Photo courtesy Weezie's Kitchen
Todd Gelsomino wanted to shake things up. Weezie’s Kitchen, his 10-year-old restaurant in Carytown, needed some updates.
The beloved spot at 3123 W. Cary St., which opens at 8 a.m. and stays open, serving food, until 2 a.m., needed a little sprucing. “The place had just gotten beat up over the years," he says. "[I] got rid of vinyl that would get ripped as soon as you had it re-covered.” He also brought in new booths built by Tom Brickman, a local maker whose handiwork has also appeared in Kuba Kuba, Comfort and others, and another server station with cherry wood accents to match the original bar. Work by local artists will be featured in the restrooms by the end of the year. Cosmetics aren’t the only things getting an overhaul.
Gone are the karaoke nights and Mario Cart — instead, you will find a clear and concise dinner menu by Brian Brown and Alex Bailey of Can Can Brasserie and Patina, respectively, that will be served from 5 to 10 p.m. “I want to do this for another 10 years. The brunch we do every day stays the same. At dinner you'll see an approachable menu with your favorites and some real thoughtful food put out there created by two very talented chefs,” says Gelsomino. Not to worry; the staples like the hand-breaded chicken tenders and luscious mac 'n' cheese will stay, and the late-night menu will live on.
The bar is also seeing some changes. Jason Lough, most recently of Sabai, will helm the beverage program. “I want to build an amazing bar for the people who love Weezie’s," he says. "Unlimited potential. I've worked for places in the past where it seems like I'm catering to people out of my tax bracket and it gets depressing sometimes.”
Weezie’s will remain open during these changes, which should all be implemented by the end of the year. “Feel free to come get a meatloaf sandwich and a Budweiser or a whole, grilled branzino and a rye Manhattan," Lough says. "We'll be up and rolling by mid-December, but we're there every day (and night) doing our thing just for people in the know.”
Correction: The owner of Weezie's is named Todd Gelsomino, not Tony, as previously reported. Additionally, Brian Brown is a former chef of Can Can Brasserie and Alex Bailey is a former chef of Patina. This post has been updated to reflect this.
