With 2007 winding down, brothers Keith and Ron Pudlowski quit secure but less than challenging jobs as campus police officers after deciding they were Good To Go.

And now they're really cooking.

"We knew we were taking a heck of a risk," said Keith Pudlowski, 52, of Forward, who with his brother has owned and operated Good To Go Restaurant and Catering in Finleyville since Jan. 21.

For the past nine months, the former Carnegie Mellon University officers have done much of the cooking and serving for customers who live or commute through the community that straddles Route 88 in Washington County.

Keith Pudlowski's wife, Margie, works by day at Bechtel Bettis in West Mifflin. On nights and weekends, she bakes stuffed cabbage, nut rolls, ethnic cookies, and other homey specialties at the restaurant.

"They don't necessarily need fancy. They want quality and value," said Mrs. Pudlowski, 49, of a neighborhood "walk-up" clientele that favors daily specials featuring homemade "city" chicken, meat loaf, and chicken parmesan.

"We know if we put the hard work in, it should fly," said Mrs. Pudlowski.

The brothers took the name for their eatery from a small take-out and catering business that briefly occupied the site on Marion Avenue, a largely residential street near Finleyville's compact business district.

They've been cooking since they were youngsters in Wilmerding, where they watched their late uncle Rocky Garafolo, an Italian chef, create his own sauces, appetizers, and soups.

While Ron Pudlowski, 43, of Belle Vernon, was content with cooking for pleasure, Keith Pudlowski longed to run his own establishment while he managed Wendy's and Old Country Buffet restaurants.

After 20 years, a bout of "serious burnout in the fast food business" led him to join the CMU police force, where he stayed for the next 12 years.

During that time, his longtime dream was nourished by guests he entertained at home who, while commenting on the homemade food he served, called catering his calling. When he learned of the Finleyville site, he and his wife were intrigued, he said.

"It was small enough we could afford, and large enough we could work out of," said Mrs. Pudlowski.

With three of their four children grown and living elsewhere, the timing finally was right to test their luck with their own business, Mrs. Pudlowski said.

"I told him, 'It's now or never. We're getting too old,'" she said.

Ron Pudlowski, who also worked for the CMU police force for 10 years, quit along with his brother and joined the new venture.

"I figured it was a good opportunity to work with family" he said.

Today, the brothers pride themselves on preparing entrees with fresh meat bought directly from a Finleyville butcher. Their customers also drive in from neighboring towns for the daily Big Boro breakfast and the Cod Father II fish sandwich on Fridays.

For Ron Pudlowski, finally running his own business has meant learning how to cater for large groups. For his brother, it's been about "trying to figure out what our customers want, and when they want it."

So far, they said, their catering jobs usually have spawned at least one other booking by a satisfied guest. The brothers also have added an outdoor covered deck with seating for 28-30 customers and plan to enclose it for the winter.

After nine months, any regrets?

"`If I had not done it, that's where the regrets would have come from," Keith Pudlowski said.

For more information, visit: mysite.verizon.net/vze7pa12/goodtogo, or call 724-348-8544.