The Inter-Mountain photo by Edgar Kelley Chef Kevin Levine prepares food at his new restaurant Chef Kevin’s Streatery located at the old Henry G’s Cafe on Third Street. Levine previously had the food trailer Chef Kevin in Streats that was next to the Delmonte Market.

ELKINS — After satisfying local residents’ cravings from his food truck for the past six months, chef Kevin Levine has packed his bags and moved from his trailer next to the Delmonte Market to a permanent location on Third Street.

Loyal customers of the “Chef Kevin in Streats” truck will still be able to get the same quality food and much more now that Levine’s has opened his new restaurant Chef Kevin’s Streatery at the old Henry G’s Cafe on Third Street.

“We were Chef Kevin in the Streats and when we decided to go brick and mortar, we wanted an eatery because you can offer a little of everything,” said Levine. “So we did the play on words, instead of being in the streets, we did Streatery.”

Levine and his wife, Stephanie, officially opened the new business two weeks ago.

“We heard the spot was open and we fell in love with it,” Levine said of the new location. “We are doing a lot of renovations right now, but we are still open. When we finish we are going to have a full open kitchen at the bar, so people can sit and watch me cook. We are going to have our liquor license and we’re building a new bar for that.”

Levin said when the renovations are complete the new restaurant will also have new floors, a new ceiling, and most importantly new food to offer the people of Elkins.

“Right now one of our biggest menu item is our chicken and waffles,” he said. “We are still doing the traditional smash burgers, ramen bowls, and different quesadillas. We are going to be bringing steaks, lots of seafood, and many pasta dishes to the menu soon. And everything is made in the building, everything.”

Chef Kevin’s Streatery is currently open Monday through Saturday. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the weekend.

“We do have a full menu and we are still running four to five specials every single day,” said Levine. “We will be adding to the menu as we go on — it’s literally a soft opening we are going through right now. We were done with the trailer because winter was coming so we needed to get indoors.”

Levine said the contractor doing the remodel wouldn’t be able to complete all the upgrades until January and that’s when the official grand opening will take place.

“So we are doing a soft opening and getting a feel for what Elkins wants as a restaurant versus a trailer,” said Levine. “But we are open and I tell you what, we’ve had a lot of people coming in the past five days. It’s very exciting to see everyone transition from the trailer to here ”

Levine and his wife moved to Elkins from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, back in March of this year. The couple learned of Elkins through Delmonte Market owner Tammy Dolly.

“Tammy and her family were regulars at my restaurant ‘Scatoris’ in Myrtle Beach,” said Levine. “For the past seven years they would come visit us at the restaurant while they were on vacation. When we sold the restaurant we knew that they had the trailer, so they invited us to sell food out of it. We were only planning on being here for the summer, but we fell in love with Elkins and we’re making history.”

Chef Levine, who owned and operated Scatoris for 15 years, is originally from Maryland. He previously worked for Chef Emeril Lagasse, the Ritz Carlton Corporation, Disney World and SeaWorld. He was on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen and Spike’s Man versus Masters.

“I’ve been cooking since I was 9-years-old and my wife has been working in the front of restaurants since she was 14,” said Levine. “We make a great team because her knowledge is running the business and my knowledge is in the food — it’s just awesome.”

Stephanie, who is a New Jersey native, has worked the restaurant business at Six Flags, Giants Stadium, Rutgers University and more.

“Food is literally my life,” said Levine. “When you’re growing up and your moms says don’t play with food, my mom encouraged it. I knew I wanted to be a chef my whole life.”

Levine said you can expect big portions and quality food at Chef Kevin’s Streatery. He offers 50 % off to all uniform service personnel such as police, firefighters, and EMS workers. Food is available on Doordash and the business also offers catering.

Levine said if there’s something not on the menu customers want, he will do his best to make it for them. He also offers gluten free and vegetarian food.

“Vegetarians just don’t want a plate of vegetables, or just a plate of rice, or a plate of potato, they want a meal,” said Levine. “So being a chef, I’m going to give them that meal. We want them to come in for an experience. We want them to feel they are being taken care of here.”

For more information on the restaurant or to check out a menu, go to businesses’ Facebook page for details.