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Photo credit Carmen Troesser
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Eagle-eyed RFT short-timer Ian Froeb nabbed at least one more scoop before his departure for Evan Benn's dining critic's desk over at the P-D....he reported this morning that Sage restaurant in Soulard has closed and Mama Gustos, the über-popular pizza restaurant based in in Lebanon, Ill, will replace it.
Restaurant groupies will remember that Chris LaRocca opened Sage in late 2007, tagging it with the catchy moniker "Urban American Grill." In the last several years, though, Sage underwent a number of chef and ownership changes and keen observers (such as Froeb, here) knew that when the restaurant announced it would remain open for "lunch only," the end may be near.
Although Sage is now officially closed to the public, it will fulfill its private dining events which end on June 22, at which time Al Carfagno, owner/founder of Mama Gustos (at left, holding a large Sicilian pie), will take over.
Carfagno reports that no major renovations are planned and he could open as soon as July 4, but the following week is more likely. Carfagno says the place is serviceable as is and "there's no use sinking major dollars into it" until he determines what the public wants to see. "So many operators spend a bunch of money up front only to have to change it up later," he said.
One thing that will change is the scope: the flagship Mama Gustos "is a pizza joint, and works perfectly well as a pizza joint," says Carfagno. But Sage's size and location allow for a broader focus, "as in more Italian dishes--chops, fresh seafood, pasta, sautée items," according to Carfagno. Sage is a multi-story, multi-patio restaurant, and Carfagno plans to take full advantage. "The ground level patio is totally under-utilized," he noted. "And there's a patio kitchen that we plan to totally bring back to life." Having live music out there won't hurt, either, "...all part of the plan," according to Carfagno.
Hence the name for restaurant will be Mama Gustos Italian-American Eatery. Relish can vouch for Carfagno's 18-pound pizza, the"Big Mama," and can't wait until one of the city's most charming dining patios (right) becomes active di nuovo.
Photo of Al Carfagno, above, as shown in SLM's "Cheap Eats" cover story from May 2013, courtesy of Carmen Troesser.
