The good ol’ USA is often touted as a land of opportunity. A unique place where new people come in search of freedom and prosperity. That is the essence of the American dream. Here is a beautiful example of that very thing. A young couple develops a dream of starting a bold new restaurant in a small town. They have the courage to take cuisine to new levels while also helping the community. The name of their exciting eatery is The American and this is just a small part of their delightful and delicious story. American cuisine mixes courage with determination.
Tyler and Heather Thomas stumbled upon the town of Bainbridge, Georgia and simply fell in love with it. So much so that they sold their house and quit their jobs in Tallahassee, Florida to relocate to the little town with a population of less than fourteen thousand.
Bainbridge was in the midst of a revitalization and the young couple could envision working hard to become a vital part of a growing and thriving town. Their timing was so good that this writer is convinced that the hand of God was guiding them. They do say that a huge amount of prayer went into the decision. I say that they have been abundantly blessed and are now a blessing to others.
What makes a restaurant really good…great, even? In my humble opinion that would be the people, the attitude, the ambiance, and the food. The people, Tyler and Heather and their staff, seem to be practically dripping with warm hospitality. When I first met them, dang y’all, I wanted to hug them. Covid-19 made hugs off limits at that time. But, believe me, next time I return to Bainbridge there will be lots of hugs!
American cuisine mixes courage with determination. The attitude at The American is obvious in word and deed. They work long hours and go out of their way to use as many locally sourced ingredients as they can find. The staff goes all out to make sure customers are satisfied. Hundreds of happy eaters have left glowing reviews on social media to spread the word on how awesome and wonderful The American truly is.
The ambiance starts with exposed brick walls and dark wooden floors. It continues with the delicately understated decor on the walls and bookshelves. Dang y’all, even the drinking glasses and the candle holders convey the idea of simple and yet elegant.
Which brings us, dear reader, to the food. Savory, sweet, delightful, delicious… I could go on for hours. There are not enough good words in the American English language to tell you how tasty you will find it. If you seek meat and veggies, you will love it. If you prefer fish or lobster, then come on down. Even if you desire to indulge your sweet tooth, The American is the place.
Little things make all the difference. Like basting a broiled lobster tail with garlic and tarragon. Or making a peppermint goat cheesecake from scratch with a chocolate cookie crust. Yum!!!
Oh, I hope that you get to Bainbridge, Georgia sooner rather than later. You will love the small charming town. You will enjoy the dining experience at The American. Dang y’all, you will be able to savor not only the flavor, but also courage of the cuisine. Say hi to Tyler and Heather for me when you go. Tell them you saw it here at EmbraceSouthernStates.com. Enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/TheAmericanBainbridge
I can just hear your voice saying, “Dang y’all!” Savory food and ambiance make this transplanted Hoosier girl want to make the trip to Bainbridge to try them out!
Jan, I hope you get to come back down this way real soon. I will show you around some of the places I write about…and we will go to The American for a meal.
Thank you so so much for visiting with us, you made our year! <3
It was pure joy to meet y’all. Plus, your cuisine is fantastic! Will contact you before my next visit.
I have always thought it took a lot of courage and stamina to start a restaurant with the high failure rates. But I agree with you that the people often make the biggest difference between success and failure. Love to hear that the staff at The American all go out of their way to make sure the customers are happy. And when the food is great too, you hope everyone loves the restaurant as much as you do!
The fabulous folks at “The American” really do have great courage and excellent food!
I love restaurants like this and stories like theirs. The food looks absolutely delicious!
The American checks ALL the positive boxes. I appreciate your comment and hope you get to go there one day.