Chef Dominic Simpson, who has recently served as the executive chef of The Partridge Inn for the past five years, has been named the executive chef for the new Crowne Plaza North Augusta in North Augusta, S.C.  Chef Dominic will be responsible for overseeing the culinary program at the upscale hotel, including Salt & Marrow Kitchen, the specialty wood-fired grill restaurant located on the first floor of the hotel; Salt & Marrow Parlor Bar, the hotel’s lobby bar; Tod’s Bluff, an upscale rooftop bar; catering; banquets; and in-room dining.  The boutique hotel is scheduled to open by the end of 2018 and will be part of the exciting $200 million Riverside Village at Hammond’s Ferry development.

Chef Dominic started cooking professionally at the age of 15.  Over the past 23 years, he has worked at upscale, multi-million-dollar restaurants and hotels with some of the country’s top chefs, including Joël Antunes and Paul Albrecht.  Before joining The Partridge Inn, Simpson was the executive chef at The Georgian Terrace Hotel in Atlanta, where he was responsible for the fine dining restaurant, banquet kitchen and employee cafeteria. For three years, he served as the executive chef of Atlanta restaurant Balance, an upscale eatery specializing in healthy cuisine. Before that, he was the sous chef at Spice Restaurant.

Crowne Plaza North Augusta’s signature restaurant, Salt & Marrow Kitchen, is located on the first floor of the hotel with a street entrance for local guests and views of SRP Park, home of the Augusta Green Jackets, and Riverside Village.  Chef Dominic and his culinary team at the specialty wood-fired grill restaurant will prepare incredible dishes such as Wood Grilled Steak and Ostrich; Dry Rub Cauliflower Steak with Vegan Red Rice and Barbeque Vinaigrette; Grilled Pork Meatballs with Spicy Yogurt and Toasted Benne Seeds; Charred Shishito Peppers with Toasted Peanuts, Sea Salt and Yuzu Aioli; Sapelo Island Clams with Coconut Milk, Green Curry, Shallots, Garlic, Ginger, Fresh Herb and Grilled Bread; Grandma’s Sweet Potato Soufflé; and Warm Chocolate Cake with Blueberries and High Road Vanilla Fleur De Sel Ice Cream.

Salt & Marrow Kitchen will be home to the first Grillworks in the Augusta area.  Praised by James Beard and noted chefs throughout the country, the American artisanal wood-fired grill with signature cast aluminum crankwheels will allow the culinary team to adjust the height of the cooking surface.   Salt & Marrow Kitchen will be open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.  Special events, such as culinary dinners with guest chefs, will be offered throughout the year.

Salt & Marrow Parlor Bar, the hotel’s lobby bar, will be an inviting gathering place for locals and visitors, with a cozy environment of rugged leather and warm wood décor.

On the top floor of the hotel, Tod’s Bluff, an upscale rooftop bar with whimsical details throughout, will be the ideal spot in the area for enjoying beautiful views, people watching, hand-crafted cocktails, small plates, beer and wine.  Guests will have incredible views of Riverside Village and the Savannah River.

The Crowne Plaza North Augusta is slated to open in December 2018 as part of the $200 million Riverside Village at Hammond’s Ferry development along the Savannah River in North Augusta, S.C.  The new hotel, designed to be the town center and an inviting meeting spot for locals and visitors, will embrace modern southern hospitality in its service, design and décor.  Interiors will blend the warm sophistication of the southern heritage of leisure sporting with a welcoming and modern industrial aesthetic.  Crowne Plaza North Augusta will have 180 rooms and suites (many with water views); a 120-seat restaurant and bar; rooftop bar; 10,000 square feet of technologically advanced meeting space, including a 5,400 square-foot ballroom; outdoor pool; and fitness center.  Atlanta-based NorthPointe Hospitality Management will oversee the pre-opening sales and marketing, recruiting and training for all operational aspects of the Crowne Plaza North Augusta.  For more information about Crowne Plaza North Augusta, please contact the hotel’s sales office at (803) 349-8400.

The new 30-acre mixed-use development of Riverside Village combines a beautifully crafted pedestrian friendly neighborhood with single family homes, condominiums and apartments; a vibrant town and event center; restaurants; brewery; outdoor center; and sports complex all adjacent to the Savannah River.  The development will be anchored by a new stadium and home for the Augusta Green Jackets minor league baseball team, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. The area has 62 miles of greenway space and a nature trail behind the Crowne Plaza along the banks of the Savannah River.