I can tell you they have been as giddy as newlyweds for months. Of course, they’ve had plenty of reason to be. Brandon and Kimberly Whitestone along with owner Zach Shultz have been the driving forces behind Savannah’s hottest new restaurant at Cotton and Rye. We all know Cotton and Rye isn’t new anymore, but quite some time ago when it was still a ‘new’ restaurant, something else was up. No one was talking. “We are working on something else” Kimberly admitted to me back in the Spring, “but we can’t talk about it until it’s done.” Understandably so, so many things can go wrong along the way in real estate. It typically isn’t a good idea to ring any bells until you have full confidence that you are a full go.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
There is a new Italian restaurant coming to Savannah’s midtown area. Yes, brought to you by the same fine folks that created Cotton and Rye. It will be called Sugo Rosso. It will be opening in Savannah’s 12 Oaks Shopping Plaza on Abercorn Street in the space formerly occupied by Atlanta Bread Company.
Kimberly says once they rebuild the space, everything inside will be done from scratch. “We will have a production area where everyone will be able to see pastas being made every day.” she says. “Breads as well. All sauces will be made in house. It will all be homemade.” The restaurant will feature an open kitchen and a wood burning pizza oven.
An argument can be made that the location is perfect. There is no shortage of traffic in Savannah’s Midtown area. Fresh Market shopping center and its retail offerings are a big draw. Publix always draws. By night, there is no shortage of a wait outside of Bonefish Grille. Consumers are looking for more options without having to travel all the way downtown to find them. The plan is to open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. Either business lunches or the Happy Hour crowds on their way home.
This newest addition to the Italian food scene in Savannah follows the announcement of “La Scala” coming to the corner of Abercorn and 37th streets as well as a new Italian restaurant at 606 Abercorn downtown. Hope you like pasta.
Executive Chef Brandon Whitestone will oversee the menus at both Cotton and Rye and Sugo Rossa (red sauce in Italian), with Shultz overseeing day to day operations at both locations as well.
Look for an opening sometime Winter or Spring 2017.
See you on TV,
Jesse
