Restaurant is More Upscale, Full-Service Version of Legacy Brand, Ponderosa Steakhouse
Homestyle Dining LLC, which owns, operates and franchises family-focused restaurants offering the best, affordable steakhouse dining concepts throughout the United States and internationally under the Ponderosa Steakhouse, Bonanza Steak & BBQ and Bo’s Steak & Grill brands, today announced that longtime franchisee, The Sterling Group, has opened the first Ponderosa Grill in Dubai. Ponderosa Grill is a more upscale, full-service version of Homestyle Dining’s legacy brand, Ponderosa Steakhouse. This is the fourth Ponderosa location in Dubai and the eighth in the United Arab Emirates.
The new Ponderosa Grill, which is located in the Jumeriah-3 area of Dubai, features menu enhancements and design upgrades that were introduced in late 2013 as part of brand refresh and culinary revitalization of the Ponderosa Steakhouse brand, which turns 50 years young this year. To date, more than 50 percent of the 150 Ponderosa Steakhouse restaurants in the United States have undergone the refresh, which includes expanded menu offerings on the food bar and across the entire entrée line-up, including more healthy options, plus enhanced interiors to appeal to a younger demographic.
The menu at the new Ponderosa Grill in Dubai incorporates many favorites found in the U.S.-based locations but also features food items indigenous to the region, such as Halal Beef and regional favorites such as Taboulah, Muthable, Fathoush, Khubbuse and Ummali.
“Our new Ponderosa Grill brand in Dubai is a more upscale extension of our legacy brand, Ponderosa Steakhouse, and represents our intention to evolve our brands to reflect both our guests’ changing desires and geographical preferences,” said Tom Sacco, president and CEO, Homestyle Dining LLC. “John Mathews and The Sterling Group of Companies based in Qatar were Ponderosa’s International Franchise Operator of the Year for 2014, and as valued longtime franchisee partners, we welcome the opportunity to work with them on this debut in Dubai, and as they prepare to open the world’s largest Ponderosa Steakhouse in Doha later this year.”
According to Mathews, the world’s largest Ponderosa will open in the third quarter of 2015 and will seat 675 guests. “Our guests and neighbors throughout the Middle East have embraced the Ponderosa brand since we opened our first location in 1998. We are delighted to introduce the new Ponderosa Grill in Dubai and are working hard to prepare for the opening of the grandest Ponderosa Steakhouse yet in Doha.”
Plano, Texas-based Homestyle Dining LLC owns, operates and franchises family-focused restaurants throughout the United States and internationally under the Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse brands. Guests enjoy flame-grilled steaks and entrees along with a high-quality buffet featuring an endless selection of salads, soups, appetizers, vegetables, and desserts at affordable prices. Homestyle Dining recently introduced Bo’s Steak & Grill, the first, fresh-casual American steakhouse restaurant concept that offers its guests a truly unique experience around a rich, flavorful and creative menu at fast casual pricing in an eclectic, comfortable environment where guests order at the counter yet receive a full-service dining experience at their table. The first Bo’s Steak & Grill opened in Lindale, Tex., in May 2014, with plans to open up to 250 restaurants in the next five years.