
Krazy Owls Embraces 'Cheers' Atmosphere On Johns Island
Restaurant Serves Up Krazy Good Food & Drink, Alongside Unique Interior Decor
Jeff Walker, Food & Beverage Writer
In a decade long ago, when Ronald Reagan presided in the White House, a young man was making a mark for himself in the field of advertising and marketing. However, the food and beverage gods soon took hold of Al Thompson, and before Reagan's second term was up Thompson was operating a fast food chicken sandwich franchise. 30 years later, with two successful stores under his watch Thompson and the corporate muckety-mucks parted ways.
Now thoroughly entrenched in the restaurant business, and drawing on his love for marketing he decided to open his own establishment, whereas he could call all the shots. In 2017 Thompson threw open the doors to Krazy Owls (tongue & cheek play on his name), a local watering hole located at 3157 Maybank Rd. on Johns Island. Serving up a diverse menu in a family friendly environment became Thompson's calling card.
Southern fare, seafood, Mexican, Italian, American favorites filled the menu, alongside daily specials, as well as the everyday beer, wine and cocktails. Affordable food and drink for all ages and every appetite.
Much like 'Cheers' that ruled prime time during the Reagan Era, Thompson took on the role of Sam Malone, welcoming every patron, working behind the bar and in the kitchen as needed. Soon Krazy Owls became the neighborhood gathering place where everybody knows your name, and enjoy good food and drink at fair prices.
Much to his surprise and many of his contemporaries, Thompson had little idea a worldwide pandemic was on the rise. While it hurt several businesses it was especially damaging to the food and beverage industry, with many even in Charleston closing their doors. Krazy Owls and Thompson persevered, a testament to his passion and his grit.
Coming full circle Krazy Owls is still considered by many west of the Ashley (James Island, Johns Island, Kiawah, & Seabrook) as a laid back restaurant and bar where they can bring their kids, or meet with friends to enjoy a varied menu that appeals to everyone in their party.
We're talking more than a dozen appetizers that include chicken, pork, and beef sliders, tacos, nachos, fried pickles and mushrooms with Al's signature zesty ranch. Maybe chow down on a dozen plump Owl Wings (really chicken) for $17 with your choice of over a dozen sauces. Cinnamon Pretzels with a vanilla glaze. Ooh la-la! A majority of lite bites under $11.
Krazy Owls is easy on the wallet. 16 (count 'em), 16 handheld delights including five signature burgers, four wraps, and several chicken and fish sandwiches. Talk about variety, Krazy Owls serves up a Shrimp & Bacon Wrap alongside cheese steak and Reuben sandwiches that would make northerners content. Every handheld served with one side for less than $15. Not much more than fast food prices.
Prefer to use a knife & fork. Aside from the 12 oz ribeye with two sides for $29 (great deal) and the baby back ribs with Al's signature bourbon enhanced BBQ sauce at $23, the remaining 10 entrees come in under $20. Two I highly recommend are the Shrimp & Grits (stone ground yellow grits in a zestier & smoky cream sauce) and the Meaty Mac & Cheese dish (think a spicier adult version of hamburger helper with onions & jalapenos). Trust me, your taste-buds will do a back flip!
If you're leaning Italian, the Chicken Parmesan and Owl-fredo, both made with angel hair pasta and served with garlic bread will please the palate. Vegans have a few options including entrees and six salads that can be tweaked without meat. Krazy Owls offer up three everyday soups including a must have She Crab that is wildly different than any you'll get in downtown Charleston. Cheese, chocolate, and, limoncello cakes make up the triple threat dessert menu.
Krazy Owl provides a quaint bar where guests can throw back affordable beer and wine, as well as their signature cocktails. Their namesake is a refreshing mix of vodka, rum, tequila, Triple Sec and Sprite with a Chambord floater and Blue Curacao. Colorful, refreshing, and awesome for sipping, as is the Night Owl (Peach Schnapps, Malibu, Coconut Rum, pineapple juice, splash of grenadine and blue curacao). Fruity-icious!
From 10-2pm on Sunday you can enjoy brunch at Krazy Owls. It's a good mix of roadside diner meets upscale cafe, offering up the Hoot Owl an everyday hungry-man breakfast featuring eggs, bacon, and sausage, with choice of grits or hash browns and toast. Their Chicken & Waffles is a southern favorite as is the Wild Wild West Omelet (comes with a kick). French toast, waffles, and pancakes fill up the menu along with eggs benedict. Enjoy them all with a bloody Mary or a cool mimosa.
You can dine on the open air patio, where they host music on the weekends, as well as the occasional car show in the adjacent parking lot. During the week you might stumble on trivia night. Of course they have big screen TVs positioned throughout to keep up college football or whatever sporting event that's critical. Simply put, Krazy Owls is a pleasant blend of the usual and the unusual.
Like his namesake restaurant, Al Thompson is a rare bird. He's created a place that is uniquely different. He's a lover of classic pop and rock music, plays a mean bass guitar, and can carry a tune. Drawing on his marketing genius, Thompson has transformed the interior of Krazy Owls into a little known paradise called 'Steampunk' aka a retro-futuristic technology and aesthetic inspired by, but not limited to, 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. It's a visual thing!
Quick recap. Krazy good food. Krazy good drink. Krazy good customer service. Eccentric atmosphere. Krazy Owls celebrate the preferred food & beverage happenings just because, like national rum day (August 16t), and national cheeseburger day (Sept 18th). You can order out, make reservations, let them host your party. Al Thompson didn't set out to put a square peg in a round hole, but he imagined a square peg that is different from the norm.
If you live or work west of the Ashley, especially James and Johns Island, or near Kiawah and Seabrook than you're roughly within a 20 minute or less radius. Open everyday except Monday from 11-10pm. 10-2pm for Sunday brunch. Want to discover more about Krazy Owls drop in at 3157 Maybank Hwy on Johns Island or connect through their website at https://krazyowls.com/