Meet the area couple whose restaurant is about to appear on a national show

Eventually, sometimes shyly, sometimes boldly, but almost every day, someone will pose a familiar question to chef Kellie Stark or her husband, Dan: How did CHUDS Pub & Grub get its name?

After all, it’s not the most melodious name they could have chosen. Its single syllable, in fact, lands with a thud, which, of course, rhymes with “CHUDS.”

But it suited the Starks’ purpose when they opened their family restaurant about 14 months ago.

“We wanted to pick a name that stood out a bit,” Kellie said.

Customers often speculate on what the letters C, H, U, D and S might stand for and present their solutions to the Starks or their servers. One guest convoluted it into “Creating Hamburgers Uniquely Delicious and Saucy.”

No, that’s not it, the Starks say. What CHUDS stands for is simple: nothing, really. Just good food, an atmosphere that welcomes all ages with a pool table and arcade games and a husband and wife making their dream come true.

Soon, the red building just inside the western city limits of Larchwood, Iowa, will be known nationwide. This month, a film crew from America’s Best Restaurants will arrive at CHUDS to film segments featuring the Starks and the food and drinks they prepare and serve.

The national media company highlights small-business restaurants across the United States. Typical episodes include showcasing the restaurant’s food, interviews with staff and a look at the business’ place in its community. Other restaurants scheduled to be featured in the Sioux Falls area include Squealer’s Smoke Shack and Carnaval Brazilian Grill.

Restaurants are selected based on customer reviews, menu items, social media presence and community involvement. More than 1,300 episodes have been filmed. The Starks bring in live music frequently and also display local artists’ work on their walls and allow them to sell it.

Kellie’s media savvy was highlighted when the company contacted her and asked for permission to film, she said.

“I’m very active on Facebook and social media, and I post once or twice a day on our Facebook page,” she said. “I like to put out information about events in the community.”

CHUDS will feature five of its dishes on the program, which will film July 17. Kellie will choose which to highlight as the time draws nearer, but her husband already has his favorites.

It was her potato salad that first won his heart and stomach, Dan said. The couple, who married in 2019, met when Kellie was an early employee with the Sip-N-Cycle party bike in Sioux Falls and Dan worked at Lucky’s checking IDs.

“She used to bring me her homemade potato salad with a smile,” Dan said.

Man — even husbands — can’t live by potato salad alone, however, and Dan’s current favorite is the bone-in wings that Kellie seasons and prepares. Also popular among customers: the Starks’ coleslaw, a flatbread with pork and pineapple salsa, the sweet chili chicken sandwich and the crabby chicken sandwich.

Not all the creativity comes out of the kitchen. Dan serves as CHUDS’ bartender, and his libations include the heavily loaded CHUDDY Mary. CHUDS took part in the Brandon Valley Beverage Battle last month with the Suzie Q of Malibu rum, citrus soda and pineapple juice.

Kellie, who grew up in Jasper, Minnesota, and Sioux Falls, first set foot inside a commercial restaurant kitchen when she started working at a Hardee’s in Sioux Falls on her 14th birthday. When it became Z’kota Grille, she worked closely with owner Scott Fritz and considers him a mentor because of his work ethic.

“I fell in love with the restaurant industry,” Kellie said.

After spending multiple years in fast food, she made a drastic switch and applied at Avera Health. There, she worked with talented chefs, learning their unique cooking styles and catering food for company officials, physicians and staff.

“If I hadn’t had the opportunity to work at Avera and learn from them, this isn’t something I would be doing today,” Kellie said.

A couple of years ago, in the aftermath of the pandemic that sometimes forced restaurants to close, the Starks decided to follow their dreams. They began looking at various buildings that met their needs. They found what they wanted in nearby Larchwood, after driving to inspect another possibility.

That didn’t work, but on their way back to Sioux Falls, they spotted the red Morton building, built in 2011, that once held a consignment clothing shop. With financial support from Peoples Bank and Dakota Business Finance, a deal was made.

The Starks purchased furnishings in bits and pieces, looking to establish an eclectic atmosphere. They didn’t scrimp when it came to major appliances such as the freezers, unwilling to risk any second-hand issues.

The parents of three, the Starks are learning the rhythm it takes to operate a ma-and-pa restaurant with good family time. Their oldest, 9-year-old June, already is interested in working in a restaurant and sometimes can be found baking cookies in a professional-grade oven.

Customers’ children also have been impressed with the open kitchen, and Kellie hopes she is fostering a love of cooking in a younger generation.

The Starks agreed early on that they will close on holidays such as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Their desire to help other families celebrate must, on occasion, take a back seat, they say.

Kellie cooks more by taste than written-down recipes. She and Dan like to use the sous vide cooking method, which vacuum-seals food in a plastic bag and cooks it in a precisely regulated water bath before the final touches. They use that method for a new entree they recently debuted: prime rib. It was a success, they said.

“It’s amazingly juicy and tender,” Dan said. “That’s an underused cooking method.”

CHUDS now employs 17 servers and assistants, almost twice what the Starks expected they would need. They found themselves welcomed by Larchwood, the eastern area of Sioux Falls and those who have traveled 50 miles to sample the food.

If you come and don’t find what you want on the menu, Kellie said, just ask her for it. And if you’re curious about the name, just ask Kellie or Dan.

“Nothing,” they’ll tell you, smiling. “Nothing at all.”

If you go

CHUDS Pub & Grub is at 403 Holder St. in Larchwood, Iowa. It is 4.2 miles past Grand Falls Casino on Iowa Highway 9.

Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.