Sean Frye prioritizes innovation, affordability for new Tupps Brewery restaurant

After completing an 18-month intensive culinary degree program, Frye landed a spot working at chef Kent Rathbun’s Plano restaurant, Jasper’s. Frye later launched his own catering business in 2012.

Keith Lewis, president of Tupps Brewery, contacted Frye to join the Tupps team following the closure of his catering company in 2019.

“Tupps [Brewery] has been pretty influential in McKinney, just with their variety of flavors, and how often they come up with new tastes,” Frye said. “I want to make food the same way.”

Frye is looking to create affordable, innovative menu items for the menu at Tupps, he said. The menu will feature homemade snack items starting at $2, he said.

Frye also plans to incorporate Tupps’ beers into the menu items, including in the Full Grown Man burger, a short rib brisket beef burger with a stout bacon jam and Boursin cheese. Other items on the menu include loaded fries, tacos, sandwiches, shareable grazing boards and more.

“You have to know the science behind the food in order to get it to where you want,” Frye said. “I can close my eyes and I can think of tastes and flavors, and I know how they're going to come together.”

The new venue’s total occupancy will surpass 2,000, Frye said, posing a challenge for traditional restaurant service. Instead, the Tupps team plans to rely on a technology-driven method for ordering.

“Imagine a beautiful spring day, 2 o'clock in the afternoon, to have 2,000 people out there. It's virtually impossible for any restaurant to be able to serve food or beverage in a timely manner,” Frye said.

Guests will be able to order food digitally using QR codes, while also gaining access to an immersive online menu, Frye said. The food will be served both in the restaurant and around the site by food runners, rather than traditional servers. The venue will also have three bars operating on the weekends, Frye said.

“I always tell everyone I'm not arrogant, I'm confident,” Frye said. “I know what I have to offer, and I know that I'm the one that can only take on this because it's so massive.”