It’s time to give a hearty “hey, y’all” to Southern Table, the latest on the list of downtown eateries. Moving into the previous Kent Walker Artisan Cheese space at 323 South Cross, this new spot will offer guests a multi-cuisine, tapas-style menu.
At the helm of Southern Table is Margie Raimondo, the gastronomist and fermentation buff behind Raimondo Winery in Mountain Home. Her vision for the restaurant — as evidenced by its “food meant to be shared” tagline — is one that fosters community and shared experiences.
“I wanted to create a space of conversation, of camaraderie,” Raimondo said. “The way we do that — through a nurturing, hands-on environment — that’s the Southern way.”
The Southern Table’s “boards and bites” menu reflects this ideal in nature. It’s full of seasonal cheeses, cured meats, preserves, signature pimento, specialized terrines and other makings of charcuterie board perfection. Guests will also have their pick of local brews and, of course, Raimondo wines.
The theme of togetherness extends to the physical space, redesigned with simple rustic flair to be more open and inviting, spilling out to the outdoor bistro area. Even the charcuterie boards were crafted in a circle shape to encourage togetherness, using oak and black walnut for their symbolic significance of family and hospitality.
“This is where you come to remove all the barriers,” Raimondo said. “Take out all the clutter and that’s when good things happen.”
And good things are finally happening for Raimondo in Little Rock, who in 2015 announced plans to open a second winery location at 615 Main Street, but eventually backed out of the sale because of timing, according to our sister publication, Arkansas Business.
Earlier this year, when Kent Walker decided to leave the cheese biz, a friend tipped off Raimondo, who had kept an eye on downtown Little Rock. After talking with Walker and realizing she couldn’t let a resource like his go to waste, she acquired it with the intention of continuing to manufacture gourmet cheeses and expand offerings with her own flavor.
“No one talked me out of 615 Main; it just didn’t feel right,” she said. “This, though, this is different. It already feels like home.”
To help convey that feeling to customers, Raimondo plans to offer family tours of the premises, along with opening it up for private events. Guests can also literally bring Southern Table home by ordering takeout or purchasing menu items in a retail area up front (we suggest the goat milk caramel with cinnamon and cardamom).
Southern Table is scheduled to open in early-mid July. Learn more about the restaurant and find progress updates by following along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
