Scott Serpas Scopes out Brookhaven Site

Scott Serpas is looking to expand his mini restaurant empire into Brookhaven.

Scott Serpas, a Brookhaven resident, plans to create a "neighborhood-centric casual eatery" later this year in the heart of Brookhaven.  Serpas' new restaurant is planned for a white house on Caldwell Drive, basically right behind Savi Urban Market.  The restaurant would have seating for approximately 70 patrons with seemingly limited parking.  While the plan and parking for the restaurant are still very fluid, I'm told that Serpas will offer valet only and hopes to have an agreement secured for parking in the near future.

Serpas, a Louisiana native, opened his namesake restaurant, Serpas true food, in early 2009 in the Old Fourth Ward, after spending time at NAVA and helming the kitchen at Two Urban Licks from its inception in 2004 until 2007.  Serpas True Food features a Louisiana influenced menu and I'm told the new restaurant will offer a broader menu with Gulf Coast area cuisine.  The menu is still being developed, but the plan is for the restaurant to be more casual than Serpas' first eatery. 

I was first informed of Serpas's intentions earlier last month, but as the deal was only in the early stages of negotiations, I opted not to publish.  Last night, the city of Brookhaven met to discuss a variance request related to the height of the current structure.  The structure is already zoned commercial, and despite having their variance denied, I'm told that Serpas' still plans to consider the project.  Obviously, some changes to the floor plan and buildout will have to be made, but I'm told a contingency plan was in the works even before the variance meeting, however a lease has not yet been secured. 

If all goes well, perhaps the restaurant could open by late summer or early fall.

Next door to Serpas is Pizza Rock, a new pizzeria that has been "coming soon" for months, and should be opening in a few weeks.  The aforementioned Savi Urban Market, on Dresden Road in front of both restaurants, is hoping to tear down their current single story structure, and erect a two story structure closer to the road. Savi has renderings of their plans in the business and available for view.