Over the course of two separate interviews that took place the week of April 4, Table 301 Hospitality chef Nico Abello spoke on the details of his upcoming restaurant.
A personable guy, the conversation shifted between talk of his family and the yet-to-be-named culinary enterprise.
“You know what’s funny is that I think it’s easier to name a kid than a restaurant,” he said with a smile, not dismissing the responsibility of naming a child but addressing the scrutiny on a new restaurant.
“Will people be able to pronounce it?” he asked. “Will it be cool in five years? Does it represent the concept?”
Abello will bring his tasting menu concept to the event space above The Lazy Goat at 170 Riverplace in downtown Greenville. His ambition is to create a fine dining restaurant against a backdrop that is “moody with a minor dark side — very feminine, sexy,” he said.
Before his tenure as corporate chef with Table 301 Hospitality, Abello served as executive chef at L’Appart in Manhattan from 2016 to 2022. During his tenure, the restaurant earned a Michelin star six years in a row.
“I had a beautiful experience when I opened L’Appart in New York. And I always treated (that) restaurant like it was mine, even if I was just an employee,” Abello said. “And I think I have some unfinished business with that.”
That said, he doesn’t want a carbon copy of the now-shuttered tasting restaurant. But he knew what made it great and wants to implement that here.
While it will most likely be a special-occasion restaurant, he hopes the atmosphere will encourage a regular clientele. Despite its haute nature, it won’t be stuffy. It will feel welcoming and invite an interactive experience for its guests. It will be French but not limited by that identity.
“If I want to do something — I don’t know — North African. If I want to do something South American, or if I want to do something more Asian inspiration,” Abello said. “A tasting menu gives us so many dishes that we can do differently.”
The same week, the Michelin Guide announced the American South will receive its own regional publication. Abello is French, so to some degree the guide is part of his heritage. Having already led a restaurant that earned stars, he recognizes it is a beguiling and stressful game. Will he go for it again?
“We will see what we can do,” Abello said.
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During the April 8 Greer City Council meeting, Mayor Rick Danner declared April 9 Chef Michael Sibert Day.
Sibert has been moving and shaking the local restaurant scene since he arrived in Cartwright Food Hall in 2022. Since then, he has reopened his debut concept White Wine & Butter at Greer Golf Course, won a “Chopped“ competition on the Food Network, and is now opening a second Anonymous Burgers location in Clemson’s Patrick Square.
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Hotel Hartness launched pool season April 11 with its own menu for hotel guests and day spa clients. The menu will feature items like watermelon caprese, truffled edamame and vegan summer rolls. Hotel Hartness is located at 120 Halston Ave., Greenville.
