June 17, 2026
Chef Samuel Lake, owner of Fable Restaurant, cooks up another culinary complement in the renovated kitchen previously utilized by Quotations Coffee Shop in downtown Brevard. Jonathan Rich / BrevardBeagle.com
Jonathan Rich
BrevardBeagle.com
The literary definition of a “fable” is a short, fictitious story designed to teach a moral lesson through a narrative that often features anthropomorphized animals, mythical creatures, or forces of nature.
In journalism, “quotations” indicate exactly what someone said.
For BrevardBeagle.com’s first local business spotlight feature, those two concepts are combined.
Fable Restaurant, a local eatery occupying the former space of Quotations Coffee Shop at 147 E Main St. in downtown Brevard, aspires to be the culinary tale told by Samuel Lake, owner and chef of the new establishment.
A soft opening was held last weekend and below is the exchange of words and ideas Lake served up in advance of the official grand opening Thursday, June 18.
What is your connection to Brevard/Transylvania County. Where are you from originally?
I’m originally from Columbia, SC and I went to the University of South Carolina. Starting in high school, I went on a number of camping and backpacking trips in Pisgah National Forest and I’ve always admired this region of Western North Carolina.
Separate from that, when my parents retired they fell in love with the town of Brevard and became full-time residents here. I was moving around a lot during the past few years with my cooking career, but I found myself closer to my parents when I was working in Travelers Rest, SC.
I decided to make the move to Brevard, initially, to be closer to them.
Why open in downtown Brevard as opposed to anywhere else?
When I relocated to Brevard, I completely fell in love with the town and the community atmosphere. As I was looking for work in the area, the opportunity to take over the restaurant space emerged and it made sense.
What is your previous culinary training and/or business experience? How did your new business come to be and what was the inspiration for making the investment?
My most intensive culinary training came from working at Aniar in Galway, Ireland, a Michelin-starred kitchen, with all of the precision and intensity that comes with that.
Since then, I’ve worked as a sous chef at the Maker’s, Mark Distillery in Kentucky, where my mother’s side of the family is from, as well as at Topsoil in Travelers Rest, South Carolina.
It was there working under Chef Adam Cooke, that shaped a lot of my ideas around ingredient sourcing.
Opening my own restaurant has always been a goal of mine and the emotional thrust of my career, but this part has happened a lot quicker than I thought it would.
What is your vision for Fable and how is it similar and/or different to Quotations?
Our vision of Fable is a neighborhood restaurant connecting guests to the farms and seasons of the Carolinas.
To me, that means building a sandbox where we are truly only using in-season ingredients, using creativity and technique.
We hold ourselves to a high standard and believe in doing things well. Our menu rotates in response to what our farmers and suppliers can provide.
To us, hospitality means providing thoughtful service with generosity. We see Fable as a community hub.
During the coming months, we will be expanding our offerings – including dinner service and events, such as a monthly book club dinner and coffee tastings.
Like Quotations, Fable will always offer coffee and pastries in the morning. We are honored to incorporate a recipe from the original owners of the Quotations space, which will be featured on the menu.
Our coffee is proudly sourced from Pisgah Coffee Roasters in Pisgah Forest and our loose leaf tea is from Cornerstone Tea in Waynesville.
What is the significance of your business’s name?
The idea for Fable was developed over a year ago. As an avid reader myself, the name just felt right.
Whom do you see as the target dining demographic for Fable?
We see Fable as a community hub for Brevard. The goal is to be the go-to spot for anyone who enjoys good food and good hospitality.
What do you hope to offer guests that is currently not available in downtown Brevard?
We are proud of our ingredient sourcing and to be able to offer flavorful vegetarian/vegan options, alongside our more protein-forward dishes. At our coffee bar, you will find handcrafted pastries and housemade coffee syrups, with rotating seasonal flavors.
What is your favorite dish on the menu to prepare and what is your favorite dish to enjoy?
My favorite dish on the menu to prepare is our Bombay Sandwich with masala-spiced potatoes, green chutney, sumac shallots, and housemade focaccia.
All of the components are extremely fragrant, which is really gratifying as a chef.
While I really love eating the Bombay Sandwich, there are times where the braised beef sandwich with peperonata and arugula is just perfect, especially with a side of fries.
How many staff will you employ on opening day and do you plan to expand in the future?
Our staff currently includes seven people, and is growing. We are very proud to be a Certified Living Wage employer.
We are actively hiring and interested candidates can send us a quick email and resume to samuel@fable-restaurant.com.
Do you have full alcohol permits?
Yes, we are offering beer, wine, and specialty cocktails! While we are opening with a small list with the goal of expanding over time, we are especially proud of sourcing sustainable, organic, and small-production wines.
What is your social media presence?
Yes, we are on Instagram @fablebrevard. We also have an email newsletter – to sign up, check out our website: fable-restaurant.com.
Any special events planned in the next two months?
Currently, there aren’t any special events planned for the next two months. As we expand, we plan to offer a monthly book club dinner and coffee tastings, among other events.
What do you want guests to try the first time they visit and what should they try the second time around?
In the mornings, guests should order a quiche and a seasonal latte. Our cafe manager Hallie Ridings has put in a lot of effort into our coffee program.
The second time, they should stick around for a Bombay sandwich and a glass of wine.
When someone walks in after the grand opening, what do you want them to say when they leave?
When guests leave the grand opening, I want them to be impressed by the quality of our offerings and service, saying “I can’t wait to go back.”
Want to try it?
Fable Restaurant
147 E Main St.
Brevard, NC 28712
www.Fable-Restaurant.com
Hours of operation:
Thursday-Monday: 8 am-2 pm.; closed Tuesday-Wednesday