The Alibi Gastropub brings locally sourced eclectic menu to downtown Centreville

“Initially when I came on board as the chef at O’Shucks I thought that I ultimately wanted to operate a food truck,” said Joe. “I enjoyed it there though and at that time things like generators and other supplies were hard to come by. When the opportunity to take over the location and become the owner of my own restaurant arose all the pieces seemed to fall into place,” he added.

The couple worked as an efficient and effective team to meet an aggressive deadline to open The Alibi by mid-February. Joe focused on the menu, sourcing the best ingredients, reorganizing the kitchen and cooking/serving stations, as well as recruiting staff. All previous staff that worked at O’Shucks were invited to stay on.

Alma, an attorney who specializes in Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management, focused on the business licenses, permits, paperwork and inspections. She also enjoyed redecorating the restaurant, adding new lighting and décor, and some new furniture. Alma even worked with Project Flashback’s Dan Burris to cull some historic Centreville photos for the entryway to pay homage to the town and its evolution.

The new décor includes a mural envisioned by the couple and made reality by the local Ink or Dye Studio tattoo shop. This art piece highlights the new owners’ heritage, how their travels influenced Joe’s style of cooking, and how important it is for him to use fresh, local, seasonal ingredients to create homemade-from scratch- delicious dishes.

Joe is a classically trained chef who studied under a French master chef at the internationally acclaimed Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, who doesn’t have just one cooking style. “My cooking initially comes from my classic French culinary training, but I traveled extensively throughout Europe and internationally, picking up culinary influences all along the way. I guess my style is eclectic with many international influences with a bit of a Southern flair as well,” he says.

For Alma it comes down to continuing the tradition of gastropubs, which originated in the 1990s to put an emphasis on food at pubs. “When people ask what a gastropub is and what kind of food we serve, I say it’s a bar with really good food,” she says.

And if the soft opening is any indication, The Alibi Gastropub will be a great complement to Centreville dining options for many years to come.

The Alibi Gastropub is open Wednesday through Sunday. The hours are noon to 10 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; noon to midnight Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, email alibigastropub@gmail.com or follow them on Facebook.