Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice
Damsel, the multi-level establishment, is no ordinary supper club, but much more.
Located in the Works on Atlanta’s Westside, Damsel brings not only a collection of global-inspired finger foods to try, but a cabaret-style show with the culinary experience.
To better describe the 10,000 square-foot restaurant, think “sexy and 1880s Paris, the Moulin Rouge meets 21st century Cabaret/Musical Theater, with a touch of disco madness thrown in for good measure”.
Damsel offers three separate dining experiences.
Downstairs offers small plates, the restaurant’s private club has elevated cuisine, and the lounge features interactive cooking displays. Damsel also has live shows every night featuring dancers, musicians, and other forms of entertainment.
Damsel’s vision is to create a haven where art, elegance, and entertainment converge to form a tapestry of unforgettable moments.
With the culinary experience curated by owner and restauranteur Dave Green, who also is owner of The Select, another top-rated dining spot in Atlanta, and entertainment referred to as “The Show” was directed by the esteemed choreographer Otis Sallid.
Damsel’s creation
With their grand opening back in April, Green said it feels “amazing” to finally be open.
“It’s amazing because we’re finally able to share what we wanted to create with the public,” Green said. “The grand opening was an eye opener, I think for everyone and now we get to go around, meet everyone, and get their feedback.”
Green also said the experience has been “extraordinary” and live entertainment had “gone early from Atlanta, especially at this level.”
“I think the response has been overwhelming,” he said.
Damsel was a two-year project, according to Green.
Furthermore, Sallid was tasked with producing “The Show”, with his company Creative Otis. The Show is a highly stylized cabaret that’s described as ‘sexy, seductive, sassy, at times bawdy, always elegant, and a fashionista’s dream.’
Green said a cabaret-style restaurant was always in the works because live entertainment was non-existent in Atlanta. One day, he was telling a group of people at his restaurant about why he named it, “The Select”, which is about the 1920s restaurant where a lot of luminaries gathered and wanted to change culture forever.
“They were very successful in brining all of Europe together and it was an interesting time after World War One and became the roaring 20s, which was the Jazz Age in Europe,” he said. “Cabarets were a place to bring people together.”
As he’s talking about The Select’s history, a young lady who’s a producer comes out of the bathroom and overhears the story, which she thinks is amazing, according to Green. This is where the lady introduces Green to Sallid.
“She told me who Otis was and I was completely blown away but thought he had way too much going on to work with me on this cabaret,” he said. “When I met him, it was wonderful.”
Additionally, Sallid said producing and choreographing “The Show” was about making history.
Sallid and his wife visited The Select one day and sat listening, talking, and saw how Green treated his staff and how he moved around the room.
“This time in my life, we’re not looking for a job, but we’re looking to make history and so he was saying all the right things down to the way he treated his staff and being the kind of person, we believed in,” Sallid said.
The process, Sallid said, was like “making soup” and having to find the right ingredients for the show to fly.
“We needed a certain kind of dancer, a certain kind of person. We found a lot of great people, not just in Atlanta. We needed to find the right people for this, and we found five great dancers,” he said.
The shows last five minutes, then you have small bites for 15 minutes, vice versa. Sallid said he wasn’t sure if it was going to work, but Green told him it would work.
Sallid said they both operate in trust, which is the bonding of their relationship.
“When we started doing it, it really worked,” he said.
“I just have tremendous respect for him, his wife, and his life’s work. He represents 50 years of modern American dance culture and he’s here in Atlanta and for us to meet was like the planets aligned,” Green said.
The Damsel Menu
Executive Chef Julian Parker and his eloquently trained team experiment with unique, globally inspired cuisine like their crab canapés, lobster cones and foie gras benedict to deliver a burst of flavors, all in one delicious bite.
Aside from the bites in the supper club, guests can find a private space on-site for exclusive, members-only dining as well as a rooftop lounge with interactive food carts for display cooking and midnight breakfast.
Green also said curating the menu with Executive Chef Julian Parker was amazing.
Some of Sallid’s favorites are the Shrimp Phyllo and the Tuna Roll.
“He’s (Julian) an artist, those are my favorites,” he said.
Green said he likes the A5 Wagyu Nigiri and the lobster cones because it’s full of lobster.
“We also do truffle arancini, tenderloin, Beef Wellington, Sliders, and more,” Green said. “We have a vegan presentation in our what we call, ‘Count Me In’, which is our first platter that you get in one of the interstitials.”
Damsel & Beyond
After the show, Damsel turns into a dance club, reminiscent of New York’s Studio 54, so the party can continue.
“We stay open until 2 a.m. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays,” Green said.
He also said they are going to be adding Happy Hour and going to give free bites away on the rooftop from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Green added there will be what’s called, “Midnight Breakfast”, so when guests hang out late, they can order breakfast items such as pancakes and chicken and waffles as well.
“The rooftop has the happy hour and then it becomes the place where there’s food carts, which we’re thinking about getting a Flambé station, so after your meal, you can come to the dessert room, which will be the rooftop,” he said.
By phase three, Green said, Damsel is going to be the hottest place in Atlanta.
“That’s what we’re shooting for,” he said.
Both Green and Sallid said to pay attention to the dress code and what people are wearing.
“Look at the elegance and how people are dressing up in Atlanta. They’re paying attention to our dress code and trying to have an elegant night out whether it’s a date night, or if you want to meet somebody, or to go out with friends,” Green said.
No matter what it is, there’s a place for everyone at Damsel, and you will be welcomed with open arms, Green said.
“I love the feeling of being connected again and really feel at home,” Sallid said.
When guests visit Damsel, Sallid said there’s a feeling of joy, love, and happiness he wants to permeate the work they do because it’s something that will stick with guests for the rest of their lives.
Green said when people visit Damsel, he wants them to open their minds, be a part of something new, and have a good time.
“Be a contributor, be a giver when you come to Damsel. This is going to take a community to raise Damsel and we’re very clear on that and leave all your inhibitions at home,” he said.
For more information, visit https://www.damselatl.com.