Some of Tatum Menake’s earliest memories in the kitchen are of baking with her grandmother and helping her grandparents prepare Sunday dinner.
Now, Menake, 20, of Colts Neck, is gearing up to open Tatum’s Table — a breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant that will bring a unique spin to classic dishes — with her family by her side.
“It’s great to have their support,” Menake said. “I’m very lucky to have my family helping me.”
While Menake said she has dreamed of opening her own eatery for as long as she can remember, she first got to work turning her vision into a reality in December, when she found a listing for a vacant restaurant in The Lincroft Grove shopping plaza in Middletown Township that she described as the “perfect location.”
Menake, a self-described “foodie,” said she was motivated to open a breakfast and lunch spot after noticing a lack of variety in local offerings.
“I love breakfast. I’m always going out to eat for breakfast and I just feel like everything’s the same over here,” Menake said. “I just really wanted to make something different.”
Over the last six months, Menake said she and her family have renovated and modernized the interior of the 2,400-square-foot location. “It’s all white, black and gold. It’s very elegant.,” she said. “I want the interior to be pleasing and look warm, welcoming and nice.”
Menake, who typically orders the “craziest thing on the menu” when she goes out to eat, crafted her menu to include a variety of both creative and classic dishes. While curating the recipes, Menake said she drew inspiration from her family’s heritage.
“I’m most excited for the pistachio baklava pancakes,” she said. “I’m Greek and Italian, so I figured that pays a little bit (of homage) to my Greek heritage.”
A number of ingredients, including coffee, milk, fruits and vegetables, will be sourced locally, Menake said.
“We want everything to be very high end and fresh local ingredients, so our food will be great quality,” she said.
Menake recently worked with her mom and brother at his cafe in Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck, which has prepared her for her current endeavor, she said. At Tatum’s Table, Menake’s main role will involve overseeing the kitchen to ensure operations are running smoothly.
As she prepares to open the doors of Tatum’s Table for business within the next few weeks, Menake said she is most excited to “serve the community.”
“A lot of people have been telling me, ‘I’ve been wanting a breakfast restaurant in Lincroft for so long,’ so it’s just really nice to see people really excited and happy,” she said.
After Tatum’s Table celebrates its grand opening, the restaurant will operate from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.
