TAUNTON – A new bar and restaurant called Blind Tiger will soon take over the premises on Taunton Green where National Charter 957 officially closed last July.
The good news is that 957 regulars who enjoyed the cocktail bar’s speakeasy atmosphere will likely appreciate Blind Tiger, too, as the venue plans to largely retain the original aesthetic.
“When you see the space, it really exudes ‘speakeasy,'” right down to the side entrance on Knotty Walk, says co-owner David Groves, who along with fellow co-owner Jillian Bates will transform the interior to create more restaurant space.
Why it is called Blind Tiger
The company name fits the era it pays homage to. Groves said that according to his and Bates’ research, Blind Tiger is Prohibition-era slang for “cops who don’t know where we are.”
Since both are Taunton residents, Groves said the tiger has a double meaning and refers to the Taunton High School mascot.
“It was a perfect fit,” Groves said.
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What is on the restaurant menu?
A first version of Blind Tiger’s menu (which is subject to change closer to opening) shows a healthy assortment of starters, sandwiches, hot main courses and desserts.
Appetizers include chicken wings, poutine, deviled eggs, onion rings and feta cheese dip with bread.
Sandwiches include a pulled pork sandwich, a chicken salad croissant, a garlic and bacon grilled cheese sandwich, a steak sandwich, a caprese sandwich, and a Chicago-style Italian beef sub sandwich.
Hot main courses include fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, meatloaf and mashed potato, and steak tips with mashed potato.
Dessert choices include Cheesecake Brûlée, a giant cinnamon roll, pistachio cream doughnuts, and Drunken Monkey Bread, which is essentially cinnamon roll pieces soaked in bourbon and RumChata and then baked with honey.
What’s on the bar menu?
As for drinks, Groves said there will be a wide selection of wine, beer and cocktails, with mocktails also being served for non-alcoholic guests.
There will also be a selection of “Prohibition-era drinks,” Groves said, and they are exploring the feasibility of including drinks from Charter 957’s former liquor menu.
Roots of this project
Groves has decades of experience in the restaurant industry, having worked for years as operations manager for the now-defunct microbrewery-restaurant franchise BeerWorks before all locations were permanently closed in 2021 due to the pandemic.
He then worked for a time as food and beverage director at the New Bedford Country Club before being fired again.
Groves said he was fed up with being laid off and wanted to take over the reins himself when the opportunity arose with the availability of the former Charter 957 space.
“We saw the opportunity and took it. It’s a great location! You can’t beat it,” Groves said.
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Extended kitchen in progress
Groves said Blind Tiger’s menu options are limited by the size of the kitchen. “It’s not a full kitchen,” he said, adding they have to limit themselves to menus that don’t generate too much smoke.
He and Bates plan to expand the kitchen sometime next year, which would likely mean expanding the menu.
staff
Groves said Blind Tiger will employ about five people including him. He explained that the space is small and manageable enough to be operated by two to three people at a time.
Hours
Groves plans to keep Blind Tiger open Monday through Saturday. Hours are still being determined, but he believes the eatery will be open for lunch and dinner most of the week, from about 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and will be open until midnight on Friday and Saturday.
When will Blind Tiger open?
Groves said the best-case scenario for an opening date is mid-October. Currently, he and Bates are working on transferring the former business’s liquor license to Blind Tiger., This requires hearings with the city council and the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission.
