1818 American Grille is preparing to open the full restaurant experience in Bath Township, following a summer preview of its downstairs dining area.
Brad Race, chef, partner and head of culinary for the restaurant group, told What Now Columbus that the concept came together after the team discovered the existing restaurant space and saw an opportunity to build something around its already-established kitchen and wood-fire grill.
“There was a preexisting restaurant that was operating here that was looking for somebody to take over,” Race said. “When we saw the space, we really fell in love with the space and the kitchen.”
The existing wood-fire grill played a major role in shaping the restaurant’s concept, which will be located at 1070 Ghent Rd, Akron, OH 44333.
“The wood fire grill was already in place, and I think that was the inspiration for the concept,” Race said. “The kitchen was in really good shape, and the location was great.”
Race said the team ultimately allowed the space itself to guide the restaurant’s identity.
“I always say I let the space decide the concept, and this space was perfect for the concept that we wanted to do,” he said.
1818 American Grille spans two stories and offers several different areas for guests to dine and gather.
The downstairs portion houses the kitchen and wood-fire grill, along with 32 seats where guests can sit inside the kitchen and watch the culinary team at work. The upstairs dining room adds approximately 115 seats, while the outdoor patio offers another 60 to 70 seats.
The restaurant also features a private dining area that can accommodate approximately 50 guests, along with a raw bar and main bar.
Race described the restaurant as a place where guests can choose the type of experience they want.
“It’s kind of a choose your own adventure situation,” he said. “Where do you want to sit? What do you want to do?”
Guests can sit at the raw bar for oysters, dine at the chef’s counter while watching the wood-fire grill, enjoy the main dining room or reserve the private space for events such as business dinners and showers.
“If you want to sit in the dining room and have a more formal experience, that’s an option as well,” Race said. “Or you want to just come to the bar and have a burger and a beer, you can do that too.”
The restaurant’s overall atmosphere is designed to be upscale casual, rather than fine dining.
“It’s got a neighborhood restaurant feel,” Race said. “It’s a place that people can come two, three times a week, feel comfortable eating at. It’s not fine dining. It’s upscale casual.”
As its name suggests, 1818 American Grille focuses on American cuisine, with the wood-fire grill playing a central role in the menu.
Race said the menu features familiar American classics prepared with high-quality ingredients and a focus on letting the cooking method and ingredients stand out.
“A lot of what we’re doing here is classics, just executed at a really high level,” Race said. “We’re using really high-quality ingredients.”
The restaurant is also keeping its approach relatively simple, allowing the wood fire to contribute to the flavor of the dishes.
“Keeping it simple and letting the ingredients shine and letting the wood fire and all that really come through on the flavor of the food as well,” Race said.
As head of culinary, Race developed the restaurant’s culinary program himself. Among the dishes he is particularly excited for guests to try are the filet with roasted tomatoes, pork chop, lemon shrimp pasta, Cajun chicken pasta and stuffed peppers.
“I’m most excited for guests to try all of it,” Race said.
He singled out the filet with roasted tomatoes as one of his favorites, while also highlighting the pork chop and pasta dishes.
1818 American Grille initially opened in late June, with only the downstairs portion of the restaurant operating during the summer.
Now, the remainder of the restaurant is ready to welcome guests.
“We initially opened The Grille Room, located downstairs, at the end of June,” Race said. “And then now starting Thursday of this week, we’re going to be opening up the entire restaurant.”
The upstairs dining area is ready to open, marking the restaurant’s full opening on Thursday, September 24.
Race said the opening process has been relatively smooth, crediting the restaurant’s team for helping bring the concept together.
“We have a really good team in place,” he said. “Everyone’s been doing a really great job.”
Although restaurant openings naturally come with challenges, Race said this project has been particularly organic compared with others he has worked on during his career.
“I’ve done probably 10 of these in my career, and this one has been the smoothest and most organic,” Race said. “It was kind of like naturally happening the way we want it to happen.”
Race also confirmed that there are plans for additional locations and future expansion of the 1818 American Grille concept.
For now, however, the focus is on welcoming guests and introducing the full restaurant experience.
“I’m just excited for the guest to experience what we built here,” Race said.
As the restaurant moves into its next phase, Race hopes 1818 American Grille becomes a regular neighborhood destination rather than somewhere guests only visit for special occasions.
“I think what I said earlier, that it’s just the type of space that is a neighborhood restaurant that you can come to multiple times a week, for various different experiences and occasions,” Race said. “I think I want the guest to view us like that.”
What Now Columbus will continue to follow 1818 American Grille and its future expansion plans.
