When it was announced that popular Charlotte area food truck, Cibi Cibi, would be closing down, fans, including us, were saddened by the loss. The good news, and the win, is that the fine folks behind the Rock Hill-based food truck, were opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant – Elk Ave Tavern.

Elk Ave Tavern opened three weeks ago to a fanfare from loyal Cibi Cibi customers and local diners.

The Space

Elk Ave Tavern is situated in the heart of downtown Rock Hill in the Space that formerly housed Sweet Tea Cafe. From the old bicycle turned into an adorable bar top to the handsome blue facade, the feel from the outside is a clear « welcome ».

The welcoming feel continues as one enters the cozy space with a warm greeting from the hostess. When we visited on opening weekend, the wait was 45 minutes for late lunch, the place was hopping on its second day of business. Bar seating is on a first come, first serve basis and we quickly found two seats to enjoy drinks and food from. The dining room is decorated in a way that creates a homey feel. Many of the decor items come from family heirlooms.

The Bar

First, bartender Russ, he was fantastic even with a very busy bar and many drink orders from the nearby tables. He immediately made us feel welcomed. While the cocktail, beer and wine lists are concise, they offer creative options, and local choices. The place was abuzz so in an effort to help the staff, we simply ordered beer, a couple of local brews. The made-to-order cocktails looked amazing and Russ was getting great feedback from patrons. I was pleased to see one of my favorite Oregon wine producers featured, Sokol Blosser, with its Evolution Pinot Noir served by the glass or bottle.

The Food

The introductory menu features fun new items and some cult favorites from the Cibi Cibi days. While this team’s been known for its incredible burgers and cheesesteaks, at Elk Ave Tavern, there are many vegetarian and healthy options. Having spent 15 years in New Jersey where they’re a diner staple, we had to order the Disco Fries. The shareable dish showcased nicely cooked fries topped with soon-to-be-famous stout braised beef and Mozzarella cheese. An incredibly flavorful, decadent dish we’ll be certain to order again. We had to order the Double Cheeseburger, just to ensure the kitchen staff hadn’t changed the winning formula that made Cibi Cibi famous. While it now features shredded lettuce, the burger is unchanged, thankfully, and still the best the Charlotte metro has to offer. It’s beefy, juicy on a great bun – perfection. We’d read about the new Lamb Burger, so we opted for one and were very pleased with our choice. It’s ultra flavorful, with great lamb flavor without it being overpowering and served with Feta and roasted red peppers. As our sides, we chose Crispy Brussels, absolutely delicious, and fries, great without the cheese and braised beef. We didn’t order dessert, but will next time. Some of the items we’ll be ordering on future visits are the Falafel, Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Street Corn. I understand the cheesesteak is back, so that’ll be up next also.

It was an absolute pleasure to see the place so busy with customers genuinely happy, like we are, to see such wonderful people having early success with their new restaurant. The residents of Rock Hill are fortunate to have such a gem to call their neighborhood spot.

Congrats to owners Anthony Legatie and Hunter Newton and team.

Cheers, Veronique