Steve Zombik, the head chef and co-owner of Sun Dried Tomato, never thought he would own, or want to own, a restaurant. Zombik had been an executive chef at hotels in New Hampshire, Boston, and Jamaica before moving to Peachtree City and serving as the executive chef at the Wyndham. His plan had been to keep moving up to bigger and bigger hotels but the desire to set down some roots proved stronger. After some time as the owner of Hangar 74, Zombik and his wife, Cindy, created Sun Dried Tomato and the rest, as they say is history.

Sun Dried Tomato, located on Dogwood Trail in Tyrone, is a very unique establishment. The decor can be described as Tuscan, but the menu is harder to nail down.

“Our restaurant features food that is American Continental with a European flare,” said Zombik, adding that the ambience, the food and the table-side cooking make it a unique restaurant. “You don’t see this kind of a restaurant too much anymore.”

Among the more popular items on the menu are the chateaubriand for two, which is center cut tenderloin of beef carved table side, the filet of beef Oscar and crabcakes. One item that has garnered more than a few fans and may have earned itself a permanent spot on the menu is the lobster ravioli. Zombik’s favorite item is the pan-seared scallops.

“I love seafood and the jumbo scallops is an excellent dish,” Zombik said.

Everything on the menu is appealing, but if you go to the Sun Dried Tomato be sure to save room for dessert. Among the highlights on the dessert menu are the tiramisu, the banana’s foster and the creme brulee’.

Another aspect of the restaurant that has been raved about by the customers is the level of service at Sun Dried Tomato. There are 35 employees at the restaurant and they all undergo extensive training to provide a first-class dining experience.

Zombik stated that word of mouth on his establishment had been terrific and added that the restaurant’s rave review in the F.C. Foodie column really jump-started things for the fledgling eatery.

In addition to their dinner menu, Sun Dried Tomato offers a lighter lunch menu and will return to offering a Sunday brunch this August. Thursday nights feature a live jazz combo playing in the lounge and Zombik stated the entertainment has brought in a lot of people so far. The restaurant also offers special meals every few months that patrons can get more information on by signing up to be on their mailing list.

Sun Dried Tomato is a romantic spot and Zombik has seen many people return to celebrate special occasions, such as engagements or anniversaries, but he stresses that the restaurant is a good place to visit anytime.

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