Zephyrhills hot sauce manufacturer Rhino Smash Sauce Co. is preparing to open a new restaurant serving up soups and sandwiches in the brand’s home location, at 4821 Allen Road.
“We are excited to announce that soon we will be opening a sandwich and soup shop named The Savory Rhino!” says a recent Instagram post from the company. “Dont worry, our hot sauce business isn’t going anywhere-we are just adding more deliciousness to our menu!”
Owner Matthew Zambrana discussed plans for the restaurant with What Now on Monday, November 20.
“I want the food to be made with love,” said Zambrana. “So we want to do everything with the highest quality we can.”
To that end, the Savory Rhino will be slicing up Boar’s Head meats in-house and serving up soups made from scratch right there in the restaurant. Guests will order from a menu of soups, sandwiches, and sides, complementing their order with one of Rhino Smash Sauce Co.’s famous hot sauces. Adding to the fun, new sauces under development will be taste-tested in the restaurant, which Zambrana envisions as a familiar local take-out place with three tables, offering seating for about 12 guests.
“A lot of people in this area really love the mom-and-pop aspect,” Zambrana said. “They seem to do really well here, and I’m hoping that’s something we can provide.”
In keeping with the mom-and-pop-shop approach, the menu will feature a number of family-heirloom recipes, including a meatball sub served with a meat sauce whose recipe was passed down from Zambrana’s grandmother.
You can keep up with more exciting news from this growing local business by following @rhino_smash_sauce_co on Instagram.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated following a conversation with owner Matthew Zambrana.
