Dear editor,

My name is Doug Ogden, and I live on Dataw Island in Beaufort, South Carolina.

Last week, my wife, Denise, and I, my 96-year-old father-in-law, and our dog had to evacuate our island because of the approaching threat of Hurricane Florence.  

We were able to find accommodations at your local Hampton Inn and Suites, and our “visit” was made tolerable and even enjoyable by the reception given to us by the people and businesses in and around Tifton.

One place stood out, and that is the reason for this communication.

We arrived very late on Wednesday evening, and the following night, I went on TripAdvisor to look for a recommendation for dinner.

We decided to try The Local Kitchen and Bar on Main Street, and to say that we were delighted would be a great understatement.

From the moment we walked in, it was apparent that we were at a special place.

We were greeted and seated immediately by Teddy, even though they were expecting a full house, and the energy of the place, to say nothing of the Rolling Stones, Bob Segar, and the Grateful Dead playing in the background, reverberated all night throughout the restaurant.

The bartender, Brandon, hurried over and took our drink orders, and the rest of the evening continued in the same manner. At one point, both Jennifer and David, the Chef/owners came out, and we were able to chat and express our thanks and our thoughts about their exceptional establishment.

We returned the next night and had an even more enjoyable experience with an unexpected twist thrown in at the end.

We were greeted as regulars, and Miranda, our waitress that night, continued to make our experience very enjoyable.

We chatted with the other customers and were made to feel very welcome and at home, and that is where the twist comes in.

We were seated at a table when a young couple came in and sat at the bar. We never spoke, and they eventually left, and when we asked to settle up our bill, we were told that they had heard us talking about being “refugees,” and they had paid our dinner tab!

We can only hope that they read this and accept our thanks and appreciation.

Jennifer and David have created a special place, with a special staff, and with the food and energy to make a visit a must.  

Thanks to everyone at The Local, and Thank You, Tifton, for truly being “ The Friendly City.”

Respectfully,

Doug and Denise Ogden

Dataw Island, SC