As the white-jacketed kitchen staff at 1885 Southern Coastal Grill carried out hot plates of hearty fare, the smells alone warmed the room - pork osso buco; collard greens and cornbread; seasonal wahoo fish served on a steaming bed of crawfish jambalaya.
"This winter we are focusing on comfort foods," said Miguel Morales, owner of the St. Elmo restaurant. "Foods to warm the soul."
1885's set menu is simple, but it is accompanied by a wide range of rotating specials. Sometimes there are bison short ribs. Sometimes lamb shanks. "We pull in what we can locally and we work with what we have," said head chef Charlie Loomis.
From kitchen managers Dylan Griffith's grilled rib-eye with horseradish and dill cream sauce and Chase Cope's beautifully crafted kale salad to bar manager Heather Jennings' Peach Moon and vodka-based Vanilla Chai Tea, the ingredients of 1885's success seem to be teamwork, enthusiasm and pride.
"Everybody supports each other," Charlie said of his crew. "Everybody thinks about the whole restaurant."
Aside from the resultant gourmet in-house creations, 1885's incredible catering spreads are becoming popular around town. "We just got our new catering packet rolled out," Miguel said. The new menu includes items like crab cakes, seared scallops, grilled trout, salmon and barbecue chicken as well as a variety of sandwiches, sides, salads and desserts.
The restaurant is available to cater private in-house parties, corporate events or business luncheons. 1885 offers full menu options, buffet tables with real linen, plastic ware (or disposable silverware for $1 per person), on-site cooking, and servers are available upon request. However, pickup or delivery is also available.
Now I have been to many fabulous parties, but never one that served seared scallops. I should make that my New Year's resolution. On New Year's Day, 1885 is hosting a New Year's meal featuring an array of dishes including slow roasted pork and, of course, black-eyed peas, which, according to Southern tradition, are said to encourage luck and prosperity.
Not that 1885 will need it. With six months under its belt, the Southern coastal bistro is going strong. "We're super- excited for 2014," Miguel said before ending our interview the same way he always does. "I just want to thank the community. We want to thank everybody for their support."
1885 SOUTHERN COASTAL GRILL
LOCATION: 3914 Saint Elmo Ave.
PHONE: 485-3050
HOURS:Monday-Friday from 4-10 p.m., Saturday from 11
a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.