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Sun City restaurant offers dining by the links

Putters Cafe in Sun City, which opened in March, offers more than a nice view.

The restaurant that overlooks the White Wing Golf Course in Sun City has two owners who said they are dedicated to interacting with their customers.

In fact, co-owners Cecilia Padilla and Darren Hendricks said that being personable sets their restaurant apart.

Were here 99.9 percent of the time, and were in contact with all of our customers, Hendricks said. Were active in the business; were with them.

Connecting with customers who visit Putters Cafe has been a hit among patrons, Hendricks said, and the two co-owners have agreed to maintain this principle.

We opened [six] months ago, and the first month [customers] would say, Wow, look at what theyre doing, because one of us is always here, Hendricks said. The community members are saying this is something they really like.

The customer service is not by chance, though. Hendricks previously owned and operated Dukes Smokehouse in Georgetown. After the restaurant closed in 2013, Hendricks and Padilla, a Dukes employee, decided to open a new business.

They won the bid on the space previously occupied by Cafe on the Green and considered several options while preparing the concept for their new restaurant.

We weighed heavily what Sun City needed, he said.

Both owners are open to feedback, Hendricks said. They take in and immediately get to work on whatever suggestions come their way.

If [customers] werent talking to us, wed know theyd given up, he said.

While the customer relations remain strong, it is undeniable that the view from the restaurant is a draw, he said.

Attached to the back of the restaurant is a large patio that opened July 10. The restaurant, which is near the ninth hole, overlooks the rolling, green hills of the course.

Were a lot more of a destination-style restaurant, Hendricks said. We have people drive from Florence and Leander.

Although the restaurant has a country clubstyle ambience, the menu is all comfort. Hendricks and Padilla prefer to work with the freshest ingredients to keep dishes healthier, they said.

Hendricks said he favors the onion rings, which are battered and fried upon ordering.

Customers, however, love the strawberry pecan salad, Padilla said. The spinach-based salad is topped with sliced strawberries, candied pecans and queso fresco ($8).

Other menu favorites are chicken-fried steak, grilled salmon and bourbon bread pudding, all of which are made in-house from scratch, she said.

The restaurant also offers chef specials throughout the week. Monday nights prime rib steaks are served. Liver and onions are the special of the day on Wednesdays, Thursdays the chef prepares pasta dishes and Friday fried catfish is available.

• Putters Cafe
• 150 Dove Hollow Trail
• 512-943-8730
• www.putters-suncity.com
• Hours: Mon. Sat. 7 a.m.8 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m.3 p.m.