Doc Boys offers good food, home feel on menu

Published 3:53 pm Saturday, September 8, 2018

 

HUNTERDALE
When LaVelle Evans was creating Doc Boy’s @ Station One, he clearly already had in mind what he wanted his restaurant to provide his customers: “Good Food, Home Feel.”

“We want to people to feel like they are in their dining room for Sunday dinner,” Evans said recently, adding it will be “the LaVelle experience.”

Janet Wilkins with her son, LaVelle Evans, and Marika Evans. Marika Evans is the restaurant’s front end manager. — Stephen Faleski | Tidewater News

The restaurateur is no rookie in the kitchen, having been involved once before in a restaurant (“That was a great experience for the most part.”) as well as a caterer. Formal training in cuisine was received from the renown Johnson and Wales University, where he graduated in 2001. Even before taking such classes, Evans learned cooking close at home from his grandmother, Eloise Evans.

“She was a great part of my being in the culinary world,” he said, adding that he’s developed what he calls a “flavor profile.”

Another teacher was his grandfather, Allen “Doc” Evans, who inspired the restaurant name, once had a sandwich shop. In turn, Evans will offer Philly cheese steaks, barbecue and wings, as well as appetizers such as okra or corn fritters.

Also on the menu are salads, crab cakes and fresh seafood such as spot; also pork chops and rib-eyes. He gets quality cuts from the Butcher Block in Boykins.

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There was a 10-year gap between the first restaurant and this one because he felt that the time was not yet right for him. He credits his wife, Marika Evans, for encouraging him. But when that time arrived, Evans found what would be his new venture at the former Station One in the Hunterdale section of Franklin.

He approached the owner Bernice Preau, who already knew of his intent through others — Evans’ good reputation and interest had preceded him. Evidently the interview went well, because here he is at last.

Also working with Evans in the kitchen is his mother, Janet Wilkins. Other staff are servers Melisha Majette, Tameka Grant, Dexter Joyner Jr., Janee Jefferson, and prep cook Cecilia Davis.

Doc Boys @ Station One is located at 103 Country Club Road in Franklin.

The restaurant is open noon to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; and noon to 9 p.m. on Friday Saturday. For details, such as reserving the site for parties, call 516-6466.