Bon Vivant Restaurant and Lounge now open in Warner Robins. See inside this upscale space
Gwenkeia Simmons did something unique on her birthday this year.
With her fiance Richard Green by her side and surrounded by friends, family and local chamber members, Simmons celebrated the grand opening Thursday of her new restaurant and lounge.
“Richard, he has helped me so much along the way,” Simmons said. “My wonderful staff, family, friends, I really appreciate everything from the bottom of my heart.
“I hope everyone enjoys every thing that we have to offer here. It’s for the community.”
The French phrase bon vivant translates into English as “good living.” True to its name, Bon Vivant Restaurant and Lounge aims to bring a taste of the good life to Warner Robins.
The new spot at 511 N. Davis Drive in Warner Robins offers soul food for lunch weekdays, fine dining in the evenings and a brunch on the weekends.
“High maintenance” cocktails are offered at the full-service bar, while hookah is offered in a side room.
An avid traveler with a love for good food, drinks and the finer things of life, Simmons wanted to bring those experiences to her upscale restaurant and lounge.
To do that, she’s transformed a 7,000-square-foot space that’s previously been home to a couple of steakhouses and a Chinese restaurant.
Simmons also owns Simmons Tax Prep at nearby 105 N. Davis Drive.
The new venue
Driving up to the restaurant and lounge, patrons will find ample parking outside the white building with black trim.
“Bon Vivant,” with its pronunciation and a definition, is etched on the side of the building near the main entrance.
“Noun: [bon vee vahnt],” the etching reads. “A bon vivant is a person who enjoys living ‘the good life’ — an expert of food and drinks and of the other things that go along with a life of leisure and luxury.”
The restaurant and lounge is designed to create a positive allure and bring an upscale experience to the north side of town “where people can have a good time and feel safe,” said Tamika Head, the venue’s operational manager.
She gave guests at the grand opening a tour of the venue.
An inclining ramp of an indoor walkway leads to the main entrance. A doorway in the walkway on the left opens into an inviting outdoor patio with faux green grass.
Faux flowers drape over the main door, a full length mirror is to the immediate left of the door and a rectangular mirror with Bon Vivant etched across the glass is on the right of the door. A flower box filled with faux red roses also adorns the entrance way.
Inside, the venue opens into a large room with tables and chairs. This room represents France. A photo of the Eiffel Tower hangs on a wall. With a lighted sign, “Taste the Good Life,” in the background, a nearby spot has been created for taking selfies and other photos.
The venue has other spots for photo opportunities sprinkled throughout.
Soul food is served for lunch from a counter in this room during lunch hours on weekdays. The room transforms into a lounge area in the evenings.
Dinner is served in another dining area along a windowed wall of the restaurant and lounge. The evening dining area represents Spain.
A large bar area representing Mexico offers seating at the bar and at tables and chairs. Large flat screen TVs are behind the full-service bar. Wall art of red wine tumbling into a glass says, “Let’s make poor decisions.”
A sliding door near the bar opens into “The Good Life” private party room, a long, eloquent space with marble top tables pushed together creating one long table. A light fixture hangs over the table and a faux fireplace is within the back wall below a gold frame around a large-screen TV.
The hookah room, which represents Dubai, is off to the side of the France area and offers comfortable seating. A lighted “Relax, Puff, Repeat” sign hangs on a wall.
Soul food & fine dining
Self-taught chef Gerard Atkinson is the venue’s chef. He prepares soul food classics like fried chicken, mac and cheese and collard greens for lunch during the week and breakfast foods for the weekend brunch.
At night, he offers up culinary delights such as fried or grilled lobster tails, crab cakes, Southern style chicken hibachi, lamb chops, shrimp and grits and chicken alfredo.
Each dish has a name that reflects the various spaces, or themes, of the venue such as Eiffel Tower Twin lobster tails or Good Times blackened or fried catfish.
Atkinson co-owns Greenwood Barbecue in Macon with business partner and barbershop co-owner, Brandon Harris. Atkinson also has served as chef at two downtown Macon spots: Churchills on Cherry and the Barefoot Tavern.
Katrina Johnson, owner of Suite 616 Event Venue in Warner Robins, designed the venue’s interior. Realtor Katrina Hall Haynes is responsible for the floral arrangements throughout the space.
Prior to the grand opening, the restaurant and lounge had a few soft opening days.
At the grand opening, Simmons’ staff gave her the first $1 the venue made in a frame for a birthday gift. She also received a plaque from the Robins Regional Chamber and a gift from Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda Patrick.
Simmons gave glory to God at the grand opening, saying afterward that the venture would have been impossible without God.
“It feels wonderful,” Simmons said of her restaurant and lounge coming to fruition.
Hours
Weekday hours are 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the soul food bar or ordering off a lunch menu Monday through Friday. The venue closes and then reopens from 5 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to midnight Friday.
Weekend hours are 12 p.m. to midnight Saturday and 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, with brunch served from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The number is 478-308-2829.