It’s been a couple of months since I shared the tea about Sally’s Stay Awhile, the new Strategic Hospitality joint opening up in Wedgewood-Houston in the former home of Smokin’ Thighs at 611 Wedgewood Ave. At the time, Strategic Hospitality director of culinary operations Andy Little was still a little cagey about the opening date, but now I can share with confidence that the restaurant will open on Thursday, June 4.
Little will lead the kitchen with chef de cuisine Brandon Mook and assistance from a pretty darned talented helper, Strategic Hospitality partner Josh Habiger. The team has created what they promise will be an approachable menu that will morph throughout the day and night, from a croissant waffle at breakfast to a rotisserie chicken for dine-in or carryout that I’m betting will be a kick in the teeth to the revenue numbers at the nearby Kroger and Publix locations.
The 66-seat restaurant features two patios so diners can follow the sun during the day, a main dining room and a separate barroom with bars for coffee or cocktails. And while I hate to talk about parking, people want to hear about parking, especially in Wedge(d car between two mailboxes)wood-Houston. Get this: Sally’s Stay Awhile features 30 parking spots! That means if 30 parties of two carpool together and a party of three risks their lives in a Waymo, there should be parking for every patron. Plus, there’s actually some pretty accessible street parking nearby if Nashville SC isn’t actively playing a match.
“The goal was to create a place that feels natural to people’s daily routines,” says Strategic Hospitality founder and co-owner Benjamin Goldberg in an official opening announcement. “Somewhere you can stop in on your way to work, meet a colleague midday, and come back again later for dinner with family and friends, all at affordable prices.”
Longtime Strategic partners Crema Coffee will provide the morning buzz, while a team of talented mixologists will handle the beer, wine and cocktail alternatives. The morning pastry case will feature house-made treats like doughnuts and muffins and transition to a dessert bar filled with pies, cakes and other sweets more suitable for lunch, dinner and carryout as the day goes along.
For more substantial fare, diners can expect morning options ranging from steak and eggs, omelettes, breakfast burritos and sandwiches, yogurt bowls and the ubiquitous avocado toast. (But better, I’m guessing.)
Lunch aims to work for both those seeking a leisurely experience or people looking to eat well within their allotted lunch hour. While the Grain Bowl or Sally’s Sesame Chicken Salad might not be the best food to eat in your car while driving or like those weirdos who eat lunch in the Publix parking garage, sandwiches and wraps will fill that need quite nicely.
At night, Sally’s leans bistro with steak and fries (you can call them frites if that makes you feel better, and you couldn’t snag a table at Pastis), half or whole rotisserie chickens, a French dip or radiatori courtesy of Mr. Aaron’s Goods. Nostalgic desserts may be reason enough to stop by for a decaf nightcap and a plate of chocolate chip cookie sticks with malted vanilla ice cream or a slice of chocolate cake with peanut butter icing.
Sally’s Stay Awhile wants to help you out even on days when you don’t have time to dine in. The entire menu is available for pickup or delivery, but you might have to drive fast if you get that ice cream and live in Hendersonville. They will also offer catering packages, morning coffee and pastry kits and boxed lunches out of the same kitchen, prepared by the same talented chefs.
Sally’s Happy Hour is a misnomer, because it’s not one of those situations where you really only have an hour, like from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays that fall on prime-numbered dates. This deal runs every goldarned day of the week from 3 until 6 p.m., featuring two-for-one cocktails, beer and wine, as well as a hot dog du jour. And on Tuesdays, bottles of wine are half-off.
“Our hope is that Sally’s feels like it’s always been here,” says Chef Little. “It’s rooted in the spirit of the everyday restaurant — approachable, welcoming, consistent and built for how people eat every day.”
Starting this Thursday, Sally’s Stay Awhile will be open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., offering breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m., with weekend brunch from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Seats are always reserved for walk-in guests in the dining room. And reservations are available through OpenTable. For more information, visit sallysnashville.com. Follow on Instagram or TikTok at @sallys_stay_awhile.
