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07/02/2024 07:29 AMBased on the buzz, brilliant surrounds, and fantastic food and drink at the June 27 sneak peek celebration, Branford is going to love its tandem new eateries, Lockworks Tavern and SaltBrick Prime. Both restaurants, which opened to the public on June 28, have been developed under the creative and talented guidance of long-time Branford resident and accomplished restaurateur, Stephen Goglia.
“There’s a good culinary community in Branford, and we’re excited to bring something that we think really didn’t exist here, until now,” said Goglia.
On June 27, supportive Branford community members including First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove and Branford Economic and Business Development Manager Perry Maresca were among a crowd of well-wishers at the new venues. Also joining in were some local business friends who joined Goglia and his Lockworks Hospitality Group (LHG) corporate partner, Chief Operating Officer Matt O’neill, as enthusiastic participants in the venture. Goglia is president and CEO of LHG. At the Branford restaurants, Goglia’s son serves as Director of Operations.
“It’s really become a community team,” said Goglia. “We’re overjoyed.”
A big part of the team on the ground is Executive Chef Alex Cabera, a seasoned pro who has led the group’s restaurants in New York City, Aspen, Minneapolis, and Chicago. Cabera and his family moved to Branford about seven months ago in preparation for his management of the kitchen for both restaurants.
“I’m really excited that I have Alex here with me, because his food is phenonmenal,” said Goglia.
Lockworks Tavern features eclectic food with a menu that lends itself to share plates. SaltBrick Prime brings a premium steakhouse experience to its diners. The two restaurants also have the benefit of starting out with additional professional culinary staff from Goglia’s team, from servers to bartenders.
Both eateries are located within the square’s impressive brick industrial building at 1212 Main Street. Goglia signed the lease last July. The site most recently housed the former Donovan's Reef restaurant and its Sonar Room. But anyone who’s visited the former businesses will be wowed by the transformation.
Stepping inside Lockworks Tavern (former Donovan’s), guests enter a space completely reimagined and retooled for an exciting tavern and casual dining experience. An impressive American flag, emblazoned on repurposed timbers, overlooks the open space dining and bar areas. The tavern’s interior is topped by the original building’s high ceilings and skylights.
The tavern also echos with unique touches tied to Branford and the history of the Lockworks. A custom-made wood-and-gold toned relief wall that Goglia describes as “an homage to Branford” features the Seal of Branford and artfully arranged text recognizing Branford’s many special enclaves, favorite locales, and town-spirit elements. Added icons relate favorite sights and activities. As an ode to the original Lockworks, two museum-worthy cases created by a friend display highly polished door locks, hinges, and other authentic Lockworks artifacts on long-term loan from the Branford Historical Society.
The tavern’s bar, which is built to accommodate a crowd, is backed by a bank of original factory windows. The bar anchors one end of the tavern’s exposed brick and timber interior that seats 109. Tavern guests have a view into the open kitchen serving the tavern and SaltBrick Prime.
While staff can travel between the two venues through the kitchen, guests enter using individual restaurants entrances off the Lockworks Square parking area.
Guests enter SaltBrick Prime through a converted walk-in cooler door, to be greeted by stylized black and white “cow hide” pillars and a marble-topped bar setting off the stunning, custom-made salt brick wall. The brick is infused with warm gold light.
“Over the years in our restaurants, we’ve used salt brick as a design element,” said Goglia. “The salt brick in the wall is the same salt we use to do the dry-aging of our steaks, which we have a US Patent on.”
Connecticut residents may recognize the SaltBrick Prime name from the group’s 414-seat David Burke Prime Steakhouse at Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, where the dry-aged steak is featured.
“This is really a smaller version, seat-wise, from our restaurant in Foxwoods,” said Goglia. “It’s the same great restaurant experience, same steaks, same high-end professional restaurant service; in a more intimate atmosphere. It’s a space that’s well-suited to Branford.”
As thoughtful community touch, the restaurant extends the opportunity to enjoy its premium dining experience with value-priced early bird “Prime Time” specials.
Seating 116, SaltBrick Prime’s open dining room floor includes pops of color and fun touches like sparkling-yet-subtle crystal chandeliers, and twinkling lights peeking from the leaves of a bountiful indoor tree.
“It’s not a tablecloth restaurant, but it acts like a tablecloth restaurant,” said Goglia. “There’s a little whimsy that we wanted to infuse with the colors, the chandeliers, playing with the height; and that’s what we did.”
Whether it’s visiting Lockworks Tavern or SaltBrick Prime (or both) Goglia said he wants guests to take away “an experience” that will ensure they’d love to return, again and again.
“I want them to know they can count on us all the time, whether SaltBrick Prime is your special occasion restaurant or your Saturday night restaurant; or if you just want to enjoy the great tavern atmosphere at Lockworks Tavern,” Goglia said. “I really feel like there’s something here for everybody. I want everyone to know that we’ve earned their trust; that they can come time and time again and their hard-earned dollars being spent here are well-spent.”