Nashville-based chef RJ Cooper announced Monday he will have a soft opening of his Saint Stephen this Wednesday, March 6, in Germantown.
The restaurant will take the space Mop/Broom recently vacated and with an address of 1300 Third Ave. N.
Full service will begin Friday, March 8, according to a release.
Saint Stephen, which derives its moniker from Grateful Dead song title, will “straddle the line between elevated gastronomic cuisine and casual Brooklyn bar fare,” the release notes.
Saint Stephen will offer nightly dinner service, Saturday and Sunday brunch, a Ham & Oyster happy hour bar, a late-night menu and patio service.
Formerly the executive chef at Nashville’s Henley, Cooper will maintain Mop/Broom’s current staff and space, adding “a few romantic design touches to the existing aesthetic." Furthermore, "Saint Stephen will offer a more intimate environment with dimmed overhead lights, dripping candles, darker coats of paint and large curtains to section off private dining.”
The branding, created by BRND House, will offer “a playful commentary” on Cooper’s fondness for rock 'n’ roll, motorcycles and tattoos.
The restaurant’s outdoor patio — which will offer live music, crawfish boils and large-format beverages this summer — will also receive upgraded lighting, furniture, a new mural and a central bonfire pit.
“I am excited to join the growing Germantown neighborhood,” says Cooper, a James Beard Award regional winner. “There are a ton of events we plan to launch with Saint Stephen that I think will complement the already vibrant community. I want to put out quality dishes, keep my focus in the kitchen and let the incredible team here introduce a cocktail program that Nashville can get excited about again.”
It is unclear whether Tandy Wilson, an owner in Mop/Broom and a Beard winner best-known for Germantown’s City House, will have any involvement in Saint Stephen.
Mop/Broom — which offered a casual menu of Southern-influenced fare — opened in August. The building was previously home to Kuchnia & Keller, which also closed after a relatively brief run.
Wilson’s venerable City House restaurant operates nearby at 1222 Fourth Ave. N.
