'Traditional Americana': Downtown Grill Takes Wing - and Serves 'Em

Downtown Grill co-owners Paul Dreher (left) and Patrick O'Donnell with chef Nathan Gibbs stand in front of some artwork in the restaurant. Photo by Glenn Sides.

By TED M. NATT JR.

As of Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Nathan Gibbs grew up in Buffalo, N.Y., eating the type of food that he now prepares for diners at The Downtown Grill in Southern Pines.

"I'm getting back to my roots," Gibbs said. "It's just traditional Americana - good food, good quality and at a reasonable price."

The menu features appetizers, salads, wings and entrees - mainly hamburgers, hot dogs and sandwiches - and everything is priced under $12. There is also a kids' menu.

"It's just simple stuff that is made fresh in-house every day," said co-owner Patrick O'Donnell, who also owns O'Donnell's Pub next door.

For example, the french fries are hand-cut from whole potatoes and double-fried.

"That's unique and plays to our niche," O'Donnell said.

Gibbs, who previously worked at the Holly Inn, Coachlight Trattoria and Pinehurst No. 7, calls the wings "the heart of our business."

"We have big, meaty wings that we get from a local farmer. We also have some unique flavors for our sauces," he said. "The three of us have pretty much had the same concept about the food from the start."

The eat-in, take-out restaurant on East New Hampshire Avenue opened Oct. 2 in the 2,100 square feet of space formerly occupied by Swordfish Grill.

O'Donnell and business partner Paul Dreher spent four months and five figures cleaning the kitchen, installing a new emergency exit and renovating the bar, among other things, to provide a casual, comfortable atmosphere.

"We're not fine dining, and we're not McDonald's," O'Donnell said. "It's nice and open in here, which I like."

The walls are adorned with current and historical photographs of downtown Southern Pines.

"Frank Pierce did all of the artwork," O'Donnell said.

O'Donnell describes himself as the "PR guy," while Dreher is the general manager.

"He's the organized one," O'Donnell says of Dreher. "I just smile and wave."

The two are neighbors and have talked about opening a restaurant together for years.

"When we learned that this space was available, we sat down and got serious about it," Dreher said. "We asked ourselves, 'Do we want to do this?' We were crazy enough to take the plunge."

For Dreher, it meant returning to the industry for the first time since working for Nestle in the early 1980s.

"It's an opportunity to go back to where I started," he said.

The 84-seat restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to midnight on Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

"This town needs an affordable place to eat after 4 p.m.," O'Donnell said. "Also, if we're not busy at lunch, we do deliver to downtown businesses within walking distance."

The late-night hours on the weekend cater to the local bar scene, especially O'Donnell's Pub patrons.

"My door guys have menus," O'Donnell said. "Business has been steady during the day but sporadic late at night because we've been relying on word-of-mouth. We haven't done any advertising because we're getting rid of all the hiccups first."

O'Donnell and Dreher relied on family, friends and "pub regulars" to give them feedback during four test runs with the 25 part- and full-time workers hired prior to opening.

"It was harder to get honest feedback, but everyone opened up eventually," Dreher said. "The biggest challenge is always the minuscule things that set you back."

The Downtown Grill gets its bread from Broad Street Bakery and uses the featured cheese of the month at Southern Whey on a burger appropriately named "The Southern Whey."

"We're trying to be local without being pretentious about it," Gibbs said.

The trio is also working on the development of So Pies, a new restaurant slated to go into the space on West New Hampshire Avenue previously occupied by How Ya Doin.

"We're going to have pizza by the slice, grinders and gyros," O'Donnell said.

Asked when the restaurant would open, he added with a smile, "That's the million dollar question. We're hoping before Christmas."

Contact Ted Natt at (910) 693-2474 or tnatt@thepilot.com.

More like this story

BigBill 7 months, 1 week ago

This really is what downtown needed. I had the wings on two separate occasions (different flavors) and would highly recommend them. I can't wait to try one of their burgers. Service was fast and courteous. My sons and I will be going again very soon. Thanks for opening a down to earth eatery for the masses.

madstork 7 months, 1 week ago

I am from central NY and ate here. FRESH Wings and authentic sauce. Some kinks because I was there in opening week, but will make this a regular stop. GOOD FOOD...PRICED RIGHT. Go get em!

babiehop 7 months, 1 week ago

I wish them well.Did I blink and miss the Swordfish Grill ?

piaffequeen 7 months, 1 week ago

Excellent wings and fries. Nice to have a reasonably priced place in Southern Pines area. I live in Star and this place is worth the trip!

JAP 7 months, 1 week ago

The A1 Bacon Burger is awesome!! I'll be going back again and again!!

girlymonster 7 months, 1 week ago

Congrats Patrick and gang...I keep hearing great things about this place- gotta get over there soon and see for myself! My only question is will those delicious hot dogs still be available outside of O'Donnells now??? ;)

tarheelborn 7 months, 1 week ago

Great Food and GOOD LUCK!

I passed by, had a look inside, sat down to eat, and thought I had died... On my way into Heaven, I looked up to say, those Pizza Rolls have made my day ! ! !

Patrick. I shall continue being a huge supporter...

ncmom 7 months, 1 week ago

Can't wait to try this place!! Do you serve a "beef on weck" sandwich?? Good luck to you all!!

Middleman522 7 months, 1 week ago

I had the BLT with Fried Green tomato and it was very tasty! Great portions and lot's of TV's!! Great place!!

Courseaire 7 months, 1 week ago

What do you have for Vegans?

emb6683 7 months, 1 week ago

Try the BLT, but hold the B.

Bill 7 months ago

Well everybody knew that someone would write a bad review and I have to be that someone. I had to try this place as soon as I read this article. My wife, another couple and I went there for dinner tonight. ( Thursday ). We order the 25 wings, half hot and the other half hot barbecue. The hot barbecue was very tasty and the hot was not bad but you cannot call them meaty wings the drum sticks were so small and the wings were not much bigger. With two bites and they were gone and they were tough.

Yes we should have said something but our waitress already mess up our order. The fries were not bad but they were not the kind that I really cared for. Now that is only my opinon, and I can know how some people can love them and some people will just say they are just okay. Our fries were also delivered about 10 minutes after we ate all of the wings. We did talk to the waitress and she told us they were very busy and that why the fries were late, but as we watch several people sit after us and they all were getting there food and fries way before us.

All in all we did leave her a nice tip and 3 out of the 4 of us said that we would give it another try.

greentara13 7 months ago

Delicious food! Great upscale decor! I appreciate the fresh local food! Thank you! Coursie, they have delicious salads for raw vegans and vegan folks.

JakeElwood 7 months ago

Just being honest as requested. We waited over an hour for our meals- burgers and wings. Wings were small and burgers were not very tasty. Once the good wishes have worn off the reality of an expensive burger joint will set in. May be good hang-over place on weekends.