Five unique and exceptionally delicious restaurants are drawing crowds to the Jackson area. Sprinkled throughout the capital city, Amerigo, CHAR, Sombra, Anjou and Saltine each promise delightful fare for every palate.
"Each of our five concepts is vastly different from one another, allowing us to truly offer something for everyone," says Anne Marie Smith, Senior Sales Manager for Amerigo, CHAR, Sombra, Anjou and Saltine. "From fresh hand-cut steaks to oysters from New Zealand…from escargot to jumbo meatballs – our goal is to provide excellent food and service to every single guest. We hope that we have accomplished that in our past 28 years in business."
These five favorites are now offering full service catering! Anne Marie says, "We are able to offer the food that Jacksonians love (and grew up on!) at their weddings and celebrations. Being able to bring the restaurant to the guest is a unique privilege we are proud to have!" They have beautifully catered every type of event: cocktail parties, weddings, corporate events and even Mistletoe Marketplace!
We had the pleasure of speaking with Anne Marie, and we are thrilled to share more about these incredible restaurants with you today!
~ Amerigo | CHAR | Sombra | Anjou | Saltine - Can you describe each of these restaurants (their style, atmosphere and menu), and tell us the inspiration behind each?
"Amerigo is the original restaurant of our group and it opened its doors in 1987. Since then, it has remained a neighborhood favorite for Jackson residents. For the most part, the menu has remained the same over the years, featuring guest favorites like Cheese Fritters, Chicken Margarite and Tiramisu. Our regular afternoon crowd fills our bustling bar daily, while the quaint dining room has been home to three generations of guests we have served over the years."
"Each of our five concepts is vastly different from one another, allowing us to truly offer something for everyone," says Anne Marie Smith, Senior Sales Manager for Amerigo, CHAR, Sombra, Anjou and Saltine. "From fresh hand-cut steaks to oysters from New Zealand…from escargot to jumbo meatballs – our goal is to provide excellent food and service to every single guest. We hope that we have accomplished that in our past 28 years in business."
These five favorites are now offering full service catering! Anne Marie says, "We are able to offer the food that Jacksonians love (and grew up on!) at their weddings and celebrations. Being able to bring the restaurant to the guest is a unique privilege we are proud to have!" They have beautifully catered every type of event: cocktail parties, weddings, corporate events and even Mistletoe Marketplace!
We had the pleasure of speaking with Anne Marie, and we are thrilled to share more about these incredible restaurants with you today!
~ Amerigo | CHAR | Sombra | Anjou | Saltine - Can you describe each of these restaurants (their style, atmosphere and menu), and tell us the inspiration behind each?
"Amerigo is the original restaurant of our group and it opened its doors in 1987. Since then, it has remained a neighborhood favorite for Jackson residents. For the most part, the menu has remained the same over the years, featuring guest favorites like Cheese Fritters, Chicken Margarite and Tiramisu. Our regular afternoon crowd fills our bustling bar daily, while the quaint dining room has been home to three generations of guests we have served over the years."
"CHAR is full of Southern charm - from the gorgeous woodwork to the touch of crimson accents throughout the restaurant. Black & white photos enhance the walls with a bit of Mississippi history, as well as a few special visitors from over the years. Our menu exclusively features Allen Brothers Steaks from Chicago, offering guests the highest quality USDA beef. Chef Derek George has been paramount in keeping classic Char dishes on the menu while adding new flavors, like Short Ribs and Fried Simmons Catfish."
"Sombra’s atmosphere is fun and rustic with 99+ bottles of tequila on the wall and swanky Southwestern music filling the air. We use fresh-squeezed lime juice and organic agave nectar in our margaritas and prepare our tortillas from scratch daily – just two of the ways Sombra focuses on the freshest ingredients that are at the core of our authentic Mexican cuisine."
"Anjou is our classic French bistro led by father-daughter duo Christian Amelot and Anne Amelot-Holmes. A graduate of Savoie Leman culinary school, Christian brings over 40 years of French culinary expertise to the kitchen. Also born and trained in Le Ferte-Bernard, France, Anne is the proprietor/general manager of Anjou. The two work hand-in-hand to merge authentic, Old World flavors with Southern favorites for a deliciously crafted menu."
