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In late 2018, Victor Patel brought a burger chain to Albemarle.
Now, he has flipped his restaurant’s style and flavor.
In the building formerly occupied by Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries in the Olive Place Shopping Center, Patel has opened Good Eats.
The restaurant serves homestyle meals that include country dishes and sides, such chicken and dumplings, chuck wagon, fried okra, fried squash, fried pickles and macaroni and cheese. He has steak sandwiches, and steaks in general all day every day.
“It was something the community wanted,” co-owner Patel said. “This concept fits so well in our community.
“As of now the community has supported and they have been extremely, extremely excited for us to be here, and the food we are serving they are enjoying it, they are loving it.”
Patel said he is still updating the menu.
“Top-notch service is our No. 1 priority, along with the food, which has to be top-notch quality,” he said.
Patel said the community outreaches will continue, such as helping churches and individuals struggling with health problems.
“That is close to me, that is close to my heart because the community supports me personally so much that I owe this to the community, because they come in and spend their hard earned money at my place,” he said. “They skip all these restaurants and they come in and eat with me, so it’s time to return back to the community. We already have been doing it, but I believe in giving back to the community.
“We are going to plan on continuously doing those things to help out [those] who are in need.”
He also gives credit to his family, staff and the community for allowing him the success he has seen.
“They deserve a round of applause, not me. I’m just doing what I need to do as a human being to help someone else because it helps me,” Patel said. “Because if they don’t show up, I can’t feed my family or my staff. Without the community, we are nobody. We need them.”
Good Eats is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

B.J. Drye is general manager/editor of The Stanly News & Press. Call 704-982-2123.