Fancypants
Fresh on the heels of announcing the culinary team at the upcoming Fancypants restaurant in the old Piggly Wiggly building at 921 Dickerson Pike — and after more than a year of construction and menu development — founder/partner Michael Shemtov, creative director/partner Jake Mogelson, and chef/partner Bryan Weaver have finally shared an opening date. Mark your calendar for Friday, July 26, to first experience what chef Weaver and his team have been working on: an effort to make fine dining fun again.
The vegetable-forward menu will be arranged in a grid to allow guests to “choose their own adventure” as they create their own journey through plates that can be shared or hoarded, intentionally paired or chaotically embraced, all while enjoying the funky ambiance of Fancypants.
The first peek at some of the upcoming menu items is certainly intriguing, with dishes like Crispy Turnip Noodle Lasagne With Parmesan Foam and Potato Chip-Crusted Chicken Fried Cauliflower With Coconut Gravy. Expect a whimsical cocktail menu alongside interesting wines and a local-focused menu as well as desserts intended to evoke fond nostalgic memories.
“We’ve had a ton of fun dreaming up the menu, and can’t wait to see our guests’ reactions,” Shemtov says in the official announcement. “Having been in the business for over two decades, I was really excited to bring something different to the scene and together with my partners, I think we’ve created something really special at Fancypants.”
Mogelson is ultimately responsible for creating the vibe at all of the group’s restaurants, and he didn’t have to look far for inspiration with Fancypants. “Nashville is the ultimate source for design inspiration, and we found lots of treasures around the city to incorporate into the decor,” says Mogelson. “We aimed to create a space that didn’t feel fussy but still felt fancy.”
Working alongside frequent design partners Powell Nashville, Mogelson has managed to keep the industrial-style skeleton of the former Piggy Wiggly with exposed trusses and aged concrete as part of the decor. This bold base is accented and augmented with splashes of burgundy, emerald green and gold, along with a thoughtful mishmash of lighting fixtures and warm wood, luxurious velvet and colorful stone. I can't wait to see it!
And now it looks like none of us will have to wait too much longer. Fancypants will be open for dinner service Thursdays through Sundays starting at 5 p.m. Reservations are now available on Resy.
