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That is the name given to the smoker at GrannyWeavs Soul Food and Catering.
But it is also a whole lot more to George Weaver Jr. - owner and manager of GrannyWeavs.
Weaver’s granny raised him and his siblings, and her nickname was Squeaky.
Squeaky (who also answered to Granny but never Grandma) passed 15 years ago, but her heritage and legacy of love, family and good food live on at GrannyWeavs.
“We were the Fantastic Four Plus One,” Weaver says, explaining that he, his brothers Jordan and Dan, sister LaReshia and Squeaky comprised the quintet. Being raised by Squeaky, Weaver and his siblings learned about family and love of family. They also learned about good-tasting food as Squeaky taught her young charges what love of cooking meant.
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With GrannyWeavs – which opened in June 2017 – Weaver is honoring his granny and demonstrating the cooking ability and talent she possessed … “showing what she could do in the kitchen.”
The restaurant might be small, but a lot of activity transpires within.
The buoyant and spirited Weaver delivers fried chicken, ribs and fish as the primary fare offered at the restaurant, but there are also homemade biscuits, cornbread, red beans and rice, caramel cake, crumble cake and more.
The atmosphere is informal and fun at GrannyWeavs. “We keep all the personal stuff out [of the restaurant],” Weaver says. “A business can’t have bad vibes.”
Weaver takes to Twitter or Facebook to keep his customers up to date about what is happening and what he thinks. His honest and earthy Facebook videos are infectious and refreshing.
The walls of the eatery are covered with handwritten messages from customers. Weaver explained that it started when former Nebraska football player Mike Rozier and some other Husker players were in GrannyWeavs. They liked the place and the food so much that Rozier asked if he could write something on the wall. “It all grew from there, that whoever wants to write something, they can,” Weaver says.
In April, Weaver had a shock when it was discovered that someone had broken into the restaurant. While not something Weaver was happy about, a pleasant consequence for GrannyWeavs was the opportunity to upgrade its seating and dining area furnishings.
“We’ve come back strong and proud,” Weaver states.
The GrannyWeavs menu includes Party Wings (five, 10 and 20 pieces, $6.99/$10.99/$19.99); Chicken Combos including two sides and drink (two, three and four pieces, $7.39/$8.39/$9.39); Beef Brisket sandwich or combo ($7.99/$9.79); Pulled Pork sandwich or combo ($6.49/$8.29); Cheeseburger combo ($9.99); and Fish dinner at $11.99 with a Fish filet $2.50.
A Rib dinner costs $10.99, with a half-slab of ribs $13.49 and a full slab $21.99. Weaver comments that he uses a sweet rub on his ribs and makes sure they are tender and moist so that the meat falls off the bone.
Sides include Baked Macaroni & Cheese, Baked Beans, Collard Greens, Sweet Potatoes, Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Red Beans & Rice, Fried Okra, French Fries, Corn on the Cob and Spicy Cauliflower. Costs are $2.99/$3.99/$4.99 for small, medium and large servings.
Family chicken meals with two sides range from $17.49 to $34.59 for eight, 10, 12, 16 or 20 pieces, with chicken only available from $11.49 to $28.59 for the same number of pieces.
Desserts include funnel cake fries ($4.99/$8.99) and slices of caramel, sweet strawberry or red velvet brown cake or sweet potato pie at $2.99.
GrannyWeavs’ catering menu is extensive and includes a Breakfast Buffet with six entrees, plus sides and beverage at $10.95/person. Its High Rollers Buffet costs $23.95/person and features 20-plus pork, chicken and beef options with 12 sides and 12 dessert offerings.
Weaver says that the catering side of GrannyWeavs is growing, but “we want to do more.”
The vibe at GrannyWeavs is spontaneous and fresh, but customers are also considered family by Weaver and his staff … something Squeaky would appreciate.
Weaver reinforces that by saying that customer service and an atmosphere of feeling like one is at home are major reasons for a visit to GrannyWeavs. “And,” he says tossing his braids, “don’t forget about the food.”