'Old Bull Tavern' to open on downtown's West Street

Off the beaten Bay Street path, albeit just a few feet, you’ll find the Old Bull Tavern opening sometime around the first of August.  According to owners John Marshall and wife Sheila, Beaufort can expect “a gastropub-styled menu with an agressive drink selection, and a local twist.”  The chef-owner has a vision for the spot at 205 West Street, an address once home to Breakwater Restaurant, Bistro 205, and several other businesses.

What’s a gastropub you ask?  While originating in England, it’s best described in the U.S. as a small restaurant that serves alcohol, as well as a quality variety of beers and wines. Gastropubs offer ‘ambitious’ menu items and commit to a comfortable atmosphere, and all aspire to earn a cherished standing in communities as places where one can go and, as in the TV show “Cheers,” know everyone’s name.

Smiling while conversing at length about the quality of local produce and seafood, and his love of creating from scratch, Marshall said, “the Old Bull Tavern will have homemade everything… from homemade pastas, breads, and homemade cheeses, and will offer local grass-fed beef from MiBek Farms, with a fresh, market-based, seasonal menu.”

Certainly not new to the restaurant business, John and Shelia owned the wildly popular and successful, Italian, Al Di La Restaurant in Charleston’s West Ashley area, and they’re looking to make a splash in Beaufort.  “We’re going to be different, just wait and see,” John said.

Well Beaufort, only a few weeks to go.

Oh yeah, we almost forgot to mention, all gastropubs profess to have a really good burger.  We’ll be sure to check on the grass-fed one that gets grilled-up at The Old Bull Tavern.