Fazio’s opens the new Goodfellas Lounge
- Steven Keith
- 7 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The French Goat closes in Lewisburg, Bop & Nana suppers coming
One of Charleston’s oldest and most iconic restaurants has opened a swanky new bar on the premises.
During a VIP ribbon-cutting last week, Fazio’s Italian Restaurant officially celebrated the opening of Goodfellas Lounge, a gorgeous new bar designed by Darin Fisher that was built inside the restaurant’s former private dining room.
Although the rest of the popular restaurant still offers the same traditional old-school Italian look and feel, the new bar is sleek, modern and oh-so inviting, while still blending well with the rest of the space.
For those familiar with the inside of Fazio’s, the new bar’s entrance is right in front of you when you enter the building, with the same dining areas to your left. (Interestingly enough, the lounge sits on the same space where the original Fazio’s home stood.)
Inside the new lounge, a striking black-and-white granite bar top lined with plush leather stools fills most of the small room, with a handful of high-top tables along the wall nearest the dining rooms. Large wooden bar shelves with all manner of fine wines and spirits frame the other side of the room, with intricate faux-tin ceiling tiles and small hanging lights completing its luxurious, cozy feel.
During the Jan. 12 private opening reception, Fazio’s new owners thanked the community for its overwhelming support as they continue to thoughtfully preserve and improve one of Charleston’s most beloved gathering places for the past 77 years.
Most of those remarks were shared by investor Doug Skaff Sr., whose late son Doug Skaff Jr. was one of the new owners who had been pushing to build a new bar inside Fazio’s when he tragically died in a car accident last June.
With his wife, Marissa, joining other Skaff family members in the crowd, Doug’s vision was celebrated while dozens of supporters and longtime customers enjoyed complimentary drinks and a buffet of food throughout the evening.
With seating available on a first-come, first-serve basis, Goodfellas Lounge will open at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, serving both drinks and food.
The restaurant itself is open from 5 to 9:30 p.m. those same days.
For more information, call 304-344-3071, check out www.fazioswv.com or visit the restaurant’s Facebook page.
The French Goat closes in Lewisburg
I didn’t see this one coming – and it really stings. Once considered one of the best restaurants in the state, Lewisburg’s The French Goat announced last week that it had suddenly closed.
“It is with a heavy heart that we have made the hard decision to close,” the French bistro’s owners posted on Facebook. “With difficult economic conditions in the fine-dining segment, we find it unsustainable for our concept at this time.”
However, they added: “If the stars align, we could be back in the spring with a new concept for The Goat, so stay tuned for that.”
Fingers crossed for that.
Located at 290 Lafayette St. just a few blocks off the main road through downtown Lewisburg, The French Goat opened in August 2014 and quickly became one of the most sought-after reservations in the state.
I’ve enjoyed many fine brunches, lunches and dinners there through the years and now really regret that I hadn’t been back recently. If they do resurrect in some form, you can bet it’ll be good – whatever it is.
Bop & Nana Sunday Supper dates announced
Former Cafe Cimino chef Tim Urbanic and wife Melody have announced the 2026 dates for the “Sunday Supper” dinner series they host on their Calhoun County farm in Chloe.
Guests at each dinner enjoy a locally curated multi-course feast prepared by Tim and son Eli, while seated at tables overlooking the farm’s pretty pond. Local artists will also be on hand throughout the series, selling jewelry, clothing, crafts and more.
Some dinners have already sold out, but seats remain for a “Mother’s Day Supper” on May 10, the “Feels Like Summer” dinner on June 14, “All Vegetarian” on Aug. 23 and “Fall Finale” on Sept. 13.
All dinners run from 1 to 3 p.m. Tickets, which are $150 per person, include the meal, a welcome beverage, tax and gratuity. You can call or text 304-532-5560 to request a link to purchase your tickets.
Steven Keith is a food writer and restaurant critic known as “The Food Guy” who writes a weekly column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail and has appeared in several state, regional and national culinary publications. Follow him online at www.wvfoodguy.com or on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest as “WV Food Guy.” He can be reached at 304-380-6096 or at wvfoodguy@aol.com.