WILLIAMSBURG — A new retro-inspired spot from Against the Grain Restaurants (ATG) will bring “old school vibes and new school flavor” to Midtown Row this spring.
Opening on Saturday, April 20, Cook’s Burger Bar is set to reinvigorate the former Matchsticks BBQ Co. space with an aesthetic that “dares to embrace the late-1950s build of the commercial strip.”
The newest venture from ATG co-founders Andrew Voss and Chris Cook is the locally-based hospitality company’s first brick-and-mortar business outside of Colonial Williamsburg.
Cook’s will be a wall-to-wall tribute to nostalgia — wood paneling accented by classic 50’s diner colors like teal, mustard, and brick red; stained glass pendants; tile floors studded with atomic starbursts; chrome-rimmed diner tables; and vintage Breweriana, according to the group.
Voss calls Cook’s “an homage to classic mid-century Midwestern restaurants and hospitality” with a whimsical menu and aesthetic guaranteed to transport you back to Grandma’s house.
The diner-style menu with a flattop focus will at once utilize curated ingredients and reject pretention, according to ATG.
The owners said the luncheonette-style view of the kitchen will make burgers and fries the star dish. The menu also features mid-century snacks and small plates (including tinned fish, pickled eggs, house-made bar mixes, chicken liver pâté) as well as “Fork & Knife” dishes like “Grandma Style Meatloaf.”
ATG said it is committed to showcasing local quality ingredients, including regional certified Angus beef, topped with local tomatoes from Dayspring Farm in Cologne, and hydroponic lettuces from ATG’s own Reckon Acres in Charles City.
Meanwhile, the bar will feature “an extensive menu of ready-to-drink (RTD) canned beverages” from beer, wine, and cocktails to niche non-alcoholic selections. Draft options include Cook’s Lite and Cook’s Dark lagers — brewed exclusively for the bar by award-winning Precarious Beer — alongside four rotating draft cocktails.
Music will be another crucial component of the ambiance at Cook’s, ATG said, further bringing the past alive with throwback playlists and vinyl nights.
“Broad Street Realty is grateful to have Cook’s Burger Bar open in our center,” said Hannah Warner, Marketing & Events Manager for Midtown Row. “We have been striving to get the Against the Grain team to open up one of their brilliant concepts in Midtown Row since the beginning of the project. We are thrilled it is all coming to fruition!”
Following the Grand Opening on April 20, Cook’s will be open seven days a week for lunch, dinner and late-night cravings, as well as weekend brunch. Cook’s will be home to 85 seats, including 30 on the front patio.
For the latest, including opening weekend specials and full hours of operation, follow along on Instagram and Facebook and on the webpage.
