A new restaurant in a familiar location in downtown Columbia is now open.
Sage, a cafe focused on US Midwest cuisine owned by Kaitlyn Schlacks and chef Tabitha Casey, is at 11 N. Ninth St., the former home of Coffee Zone, which closed in November.
“Midwest cuisine, to me, aspires to be true and authentic without being a copycat of the original or fancy riffs on its root,” Schlacks wrote in messages to the Tribune.
The restaurant is open daily from 7am to 4pm. Menu highlights shared online include toast with a varied selection of toppings, made-to-order whole wheat waffles, cookies and brownies, muffins and homemade granola bars, among others. Guests can also look forward to a variety of savory dishes on the seasonal menu.
“I've known Tabitha for many years and I'm excited to work with her on this venture. Food service is not new to us, however, this is our first coffee concept and I'm really excited to launch it in my hometown.” , Schlacks wrote.
Helping Schlacks and Casey is general manager Daryk Gunderson, who can be found making the cafe's espresso and coffee drinks.
Menu item ingredients are sourced locally to “reflect the fusion of Midwest cuisine,” Schlacks wrote. Her favorites include spinach quiche or butter bean toast, which are expected to be available within a week or so.
“Tabitha's favorite thing is butterscotch soup and round coffee cookies,” Schlacks wrote.
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Visitors can probably expect a relaxed atmosphere at the venue, but Schlacks is excited to see how it develops, he wrote.
“(I hope the elevated setting will appeal to downtown customers looking for a coffee shop (and) to have an incredible food and beverage experience,” Schlacks wrote.
“I am very proud of the team that has worked so hard to open the doors. This is a place I look forward to taking my friends to hang out and enjoy the flavors of Tabitha's creations and the obsessive perfection of Daryk's espresso and drinks. coffee,” he added.
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Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general topics for the Tribune. He can be reached at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Sign up to support vital local journalism.