"Located in the historic Duling Hall, Saltine is a fresh, modern take on an oyster bar driven by our Chef/Partner Jesse Houston. Both the décor and cooking style is playful and creative, using garden-fresh produce, locally sourced beef and poultry, and seafood and oysters from around the world. Saltine was recently named one of Bon Appetit’s 2015 50 best new restaurants in America – something we are very proud of here at the restaurant!"
~ Some of these restaurants are Jackson staples and have been favorites for years. Tell us why these have are loved so much in Jackson!
"Amerigo & CHAR have become such a part of the fabric of Jackson, that when people go there, they go to a place where they have established memories throughout the years. We love to hear the stories of someone who grew up eating at Amerigo as a child, then got engaged there, and now come regularly with their family as an adult."
~ Each of these restaurants are in the Jackson area. Why was it so important to have 5 great and different restaurants in the community?
"For each location that has become available to us over the years, we have created a restaurant that fit the need of that area and works best for our potential guests. We love the Township at Colony Park and we were fortunate to have CHAR become such a fixture in Highland Village. Since Fondren is such an artistic and forward-thinking district, it made perfect sense to pair with Saltine, a modern oyster bar."
~ Who owns these restaurants and how do they actively support the community?
"Our owners are Ben Brock, David Conn, Doug Hogrefe & Paul Schramkowski. Combined, the four have over 100 years of restaurant experience, and Brock, Conn & Hogrefe have all known and worked with one another for more than 20 years.
All of our restaurants are philanthropic by nature, and are readily active in community events, fundraisers and charity operations. It is rare to go to a local charity’s event and not see a presence from one of our restaurants. Giving back to the community is one of the most important things we do as a business."
~ Does Mississippi inspire the menus?
"Yes, Mississippi inspires all of our menus. Being active in the community gives us a chance to hear from our loyal guests and to know what they are hungry for, things they would like to see. Most importantly, the level of friendliness and community that we have all grown to love gives us the inspiration to do what we do, and that flows through our dedication to both our servers and our guests."
Thank you, Anne Marie, for sharing delicious details about these beloved Jackson eateries!
If you are planning a wedding, cocktail party, or special event, we highly recommend their incredible catering services. Each restaurant will work with you to create the perfect menu for your special occasion.
For more information, please click on the restaurant name below, and you will be sent directly to each website! Bon Appétit!
Amerigo
CHAR
Sombra
Anjou
Saltine
"Amerigo & CHAR have become such a part of the fabric of Jackson, that when people go there, they go to a place where they have established memories throughout the years. We love to hear the stories of someone who grew up eating at Amerigo as a child, then got engaged there, and now come regularly with their family as an adult."
~ Each of these restaurants are in the Jackson area. Why was it so important to have 5 great and different restaurants in the community?
"For each location that has become available to us over the years, we have created a restaurant that fit the need of that area and works best for our potential guests. We love the Township at Colony Park and we were fortunate to have CHAR become such a fixture in Highland Village. Since Fondren is such an artistic and forward-thinking district, it made perfect sense to pair with Saltine, a modern oyster bar."
~ Who owns these restaurants and how do they actively support the community?
"Our owners are Ben Brock, David Conn, Doug Hogrefe & Paul Schramkowski. Combined, the four have over 100 years of restaurant experience, and Brock, Conn & Hogrefe have all known and worked with one another for more than 20 years.
All of our restaurants are philanthropic by nature, and are readily active in community events, fundraisers and charity operations. It is rare to go to a local charity’s event and not see a presence from one of our restaurants. Giving back to the community is one of the most important things we do as a business."
~ Does Mississippi inspire the menus?
"Yes, Mississippi inspires all of our menus. Being active in the community gives us a chance to hear from our loyal guests and to know what they are hungry for, things they would like to see. Most importantly, the level of friendliness and community that we have all grown to love gives us the inspiration to do what we do, and that flows through our dedication to both our servers and our guests."
Thank you, Anne Marie, for sharing delicious details about these beloved Jackson eateries!
If you are planning a wedding, cocktail party, or special event, we highly recommend their incredible catering services. Each restaurant will work with you to create the perfect menu for your special occasion.
For more information, please click on the restaurant name below, and you will be sent directly to each website! Bon Appétit!
Amerigo
CHAR
Sombra
Anjou
Saltine
{Blog by Mitchell Walters}
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