The primary two letters of the restaurant identify S.S. Gai stand for “same-same,” a typical Thai expression. However for S.S. Gai homeowners Emma and Chris Biard, issues are about to vary. The Biards inform the Scene that they’ve signed a lease for an expanded stand-alone location for his or her beloved Thai rooster place.
The brand new S.S. Gai will probably be situated at 1106 Chester Ave. in East Nashville (previously the house of The Golden Door), only a quarter-mile north of the present location in The Wash on Gallatin Avenue. The brand new S.S. Gai is a 1,300-square-foot home (already painted inexperienced, one of many restaurant’s signature colours), with a big yard. Which means the Biards can present each indoor eating and a small bar program, facilities not accessible to them at The Wash. The brand new location, which they count on to open in eight to 12 months, could have seating for about 50 individuals.
The idea of S.S. Gai won’t change with the transfer, Emma guarantees, assuring followers that the restaurant will proceed to cook dinner its Thai-street-food-inspired menu whereas introducing new choices. The restaurant will stay open at The Wash till the Chester Avenue location opens.
Emma and Chris Biard
“It’s actually simply an enlargement of house for indoor eating, a fairly, small, enjoyable bar program, and only a extra sustainable and cozy house for our company and the workers,” Emma says, noting that the present micro house at The Wash is simply 300 sq. ft. “I’ve made the joke earlier than — if Chris and I wish to keep married, we want more room. We’ve had two years in 300 sq. ft, and we’re testing the bounds of our togetherness and our closeness.”
S.S. Gai is greatest recognized for its grilled and fried rooster, mango sticky rice and morning glory vegetable dish. Many of the menu is gluten-free (sure, even the fried rooster). The group works with The Nashville Meals Venture’s Rising Collectively Farm for a few of its produce, together with some greens grown only for them (such because the water spinach for the morning glory dish).
Many purchasers have requested different dishes, like rice bowls, however the Biards don’t have the house for a rice cooker for jasmine rice. The brand new house could have room for such luxuries, they usually’ll additionally be capable of serve a children’ menu known as Little Gais. The main target will stay on Thai avenue meals, and Chris guarantees the restaurant won’t ever carry pad Thai or fried rice.
“It’s about fried rooster and grilled rooster,” he says. “We by no means wish to change why we did this idea. It’s based mostly on avenue meals — one individual doing one factor actually, very well. We by no means wish to lose that.”
The brand new location will doubtless stay a counter-service restaurant, however these particulars are nonetheless being ironed out.
The Biards had been aided in opening the present location at The Wash by Chad Newton and Gracie Nguyen of You Are Right here Hospitality. YAHH owns a number of eating places in The Wash, together with Sweeza Tremendous Quesadilla, Fly Pelican Fly and East Facet Pho, plus close by East Facet Banh Mi and the soon-to-open Golden Prawn #3. YAHH offered each monetary and mentoring assist, for which the Biards are grateful. Emma and Chris had many years of expertise working in eating places earlier than opening S.S. Gai, and Newton and Nguyen helped present them the possession ropes. They now plan to develop on their very own, financial institution loans, potential buyers and different methods to develop independently.
“It’s a bit robust proper now, simply given the local weather and rates of interest,” Emma says. “It’s only a scary financial local weather proper now. We simply type of needed to take a leap of religion and simply hope that every little thing works out. We are going to work our butts off, day in and time out, to do no matter it takes to seek out the cash to get this going. We’ve that drive, and we’ll determine it out. It’s scary, and a few would possibly name it silly, but it surely has labored for us up to now.”
