DINE+WINE | nibbles & bites
A Taste of the South at
Tobo’s
Co-owner Travis Elliot with his daughter.
Where everyone is treated like family
by Lara Tumer | photography by Lisa Crates
There’s no question that North Carolina produces some of the best barbecue, and Tobo’s of Mooresville is certainly part of the competition. Co-owners Brad Torrence and Travis Elliot are longtime friends turned restaurateurs, born and raised right here in Iredell County. Both Elliot and Torrence have been in the food service industry for more than 25 years, but just recently decided to turn their years of experience in catering and barbecue into a brick and mortar, serving up their all-time favorite recipes. With Torrence taking on much of the kitchen management and Elliot handling most of the business aspects, they make an ideal team. As Torrence put it, they’re “just two country boys trying to make it.”
From left to right: Paul McGuire and co-owner Brad Torrence. 72
LAKE NORMAN CURRENTS | AUGUST 2022
At the start of the pandemic, the two men had tossed around the idea of a restaurant, but due to the increased costs and uncertainty of in-house dining businesses at the time, decided to open a food truck instead. After some time, they re-approached the idea of something more permanent and soon found their current location on Charlotte Highway in Mooresville. The food truck is not obsolete though, and still caters a variety of events, most recently an event for GoPro as well as a party for Iredell County’s Hall of Fame for 250-plus guests.
