Theo Wiliams, left, host of “America’s Top Restaurants,” chats Thursday with Matt and Lynn Brennick, the owners of My Dad’s Place in North Jay before the restaurant opened for filming. The Brennicks, who have run the business for 19 years, transitioned it from a convenience store to a full-service restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Videographer Jon Van Dyke, left, gives instructions Thursday to chef Mad Noll, center, and “America’s Best Restaurants” host, Theo Williams, in the kitchen of My Dad’s Place, a bar and grill in North Jay. Originally a convenience store, Matt and Lynn Brennick turned My Dad’s Place into a restaurant in 2020, improving menu items with more scratch-made recipes.  Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Matt and Lynn Brennick, the owners of My Dad’s Place in North Jay, hold open the doors Thursday morning for a sold-out crowd of enthusiastic diners during a lunch seating to be filmed by “America’s Best Restaurants,” which is a national media and marketing company focusing on bringing attention to local, independently owned restaurants. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Videographer Jon Van Dyke styles a tableful of food Thursday at My Dad’s Place in North Jay for a segment on “America’s Best Restaurant,” which is a national media and marketing company focusing on bringing attention to local, independently owned restaurants. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Mackenzie Golder, left, and Kyra Corriveau peer into the kitchen Thursday at My Dad’s Place in North Jay as the kitchen portion of filming is completed for a segment on “America’s Best Restaurants.” Before transforming the business from a convenience store to a full-service restaurant, the store employed six to seven people. The restaurant employs 23 people. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

“America’s Best Restaurants” host Theo Williams, left, tells My Dad’s Place owners Matt and Lynn Brennick that while he was doing a Facebook Live video post, he was amazed at how many people commented on the love they had for the Brennicks. “People were saying how much they loved the food, but right after that, they said how much they loved the two of you,” he said. Williams was at the restaurant doing a segment on the bar and grill after they were nominated by a loyal customer. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

A production slate sits on a table Thursday at My Dad’s Place in North Jay. “America’s Best Restaurants” was at the bar and grill filming a segment and featured many of the specialties. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal