Cricket icon Brian Lara officially launched his new restaurant, 277, at the Millennium Golf Course, Sunrise Loop Road in Trincity, on November 15, marking a new chapter in his post-cricket career. The opening, which saw a large turnout of specially invited guests, featured an elegant all-white dress code and highlighted Lara’s transition from sports legend to author to entrepreneur.
277 is named in honour of Lara’s historic 277-run innings against Australia in 1999, a moment Lara said remains one of the defining achievements of his illustrious career. The restaurant is co-owned by Lara and his friend and business partner, Shane Sagar, and aims to offer a unique dining experience that reflects Lara’s commitment to excellence both on and off the field.
In his speech, Lara recounted a humorous anecdote from his early cricket days, recalling the time when legendary West Indies batsman Sir Desmond Haynes had warned him against ordering duck before a match, a duck in cricket means zero runs. “I looked at the menu and ordered crispy duck in pancakes. Desmond looked at me and said, “Man, you can’t order duck, and we’re batting tomorrow.” Lara then shared how, despite Haynes’ playful advice, the next day Desmond went out to bat and he only got to 23 runs. “He got out and whilst I was walking in, he said, “Good luck with that duck you had last night,” Lara said.
Lara also spoke about his partnership with Shane Sagar, comparing it to his cricketing partnership with Guyanese cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul. “In cricket, every inning requires a solid partner. And my Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the restaurant business is Shane Sagar,” Lara said.
Explaining the vision behind 277, Lara described it as a blend of passion and ambition. He also reflected on the significance of the restaurant’s name. “For me, this is an adventure. I like to influence and change the landscape of things, and opening this restaurant is an opportunity to do that. Why 277? Because that was the first time I truly believed in myself. It was the moment I gained confidence and developed the identity I wanted in cricket. So, when it came time to open something for the first time, it had to represent those characteristics,” Lara said.
Lara said the 277 restaurant, which offers a mix of international and local cuisine, is designed to make guests feel like part of a family. He said guests should want to return. “When you come here, I want you to feel at home. I want you to leave with a smile on your face,” he added.
Lara said he is proud of his team of local and international chefs and staff, including a pastry chef from India and the restaurant’s English head chef. He also praised his staff, telling them, “I want you to make sure our patrons love everything we do and keep coming back.”
Lara’s long-time friend, Sir Desmond Haynes, also attended the event. He expressed his pride in his friend’s new venture. “I’m here to support Brian. I was there when he made that 277, and now I’m here for this exciting new chapter.”
In an interview with the Express at the restaurant launch, 277’s co-owner, Sagar, said having been close friends with Lara for seven years, he was the first person to come to mind when he began thinking about opening the restaurant. “Brian was my immediate choice. We have been friends for years, and I knew he would be the perfect partner for this venture,” Sagar explained.
Sagar, who has a deep passion for cooking and food, revealed that this is his first foray into the restaurant business. “I’ve always loved food, and the opportunity to bring this vision to life alongside Brian is something I’m excited about,” Sagar said.
Sagar said the journey from concept to completion was not a lengthy one. “We started construction in late January, and it took us about ten months to get to where we are now. It’s been a challenging but rewarding process,” he said.
Sagar also shared his excitement about the restaurant’s culinary offerings: “I want people to be wowed about their experience. The menu is international with a local twist. We’ve worked hard to incorporate as many local ingredients as possible,” he said.
He also took a moment to reflect on the importance of honouring the contributions of local icons like Lara, Dwight Yorke, and Russell Latapy. “I think the contribution these individuals have made to the country is often underrated. When you tell people about Trinidad and Tobago, they think of Brian Lara, Dwight Yorke, and Russell Latapy. But we don’t always pay enough homage to these figures. They’ve put us on the map globally,” Sagar remarked.
Sunday Express
