[Ed. note: According to Home Sweet Home's social media accounts, the restaurant soft-opened today, Nov. 3.]
In a lightning fast change-up, the space at 3433 W. Cary St., once home to Mezzanine, will soon become Home Sweet Home: a new Carytown restaurant sporting a strong beverage program and gourmet bar fare. Owner Andrew Friel says he thinks the neighborhood will welcome his menu mainstay: grilled cheese. The menu isn’t finalized yet, but when Home Sweet Home opens within roughly one month, you'll find comfort food and many iterations of that classic sandwich; eight, in fact, with an additional “build your own” option. Sam Hall, previously of Barrel Thief, will be the chef de cuisine.
“We aren’t going to do much with the space. [Just] paint, really. It is pretty turnkey," says Friel. "We should be open in the next two weeks to a month.” Friel, from Northern Virginia, is familiar with Carytown already; he was previously a bartender at New York Deli.
“I told Sam that this is probably too simple for his talent," Friel shares, "but he is on board with it. There will be rotating specials, too. A stew, perhaps. Like your mother used to make.”
Check out the menu and specials menu below, though both are subject to change:
Spiced Virginia peanuts: $3
Mixed Spanish olives: $4
Pimento cheese with baguette toasts: $6
Hummus with Moroccan spice and baguette toasts: $7
Warm crab dip with baguette toasts: $9
Fried pickles House-made dill pickles (battered and fried), house dressing: $7
Hand-cut fries with spiced ketchup, barbecue, or house-made mayo: small $4, large $6
Poutine Fries+gravy+cheese curds=magic: $8
Tater-tot-tine (Tatooine) tater tot poutine: $9
Wings Hot, ginger/lemongrass/soy or honey barbecue sauce: 10 for $9
Mixed greens Manakintowne mixed greens, julienned carrots, baby spinach, Napa cabbage, garlic/lemon vinaigrette, toasted pecans, goat cheese crumbles: small $5, large $10 (add country ham $3, add bacon $4)
Brisket sliders pickled Napa cabbage, house-made steak sauce: $12
Barbecue sandwich house-smoked pork butt, slaw, Cabot cheddar: $13
Specialty Grilled Cheeses:
Holstein Black Forest ham, cheese curds and English Cotswold on sourdough topped with a fried egg and capers: $8
Upstate Super sharp Vermont cheddar, applewood-smoked bacon and honeycrisp apple on whole grain bread with a side of real maple syrup: $8
Mac and Me House-made mac 'n' cheese and house-smoked pork barbecue on sourdough bread: $9
WTF Fontina and house-smoked brisket, caramelized onions and fried sage leaves on walnut raisin bread: $10
Yes Sir, May I Have Another BellaVitano raspberry lambic, apricot puree and spinach on white bread: $9
River City Pimento cheese, dill pickles, shaved Edwards Country Ham: $8
Chesapeake Crab dip, bacon bits, spinach and white cheddar on white bread: $10
Piedmont Fresh mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, chickpea salad and spinach on sourdough bread: $9
Build Your Grilled Cheese
Choose:
American: $5
Cabot cheddar, pimento cheese: $6
Brie, fontina, BellaVitano raspberry lambic, Cotswold: $7
Add:
House-made dill pickles, red onion, fresh spinach: $.50
Apricot puree, caramelized onions, honeycrisp apples: $1
Slaw, avocado, chickpea salad, kimchi: $2
Applewood-smoked bacon, shaved Edwards Country Ham: $3
Pork barbecue, brisket: $4
Sample Specials
Roasted Rockfish with sweet pea and basil pesto, pearl couscous, kale and caramelized onions: $19
Two Sausage Craft Beer Brats with house-made sauerkraut, fried potatoes, black mustard and honey aioli : $14
Braised Lamb Shank with roasted root vegetables, garlic confit, horseradish mashed potatoes and pan sauce: $18
The Perfect Burger An 80/ 20 grind with fried egg, slaw, dill pickles and American or cheddar cheese: $12
Braised Short Ribs with herbed house-made spaetzle, bordelaise, buttered carrots and parsnips: $19
Roasted Half Chicken with mashed potatoes, carrot puree, seared Brussels sprouts and love: $16
Sauteed Shrimp with tubetti, garlic/chili/lemon butter, seared bell peppers, green onions and leeks: $18
Potato/Fontina/Ham Croquettes with mixed greens and roasted tomato sauce: $12
House-Cured Salmon with capers, red onion, cream cheese and toasts: $9
Braised Pork Belly with white beans, root vegetables and pan sauce: $11
Duck Confit with mixed greens and roasted garlic: $12
Home Sweet Home is projected to open at 3433 W. Cary St. within the next two to four weeks. Thumbnail image is not of Home Sweet Home's grilled cheese.
