There’s a new restaurant in town, and it is The PLACE to be! Seriously, it’s The P.L.A.C.E. (Pamlico Libations and Culinary Experience), and if you haven’t been yet, you’re in for a relaxing culinary experience!
The PLACE opened its doors on November 21st, with several ‘soft openings,’ and is now open for regular hours. Owner Jason Sheppard says he didn’t want to open ‘full throttle’ right away, especially in a challenging time for dining establishments.
No stranger to the restaurant industry, Sheppard started working in fast food when he was just in his teens. Taking a break to do other things, he was always pulled back to the restaurant business. Having done everything from serving, dishwashing, cooking, managing and everything in between, he opened Shep’s Farm to Truck in 2017 after moving back to his native town of Washington. After a successful run with the food truck, Sheppard opened Shep’s Grill on Market Street a little over a year later.
Sheppard says that he’ll be be keeping the grill open for breakfast and lunch, while The PLACE will serve lunch and dinner. "I never could have done all this without the help of family and friends," he says. "Especially my mom, Mary Lou, and also my good friend, Connie Langley."
When asked about the menu for The PLACE, Sheppard says he is very excited to have Chef Kelly Hammonds at the helm of the kitchen. "I’ve really given chef Kelly full reign over the menu. Our lunch selection is more bistro-style, (think paninis, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and lemon-poppyseed muffins,) not unlike Mrs Anne’s," the original owner of The Meeting Place, (its former name.)
"I love fine dining, but that’s not what The PLACE is. I’d say our dinner menu is somewhere between casual and fine dining. I like to describe our dinner menu as elevated comfort food." The dinner selections feature items such as ribeyes, salmon, pork chops, as well as shrimp (or blackened catfish) and grits, and a few appetizers including fried green tomatoes and a seafood dip that is delicious.
He expresses his joy with being able to do what he loves in his hometown at two different locations. "I’d like to thank everyone in Washington for all their support at both [restaurants.]"
Sunday will consist of a brunch buffet, with specialty items like eggs benedict available to be cooked to order.
Sheppard has also reworked the outside, river view patio seating and hopes to incorporate live music in the spring.
The P.L.A.C.E. offers a full bar, serving beer, wine, and a variety of cocktails by mixologist and bar manager, Sean Batts.
Reservations are accepted but not required.
{252-833-0196}
Hours for The PLACE are:
Tu-Wed 11-2pm
Thurs-Sat 11-2pm & 5-until
Sun 10-3pm Brunch
Located at 225 West Main Street
