schools as a Partner in Education. General Manager Jeff Wojciechowicz – ‘wrangles the herd’ for all locations.
Ellie’s Extras: Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ of Clermont is open 7 days a week! They are open Sundays to Thursdays from 11 AM to 8 PM as well as Fridays and Saturdays from 11 AM to 9 PM. Try them for Happy Hour all day long on Monday through Tuesday and from 3 to 6 PM on Wednesday through Friday. They offer convenient take-out, pick-up and delivery services. They offer gift cards and have a Loyalty Rewards Program. They will soon bring back Tap Takeovers every month, like a mini beer festival. Their family-friendly service, style and décor are simple, comfortable and fun with humorous signs that will always make you smile.
Ellie Lou’s has been repeatedly awarded ‘Best Barbecue’ by the Winter Garden Rants & Raves for 5 years, as ‘Best Entrée’ by Taste of South Lake and for Restaurant Excellence by Trip Advisor. Korbin shares, “Stay tuned! Some exciting fun new foods and offerings are coming soon with new products and new equipment!” Plus, plans are now underway to open a third Orlando area location in Flamingo Crossing later this year.”
Ellie Lou’s BBQ Clermont is located at 1391 Citrus Tower Boulevard near Highway 50 in Clermont, FL 34711. Phone: 352-708-6095. Their first location is at 336 Moore Road in Ocoee, FL 34761, phone: 407-347-9515. Email: Catering@EllieLous.com. Visit: www.EllieLous.com. Like and follow them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/EllieLousClermont/
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