Teal Turnip opens in Oakhurst with chef’s table, seasonal menu and specialty cocktails

The restaurant will hold a Cinco de Mayo celebration for its Friday grand opening, with “posh” tacos and signature drinks.

Context: Teal Turnip is the brainchild of chefs Taylor Kastl and Steve McGinley, the team behind Tayste Catering, a local catering company that started in 2015. 

Why it matters: Part of The Teal Turnip’s mantra is to be “accepting” and “inclusive,” and “a career and not just a job,” explains Kastl. Essentially, everything Kastl says she didn’t have as a young, female chef in the restaurant industry. 

•  “You got to work twice as hard as the men to get your presence out there and I don’t want it to be a fight for other females in this industry.”

What to expect: A “fine dining in a tee-shirt” atmosphere, says Kastl. “We like to say we’re 10% pretentious. We make damn good food without being stuffy about it.”

Space: The 2,500-square-foot restaurant will have a large patio and a window into the expansive kitchen.

• Kastl says the kitchen will take up most of the indoor space. “We want it to be really food-focused.”

Chef’s table: Inside the kitchen, you’ll find a large chef’s table, where guests will be served by Kastl and McGinley, while taking in all of the sights, sounds and smells that go into creating the meals.

• It’ll be available to reserve for $525 for six people.

Of note: Kastl and McGinley will also continue to run their catering program in the back. 

The menu will feature a lot of small plates with “adventurous menu items,” according to Kastl. Meaning, you’ll find non-traditional ingredients like beef tongue, beef cheeks and liver mousses in the mix. “This is not a place for chicken tenders,” Kastl joked. 

• The menu will be hyper-seasonal, which means it’ll change often and there’ll be rotating daily specials.

• As for drinks, you will find a selection of wine, a full bar with thirteen signature cocktails. And, they’re mocktail-friendly.

Yes, and: The restaurant is committed to minimizing food waste. “If we really can’t use it, we compost it.” said Kastl.

Details: The Teal Turnip is located at 1640 Oakhurst Commons Dr. Suite 105, in the same shopping center as Swirl, NoDa Yoga and Night Swim Coffee.

Of note: The Teal Turnip will not serve dinner or accept reservations for Friday’s grand opening block party. Regular service and reservations will begin Saturday, May 6.

• Following Friday’s grand opening, they’ll be open Wednesday-Saturday. They’ll serve lunch from 11am-4pm and dinner from 4-9pm.
• They plan to be open for limited service on Tuesdays from 5-8pm— expect live music and a bar bites menu.
• You can make a reservation through their website  and stay updated on their Instagram.
• The Teal Turnip is a child-free establishment.