Address and Contact Information
Address: 222 W Washington St, Charleston, WV 25302
Phone: (304) 347-8577
Menu Photos
Related Web Results
Kel’s Tavern Charleston | Charleston WV – Facebook
Kel’s Tavern | Charleston WV
New Kel’s Tavern is a welcome addition to West Side; Bucket opens
Reviews
As far as the food: I tried the fresh made mozzarella wedges. The 3 pieces came with marinara sauce on them and topped with shaved parmesan cheese. I would have preferred the sauce on the side. The picture below was after I sliced them up. I also had a burger that came with beer cheese, sautéed onions, and a generous portion of bacon. The side was either seasoned fries (yes) or fresh made chips. The meal was so big that I took half of it home.
This newest Charleston resturant is a place for a casual meal, with large portions, at a good price. When I go back I’ll try their seafood scampi on pasta dish.
-Amy
There’s a particular corner in Charleston’s Elk City—Washington Street and Indiana Avenue—that has seen more turnover than a toddler with a new fidget spinner. First it was Books & Brews, then the blink-and-you-missed-it Sergio’s. But Kel’s Tavern? I think this one’s staying put. Why? Because the menu is smart. Not “we added aioli so it’s fancy” smart—actually smart. A thoughtful mix of original dishes and certain crowd-pleasers that tell you someone in the kitchen has taste and a soul.
The name “Kel’s Tavern” might make you imagine a bar with dim lights and a deep fryer doing all the heavy lifting. Instead, you walk in and discover a full-on restaurant—apps, entrées, desserts, the works. Yes, you can order wings and a burger. But you can also order fried green tomatoes, buffalo chicken empanadas, and chicken marsala. It’s like a love letter to someone’s Maw Maw who cooked with cast iron and kindness: house-made meatloaf, slow-braised short ribs, fried chicken. If comfort food is an art form, Kel’s is framing their best pieces.
Where previous tenants slipped—cough dinner prices at lunchtime cough—Kel’s listened. Now you can actually have a lunch menu at lunchtime. A chef salad? Check. One of eight handhelds? Check. Beer-battered fish sandwich? Philly cheesesteak? Also check. It’s like someone finally said, “Hey, maybe people don’t want to spend $24 at noon.”
I went with the meatloaf sandwich, and let me tell you: this thing deserves its own billboard. A thick slice of bourbon-glazed meatloaf, grilled to perfection, topped with onion straws, bacon, and cheddar on a toasted potato roll. Served with fresh-fried chips and Kel’s special ranch dip. I know a meatloaf is good when I only have to taste it once, rather than… well, let’s just say it didn’t follow me through the rest of my day.
My veggie-loving daughter locked onto the pimento cheese fries, requested no bacon or green onions—an order I do not endorse because those toppings are half the fun—but even with the edits, she declared them tasty. She’s already plotting her return for the giant pretzel and spinach-artichoke dip.
Service was prompt, though to be fair, it was almost 2 p.m., the restaurant version of a siesta. I did notice a stage setup for live music. I’m hopeful it won’t be too loud… though it’s always too loud. Always.
Will I be back? Absolutely—for lunch and dinner. Kel’s Tavern feels like it might finally be the spot that gives this corner of Elk City the staying power it deserves. Here’s hoping it turns into a Charleston staple.
PS – They have a kids menu, too (a mom must be in charge.)
We got the pimento cheese fries as an appetizer. I was a bit hesitant as pimento isn’t my favorite but they were awesome! My mom is a pimento snob and she loved them too. We tried the meatloaf sandwich (ridiculously good), tavern burger (also incredibly good) and the fish sandwich. The fish sandwich was a touch dry but I was able to ask for more of the sauce that goes on the fish and it was perfect then. That may be on me, I love sauce, so I won’t ding them on that.
It was a great experience. We live very close so I am so pleased they seem to have gotten all the issues from the first time worked out. Forgot to take a photo while there but I have my leftovers and that is just HALF of the fish sandwich, it is huge!
Our server, Naysia, was quick at the start—drinks came out fast and our order was in by 6:10. Food arrived around 6:42.
The fried food was the highlight. The fish was crisp, fresh, and perfectly portioned. The hush puppies were meaty and cooked just right. Chicken sandwiches with homemade chips were very good, especially with the spicy ranch dip. The sirloin steak was solid, while the mac and cheese wasn’t very cheesy and just ok at best. The Alfredo pasta was thin and lacking flavor, with the pasta only okay and grilled chicken that wasn’t warm.
Service had its ups and downs. Naysia kept drinks full, but after food came out (delivered by someone else), we didn’t see her much. A side salad was missed but still showed up on the bill, and ranch requested with sandwiches never arrived. When the bill came ($148 for five of us), our server added a 20% tip automatically. We asked for an itemized bill and saw that the salad was charged even though it never came, and the added tip was more generous than I was feeling based on the service that night. On top of that, we noticed a 4% service charge added just for using a credit card. It wasn’t a huge deal, but it also wasn’t communicated, and I would’ve appreciated being told upfront.
Fried food here is a clear win while pasta is not. 4 stars is generous, but I think this place has real potential and just needs to tighten up a few things to get there. We’ll give it another go another day to see how it develops.