Anyone with any experience in a restaurant kitchen will tell you that change is inevitable. Cooks come and go. Managers come and go. Rarely does that make any kind of headline, especially here in Savannah. When a popular chef moves on, that gets our attention. Such is the case today.
Eat It and lIke It has learned that Kyle Jacovino, Executive Chef at the 1540 Room inside of The DeSoto Hotel has been removed from his position at 1540.
Kyle had been head of the Mediterranean themed restaurant for just short of a year. Previously, he had served as Executive Chef at The Florence on Victory Drive in Savannah. That restaurant closed last year after a 3 year run.
Kyle has been one of the best chefs in the city since the day he arrived. Widely respected, not only in Savannah, but in the region as a solid talent doing great things here.
We are told the news was delivered Wednesday afternoon.
Jacovino confirmed the move via his Facebook page saying in part:
“Our accomplishments this past year are because of you – our team, our guests and all of those who supported us. And what I have learned best during this period is how much I love all of you and this place that I call home. I am here for you as you have been for me and I look forward to the next chapter of bringing great food, camaraderie and fun to this wonderful town. See you soon”
If we are lucky, once again, he will stay.
The DeSoto’s new Executive Chef is Mark Santiago. No stranger to Savannah, Santiago ran the kitchen at The Mansion on Forysth Park and also spent time at The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort on Hutchinson Island. Look for a new concept and menu at 1540 Room soon. Thursday morning they offered the following from a prepared statement:
“Over the past year we have been fortunate to be the home of the culinary powerhouse that is Kyle Jacovino. It has been an honor to have him here, and we wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.
Today, we are looking forward to the future of 1540 Room and bringing a new flavor to Savannah. Our culinary team, led by Executive Chef Mark Santiago, will deliver a menu with a farm-to-table, Southern-infused concept unlike anything else in the city. Stay tuned for more information, as we will be debuting the new concept very soon.”
1540 Room will be open today, tomorrow and Saturday with normal business hours and will be closed Sunday-Thursday of next week. The new menu will begin Friday August 31st.
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1 thought on “Jacovino Out at 1540 Room”
With regard to the 1540 restaurant at the DeSoto, the departure of Jocovino comes as no surprise to me. Having dined there on two occasions, I came away very disappointed, as their menu did not inspire me. Chef Jocovino failed to offer enough well constructed entrées, and I could not see where the Mediterranean theme carried through. Chef Jocovino showed lack on inspiration at The Florence, so he is now 0-2 as a chef with major restaurants. Good luck to the De Soto in revamping their menu and promoting a menu with more appeal.