Huntsville foodies rejoice! Award-winning Chef Marc Taft is teaming up with Atrium Hospitality and bringing in Chef Luke Hawke to create a new Southern bistro in downtown Huntsville. Connected to the Downtown Embassy Suites Hotel, CO/OP Community Table + Bar is slated to open in late spring.

The new restaurant will welcome diners with a Southern chic atmosphere featuring a refined farmhouse-influenced design paired with elevated, southern ingredient-inspired dishes.

The space will reflect Huntsville’s rich history with its warm aesthetic and thoughtful blend of modern design. CO/OP diners will also have the option of al fresco dining in a covered patio that seats over 100 and features a walk-up bar, located adjacent to the Big Spring riverwalk. Patio diners will also be able to enjoy live music from popular and aspiring local artists.

Atrium Hospitality, which continues its investment in Huntsville, purchased the property in 2018. Chef Taft, renowned for his inspired regional cuisine, created CO/OP to complement the growing food scene in the city.

Chef Taft is the Executive Chef/President of Southern Fried Hospitality and is behind a number of popular restaurants, including metro Atlanta-based Chicken and the Egg, which the 2012/13 Zagat Survey recognized as one of the “Top Five Best New Restaurants in Atlanta.”

“I am so honored and excited to continue this partnership in developing great hospitality for the city of Huntsville,” Taft said.

Chef Luke Hawke. Contributed photo.

“Chef Luke was the obvious choice to helm the kitchen at CO/OP. I have always been impressed with his food and he is an industry veteran that understands the importance of the hospitality scene to Huntsville,” Taft explained.

CO/OP will feature a flavorful menu incorporating seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms and purveyors, as well as sustainable beef, pork, poultry, and seafood. The menu imagined by Taft is made up of approachable ingredients that are thoughtfully constructed by Hawke. CO/OP will fuse traditional cooking techniques with a modern flair in harmony with the season.

Alongside its exceptional food offerings, CO/OP’s bar will feature modern craft cocktails, local brews on tap, and a chef-curated wine list.