An exciting and fresh new culinary voice is getting ready to say “good morning” to the New Jersey dining scene. Tatum Menake, young but already well-versed in both hospitality and cooking, is opening her first restaurant, Tatum’s Table, in the Lincroft Grove shopping plaza later this year.
The restaurant will be greeting customers at 650 Newman Springs Road this summer. Tatum’s Table will focus on providing delicious interpretations of the first two meals of the day. Menake explains to What Now Philadelphia that she is hoping to offer the community something unique. “I’ve been wanting to put a restaurant there for years; it happened to become available and it’s such a great spot since there’s nothing for breakfast or lunch there. It’s just a perfect location and it’s a really great community too.”
Despite her youth-Menake is only 20 years old-the restaurateur has a unique vision and is prepared to make her mark in Lincroft. She states: “We’re going to be a very different breakfast and lunch place-I’m a big foodie, I love to cook, I love to bake. I feel like everything’s the same here, and we’re very different. We have a lot of crazy ideas. It’s very modern inside, the decor.”
Menake has personally designed each of the dishes on Tatum’s Table’s menu. She explains: “I’ve been cooking since I was 5 years old. My family is in the restaurant business. It’s all my recipes so I’ll be overseeing everything and jumping in when I’m needed.”
The restaurant will offer a wide range of unexpected imaginings of beloved favorites; Menake particularly recommends future regulars try the pistachio baklava pancakes.
Menake says she has hired most of the necessary staff, and guests can look forward to sampling the restaurant’s fare in about a month. “We’re aiming for the end of June” she states, adding “we don’t have a date yet. We’re waiting on permits and a few things.”
Tatum’s Table will be working with local vendors to source certain ingredients. The restaurant will be supporting various local businesses.
Menake hopes to make Tatum’s Table a warm and welcoming environment, where customers can enjoy both a delicious meal and comforting ambiance. “I want everyone to really enjoy their experience” she states. “I want the food to be great and the coffee to be great. We have a whole barista area. I want the customers to be happy with customer service.”
She sums up her vision for Tatum’s Table as “A true culinary experience.”
