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Elgin will soon have a new eating establishment once doors open on DWhites restaurant. Restaurateur Demetrius White plans to offer home cooking the way his grandmother taught him. The menu will include burgers, steak, chicken, tacos, fajitas, and eventually seafood, he said.Southwest Chronicle photo by Curtis Awbrey
ELGIN - Demetrius White plans to give Elgin and surrounding communities home cooking away from home when his DWhite’s restaurant opens later this month.
White, 27, isn’t sure about an opening date because the state health department hasn’t performed its final inspections, but he’s hoping that occurs in the next two weeks. He’s also experiencing a few supply chain issues, but those should be resolved soon, he said.
In the meantime, White is prepping for the line of customers who are bound to want some of his home-cooked cuisine which eventually will include everything from fried chicken to Mexican food to seafood.
“There will be 1,000-plus different items over time,” he said. “I’m calling it a one-stop shop.”
For now, the menu will have all of the standards including burgers, sandwiches, salads, steak, chicken, tacos, and fajitas. In time, several seafood items will be included on the menu, he said.
White, who recently left the U.S. Army after six years serving in a Calvary unit, said he learned to cook from his grandmother and YouTube.
“I learned a little from Granny when I was a kid, and a few years ago I started watching cooking sessions on YouTube because it was too expensive to go out,” he said. “Food is my passion. You have to be passionate about what you do, or you’ll fail. I also enjoy technology, but it’s not my passion.”
White researched foods and cultures before making the menu items a part of the restaurant menu. That’s why patrons will see such a variety of food when the eatery opens.
Hours will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., but eventually White said he wants to be open 24 hours a day.
“I think it’s necessary,” he said. “People work at night; they’re up at night and we’ll be right off the interstate.”
White selected Elgin for his restaurant because he noticed it had few full-service eateries.
“I just liked it. I wanted to create a hometown environment, a little mingle spot where I can get to know my customers,” he said. “And I’ll be next to city hall.”
DWhite’s is located at 8225 state Highway 17.