Staplehouse…add it to your list!5 min read

Last weekend I had an amazing time exploring Atlanta. Actually, I had so much fun, I have to break it up into two blogs.

I’m so excited to tell you about our dinner on Saturday night at Staplehouse. When I first learned about it, I was reading Bon Appetite and came upon the article. I had to go! I knew I already had an Atlanta trip planned, but also knew getting reservations was very tricky. I had to go online on a certain day and time to get the one night I could go. I swear I felt like I was trying to get front row tickets to my favorite band. While breaking out in sweat I hit the button and got the last reservation of the night. Whoop whoop!! It is a small place so it isn’t like there are a ton of tables, but the demand is high considering they have won the James Beard AwardFinalist for the Best New Restaurant 2016 and Bon Appetite #1 Best New Restaurant in the country 2016. So naturally, I am not the only one vying for a reservation.

It is a casual little spot in the historic Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta. You pull up to complimentary valet parking and walk to the back of the building to enter. We happened to see some action in the back smoke house, and it was a guy making fresh sausage links. Hanging from the ceiling were persimmons that are apparently massaged to create the sweet juices for our dessert (or something cool like that). As this was described I knew we were in for a big night of fab eating!

Walking past the gardens and casual picnic tables into the back door made me immediately feel like family because only your friends come to your back door.

The open concept kitchen was part of the experience. Just being able to watch the craft of the chefs as they were preparing dishes was amazing to watch. I mean who uses long tweezers to place adorable little flowers on your food?! They sprinkled, dabbed and placed food very precisely on every plate like works of art. We ordered one of everything on the menu so we could all dig in and compare. The food was delivered by your main server most of the time, but by the end of the night just about every server had dropped something off. The food descriptions were like stories and captivated everyone at our table. We listened intently and smiled with each description. “The powdered pistachios are dancing on the plate” and the “curds and whey” YES! We had curds and whey… seriously!

The cocktail and wine list also added to the experience. It was just as hard to pick your cocktail so, of course, I had to try a few. ;)

Staplehouse has a story that brings you to appreciate the experience even more. The owners, Ryan and Jen Hildinger, started with a pop-up supper club out of their home in 2009. They knew they had to move to a bigger space and chase their dream of opening a restaurant.
Unfortunately, in 2012 Ryan––at age 35––was diagnosed with stage IV cancer and was given six months to live. When Ryan was diagnosed, his employer at the time––along with a community of friends––held a fundraiser to help with expenses. The funds raised exceeded what they needed. They decided to put the money towards people in the restaurant industry that face hardship. This launched The Giving Kitchen. Now, all profits after taxes of Staplehouse go to this organization, and it provides emergency assistance to the Atlanta restaurant community facing unanticipated hardship.

A year after Ryan passed away, Jen along with Ryan’s sister Kara and her husband Ryan Smith fulfilled their dream and, in September 2015, opened Staplehouse!

Tips…
• You can eat at the bar without a reservation.
• Use valet or lot across the street or on-street parking
• The menu changes daily depending on availability and the creative minds are always hard at work
• If you look online take note that they no longer do the tasting menu as of September
• Get the grandmas potato bread and whipped olive oil
• Cincy connection (I always find one ;) They use The 86 Companyfor their spirits. After researching I found out the copper stills that the Rum is distilled in were made in 1922 by the American Copper & Brass Works of Cincinnati!

Things you need to check out…
• Notice the signatures on the bar stools and tables. These are people who originally invested in the restaurant (Damn good investment).
• They have a thing for National Lampoon Vacation movie.  The garage door outside has a mural of John Candy.
• If you eat outside please take a minute to stand by the kitchen and observe the work and detail of these amazing chefs. Don’t cheat yourself of this experience!
• Notice the wall opposite of the kitchen of the daily list of things to do for the day.
• You will see Jen, Kara and Ryan Smith around and will probably have something delivered to your table by them, but take a second to say hello. They are the sweetest people and will take your visit to another level!

Thank you to Kara and Jen. Meeting you was a highlight and you brought tears to my eyes with the little journal you gave us for our anniversary (with a quote from Clark Griswold inside of course). You are special people, and I can’t wait to come back!