Clematis' Forte to Be Replaced by Duffy's

It's a long way from the wannabe avant garde cooking of former Top Chef contestant Stephen Asprinio to standard-issue Italian to burgers and ESPN, but that's the journey of the spot at 225 Clematis St., which morphed from Forte di Asprinio to Forte (minus Asprinio) to -- coming April 1...

By Bill Citara

February 14, 2011

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It's a long way from the wannabe avant garde cooking of former Top Chef contestant Stephen Asprinio to standard-issue Italian to burgers and ESPN, but that's the journey of the spot at 225 Clematis St., which morphed from Forte di Asprinio to Forte (minus Asprinio) to -- coming April 1 -- Duffy's Sports Grill.

The 23rd local Duffy's will feature the chain's trademark profusion of

TVs (a reported 70) and multisports theme décor, seating for more than

250 inside and out, a roster of daily specials, and delivery.

The

menu veers between sports fan's wet dream and vaguely white-tablecloth

restaurant, with loaded potato skins, half-pound burgers, and a variety

of wings sharing space with Baja-style fish tacos, skirt steak with

chimichurri, and warm goat cheese and baby greens salad.

It seems an odd fit for increasingly upscale Clematis, but there you have it.

Follow Clean Plate Charlie on Facebook and on Twitter: @CleanPlateBPB.

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