ampersand
INN & R ESTAURANT
“I know that some people would say, ‘Why not just go somewhere else?’” she says. “Sometimes, it’s just not that simple for a lot of us. You have to take into account recent events, like Orlando. There was even a huge group outside Ampersand one night trying to start a physical altercation based on hate toward the gay community. Even right outside our safe space, there was something.”
& What’s Next?
JOIN US FOR
Restaurant Week July 29TH-August 7TH, 2016 Full Portion 3 Course Menu $30 5PM-9PM • RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED • PIANO PLAYER NIGHTLY
Menu STARTERS
ENTREES
Lemon Mint Tabbouleh
Georgia Peach Chicken
Pan seared, marinated airline chicken, topped with Georgia peaches, pecanwood bacon, spinach, roma tomatoes and toasted pecans. Served with pineapple coconut rice ~ Gluten-Free
Tomatoes, cucumbers and Israeli couscous combined with baby arugula and a minted lemon vinaigrette, topped with feta cheese and served with toast points
Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
Summer Vegetable Medley
Grilled summer vegetables and mushrooms with spinach farro topped with a roasted tomato relish, with a sweet potato mousse
Silver dollar mushrooms stuffed with lump crab meat finished with a creole mustard cream sauce
Escargot
Lightly sautéed helix snails with tomatoes, mushrooms and garlic in a white wine butter sauce over a delicate puff pastry
Black Grouper Napoleon
Fresh caught local black grouper with shrimp sauce, fingerling potatoes, carrots and celery topped with a puff pastry
Chateaubriand Rouge
Chef carved slices of filet mignon topped with sautéed mushrooms in a port wine reduction served with horseradish mashed potatoes and haricot vert DESSERTS
Chocolate Bomb
Flourless chocolate torte served cool and drizzled with chocolate and raspberry sauce *without the sauces ~ Gluten-Free
Bourbon Bread Pudding
JULY 27-AUG 2 2016
Warm bread pudding finished with our house-made bourbon glaze
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Brandy Peach Ice Cream
Leopold’s brandy peach ice cream topped with a brandy peach chutney ~ Gluten-Free
307 E. PRESIDENT ST. • 912.236.7122
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Many creatives and entertainers consider Ampersand to be the last venue of its kind in the Historic District. For a nonprofit like Savannah Stage Company, it offered both affordability and downtown convenience; now, they’re looking toward the Starland District and gallery spaces for improv shows and the- The Teases and Gunties teamed up for “Disney Whirled,” a coatrical productions. Tinti production that took place at Ampersand and The Jinx. Grannie is embracing the positive: Glitter Gams grins. Photo by matt slade SCC’s latest show, The Wizard of Oz, has been such a surrounding areas as a place of growth. In hit that the Ampersand attic can’t quite Arnzen’s few years in Savannah, he’s seen hold their growing audience. plenty of turnover. “At this point, we are turning people “I don’t know where we go, because not away because there aren’t enough seats much has changed; this is the same strugavailable,” she says. “We are thinking of gle every day,” he says. “Hopefully, we can this as a graduation for us.” put ideas into a new space in the city.” The Sweet Tease still keeps The Jinx as Innovations in LGBTQ nightlife, like their home stage, but they enjoy variety, Lesbian Pop-Up Bar Savannah, which and hope to continue “3, 2, 1, Tease” in takes over a different venue each month, another welcoming space. offer promise for downtown diversity. “The burlesque we do does not necesWith a rich arts culture and so many sarily appeal to the male gaze,” Narcisse innovators, finding fresh stages may be points out. “And people loved our game a challenge, but the creators will prevail. show. We want to take time and weigh Ampersand is glad to have been a part of it. options, if there are any, for a place that’s “A lot of people say Ampersand wasn’t going to accommodate our concept.” a bar, but a culture,” says Reese. “We defiNarcisse, a native Savannahian, is connitely tried to open a space where people cerned about the lack of business interest in cultivating entertainment and nightlife. felt safe to do stuff a little differently and accept everybody from all walks of life. “A lot of people are making decisions It was a safe place to go. We were around based on what will generate revenue,” she says. “That’s what business is all about, but almost three years to give the community that space, and we appreciate all people there really aren’t any business owners in who have been our patrons. Thanks, nightlife that support the arts enough to Savannah.” CS believe in it and fight. There are very few with that soul, like Susanne at The Jinx, or Ampersand Closing Week Wes who was a partner in Hang Fire, and Thursday, July 28: DJ Cleaveland, Karaoke ConAmy at The Wormhole. Our music scene isn’t going anywhere; it’s the performance test with DJ Dirty D, $1 well drinks until 1 a.m. Friday, July 29: DJ C-ROK, DJ Pieces, House of art scene like House of Gunt and us who Gunt, $3 wells all night, $2 top shelf shots are fighting wholeheartedly to stay.” Arnzen hints toward possible collabora- Saturday, July 30: DJ RudyLui, Daas Undertions with new downtown bars; The House ground, .25 cent craft, draft, and bottles, $2 of Gunt is also feeling out Starland and the shots and drinks