A fixture of Kingston’s waterfront dining scene, Ole Savannah Southern Table and Bar has wowed patrons with riverside views and a brimming menu since 2015. Now, the restaurant is undergoing a huge rebrand as it transitions into The Cornell, which is projected to open in the spring of 2025. The new restaurant intends to redefine the dining experience in Kingston, offering an updated menu of global fusion cuisine and a refurbished ambiance to match.
For owner Dave Amato, the Kingston restaurant’s current branding isn’t representative of everything the destination has to offer. “When people hear ‘Southern Table,’ they think barbecue,” says Amato, adding that the rebrand to The Cornell seeks to reinforce the idea that Ole Savannah’s menu is so much bigger than just that. Together with Jessica Mino, who played a crucial role in the operation and success of Amato’s newest spot in Kingston, Brickmen Kitchen + Bar, Amato hopes to bring his vision of The Cornell to fruition.
“Over the years, Ole Savannah’s menu has evolved, and we want to reflect this development in our brand, too. With the reimaging of an essential downtown destination, The Cornell will pay homage to Kingston’s rich maritime history, in the same way that Brickmen pays homage to the area’s historic brick industry,” says Amato.
Why The Cornell?
Originally built in 1860, the building that is currently Ole Savannah Southern Table and Bar was called the Cornell Steamboat Repair Shop. The shop housed tugboats that transported Kingston’s bricks, bluestone, cement, and slate to New York City – including the cement that went on to make the Empire State Building. Consequently, the restaurant’s new name recognizes this past, tying in the boat industry aspect of the original building.
What to Expect From the Rebrand
While Ole Savannah’s menu has evolved naturally over the years to better fit customers’ preferences, The Cornell’s food offerings will reflect this evolution with a larger menu that emphasizes global fusion cuisine grounded in comfort food but inspired by contemporary flavors and techniques. From French to Italian to Asian, the updated menu is a collaboration between Amato and Chef Anthony Colon that will cater to everyone, with some Ole Savannah menu favorites – namely the fried chicken – to stay in the lineup for loyal customers.
Along with the culinary updates, the restaurant will also undergo interior and exterior renovations guided by the design team at Jackson Creative Group. The ambiance updates intend to celebrate the city and its community by providing a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for diners, with few structural changes other than a relocation of the restaurant’s bar.
Throughout the construction, Ole Savannah will continue operations as usual for dining, catering, and hosting events as the space is large enough to complete construction in phases. Ground is expected to break on the project on January 6, with a completion date and grand opening projected for May of 2025. “There’s truly nothing like it north of Manhattan,” says Amato about The Cornell.
Ole Savannah Southern Table and Bar, soon to be The Cornell, is located at 100 Rondout Landing in Kingston.
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