Pizza, dirty sodas, local music stories, and one seriously good hang. This episode of Snackin' & Yakkin' brings in John Kenney of Johnny's Garage for a conversation that covers way more than lunch.

BIG Ben Kennedy sits down with John to talk about the rise of Johnny's Garage in Hanahan, the long run of The Royal American in Charleston, and the kind of neighborhood spots people actually want to come back to. Along the way, they get into thin-crust Northeast-style pizza, hot honey, pepperoni cups, General Tso's wings, crispy Brussels sprouts, and those wild dirty sodas that sound suspiciously like dessert in a cup.

There is also a great backstory here. John shares how The Royal American got started, how chef and business partner Ben Ellsworth helped shape the food, and how authentic hospitality has carried their places through the ups and downs of Charleston's restaurant scene. It's food talk with actual substance, plus a lot of laughs.

Then the episode takes a sharp and very welcome turn into band life. John talks about playing guitar in the DC rock band Rotoglow, opening for major acts, booking shows, and building spaces where music and community still matter. If you love local music, old venues, and stories from the road, this one has plenty to chew on.

Also, yes, they talk about the Halloween connection. Johnny's Garage sits at the old gas station location seen in Halloween (2018), and that bit of movie trivia is too good to ignore.If you like restaurant stories, Charleston food culture, local music, pizza reviews, and hosts who can turn lunch into a full-blown adventure, this episode is for you.

Follow the featured spots on social media:

@theroyalamerican

@thebountybar

@johnnysgaragechs