When chef Richard Miley’s 30th birthday rolls around on January 14, he hopes to celebrate with a birthday present to himself:  the opening of his new downtown Watkinsville steakhouse, Chops & Hops. 

Miley, whose last restaurant job brought him to Monroe, partnered with Patrick and Mychell Lang, all three of whom have a love for food and want to bring good steak to Oconee County.

“The last restaurant I fixed was a steakhouse, and the first was a steakhouse,” said Miley.  “I like steak.”

While the restaurant focuses on steak, the menu also includes a large selection of appetizers, soups, salads, seafood, burgers and sandwiches. 

Since Miley made the menu himself, he finds it difficult to pick favorites, but has a few choices he’s especially proud of: the green shell mussels as an appetizer, the Chops Burger, the BLT sandwich, the scallops, and the 22 oz. Bone in Ribeye steak. 

“These are the ones that I’m excited for,” he said.

The Club salad was an item Patrick selected for the menu.

 

In addition to food, Chops & Hops will offer a variety of beer and wine options.

With a red, white and black color scheme, the restaurant will cover tables in paper tableclothes so diners can doodle while they wait for their meals, and the upstairs will be called the Artland Loft, with a wraparound couch and a lounge-style atmosphere. 

Also upstairs is the restaurant’s banquet dining facility for special events. 

“It doesn’t look at all like the restaurant that was here before,” said Miley.  Chops

& Hops is located in the space that once housed Mason Bleu in the Town Center shopping plaza. 

Music played in the restaurant will vary in style and will include genres ranging from country to alternative, said Miley.  Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights will feature live music. 

Miley also emphasized that all food will be fresh and the restaurant will not use freezers. 

“You can tell a huge difference,” he said. 

Chops & Hops is on track for  January 14 opening date, although Miley expects renovations to be completed around Christmas. 

The restaurant will open Monday through Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.  For a complete menu or more information, please visit chopsandhops.com. 

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