More than a dozen new local restaurants have opened

Now here’s a juicy tidbit of local restaurants news I didn’t expect.

Coco's Kitchen + Cafe on Hale Street

Last week’s ode to the fabulous 1010 Bridge Restaurant shined a bright light on just one of many new restaurants, or additional restaurant locations, that have actually opened – not closed – during this extended corona-crisis.

Which is pretty remarkable, when you think about it, given the fact that this is one of the scariest and most economically uncertain times to own and operate any kind of business in the service industry. That’s especially true for locally owned restaurants, which often struggle to keep the lights on even during the most robust of times.

Pork Wings from The Pitch

So please join me in sending major kudos to all the hard-working entrepreneurs out there who are either jumping into new ventures, or digging in to save current ones, no matter how seemingly insurmountable the odds.

We salute you. We love you. And I, for one, will support you!

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I was recently talking to a friend about my favorite restaurants around town, when I casually mentioned how surprised I was that so many new ones were opening – and not, as you might expect, closing – amid such tumultuous times.

“There are new restaurants actually opening during all this,” he asked? Absolutely.

• Coco’s Kitchen + Café is killing it on Hale Street downtown, offering fresh and healthy breakfasts and lunches. I’ve been several times and will soon be sharing a review dripping with my love for this place. in the old Merrill’s Photo location. (233 Hale Street in Charleston, 304-343-6420)

• Carnival Eats has just opened at Riverwalk Plaza in South Charleston, serving a glorious assortment of deep-fried festival fare you’d find at, well, the local fair. We’re talking funnel cakes, corn dogs, chili dogs, twisted fries, nachos, gyros, deep-fried Oreos and so, so much more. (16 Riverwalk Plaza in South Charleston, 304-746-9511)
  

• At the Shawnee Sports Complex near Institute, The Pitch is drawing ginormous crowds and raves for good quality pub grub in the renovated golf clubhouse there. (2947 Fairlawn Ave. in Dunbar, 304-205-4017)

• St. Albans has welcomed Stacked Shake & Sandwich, a new over-the-top ice cream and Dagwood sandwich-style lunch spot right on the plaza downtown. Have you seen some of the crazy social photos about the treats at this place? (78 Olde Main Plaza in St. Albans, 304-721-8055)

It's a Flaming Drink! From The BARk.

Mediterranean Breeze appears to be killing it with great food, views and reviews along the riverfront not far off the St. Albans exit of I-64. This one is high on my hit list, for sure! (2678 Winfield Rd. in St. Albans, 304-769-8774)

• I’m also hearing good things about Island Rhythm Jamaican Cuisine & Catering, which has opened in the old Sugar Pie Bakery location on MacCorkle Avenue in Kanawha City. (3624 MacCorkle Ave. SE in Kanawha City, 681-205-8214)

• A little further east, the WV Anchor has once again resurrected itself under new owners, offering many of the same (people say) recipes from the longtime original location in Kanawha City, including that famous Tomato Pie. Early reviews of the latest incarnation have been really positive. (3315 Kanawha Blvd. E. past Kanawha City, 681-205-8301)
  

• Hibachi Express has opened next to Main Kwong, bringing more Asian fare to Charleston’s East End. (1401 Washington St. E. in Charleston, 304-343-8338)

• The new Zeganz Smoothie Shop is gaining fans with healthy smoothies and juices served in Charleston’s East End. (1588 Washington St. E. in Charleston, 304-343-7111)

• As you read in the Sunday Gazette-Mail over the weekend, Charleston’s first “dog bar,” The BARk, has opened in the old Lee Street Deli location next to the Clay Center, serving swanky cocktails and a few appetizers on a street-side deck, inside the redecorated lounge or in its backyard puppy playground oasis. Pro Tip: I’ve been there with friends – and my sweet Stella pup – and it’s AH-MAZING! (1109 Lee St. E. in Charleston, 304-421-4364)

• And while it’s not a new restaurant, per se, Chili’s at Charleston Town Center has partnered with Door Dash (love it or leave it) to offer discount delivery of It’s Just Wings, serving a variety of wings and sauces that really are getting a lot of love.

Other restaurants have, remarkably, even expanded space or added locations during COVID.

• The former East End café and catering company Nosh has moved into a larger location inside the old Sahara Restaurant on Summers Street downtown. (189 Summers St. in Charleston, 304-346-6674)

• As I reported several weeks ago, King Kabab has opened a second location in Kanawha City and is already looking for a third spot in Cross Lanes or Teays Valley.

• Cali Tacos of Nitro, formerly in St. Albans, opened a second location along MacCorkle Avenue in Spring Hill. (4845 MacCorkle Ave. in South Charleston, 681-205-2488)

• Jeff’s Curbside, home to what many consider the “original” Cajun chicken pasta recipe from the old Cagney’s, has moved from the Charleston’s East End to a new location in Dunbar. (2059 Roxalana Rd. in Dunbar, 304-590-4160)

I have reviews of many of these spots ready to go and will be hitting the rest of them in the coming weeks. And for each place mentioned this week, there are many more others that have opened over the past six months that I still haven’t been able to check out yet. I will, though.

Check out The Food Guy every Wednesday for all the scoop!

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Steven Keith is a food writer and restaurant critic known as “The Food Guy” who writes a weekly column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail and has appeared in several state, regional and national culinary publications. Follow him online at www.wvfoodguy.com or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. He can be reached at 304-380-6096 or at wvfoodguy@aol.com.