Photo courtesy Secret Sandwich Society
UPDATE, Nov. 17, 2016: Secret Sandwich Society opens today with limited hours. Tonight, Friday and Saturday the restaurant will be open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., closed on Sunday, and will launch its regular hours on Monday, Nov. 21.
Downtown's most exciting renaissance of late might just be the culinary resurgence along a few short blocks of Grace Street. Rappahannock and its sibling Rapp Session, Julep's New Southern Cuisine (relocated from Shockoe Bottom), Pop's Market on Grace, Pasture and Wong Gonzalez anchor the strip of popular restaurants, while Perly's Restaurant & Delicatessen and Maya Mexican Grill (formerly Lucca Enoteca) bookend the area — and let's not forget neighboring Tenka Ramen, just off the main drag. As early as next week, the thoroughfare is getting its latest addition.
Don't let the name fool you; Secret Sandwich Society, at 501 E. Grace St., offers much more than gourmet goods between bread. Here are five things to know before you go.
1. In the beginning there was Secret Sandwich Society in Fayetteville, West Virginia, where a subterranean space inspired husband-and-wife team Tashia and David Bailey to riff on speakeasy themes for their new restaurant. "A lot of speakeasies were just hitting the scene and becoming really trendy and exciting," says Tashia. "We just thought the space was leaning in that direction, so we jumped on board. Then we kind of threw in the 'secret society' hoping that the term ‘society’ would help it not be perceived as just a sandwich shop down the street.”
The Baileys wanted to expand the concept and began looking east, first to Charlottesville, then to Richmond, where they settled on the corner space at North Fifth and East Grace streets. They no longer own or operate the original restaurant — sold to one of its employees — though the couple still owns the brand and visits the first location regularly.
2. What's in a name: Fittingly enough for an election-season launch, the restaurant's sandwiches ($9 to $11.50) are primarily named after presidents, with a few founding fathers and world leaders thrown in for good measure. See also: the Adams, with slow-roasted pork shoulder, honey butter, pimento cheese, pickles and jalapeño on a brioche bun; or the Fillmore, with fried eggplant, cherry peppers, provolone, greens and roasted garlic mayonnaise on a baguette. A nod to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Kennedy is a decked-out classic Cuban sandwich, while the variation of a grilled cheese, the Churchill, was inspired by the prime minister's famous words, "Any country with 300 cheeses cannot die!"
The burger lineup ($10.50 to $14.50) takes its cues from Secret Service code names for first families, while the salads ($3.50 to $10) are named for first ladies. “[The names] create some conversation, create some intrigue, bring about some interaction with people at the table or with our staff," Tashia says. "I think it changes the expectation.”
3. On the table: Because the Baileys focus on sourcing locally, many of the Richmond location's purveyors vary from those used in West Virginia. The couple searched the city and its surrounding areas for ingredients, especially their bread and meat. Among other local companies, they're working with Thumann's for preservative- and additive-free deli meat, and Local Food Hub to source Virginia eggs. Condiments such as ketchup and spreads are made in house, as are all of the pickles, salad dressings and desserts.
“We weren’t going to just do a lot of run-of-the-mill flavor combinations ... we take a lot of pride in the food that we make and we put a lot of time developing our recipes," Tashia says, adding, "It isn’t just a sandwich shop and deli; it’s a full-service restaurant with more of a gastropub feel.”
4. Sip on this: Also different from the West Virginia original is a full bar; Richmond's Secret Sandwich Society will offer signature and classic cocktails. You'll also find cans and bottles of beer, plus wine and local cider. The 16-tap draft lineup will feature exclusively Virginia beer, plus prosecco, kombucha and maybe even a cider. What's more, all servers and bartenders are certified cicerones.
“Especially in this market, especially with the growing beer scene here, it’s just important for our staff to be knowledgeable about the product that they’re selling, from the beer to the recipes and ingredients and flavor profiles, so they can accurately represent the food and the drink and even the [restaurant’s] brand," Tashia says.
5. A peek inside: As for the space itself, large corner windows will allow ample natural light to fall across modern walnut booths and a long, white stone bar. Within the 3,200-square-foot restaurant, there are roughly 100 seats total, including 14 bar stools. As its owners renovated, they uncovered a few hidden treasures such as an old mural on the wall, which they sealed for preservation and display.
“There are these exposed elements that will be kept around to kind of pay some homage and embrace what’s already there," Tashia says, "rather than try to recreate something we want people to feel.”
Secret Sandwich Society is located at 501 E. Grace St., and is set to open next week with hours of 11 a..m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Keep an eye on its Facebook page for opening announcements.
