Charleston Main Streets recently named Bricks & Barrels Rookie of the Year at its inaugural Urbanite Awards ceremony in Charleston. We’re humbled by this award, especially considering the quality of the many other restaurants and businesses that have recently opened in Charleston within the past two years. We’re honored to accept the award on behalf of our hard-working employees. We’ve come a long way since our opening eighteen months ago and excited about the future – the sky is the limit. The talented and caring young men and women are the reason for our success and they deserve this award.
First, we, the owners, want to thank Jacob Quick for his leadership. You won’t find anyone more passionate and it’s been that way since day one. Our opening day, we were crushed and our chef was forced to work the kitchen line, which meant we had no one to man the critical expo position (aka QB of the kitchen). Having never worked in a restaurant before, Jacob commanded the kitchen on one of the most stressful nights in our history – without him we likely would have closed that very night. He earned a promotion to General Manager after earning his business degree in May and has managed Bricks & Barrels entirely on his own for the past 3 months as we opened Barrels Brewhouse in the Canaan Valley area. Thank you, Jacob!
We also want to thank our chef Al Day. We called him on day one and he was instrumental in helping us open, but we split ways a few months thereafter. But he didn’t hold a grudge and we re-hired him about 5 months ago. Since he took over as chef, all our soups and desserts are now made in-house – and they are all delicious. His new menu debuts next week and it’s even more amazing than the current one. Al Day never quits and we love that about him. Thanks, Al!
Our bartender Drew Smith has been with us from day one. Drew is hands-down the best bartender in Charleston. His knowledge of craft beer and bourbons is second to none. Come in and order a drink today and a year from now he’ll have it sitting in front of you before your butt hits the seat. He’s developed a huge following of loyal regulars, which explains why we couldn’t find a seat at our own bar last night. Thank you, Drew!
We also want to thank our Assistant Manager, phenomenal waitress and bartender, Kristian Fletcher. While Drew holds the title for best all-around bartender, Kristian wins gold mixing drinks. We often challenge her by naming an exotic flavor and asking her to make a drink that tastes like it. She makes a mean martini – our favorite is her Nutella Martini. She has a magnetic personality and quite the following, especially after she won Best Manhattan in Charleston for her Chocolate Cherry Manhattan. Thank you, Kristian!
Finally, we extend a huge thank you to James Johnson. He’s the most valuable player in our kitchen and has been since the day we opened. He mans the sauté position with the skill and precision of a seasoned chef. Many consider the dishes he prepares, like our Shrimp & Grits, Cajun Shrimp Pasta and Butter-Basted Salmon, to be among the best in Charleston. We love his humbleness and politeness, which is a welcome addition in any kitchen. Thank you, James!
These are but a few of the faces behind the scenes that have quickly transformed Bricks & Barrels into Charleston’s favorite destination restaurant. We feel we now have the best staff ever, many of whom have been with us for one year or longer. We thank them all for their commitment to top-notch customer service. Thanks to our people, we’re confident our success will continue.
Congratulations! You guys hold a special place in our hearts. Deb