Fraser St. Restaurant Opening January 2020 – Say Mercy! – Italian/American Barbeque

New restaurant opening in the Fraserhood by the group behind The Mackenzie Room

Say Mercy! –Italian through the lens of American Barbeque

The group behind Railtown’s The Mackenzie Room, Collective Hospitality (comprised of Andrew Jameson, Chef Sean Reeve, and Antonio Cayonne), is set to open a new concept in January of 2020.

Located in the Fraserhood, ‘Say Mercy!’ is an unexpected love story between Italian and American Barbeque, bringing together two of Executive Chef Sean Reeve’s biggest passions.

‘I was classically trained in Italy and fell in love with the simplicity of Italian cuisine – but the first
kitchens I worked in that made me want to be a Chef were barbeque spots full of smoke,
whiskey, and swine.’ says Chef Sean Reeve.

The design of the new 60 seat restaurant is helmed by owner Andrew Jameson – just as he did
The Mackenzie Room – this time pulling in influences of art deco and the mid-century to highlight the corner units’ natural light and low ceilings. Andrew worked with GH Street Contracting to execute the renovations in the space creating a bright, lively, and vibrant room. The relationship between the two cuisines is both unexpected and somehow very familiar, relatable, and honest’ says Jameson, ‘and we want the feel of the room to reflect that.’.

Executive Chef Sean Reeve and Chef de Cuisine Mathew Bishop are busy developing the menu aiming to open the doors mid-January. The menu at Say Mercy! will feature a selection of starters and pastas, as well as some larger format shared plates like whole fish or Florentine “t-bone” steak. The menu will have expressions from both Italian and American Barbeque without singularly being rooted in one or the other.

“The cuisines have much in common, and the approach of asking how one’s style and structure
can enhance or inform the other unlocks new ways into dishes we know and love. Dishes will be
inspired by the two cuisines as a starting point, but ultimately form their own identities.” says
chef Sean Reeve.

General Manager Cody Dodds, (The Mackenzie Room, Richmond Station) and Sommelier
Megan McDowell (Nomad, Bistro Wagon Rouge) are putting together a wine list rooted in Italian
structures with influences from around the world.

“We’re excited to meet the Fraserhood community and add something new to a rich dining
scene already established by our great neighbours like Ubuntu and Masayoshi,” says Antonio
Cayonne, Operations Manager, “and we hope to create a space people can pop into for a quick
bite after work, or sit down and dine with friends and family any day of the week.”. Say Mercy!
will be open 7 nights a week with dinner service starting at 5pm.

Say Mercy! – an unexpected love story – Italian through the lens of American Barbeque

Media release and image provided by Antonio Cayonne, Collective Hospitality.

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