This October marks the one-year anniversary of King City Kitchen and a big chapter in the history of 117 Mallery Street and owners Cat and Chris McDougald. If you aren’t familiar with the restaurant yet, King City Kitchen is an homage to “Old St. Simons” with contemporary flair, offering brunch and dinner in an atmosphere that’s refined yet approachable. The restaurant is steeped in history, both from the near and distant past. The name “King City” refers to its location in the heart of the first subdivision developed on St. Simons Island in the late 1800s by Mallery King. The more recent legacy that it has been built on is that of Sandcastle Café & Grill, a beloved institution for island residents and visitors alike. (See the recipe card at the bottom for a special recipe Cat has shared from her family archives - her dad's Crab Imperial.)
Now, in the renovated and revamped space where her parents operated the popular village eatery for more than three decades, Cat McDougald and her husband Chris honor that past and bring to life their forward-thinking vision. They have created an inviting chef-driven restaurant and craft cocktail bar with open air ocean views and a relaxed coastal atmosphere. A place where locals gather, travelers return, and every meal is a flavorful celebration.
While Cat’s talents in the kitchen may be well-known, you might not be aware that she’s quite good with words as well. She recently recounted her experiences of this first year in a recent blog at whisk-and-wander.com. I was so moved by her writing that I asked her to allow me to share excerpts, and so, here’s a little bit about Cat’s journey in her own words.
“Owning a restaurant is heavier than I ever imagined, but it’s also the fulfillment of a dream I’ve carried for years…[E]ven in the hardest moments, I’m reminded that this is a dream I once only scribbled in notebooks and talked about late at night. To be here now—living it, building it, holding it together day after day—is both overwhelming and deeply sentimental. It is at once a burden and a gift.
The restaurant is both the greatest gift and the heaviest chain I’ve ever carried. I watch someone take their first bite of Dad’s crab cake recipe or the first sip of a cocktail that took hours to create and light up, and I know we’ve given them more than food—we’ve given them a memory. That makes the sleepless nights and 16-hour days feel worth it…[E]ach time I turn the key and the dining room glows back to life, I feel that flicker of pride—that against everything, we are still here.
…I will not stop showing up. Because this is not just a job. It is a calling, a generational dream, a promise, a fire in my chest that refuses to let me quit.”
This is the heart you find at King City Kitchen. It’s a perfect spot to enjoy a Saturday afternoon brunch with live music on the patio or a cozy date night at an intimate table inside where screens on the brick walls display vintage photos that capture those past moments in time. Chris, Cat, and their team are committed to providing a dining experience that reflects culinary excellence, the charm and warmth of Southern hospitality, and true community connection. They offer all day breakfast and lunch Mondays and Wednesdays 7:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., and open for dinner from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. in addition to breakfast and lunch Thursdays through Saturdays. Sunday brunch is 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Their menus offer thoughtfully sourced seasonal ingredients with bright and bold flavors, hand-crafted signature dishes, modern interpretations of classic Southern fare, and weekly specials featuring fresh catch entrees and premium cuts of meat. Sandcastle devotees will be pleased to recognize some of their breakfast and lunch favorites, like the Pier Connection, Crab Benedict, and Shrimp Salad.
When it comes to drinks, this is where their playful creative spirit thrives! No matter who you find behind the bar, they’re happy to serve up your favorite coffee drink or one of the inventive rotating house-made cocktails tailored to complement their changing menu items. Between 2:30-5:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, they offer an Apertivo cocktail hour with special pricing on select drinks and small bites.
Cat, Chris, and their crew invite you to join them for an Anniversary Ribbon Cutting with the Brunswick Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, October 2 from 4:30-6:00 p.m. Come celebrate this village gathering place that is so much more than just a restaurant! Follow King City Kitchen on social media for menus, special events, updates, and sign up for their newsletter at kingcitykitchen.com.
