Chad’s West Coast Grill & Bar opens Wednesday

One of the Comox Valley’s favourite causal dining destinations is about to get even better – more creative, more local and a lot more diverse.

Chad’s West Coast Grill & Bar opens its doors Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the corner of 29^th Street and Kilpatrick in Courtenay. That’s the same spot local restaurateur Chad Huff has operated since 2010 under the banner of a major international casual dining franchise.

“Serving the Comox Valley as a franchisee has been an overwhelmingly positive experience, and yet my wife Julie and I are incredibly excited to be launching a destination that’s truly reflective of our community,” says Huff, whose new restaurant promises a place guests can “relax, have fun and just be themselves.”

“As a franchisee, there were always restrictions on what we could do. We wanted to introduce more locally inspired fare to our menu, and more items that are in line with the healthy, West Coast lifestyle. With Chad’s West Coast Grill & Bar, we’re finally able to do just that.”

To help adapt an already-popular menu to reflect local tastes, Huff has brought in world-class executive chef Jamie McMath, formerly of the renowned Chateau Jasper Hotel in Alberta. McMath has created a diverse menu that offers West Coast flavours like steaming mussels, Asian-inspired lettuce wraps and succulent striploin steaks while still honouring the favourites Huff’s customers have grown to love.

“Those who have gotten to know us through our old brand will still find a lot of the things that made them love us in the first place,” says Huff. “But a whole new range of fresh, healthful items like salads, locally inspired pasta dishes and seafood are going to appeal to a new slice of the Comox Valley dining public.”

On October 15 at 8 p.m., the Huffs and their staff will begin training behind closed doors with the new menu, re-invigorating the décor and generally preparing for Wednesday’s launch. The restaurant will re-open Wednesday afternoon as Chad’s West Coast Grill & Bar. Berlyann Perrier will continue on as the restaurant’s general manager.

Though Huff and his family were born on Vancouver Island and have lived in the Comox Valley for nine years, he says they struggled as franchisees to overcome the popular misconception that they were simply a “big American chain.”

“Chad’s West Coast Grill & Bar is a place where everyone is welcome to relax, have fun and just be themselves,” he says. “No more flashy international brand or standard menu created in Kansas City. Just a fun, comfortable place to enjoy great food with great friends.”

Huff encourages anyone who would like to comment or provide feedback on their “evolution” to do so at feedback@islandapple.com.