The Dragonfly at Pate’s

Any restaurant that is chef-owned makes its way to the top of our “Must. Visit. Repeatedly.” list. Now, how about a location that is not only chef-owned, but the bar manager has a stake in the restaurant as well? Get thee to Pate’s in Chatham!

Chef Anthony Silvestri and bar manager Jamie Edwards, along with an investment team comprised of some longtime locals, have joined forces to completely redesign the venerable establishment on Route 28 in Chatham. The nearly 75-year-old business has received a long-awaited update that is refreshingly chic. Whether settling in at the bar, cozying up to a table for two in the corner, or gathering around a table for eight (or more), your first stop should be the listing of seasonally-crafted cocktails designed by Jamie Edwards himself. A master mixologist and sommelier, Edwards knows what the secret is to a well-constructed cocktail: balance. “It’s 90% about the alcohol, and 10% about powerful flavors where a little goes a long way,” he points out. One cocktail with an impeccable balance is The Dragonfly.

For too long, public sentiment relegated tequila to nothing more than a shot glass, lime wedge, salt shaker, and a resulting collection of poor decisions. The refinement of this image is apparent with the steady expansion of a collection of finer-quality, smoother tequilas on the market. The main driver of The Dragonfly is the Casamigos Blanco tequila. The silkiness of the tequila ensures that it will play well with others, in this case a twice-brewed tea Edwards produces from hibiscus flowers. The tea is used with muddled dragon fruit to create a puree. He then adds in his house-blended lime agave sour mix and a finish of Grand Marnier. The resulting combination has just a pop of tartness and, after an initial hint of tequila at the open, the other flavors quickly merge to form the perfect shoulder-season cocktail. One that is light and refreshing enough for the still-warm days of fall but with a complexity and enough heft that it will be welcome long after temperatures cool. The imagination goes beyond the mixing tin for Jamie as evidenced by the addition of a small piece of dry ice to the glass. As the dry ice sublimates (changes from a solid to a gas without the intervening liquid state), it creates a whimsical bubbling fog that cascades over the outside of the glass. “I love to create a cocktail that looks pretty, but at the end of the day I want you to say ‘Wow’ after you take a sip,” Jamie points out. In this case, the “Wow” comes well before the first sip.

Edwards is the consummate barman. Highly skilled in the art of mixology, he’s also part showman who is in constant motion, with the ability to engage the entire bar and its many different personalities and conversations. A seat at the bar at Pate’s is like front row seats to a wonderful show, and The Dragonfly is the perfect beginning to an evening where new and exciting things await.

Pate’s
1260 Main Street, Chatham
508-945-9777
patesrestaurant.com