The wait is over. Co-founders Andres Kaifer and Alex Bridges of Emmy Lou’s, the new cozy wine bar nestled in Dilworth, announce they will open their doors on Friday, December 19th.
Chef Adriana Cavazos, Pastry Chef at Customshop, will be taking the lead as Chef de Cuisine of the concept. “Working alongside Alex and Andres over the years has shaped me immensely as a person and a chef. I’m honored that they trust me to lead this new kitchen and I feel more ready than ever,” said Cavazos in a statement. “Dre” as the team lovingly calls her, will focus on building rotating seasonal lunch, dinner, and dessert menus perfect to pair with the incredible wine list selected.
“Chef Dre has been such an important part of our team over the years, and I’m really proud of how much she’s grown, both as a talented chef and as a leader. It’s been awesome watching her step out of her comfort zone and really find her stride in the kitchen. There’s something special about the mentorship relationship we’ve created, and I trust her completely to leave a unique and fresh mark on the city’s food scene, ” said Kaifer.
Guests can expect tasty shareables like meat and cheese boards, carpaccio, shrimp cocktail, and a baked brie. The opening lunch menu will feature sandwiches, salads, and toasts, including the Elena Ruz (Baguette, Roasted Turkey, Fig Jam, Cream Cheese) and Mortadella Sandwich (Verdant sourdough, mortadella, idiazabal, arugula, pepperonata, evoo aioli).
While the bites will be delicious, the main star of the show will be the extensive selection of over 20 different wines served by the glass as well as a variety of local and domestic beer selections. The beverage program will also include canned and bottled non-alcoholic beverages available for purchase. “Our goal will be to focus on producers when selecting the wines we work with at Emmy Lou’s,” said Bridges. “We want to highlight producers who do things the right way in the vineyard as well as the winery. We hope to have a nice blend of well known regions as well as up and coming places that don’t get as much shine.”
In addition to the bar experience, Emmy Lou’s will double as a vibrant drop-in neighborhood bottle shop, offering a curated retail experience. Emmy Lou’s will also carry wine totes and wine keys, as an ode to Bridge’s experiences at New York City local wine stores where customers reuse their tote every time they stop by to refill on their favorite bottles or try something new. “We set out to create a space that removes the pressure and makes wine feel approachable and fun and it has been amazing to see the response from the pop ups we have hosted so far,” said Bridges.
With seven seats at the bar, a large corner banquet, communal table and full patio for the warmer months guests will have plenty of space to sit, sip and enjoy in the new space.
Emmy Lou’s opening hours starting December 19th are 11:00 a.m. -10:00 p.m. Sunday- Thursday and 11:00 a.m. -11:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
