A new restaurant with Southern-inspired cuisine is opening in downtown Belleville
An area food truck featuring Southern-inspired cuisine (and real Southern hospitality) opens its new brick and mortar location in Belleville this week.
Clara B’s Kitchen Table, located at 106 E. Main St. in Belleville, officially opens Thursday, Feb. 17, according to owner Jodie Ferguson.
Ferguson added that she wanted to “pace the expectations,” so she let her St. Louis customer base know that they open Friday, Feb. 18, giving her a buffer, just in case.
Clara B’s held a soft opening on Sunday, Feb. 6, according to the Facebook page. They were open for the one day and then closed until Saturday, Feb. 12.
Because Clara B’s received multiple order requests for Valentine’s Day, Ferguson offered a special menu for takeout orders.
She said everything went great. The items on offer throughout the weekend sold out early on Valentine’s Day afternoon.
Starting Thursday, Clara B’s will be open for takeout orders with a delivery option coming soon.
At first, Clara B’s will offer its core menu, which includes items like breakfast tacos, wood-fired shrimp and grits, smoked chicken salad and side dishes.
Ferguson said weekly specials (like brisket mac n’ cheese and smoked turkey chili) will also be offered and will rotate from week to week.
And the dishes are made from locally sourced ingredients.
Check out the menu on the website. Photos of the fare on the site and on Facebook do not disappoint.
When I complimented the food pics, Ferguson said, “People eat with their eyes.”
It’s true. I think I gained a few pounds just looking at the photos (especially that vanille framboise tiramisu!).
Ferguson hopes to be open for indoor dining in May, or as late as June.
She said the delay in opening for indoor dining was due to ongoing equipment delays that have plagued the restaurant industry since COVID hit.
Once she’s able to accommodate indoor dining, Ferguson plans to expand the menu.
Ferguson hopes to do the same with the staff and is currently looking to hire a new kitchen manager.
Anyone interested can apply by emailing clarabskitchentable@gmail.com.
Ferguson first opened Clara B’s, named after Ferguson’s grandmother, Clara Bloodworth, as a food truck in October 2020.
The downtown Belleville location sits between Ben’s and Crafty Sugar Co. and previously housed Sugar Fix Bakery.
Ferguson said she took over the lease from Sugar Fix owner Rebecca Waterkotte.
That business originally opened on Main Street in October 2019 after starting out as a home-based business.
Sugar Fix relocated to The Highland Bistro at Crystal Highland Golf Course in Festus, Missouri, according to a Jan. 14 post on the bakery’s Facebook page.
Clara B’s food truck will continue to operate, and opens for the season in March. However, the truck will participate in downtown Belleville’s Mardi Gras festivities later this month.
The Clara B’s food truck will serve brunch at Venue on Main, located at 202 W. Main St., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27.
Clara B’s Kitchen Table is located at 106 E. Main St. in Belleville. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. They are closed Monday-Wednesday.
For more info, call 618-416-1812 or 724-252-7227 (food truck), visit clarabs.com or check them out on Facebook.
