The space at 807 Folly Road has been empty since the fall of 2018 when Roadside Seafood officially closed its brick and mortar (they still have the food truck) and moved its menu next door to Gillie’s Soul Food (805 Folly).
Come this summer, 807 Folly Road will open as Food Fight with local chef Dusty Chorvat at the helm. The restaurant will offer “globally inspired dishes using local bounty.”
Chorvat says he chose the name because “It’s a playful way to say food is definitely … up for playfulness and seriousness — like taking tomatoes in Spain and throwing them at each other.”
A native of the Southeast and current James Islander, the chef has worked in the kitchens of EVO Pizza and The Glass Onion, and collaborated on the menu at Monza with Mike Lata. Most recently, Chorvat was the executive chef at Crust from development (early 2013) until a couple of months ago. Chorvat still has a partnership with the pizza joint, and wishes his Maybank Highway friends the best, he says, but left to pursue his own dreams.
“I wanted to do it for myself and my family and no one else — Crust was a great learning experience, with the opening and menu development and building it out. I live down the road from [807 Folly] and it’s this small yet unique free-standing restaurant.”
Chorvat says they’ve put a lot of work into the building, “it will be a totally different look and vibe and layout design.” Unlike Roadside, Food Fight will have table service and will be open for lunch and dinner Tues.- Sat. from noon until about 9 p.m.
The menu will include the requisite beer and wine, soups, salads, small plates, sandwiches, and pizzas you’d expect at a family-friendly neighborhood joint started by a former pizza slinger, along with those “globally inspired” specials. Think taco Tuesday, hump day oysters and Prosecco, Detroit-style pizza on Thursdays, Friday pasta, and Saturday ramen.
“There are no true boundaries,” says Chorvat. “I’m trying to provide something unique — I live on James Island and I love it. I know we need more dining options, something casual and reasonably priced and comfortable.” Chorvat says they’re hoping for a June 2019 opening, “things are finally happening.”
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