Gaisha Williams hopes visitors to her new restaurant in Clanton will enjoy the food and leave with a desire to come back.

“My passion is cooking, and with each dish I make, I pour a little of my heart into it,” Williams, 40, of Clanton said. “My goal is for people to come and enjoy what they are eating and leave with a little more love in their hearts.”

On March 20, Gaisha’s Place Buffet and Catering opened to the public, and a grand opening is planned for April 21 at 11 a.m.

The Chilton County Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting ceremony as well.

The restaurant offers American fare including hamburgers, ribs, barbecue, sides and William’s specialty of homemade cupcakes.

“I love to bake,” Williams said. “I originally started baking out of my home and would have orders for my cakes. I then started making cupcakes, and people requested I make them for different things so I wanted to incorporate those with the restaurant.”

Currently, Williams has a different variety of cupcakes offered on the menu, featuring a changing flavor of cupcakes offered each day.

“Yesterday we had a key lime cupcake offered; today it is strawberry but we have also had caramel, red velvet and other flavors,” Williams said.

In the coming weeks, Williams will also have a buffet table with the focus each day being on five fresh vegetable dishes and two or three meat options on the menu.

Inside the restaurant, guests are greeted with red décor and art pieces lining the wall reminding guests to enjoy life and love more.

“I learned so much from my grandmother when I was growing up,” Williams said. “I would sit and watch her cook, and the thing I learned most from her was she put love into everything she did. Even if it was a simple meal for her family, she put her heart into it.”

Williams said her grandmother taught her the basics of cooking, but she wanted to learn more about running a restaurant and woke up one morning and drove to Virginia College in Birmingham.

“I didn’t plan it out, I just woke up on a Monday and started driving to Virginia College and signed up for classes,” Williams said. “I have always known how to cook, but I now know cooking is my passion.”

Since opening her restaurant, Williams has had support from her family helping her with the business, including support from her sisters who prep many of the menu items.

“They have been wonderful to help me,” Williams said. “I couldn’t have done it without them.”

The restaurant offers lunch and dinner options and is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Williams anticipates having the restaurant open on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is considering having the restaurant open the second and fourth Sunday of each month with the first and third Sunday closed.

Food orders can be placed over the phone, and Williams will take larger orders for cupcakes one day in advance.

A daily menu is also posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

Gaisha’s Place Buffet and Catering is located at 1211 Second Ave. N. in Clanton. For more information, can (205) 280-7600.