Nelson de Hoyos has had quite the history on Greenville’s food scene. Since his beginnings at Rick Erwin’s and Hall’s Chophouse, he has worked with local eateries, consulting on menu development and culinary branding.
For the first time, he will lead his own restaurant, Pergola, along with his wife and business partner, Leigha de Hoyos. It is expected to open in August. The two will personally run and lead hospitality for Pergola’s guests. Nelson will use the experience he’s gained working through the ranks of the local culinary scene.
Leigha has made it her mission to learn about wine, taking her cue from sommelier Brian Hogue, who has crafted the biodynamic wine list.
Pergola will come to the former Travinia and Maverick Biscuit location at 2537 N. Pleasantburg Drive. The cuisine will be playful, creative and New American. De Hoyos teased ingredients like wagyu pastrami, homemade pasta, lion’s mane mushrooms and fermented vegetables.
Nelson said the dishes will be artistically motivated, drawing inspiration from his father, Nelson de Hoyos Sr., who is an abstract artist.
“I think the colors of his paintings,” he said. “Like I said before, fresh ingredients speak to themselves.”
The restaurant inherited two big fireplaces and is adorned with sage greens, plants and natural woods.
Ironically, the name “Pergola” actually came from another location that fell through which had two pergolas. The name also pays homage to the process of cultivating grape vines along pergolas.
All the same, the patio is bedecked with an outdoor pergola that made the name stick.
Despite having been married for 12 years, the experience has given Leigha a whole new perspective on her husband.
“As his partner – watching him – he’s always in a constant state of research,” Leigha said. “It’s not that [food is] unenjoyable but it’s like it’s a discovery. So like every meal that we go to, every menu that he looks at he’s reviewing. He does more research than anyone I’ve ever met.”
Bite-sized bits:
- There is a new pop-up on the scene, Updog. Its owner, Sawyer Norman, drew the hot dog cart inspiration from downtown Greenville’s past. More to come on this next week.
- The Lazy Goat in downtown Greenville won a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence. The restaurant announced the news on social media on July 2.
