Damon Wise Has Left Sauvage — for Atlanta

Is it Sauvage or is it Damon Wise?

About four months after his homecoming from Charleston, S.C. in January, Wise has already left Sauvage in Greenpoint for Atlanta, Georgia. Today is his first day as the culinary director for Linton and Gina Hopkins’ Atlanta restaurants, which include Restaurant Eugene, in a new role for Resurgens Hospitality Group.

“I have mega props for New York,” Wise told Atlanta Magazine last week. “The food scene is incredible and exciting and people constantly have great ideas. But it’s too expensive to live here.”

“I left for personal reasons, Wise told Eater today. “I found it to be a great fit for me. Sauvage is a great restaurant and will continue to be. I enjoyed working with the guys.”

Wise was tasked by Sauvage owners Joshua Boissy and Krystof Zizka to take over the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus as well as the pastry program, followed by the menu at sibling restaurant Maison Premiere.

Wise’s New York resume includes work at Gramercy Tavern and Lespinasse (now closed), followed by nearly a decade at Tom Colicchio’s Craft and its sister restaurants, then running the kitchen at The Monkey Bar. His final position before moving to Charleston was the 2013 opening of Andrew Carmellini’s Lafayette. Head chef until 2014, Wise scored a “Best New Restaurant” nod from Bon Appetit and “super-bistro” status from The Wall St. Journal.

Charleston was a two-year detour, a partnership with Jonathan Buckley with whom he opened two of a planned trio of restaurants.

As far as what’s next for Sauvage, Eater has called a couple times and hasn’t yet heard back. We’ll keep you posted.