Jodie Ferguson once described her food truck Clara B’s Kitchen Table as a “proof of concept” for a brick-and-mortar restaurant. The chef has proven her concept: among the truck’s acclaim, this critic named it one of the best new restaurants of 2020-21, and the brick-and-mortar version of Clara B’s opens Friday (Feb. 18) at
Ferguson tells Off the Menu she is anxious, but excited for the restaurant’s debut. She has also sensed the anticipation of her Belleville neighbors, with people having frequently messaged Clara B’s to ask when it would open.
“So it makes you a little nervous because you’re like, ‘Am I going to wake up and then have a line before I even get there? Or is no one going to show?’” she says. “Like, one or the other. It’s nowhere in-between.”
The brick-and-mortar Clara B’s is opening initially for takeout only (walk-in or online order), with dine-in service to follow. The menu features dishes that have become staples since Ferguson launched her truck in 2020, among them the biscuit sandwich, breakfast tacos and shrimp and grits. On the weekend, the menu expands to include a rotation of soups, sandwiches and specials.
With the opening of the brick-and-mortar location, the Clara B’s truck will continue to operate. In fact, Ferguson has almost completed the process of hiring enough staff to split her team between the restaurant and the truck.
“I feel comfortable with moving forward with taking more (truck) stops, as people have asked us to do a lot of catering and special events,” she says.
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