He came from the land of “Leaf Peepers” aka Barrington, New Hampshire, and settled in the “Winter Colony” aka Aiken. The path to opening a restaurant was at the end of a long and winding road for Samuel O’Lone.
“My degree is in theology. I worked for eight years at a food service company which taught me a lot about food, but not cooking, and then I worked in student housing in Athens, GA. My sisters were into riding and showing horses and they would come to Aiken during the winter. All my family fell in love with the community,” said O’Lone.
If it takes a village to build a restaurant, The Wildemount has that. He and his brothers and sisters moved to Aiken in what he laughingly referred to as a “collective migration” last year. In January, O’Lone opened the restaurant. Several of his siblings now work with him.
If the address of The Wildemount seems familiar, 200 Park Avenue, SW, it’s because it was once home to a local favorite, Solo Vino Wine Parlor. It was closed last summer when the owners, husband and wife, Lou Giusto and Stephanie Sheridan, announced their decision to shut down due to Chef Lou’s health issues. Giusto became a mentor to O’Lone after he bought the place.
“I’ve been creative since I was a kid and I love creating culinary art and new dishes, but Lou and Stephanie were instrumental in giving me guidance in HR, payroll, and the best vendors to deal with. I’m grateful for everything they taught me.”
Business has been good. It’s not fast food because everything is prepared from scratch including pasta, risotto, and even the salad dressings are homemade. Fresh seafood is delivered to the restaurant three times a week. The Wildemount could be considered the perfect date night or even a great venue for a business dinner.
“Some of our most popular dishes are chicken piccata, risotto, and scallop dishes. I visit every table to ensure our customers love their orders and are happy. Customer service is paramount.”
And about the magic? The Wildemount is named after the continent in the popular game Dungeons and Dragons. It’s a land of mystery, magic, and adventure. O’Lone hopes to provide the same magic for your taste buds.
The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm. For more information, visit their website, Facebook page, or call 803-262-5269 for reservations.
Editor’s Note:
Mitzi Oxford is a veteran broadcaster and features writer who also worked at the same television station in Columbus, Georgia as Augusta’s Brad Means!
If you have a South Carolina story idea for Mitzi, please email her at mitzioxfordcreative@gmail.com.
