In what could be an episode of The Food Network show “Restaurant: Impossible,” Spiro Gioldosis is turning the former Sabroso restaurant in Silver Spring into The Stage Burger Lounge—in five days. Gioldosis bought the South American rotisserie and grill last Friday, and will be opening the new place on Wednesday, February 29.
“We’re flipping it over very quickly,” says Gioldosis, who appears to be a big fan of Robert Irvine, the host of the Food Network show that resurrects failing restaurants in no time. “I love that guy,” he said.
Gioldosis, who owns Silver Spring’s Pacci’s Neapolitan Pizzeria and Pacci’s Trattoria & Pasticceria, and is the general manager of Mrs. K’s Restaurant, said that the deal had gone back and forth for the last four or five months, but that he got a call on Friday from Sabroso’s attorney telling him “we’re settling at 5 p.m.”
Luis Flores, the sous chef at Mrs. K’s, will take over the kitchen at the new restaurant, which will feature upscale hamburgers as well as bison, turkey and vegan patties. More specifically, the preliminary menu includes a Let It Brie burger (bison with brie) and a Chipotle Lady Lay (hamburger with chipotle sauce, jalapeno and cilantro). There will also be other sandwiches, including pulled pork and steak and cheese.
Weighing in at eight ounces, the burgers will cost from $6.45 to $9.85. (A four-ounce kid-size burger will cost $4.35) Hand cut regular fries (with Old Bay), sweet potato fries, onions rings and hush puppies will round out the menu, which also includes milkshakes, cookies, brownies and cake.
Gioldosis says the restaurant, which will offer counter service only, will get a fresh coat of paint and will be rearranged “to make it look a little different.”
Its location a few doors away from the new Fillmore, and across the street from the AFI Silver Theatre, is likely to be a sure bet. Says Gioldosis, “the surroundings needed something like this.”
The Stage Burger Lounge, 8624 Colesville Road, Silver Spring.
