Brock’s Bar-b-que Restaurant & Catering has a vinegar base bar-b-que sauce that keeps you coming back. It is the kick – a great mustard/vinegar base with a kick that is distinctive and enticing. You will find it perfect for dipping your bar-b-que chicken, beef or pork. The sauce helped kick-start a successful catering business 41 years ago for Charlie and Doris Brock and a successful restaurant business that is celebrating its 29th anniversary on Thursday, May 12. Now retired for nearly 17 years, their sons, Timmy and Jimmy, continue on with their traditions, recipes, and reputation for good service and quality food.
Timmy manages the successful catering business, catering to some of the largest (8,000) corporate gatherings. Jimmy manages the restaurant, which reflects family; not only does it include the quality selected and prepared food, but it is emulated through the staff and showcased on the walls of the restaurant. The staff is experienced and knowledgable and knowS their regulars. The walls are adorned with photos of family and friends, college flags representing schools their children have or are attending; and NASCAR has taken a prominent location, showcasing a rising NASCAR Late-Model driver up for Rookie of the Year at South Boston, Jimmy’s son, Alex.
Customers not only come on days of their favorite daily specials, they have their favorite booth or stool. It is a gathering place for many locals.
John Osborne has known the family before the restaurant opened and has been a daily patron for lunch as well as, a family gathering place each Friday with four to 12 members joining him for dinner. “They are just like family to me,” he said. “The food is good of course, but it’s the employees; waitstaff, people in the kitchen, all of them, they are just the nicest people. And there is a misconception about Brocks. People say to me how do you eat bar-b-que everyday. I love Bar-b-que, but they have specials everyday, salads…all the food is really good. They are on top of things. And a lot of people only have a few minutes for lunch, no matter how busy they are, they are going to BE quick to wait on you.”
Another tradition of regulars began with “The Dutch,” L. C. Bird’s football coach, Glen Schrotenboer, 29 years ago, the football staff can always be found around 3 p.m. each Friday during football season preparing for the big game.
Jimmy Brock tributes a lot of the success of the restaurant to the staff, mentioning Pat Earley, who has a long history with Brock’s. “A lot of it has to do with the staff,” he said. “Pat has been with us 21 years, everyone knows her and she knows her customers.” Brock spoke highly of his whole team and said, “They are experienced and knowledgeable. They know what we expect and are always part of decisions being discussed.”
The buffet with their daily specials at an affordable price of $7.99 for lunch and $8.99 for dinner, keep many customers coming in everyday. They are closed on Sunday and the weekend buffet, $10.99 or two for $20 is expanded and loaded with different special items.
“We offer quality, variety and price,” Brock said. “Our buffet changes daily but we always have our bar-b-que. If you come on fried chicken day, you better get here early for lunch. It goes fast. Thursday is spaghetti day and it is also popular.”
Many of the family recipes have remained the same over the years including the green beans and coleslaw which were Doris’s family recipes. Aside from the buffet, the Pit Master has become very popular, a large chopped pork and smoked beef brisket sandwich for $5.99.
Eleanor and her daughter Tracey Trivett stop in whenever Tracey is in the area visiting her mom. “We come everytime were are in the area,” said Tracey. “We love their spaghetti, pork chops and the fried chicken. Oh yes, the pot pie, the corn fritters and the service. The people are awesome.”
Brocks’s may have earned their reputation for their bar-b-que and Charlie’s tasty BBQ Homemade Sauce, but it is the whole delightful mix that keeps the restaurant going and everyone coming back.
Local Restaurant Guide
AMERICAN
Howlett’s Restaurant & Tavern
Prime Rib, Lunch & Dinner specials
3530 Festival Park Plaza
804-930-1034
www.howlettstavernchester.com
Brock’s Bar-B-Que
11310 Iron Bridge Rd.
804-706-7539
Lunch and Dinner Buffet
www.brocksbbq.com
King’s Korner
7511 Airfield Dr, North
BBQ & Lunch buffet
804-271-0033
www.kingskornercatering.com
Mr B’s
Fresh and Fast Home-Style Cooking
11844 Chester Village Dr
804-777-9223
Sibley’s Bar-B-Q
BBQ, brisket, southern
12000 Winfree St
804-748-3299
www.sibleysbbq.com
Boulevard Flower Gardens Cafe
2100 Ruffin Rd.
Central Park Deli
12744 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Half-Way House Restaurant
10301 Jefferson Davis Hwy
CHINESE
Chen’s Chinese Restaurant
13104 Kingston Ave
804-530-8869
Hunan Garden
10340 Iron Bridge Rd.
Chinese & home delivery
804-768-9555
www.7689555.com
Peking Restaurant
12730 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Fine Chinese Dining
(804) 751-9898
www.pekingdining.com
CONTEMPORARY
Divine Restaurant & Bar
13127 Rivers Bend Blvd, Chester
804-571-6383
www.divine-rb.com
GREEK
Olympia Restaurant
Greek & Italian
12131 S. Chalkley Rd.
(804)571-6150
INDIAN
Ambrosia Indian Cuisine
11 W Hundred Rd
Classic Indian fare
(804) 571-6150
www.ambrosiaindiancuisine.com
ITALIAN
Bella Italia
6407 Iron Bridge Pl
Ledo Pizza
7052 Commons Plaza
Mamas Pizza and Subs
10020 Chester Rd
Sapori Ristorante Italiano
3513 Festival Park Plaza
JAPANESE
Hibachi Ichiban
12617 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Kabuki Japanese Steak House
11926 Iron Bridge Plaza
MEXICAN
Jalapenos Mexican Restaurant
13130 Kingston Ave.
804-530-2787
Don Pepe Mexican Restaurant
2102 W Hundred Rd
SEAFOOD
Crab Dump
4412 W Hundred Rd
