TENNERTON – Usually, categorizing an eatery as a “family-style restaurant” indicates the place offers casual dining, a wide variety of menu options, sit-down table service and affordable prices.
But a new Italian and Greek restaurant that will open in Tennerton by the end of the year is offering all that and more by taking the “family restaurant” concept to the next level.
Owner Gharib Nakouda said Alfredo’s Italian and Greek restaurant, which plans to set up shop in the former Bennett’s Steakhouse location, said only his family members are allowed to undertake food preparation.
“That’s why our food is different,” Nakouda said. “Only family members are allowed in the kitchen. We are literally a family restaurant. Everything is homemade.”
Alfredo’s food will be made by Nakouda’s family – a mix of people of Italian, Greek and Egyptian heritage – for local families in the Upshur County area and surrounding region.
Alfredo’s plans to serve mostly Italian fare with some Greek thrown into the mix. Patrons will find pasta, pizza, calzones, Stromboli, gyros, hummus, baklava and more on the menu. (Curious what the menu could look like? Visit www.alfredoswv.com and click on the “Our Menu” link.)
Nakouda said Alfredo’s will tentatively open by the end of November. Although the first restaurant he opened was located in Bristol, Va., Nakouda his since opened four other restaurants in West Virginia, including ones in Summersville, Marlinton, Lewisburg and White Sulphur Springs.
So how did Nakouda settle on Buckhannon?
About two years ago, Nakouda said someone from the area came to his Summersville location and encouraged him to open a restaurant in a town along Route 33. He looked at Weston initially, but couldn’t find a suitable storefront.
That’s when he moved onto Buckhannon and settled on the former Bennett’s Steakhouse location in Tennerton, which has been vacant for some time.
“We had originally wanted to be located near Walmart and Lowe’s, but we couldn’t find a good building for a restaurant in that area, so we found this one,” Nakouda said.
The array of food served will depend somewhat on customer demand.
“It’s mostly going to be Italian, but if people like the Greek food, then we can add more Greek food,” he said.
Initially, Alfredo’s will function as a sit-down and take-out restaurant, but it may eventually offer delivery service, although that’s still up in the air, Nakouda said.
