Vol. 4, No. 11, November 2007
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Sage Style
SAGE, 5206 Atlantic Ave., Ventnor, 609-823-2110
Savage moved to Ventnor in 1985 to deal blackjack in neighboring Atlantic City. She always loved to cook, and attended Atlantic Cape Community College’s Academy of Culinary Arts program. After graduating in 1992, Savage trained in a prestigious cooking course in Italy.
She returned to New Jersey in 1992, and worked at a local restaurant. In 1994, Savage and a partner opened Savaradio in Ventnor. The small restaurant grew increasingly popular, forcing Savage to twice relocate to larger space.
Savage has now returned to Absecon Island, and has scaled back to a more intimate site in Ventnor. Sage opened on Memorial Day weekend last May. She says it feels more comfortable in this setting, where she can be more hands-on and better manage the operation. Once again, Savage and her cooking crew work from a small kitchen and produce an eclectic menu that mixes international foods.
Sage is one colorful main dining room. Savage and her longtime staff renovated the space in three weeks. She hand-sanded and stained every chair, and upholstered the seats with a paisley patterned fabric. There is also a new entrance vestibule. The beige tile floors complement gold stucco walls.
“All the front-of-the-house people have stayed with me, so the cooking and operation are stable,” says Savage. “I change menus a few times a year, and the new fall menu includes heartier dishes. I also vary the meat and ravioli selections. We have the same energy and style of food as ever.”
Dishes spotlight Mediterranean, Italian, Asian, Spanish and American cuisine. Appetizers are priced from $9 to $13. Salads range from $6.50 to $7.50. Entrees, priced from $18 to $30, are served with a vegetable and starch. The main course choices include a wide variety of fishes, poultry, meats and pastas.
All other menu items are a la carte. The same pastry chef has prepared the $7.95 homemade desserts (except the biscotti) for 10 years. Everything is available for takeout, and Savage will prepare trays for outside parties.
Sage recently introduced lunch service. She says it was always popular with local residents and business people. The two-page lunch menu includes dozens of sandwiches, wraps, paninis, salads and omelets.
She also opened Lisa’s Italian Market next door. This upscale market sells both prepared foods and gourmet imported condiments and Italian delicacies.
The restaurant seats 94. Reservations are necessary on weekends. Cash only. BYOB. Lunch hours are 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Dinner is served from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 10 p.m. on weekends (closed Monday). Street parking is available.
LISA’S ITALIAN MARKET
5210 Atlantic Ave., Ventnor, 609-823-2117
Open since July, this gourmet market has been a pet project of Sage owner Lisa Savage’s and sells everything Italian. Lisa’s Italian Market is the only location in the region where customers can buy many imported food items, including a wide assotment of cheeses, olive oils, vinegars, condiments, coffees, pastas and Italian biscuits and cookies.
For fresh foods, Lisa’s display case features lasagna, fried stuffed artichokes, roasted peppers, crab cakes, chicken cutlets, lentil salad and other freshly made items that change regularly. Customers may also buy packaged, pre-cooked dishes. Gift baskets may be customized.
The market menu includes dozens of takeout sandwiches, paninis, salads and fresh pizza from a brick oven. Cash-only delivery is available throughout most of Absecon Island for $1.50. Credit cards are accepted at the store.
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