New Steakhouse, Raw Bar Coming to Wakefield
The incoming Tuttle Street restaurant is a joint venture between a Wakefield resident and a Stoneham resident.
Slated to open in Wakefield in September of 2012 is a new joint venture of a restaurant: Laurie's 9:09 Steakhouse and Raw Bar.
The new eatery will be a mix of fine dining - think oysters, steak, lobsters and crab cakes - a full bar, and fun entertainment, including live music, trivia and other games.
The restaurant will be located at 33 Tuttle Street, the location of the former Cafe Jag's.
A dream realized
The idea is the brainchild of Laurie Rizzo, a Stoneham resident, and Bob MacFadgin of Wakefield.
Rizzo, who formerly served as director of event operations at various Marriott locations, has always dreamed of opening a restaurant, she said.
MacFadgin has worked for several technical startup companies in Wakefield and the surrounding area. When the two met at MG Fitness in Wakefield last October, the idea for the restaurant was born.
The menu
Rizzo said the restaurant will place emphasis on fresh, local ingredients, outsourcing vegetables from local farms, importing lobsters straight from Maine, all while keeping prices relatively low.
"It's going to be high end dining, but without the high prices," said co-founder MacFadgin. "You're not going to be paying eight bucks for a potato here. My motto is, 'You deserve this.' You've worked hard all day, and now it's time to enjoy yourself."
The menu will be modeled after a traditional American steakhouse, with a few signature dishes, including a freshly made crab cake entree.
"We're going to do crab cakes like you've never had them before," said MacFadgin.
MacFadgin said the pair is hoping to create a welcoming atmosphere for locals to enjoy good company, good food and good entertainment.
"It's cliche, but we want it to be the type of place where everyone knows your name, and you can also meet new people," he said.
The restaurant will be open on Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and will be open for brunch on Sundays from 7 a.m. through 2 p.m.
And the reason behind the name?
"Come in and see if you can figure it out," MacFadgin said.
Diane Lee
6:28 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Looking forward to its opening. Good Luck!
Bob MacFadgen
7:01 am on Sunday, July 22, 2012
Thank you Diane. We look forward to meeting you when we open!
Bob MacFadgen
Tasha Schlake Festel
7:03 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
This sounds great! Can't wait for the opening. Will there be outdoor seating on the train-side of the building? That would be fab! Good luck!
Sara Jacobi
8:46 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Yep! Forgot to mention that in the article, but they did mention a plan for outdoor seating. :)
Bob MacFadgen
7:05 am on Sunday, July 22, 2012
Thank you Tasha. Laurie and I are looking forward to opening and meeting you!
Bob MacFadgen
Christine Burns
9:27 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Looking forward to a good raw bar in town.
Bob MacFadgen
7:04 am on Sunday, July 22, 2012
Thank you Christine. We are looking forward to meeting you!
Bob MacFadgen
Jackie Millinor
4:15 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Can't wait for September. This is exactly what Wakefield needs!
Bob MacFadgen
7:07 am on Sunday, July 22, 2012
Thank you Jackie. Your comment makes me smile! Laurie and I certainly believe your comment to be true.
Good Things,
Bob MacFadgen
Kimberly Bova McDonald
4:32 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Sounds fun and perfect for Wakefield!
Bob MacFadgen
7:08 am on Sunday, July 22, 2012
Thank you Kimberly for your comment! Laurie and I do hope to create a lot of fun for our patrons. We look forward to meeting you in September!
Good Things,
Bob MacFadgen
valerie
12:10 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
When is the grand opening - anyone know??? I keep driving bye and looks like they are still working on it...
Thanks and looking forward to checking it out!!
Judie Waitt
10:46 am on Sunday, July 22, 2012
Best wishes does sound like a nice place and i love the hours, I hate when a place closes at like 10;00 cause if you go in like 8;30ish-9 you always feel like you are keeping the staff there and feel uncomfortable.. Having an after dinner drink listening to music is always fun. Good luck !
Bob MacFadgen
2:33 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Hello Judie,
Well you can see a bit tardy in my thankful response to you. We do hope you will enjoy the entertainment we present. Our hope is not to just have music, we want to entertain you with surprises all the time with what you see in the restaurant before the entertainment as well as the music itself. Think Theme! Sorry a Mystery this must be "for now"; however we hope your time(s) will be magical over time as you tour our entertainment calendar that we will eventually have on our site. Our hope is you can look forward to what you know and enjoy along with a..................... surprise you will have to wait till that day announcement that we hope you will go bonkers over. Our goal is for you to say the next day, "that was a great memory"
"I did deserve that" when you think of the meal, cocktail, service, entertainment and overall atmosphere of LAURIE'S 9:09 RAW BAR & STEAKHOUSE. And we hope to give you and your friends a lot of good times and great memories!!
Our Best!
Bob MacFadgen
Diana Kennedy
3:12 pm on Sunday, July 22, 2012
I'm excited for you to open! The place sounds delicious and it's actually a place my husband and I can agree on.
Bob MacFadgen
2:47 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Hello Diana,
Yes I know I know you can see with my late thankful response to your comments. Laurie and I and others are working hard in this weather to bring you and our other future patrons a place all can come to and enjoy being entertained in many ways. Our hope is with what you see that is obvious and then what may not be obvious. With what we have on our web site and at the restaurant, be it Laurie's Tips or Bob's Blackboard, subtle visual items you may not catch the first few times in (our hope the first of many visits) and of course the great fresh food you will be getting, superb veteran service from our staff and some musical entertainment as well. And as you say, you and your husband can agree on and enjoy together. Well Laurie and I want to create a place that is a catalyst. where we bring you and our other patrons together and then we leave you together: that is you, your husband and the great memory of having experienced LAURIE'S 9:09 RAW BAR & STEAKHOUSE with the hope you will allow us to bring you back to us again to mix with other good patrons, our food and entertainment so you too will say to your husband the next day, "you know, we deserved that".
Good Things,
Bob MacFadgen
Judith Jacoby
7:37 pm on Saturday, August 4, 2012
Can't wait....I love raw bar and it will be in walking distance from my house!
Kimberly Bova McDonald
7:00 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
We will have to go together Judy!
Myron Dittmer
4:13 pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012
Congrats to Bob and Laura on your new venture! I know Laura and she is a great cook.....look forward to patronizing your restuarant..the menu posted in your window looks very tantilizing and I'm really looking forward to tasting your various menu slelections!