Pictured: The Thanksgiving Pumpkin table at Mean Deans. Photo courtesy of Mean Deans.

Mean Deans Local Kitchen is bringing folks together during the holiday season, ensuring that no one has to dine alone.

The restaurant was founded in November 2020 by Dean Donnelly and Michele Angell, a husband-and-wife team with deep roots in the industry. Dean’s experience lies in both corporate and independent dining establishments. Before opening Mean Deans, Dean worked at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and co-owned Cedar Reef Fish Camp in Bradenton and Venice. His career also includes stints at Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Johnny Leverock’s, and the Rainforest Café, among others. Michele, originally from upstate New York, moved to Florida in 2003 and met Dean at Johnny Leverock’s. She has worked in all front-of-house roles, including at Sammy Frog’s and Rainforest Café. In 2015, Michele earned her pilot certificates while co-owning Cedar Reef Fish Camp with Dean.

The challenges of the pandemic led Dean and Michele to reassess their priorities. They decided to open Mean Deans Local Kitchen as a place to build community and create lasting memories with family and friends. With help from Michele’s stepfather Floyd “Bubba” Edler, they transformed a vacant space into a warm, welcoming restaurant.

When Bubba sadly passed, Michele worried for her mom who would be alone when dining out. Last year at Thanksgiving time, a woman called the restaurant and said she was dining alone for Thanksgiving. Michele had a thought and said to the caller, “My mom is dining alone too, why don’t you join her?” Before long, a communal table was started at the restaurant. It became a place for widows, singles, and others who are alone during the holidays to gather, share a meal, make new friends and celebrate in good company

For Thanksgiving, single diners were told to call and reserve a table under the name “Pumpkin.” Now, on every major holiday, Mean Deans Local Kitchen hosts a special table for those spending the holidays alone for whatever reason. For reservations for their “Santa” table for dining on Christmas Day or for more information on holiday dining visit MeanDeansLocalKitchen.com or call 941-251-5435.

Pictured: The Thanksgiving Pumpkin table at Mean Deans. Photo courtesy of Mean Deans.