Pork Belly’s Eatery & Catering Co.

Charles (Eddie) and Kate Meek have been in the restaurant industry for over 20 years.  They owned and sold a successful restaurant in California, then chose Cedar City, Utah, to start Pork Belly’s Eatery & Catering Co. in 2016.  They opened a second location in St. George in 2019. 

Pork Belly’s is a full-service restaurant offering unique dishes and American-style food with flare.  The menu is a culmination of dishes from cities Kate and Eddie have visited, recreated with their own twist. Between the two locations, Pork Belly’s has 27 employees and offers space for nearly 150 dining guests.  

Catering is a large portion of their business, and Eddie and Kate try to never turn down a catering opportunity. They have obtained state and federal contracts to feed firefighters and pilots. A few years ago, they were chosen to feed the Especially for Youth Organization in Cedar City, where they provided 470 meals, three times a day for five days. Using the profits from this event, they were able to obtain an SBA loan and open Pork Belly’s in St. George. Never sacrificing quality is their goal when catering, and they strive to provide the same homemade, unique flavors at each event. 

Kate and Eddie were referred by their bank to the Cedar City SBDC for assistance in preparing their loan package for their restaurant location in St. George. Since then, and due to COVID-19, SBDC counselor Joni Anderson has communicated regularly with them to assist with various federal and state assistance programs and other available resources.

COVID-19 has severely impacted the restaurant industry, and Pork Belly’s has had its share of challenges. With federal- and state-mandated health regulations, employee recruitment and retention issues, food and restaurant supply chain problems, ever-changing regulations and requirements, personal protective equipment requirements, additional sanitizing, and more, the Pork Belly’s team has effectively been able to pivot their business in order to manage the restrictions. While Kate acknowledges that it has been a bumpy few months, she is also grateful to live in a state that values and supports small businesses and recognizes their contributions to the state and local economy. 

Pork Belly’s Eatery & Catering Co. is committed to their customers and to providing high-quality food and service. Eddie and Kate are grateful to be able to work in an industry they love while serving customers who love great food!