In 2010, Sal Rubio opened a gourmet sandwich and soup shop inside the gas station behind Naber Dodge in Shallotte. Sal ran, cooked and worked in the shop as it’s only employee. He says of his small shop, “Almost from the beginning we needed more seats.” Not a bad problem to have! After two years of success and giving the people of Shallotte gourmet lunch options he decided to move locations and expand his business.
On July 11th, he opened his new restaurant The Grille on Main Street in Shallotte, in the space of former fast food restaurant. His new space now seats 80 customers and offers take-out orders as well, and they were still packed. Rubio says, “The first three days were twice as busy as I expected. It has been that way from the get-go here.” He’s not the only employee anymore; he now has a full wait staff to help him run the restaurant.
The Grille is now open not just for lunch but for breakfast and dinner too. The restaurant opens at 7am and closes at 9pm, featuring daily specials that feature, not only gourmet soups and sandwiches, but shrimp and grits, burgers, jambalaya, fried chicken, pancakes, French toast and so much more. Rubio has quite the impressive resume, working as the executive chef at Ocean Ridge Plantation for four years and winning accolades in the Oyster Stew off and other cooking competitions.
Though Rubio says he makes good, simple food, if his following from the small location in a gas station is any indication he’ll be making his kind of food for a long time to come.
Leave a Reply