Bobby J's at Centennial Country Club opened this week with a new menu of tempting pork, beef, salmon and chicken dishes all created from meats smoked on site. To get all that delicious food to patrons, the restaurant has hired 14 new employees and expects to add at least four more.
Bob Johnson bought Centennial Country Club (3361 Charlevoix Dr. SE, Grand Rapids) two years ago, and revamped the former C's Grill space for the new Bobby J's eatery. The revamp includes the purchase of a large smokehouse where Johnson says the magic happens.
"We smoke all of our own salmon, chicken and beef," he says. "We have brisket, pulled pork, our own bacon. Our menu has a mango curry chicken salad that uses our smoked chicken. Our sampler platter has a bit of all the different types of meat and seven signature sauces we created in-house, like cherry barbeque, honey bourbon barbecue and root beer barbecue, which rocks."
Johnson says he and head chef Justin Piper created a selection of sides to complement the smoked meats, including a honey mustard sweet potato salad, maple bacon baked beans and black bean and corn relish. Bobby J's also offers a full bar and happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Four more full- and part-time jobs still need to be filled, says Johnson -- two bartender positions and two server jobs.
Source: Bob Johnson, Bobby J's at Centennial Country Club
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.