The building may be small, and even quaint with a Texas flag painted on the counter and outside picnic tables for seating, but inside this new food venue is some of the best down-home cooking outside of grandma’s kitchen.

Guidry’s Gallery, at 3914 N. Twin City Hwy., offers comfort food with a flair and is open from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Owned by Nederland brothers, Scott and Steve Guidry, the mainly take-out menu boasts daily specials ranging from meatloaf, smothered pork chops, stuffed bell peppers and chicken fried steak to the signature Aloha burger.

Scott Guidry said he learned the island recipe that features a thick hamburger patty topped with a grilled pineapple slice when visiting Hawaii.

“It seemed everything they cooked there had pineapple. The Aloha burger is a big seller,” he said.

The retired tug boat captain said he enjoys running the restaurant with his brother, who works full-time at a Beaumont refinery, is more of a silent partner.

Together, the brothers have six children who often help out at the restaurant.

“We call it a family affair, and like to involve the kids. We get them to deliver,” Guidry said.

Opening a restaurant was not something the boys did on a lark. Guidry said he had always loved to cook, and often thought about cooking for a living.

Long before the brothers opened their restaurant, Guidry had a stained glass picture in his home that said “Guidry’s Galley.”

While piloting the tug boats, Guidry would often prepare meals in the galley while docked at refineries.

“We’d cook for the people at refineries while the barges were being loaded,” he said.

The restaurant site, he said, was chosen because of its close proximity to local refineries, and the name is a nod to the many meals prepared on the water.

During the month Guidry’s Galley has been open, refinery workers have been a mainstay for business, Guidry said.

Since opening, Guidry has been head cook, but now with a good staff, hopes to share his galley with others.

That’ll give him more time for something he loves as much, if not more, than cooking.

Whether behind the counter, flipping burgers or grilling pineapple, Guidry said he’s never worked so hard, or enjoyed his work more.

“I was ready for it, knew what was coming, but whew, I’m tired. But, I’ve really enjoyed seeing people I have not seen for years,” he said.

skoonce@panews.com