Rootimentary – A Unique Dining Experience Coming to Laurens this Fall

A much-anticipated new restaurant on the Public Square in Laurens will be opening this Fall and there is already much buzz about it.

This could just be a story about a new restaurant coming to the area, but it is more than that. Much more.

This is a story of a local guy who has already experienced many things in his young life but chooses to return home and live out his dream of creating a unique dining experience in Laurens.

Caleb Satterfield is a chef and since his career began, he has always wanted his own restaurant. His wife, Jessica, comes from a retail background and admittedly is not a risk taker but prefers predictability.

But here they go!

The Satterfields were living in Greenville and came to Laurens to visit his parents, Dale and Linda Satterfield.While walking around town Caleb said something about opening a restaurant in Laurens. This casual comment was the seed that started to grow.  There were meetings with the mayor and others, thoughtful consideration and, of course, prayer.

“This was a very big decision for our family,” said Jessica Satterfield. “We needed to be sure that it was the right thing to do and the right time. Our prayers have been answered and we are at great peace with the decision. This will be so much fun.”

For Caleb Satterfield this is coming home.  For Jessica “Jess” Satterfield, Laurens feels just like home. Jessica comes from a very small town in northeast Tennessee, so she is no stranger to small town living.

In addition to being an amateur taste tester, Jess will use her retail experience and manage the hiring, training, developing of the restaurant staff and vision. She looks forward to interacting with members of the community and getting to know people in the community.

“For us this is more than a business,” said Caleb Satterfield.  “This is an opportunity to steward to others in many ways. Providing jobs for people in hospitality can be rough and we want to provide a place where the team loves coming to work, and it is a healthy environment for everyone.”

A great restaurant needs quality staff from the front of the house to the kitchen. Caleb wants to teach and mentor kitchen staff on the skills of cooking from how to hold a knife to combining ingredients to make that special dish.

The community has been very supportive since the initial announcement. Caleb and Jess appreciate the support of the Holmes Family and Laurens City Council in making their dream a reality.

Contractors are busy with design and buildout of the restaurant, but shipping and supply delays have pushed the open date to sometime this Fall.

By all accounts, it will be worth the wait. When asked to describe the menu to be offered at  Rootimentary, Jess replied, “if Southern comfort food and fine dining had a baby it would create our food.” Southern comfort redefined.

The menu will be something different, certainly something that has been missing in Laurens. There will be staples on the menu, but feature dishes will change with the seasons and sides will vary based on the fresh produce and vegetables available.

You can expect variations on Brussel sprouts and collard greens that have you begging for more and a variety of meats including beef, chicken and some type of seafood and other selections and specials.

“We want to provide a unique fine dining experience but also provide a menu that makes the opportunity available to the broadest group of people in the community,” said Jessica Satterfield.

The décor for the interior of the restaurant will be in keeping with the exterior. Being the only art deco building on the square, they stay with that theme they and have a collection of tables and booths along with a sixteen-foot bar and artwork that will pop and give customers something to talk about.

The restaurant will have a capacity of fifty people per seating, possibly more depending final layout and design.

When they first open it will be by reservation only to control crowds and ensure that the dining experience they want to provide is delivered to each guest.

Initial days of operation will be:

• Sunday brunch
• Monday dinner
• Wednesday dinner
• Thursday dinner
• Friday dinner
• Saturday dinner

Once they settle in with the dinner service, they plan to expand hours to include a lunch service with a more casual vibe and different menu.

And there’s more.

There’s a space downstairs that will be renovated to create the perfect speakeasy, a small intimate gathering place modeled after the secret watering holes during prohibition. The downstairs space will also have a dress code and be available for rent to small groups for special events. The anticipated opening for the downstairs event space is to be determined.

The hiring process for Rootimentary will begin in August. Stay tuned for more information on available positions. This just might be your opportunity to be a part of something really special in Laurens County.

Click on the images below to see some of the food that will be available.