Trail Blog
September 08, 2010
Drago’s Seafood Restaurant owner Tommy Cvitanovich’s - refurbished 1970s fire truck
“Every boy growing up has to have a truck, right?” says Tommy Cvitanovich. “I’m still a little boy.”
But his is no ordinary truck. Cvitanovich’s truck is surely the envy of every football-lovin’ boy, girl, man, and woman in the country. The owner of Drago’s Seafood Restaurant, known for their incredible charbroiled oysters, purchased an old Terrytown, Louisiana, fire truck at auction for $2,900. He’s now spent more than $60,000 turning the red engine into a tailgater’s dream come true. “I knew I wanted something unique to cook our oysters off of, something with smoke, fire and sizzle. A fire truck seemed natural,” he says.
The truck is outfitted with beer and soft drink taps, two 45-inch televisions, a sound system and grill. It’s also got room for a Jägermeister machine, and Cvitanovich says it’s still a work in progress. The engine debuted at a New Orleans Saints playoff game last year and even made a trip to Miami to appear at Saints owner Tom Benson’s Super Bowl tailgate. The truck has appeared at parades, golf tournaments and football games in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans area. This year, Cvitanovich will be back tailgating with the Saints and has plans to take the truck to LSU Tiger games too. Oh, and should you spot it at any Christian Brothers School or Lakeview Playground football games this fall, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. Cvitanovich says he’ll use it at his sons’ games this season.
You can keep up with the truck and Cvitanovich’s tailgates by checking out his website (www.dragosrestaurant.com). He plans to post pictures on the site sometime after the Saints’ first regular season game on September 9. Though the truck is primarily used as a private tailgate for his family and friends, Cvitanovich will dedicate the truck to be used for a New Orleans Fire Department fundraiser scheduled for a handful of Saints games this fall.
Don’t forget, too, to stop by Drago’s locations in Metairie and New Orleans and order up some of their oysters. Drago’s, like many Louisiana restaurants, has been affected by the BP oil spill. But it’s survived the spill with minimal changes to employees and, more importantly, the restaurant never raised its prices to the public. Instead, the company absorbed the extra fees. Be sure to show your love for Louisiana restaurants and Louisiana seafood as you plan your tailgates this fall.
