Inside a century-old movie palace in downtown Gastonia, North Carolina, something extraordinary is happening every single night.
Vaulted ceilings, plush wraparound booths, and the flicker of classic films on the big screen set the stage for what has quietly become one of the most celebrated dining experiences in the entire Carolinas — a locally-owned restaurant where great food and local history share the same table. 🎬🍽️
How Webb Custom Kitchen Won Gastonia’s Hearts
The story of Webb Custom Kitchen begins not in a kitchen — but in a dream to save a city. 🌆
When veteran restaurateur Jim Morasso first laid eyes on the former Webb Theatre building — a stunning 6,500-square-foot architectural jewel built in 1927, complete with vaulted ceilings and multiple levels — he didn’t just see an empty space.
“When I saw this place, I said, ‘This is absolutely beautiful,'” Morasso recalled, and with partners Tom Cox and Bruce Shrake, he set out to transform the landmark building into something the community could truly rally behind. 🏛️
In honor of the generations of Gastonia families who saw their first movie, stole their first kiss, and made lifelong memories under that roof, they kept the name Webb — and paired it with “Custom Kitchen” as a nod to what partners Morasso and Executive Chef and Certified Executive Chef Jon Spencer do best: crafting deeply personal, creative, and memorable dining experiences.
The restaurant was featured in Architectural Digest as part of an article spotlighting cities where former cinemas had been transformed into remarkable restaurants — placing Gastonia alongside Boston, Chicago, Knoxville, and New Orleans.
Charlotte’s own mayor visited and noted that even the Queen City had nothing like it.
That kind of recognition, built entirely on authentic local investment, exceptional food, and genuine hospitality, is exactly what earns a restaurant not just customers — but a community. ❤️
The menu is built on Chef Spencer’s commitment to fresh, quality ingredients with creative flair, and the experience — from the classically trained staff to the flickering cinema screen overhead — feels curated yet completely unpretentious.
For diners seeking a truly unique dining experience in North Carolina, there is simply nothing else quite like it — and locals know it. 🎬🥩
Food Highlights
Webb Custom Kitchen is a contemporary American restaurant built around fresh, scratch-made dishes with bold, thoughtful flavor combinations. Here are the most popular offerings from its menu:
- Angry Lobster: Spicy flash-fried lobster tails served with a jalapeño-honey mustard dip — a bold, heat-forward starter that balances fire and sweetness. 🦞🌶️
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Duck Cigars: Slow-simmered confit of duck leg wrapped in ultra-thin spring roll wrap, flash-fried and served with a trio of dipping sauces. 🦆
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Center Cut Filet Mignon: Certified Angus beef tenderloin, center-cut and charbroiled to order — celebrated for its buttery texture and precise preparation. 🥩
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Standard Hardware Burger: A half-pound certified Angus beef patty stacked with sharp cheddar, crispy bacon, lettuce, tomato, and house-made comeback sauce on a toasted brioche bun — Webb’s signature burger. 🍔🧀🥓
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Port City Crabcakes: Sweet blue crab cakes finished with a lemon-coriander butter sauce, served with a choice of side. 🦀🍋
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Skillet Seared Jumbo Scallops: Pan-seared to golden perfection and served with fried green tomato and creamed corn. 🍳
- Tenderloin Medallions: Beef tenderloin medallions served with a Madeira glaze over a potato cake and asparagus. 🥩✨
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Shrimp and Grits: A Southern classic elevated with Webb’s custom kitchen touch — a quiet signature of the restaurant. 🍤🌽
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BBQ Glazed Baby Back Ribs: Tender Danish baby back ribs, slow-smoked and finished with Webb’s signature barbecue glaze or dry rub. 🍖🔥
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Caesar Salad Theater: Crisp romaine with Parmesan tuiles, garlic-mustard emulsion, herbed focaccia croutons, and shaved Parma ham — an elevated take on a classic. 🥗
Atmosphere
Stepping into Webb Custom Kitchen is unlike walking into any other restaurant in North Carolina — because it’s not just a restaurant, it’s a fully preserved piece of Gastonia’s living history, housed in a 1927 cinema with vaulted ceilings, multiple dining levels, and plush wraparound booths that feel as though they were designed for lingering.
Classic films play on the original overhead screen, giving the space a warm, cinematic glow that makes every dinner feel like a special occasion — and the local woodworking by partner Tom Cox is visible in the beautifully crafted cabinetry, entrance details, and wine cabinet throughout.
The restaurant is consistently described as upscale but never stuffy — a place where you’re just as likely to sit next to a table of celebrating newlyweds as a group of friends catching up over craft cocktails.
For those feeling bold, the restaurant is also home to a legendary 40-ounce porterhouse steak challenge: finish it, and you’ll earn a custom steak knife and a coveted spot on their wall of winners. 🏆🥩
Bottom Line
Webb Custom Kitchen is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of dining experience — a gorgeously restored 1920s movie theater, an award-winning menu from a certified executive chef, and the kind of warm, community-rooted hospitality that makes Gastonia, NC, worth the drive.
Come for the history. Stay for the food. 🎬🍽️
Address:
182 S South St, Gastonia, NC 28052
📞 (704) 675-9192
🕔 Mon–Thu: 11:30 AM–1:30 PM & 4:30 PM–8:00 PM | Fri: 11:30 AM–1:30 PM & 4:30 PM–9:00 PM | Sat: 4:00 PM–9:00 PM | Sun (Brunch): 11:30 AM–2:30 PM