Gunshow Restaurant to Open May 8

Ormewood Park Chef Kevin Gillespie’s highly anticipated new restaurant, Gunshow, opens Wednesday, May 8 at 924 Garrett St. in Glenwood Park.

It will be a significant departure from the fine dining experience guests may have associated with Gillespie.

Inspired by Brazilian churrascaria-style dining and Chinese dim sum, Gillespie combined the two for a decidedly fun and delicious result. Gillespie also worked with the talented team at ai3 Inc. to push the creative boundaries of restaurant design to create a home-like atmosphere.

“Gunshow has been a really personal project for me, and I’m excited to share it with my friends and neighbors in Glenwood Park,” Gillespie said in a statement.

“Everything from the name to the food we’re serving represents my version of the South. It’s important to me that diners have more control over their meals, so I  wanted to eliminate ‘menu anxiety’ by letting people see exactly what they’re getting and to give people a place where they can get great food without spending hours at dinner.”

Instead of ordering from a traditional menu, guests can choose from seasonal, rustic-to-refined creations as they appear tableside on rolling carts and trays. This service approach emphasizes the fun, casual and family gathering type of experience Gillespie wants guests to have.

The dishes range in size and include small bites to nibble on as the table decides what to order as well as medium-sized plates.

Examples of dishes include buttermilk dumplings and foraged mushrooms, North Atlantic scallops in brown butter and herbs, Texas Hill Country-style smoked beef sausage and old-fashioned hot banana pudding.

Guests can check the restaurant’s website on Sunday evenings for weekly menu updates. Gunshow serves bottled beer and wine by the glass or bottle.

Gillespie collaborated with ai3 Inc. to transform the 2,500-square-foot space into a restaurant with tremendous functionality and openness. At Gunshow, cooks, servers and customers all share the same area, leaving no separation between the kitchen and dining room.  

“Kevin approached us with a concept that, in the end, had less to do with designing a space than it had to do with designing an experience – one that is very personal to Kevin’s vision,” said Lucy Aiken-Johnson a partner at ai3. “It’s completely unlike anything else we’ve ever worked on.”  

The restaurant seats 60, including up to six at Kevin’s Table, a reservation only, chef’s table where guests can have a tasting menu tailored specifically for them by Gillespie. Pricing for Kevin’s Table starts at $1,000 and includes all food, beer, wine, tax and gratuity.

The restaurant will be open for dinner Tuesday – Saturday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are required for the week of May 8-11; afterwards, reservations are accepted but not required.