Posey’s Home Cooking, in the former location of Mario’s Taco Shop (the old Skippers building) has been completely renovated, and is a family-friendly, alcohol-free restaurant that offers home-cooked-style soul food, from mac ‘n cheese and fried chicken to fried green tomatoes.

“My corn bread is to die for,” said Alycia Cohen, who owns the restaurant with partner Joe Crough. The two are also the chefs.

Cohen, whose husband is retired from the Navy, has been a caterer for 25 years. Crough has worked in her catering business, and the two have talked about the possibility of opening a restaurant. When the location opened up, they decided to take the opportunity, and self-financed their new business.

“We decided the time was right, and Kitsap County needed something fresh and different,” Cohen said.

The comfortable diner’s decor reflects the soul food menu. Cohen said it is intended to be reminiscent of grandma’s dining room on a Sunday afternoon — even the chairs were special ordered. The restaurant, which seats 42, is named after her grandfather, Posey Mallory, who was her inspiration for good hospitality and Southern cooking.

Cohen, the oldest of nine children, grew up cooking. Since settling in Kitsap five years ago, she’s had feasts at her home for single sailors during the holidays. Posey’s Home Cooking, she said, caters to the diversity of the area, and especially to all the displaced Southerners.

JW’s Restaurant and Lounge across the street has a contrasting atmosphere and fare. Located in the building that had been vacant after Black Angus closed, the restaurant has a country style and serves steaks, seafood and pasta. Proprietor JW Ashe has owned Cascade Floral shop in Belfair for 25 years. “I’ve always wanted to offer a restaurant,” he said.

With his sons now running the floral shop, Ashe spends a lot of time at the restaurant but says he’s a hands-off owner, and lets his experienced staff run the place. He has about 70 employees, and finds that running a restaurant is not a lot different than any other business — he’s dealing with employees, suppliers and customers.

JW’s seats about 300 people and another 50 in the lounge area. Wireless Internet is available between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. for those business people who want to get away from the office for lunch but can’t quite get away from work. For those seeking entertainment instead, there is live piano music Wednesday through Sunday.

“It’s a good fit for the area right now,” Ashe said.