In Good Taste Golden Spoon 2016

28 / 32

In GoodTaste
Like DiningWith Friends
Crave Kitchen & Cocktails
It may seem cliche to say that
a restaurant strives to “put the customer first,”
but, at Crave, those are words the owner and
staff live by.
“It is our role and honor to provide
exceptional service and exceed our guest’s
expectations each and every time they grant us
the privilege to serve them,” explained Peter Woodman,
owner of Crave Kitchen & Cocktails.
“It may sound like a simple concept,
but it is true.”
Woodman, originally from
Ireland, was surprised by the level of
service he found when he first visited
the area.
“In this industry, and we’ve got to
get back to basics,” Woodman said.
“At Crave, we focus our training on
taking care of the guests.”
All that training has paid off.
Out of the 8,000-plus votes cast
for more than 145 restaurants in
Mount Pleasant Magazine’s inaugural
Golden Spoon Awards, Crave came
out on top with more 5-spoon votes
than any other restaurant.
“I only wish I could accurately
articulate to you the sense of joy our
staff exhibited when we announced
(the award) to them,” Woodman
said. “They literally stood up from
the table, high-fiving each other, hooting and laughing.
That in itself speaks volumes about how serious our crew
takes our restaurant. And to see that spontaneous reaction
of genuine joy meant the world to me.“
Great customer service is vital, but you’re not going to
win the kind of accolades that Crave has been collecting
lately without pairing that service with top-notch food, and
that’s where Chef Landen Ganstrom comes in.
“Chef Landen has been at the helm for seven years and
is easily one of the top chefs I’ve come in contact with in 20
years working in this industry,” said Woodman.
At the top of Crave’s expansive menu, which covers
everything from Lowcountry favorites to exotic creations –
much of which is sourced from local farmers and fishermen
– you’ll find the restaurant’s famous mac ’n cheese. But this
isn’t your mother’s mac ’n cheese – it’s the perennial winner
of the Charleston Mac Off. Ganstrom developed the recipe
with his daughters and personally oversees each portion that
leaves his kitchen.
If it seems unusual that a “comfort food” such as mac
’n cheese holds such an esteemed position on Crave’s menu,
then you probably haven’t been
to the restaurant yet. One of
Woodman’s favorite refrains is that
“when a guest comes into your
establishment, they’re coming
into your home,” and dining at
Crave is truly like dining with
good friends who happen to be
amazing cooks.
But that warm and fuzzy
feeling you have leaving Crave
isn’t just from the atmosphere;
chances are it also comes from
the bar that features some of the
most innovative cocktails in the
area. With house-made mixers
and creative garnishes, Mixologist
Shaun Gordon’s creations are
an excellent complement to
Ganstrom’s menu.
Woodman insists all the
credit for Crave’s continued success should go to his entire
crew.
“I have not created this; Chef Landen has not created
this; our management team has not created this. Everyone
from the dish guy to the top has. It truly has and will
continue to be a team effort and team goal to stand by our
core values,” he insisted.
Crave is located at 1868 Riviera Drive in Mount
Pleasant. To learn more, call 843-884-1177 or visit
.
By Brian Barrie
Crave’s mac ’n cheese, top, is always a winner, while
the menu covers everything from Lowcountry favorites
to exotic creations.
Photos courtesy of Crave.
iGT 28 www.MountPleasant.restaurant | www.MountPleasant.Menu |