Blank Slate
Inspired by Ernest Hemingway, The White Bull brings creative yet familiar fare to Decatur’s historic square
Nestled next door to Decatur’s Brick Store Pub, The White Bull, led by executive chef and partner Pat Pascarella—previously executive chef at The Optimist—showcases seasonal and vegetable-forward dishes that source ingredients entirely from Georgia. It’s a menu that Pascarella describes as “farm-forward, nose-to-tail,” where everything from the pasta to the butter is made from scratch, and Pascarella draws from a variety of influences. This approach is inspired by the restaurant’s name, “The White Bull,” a phrase Ernest Hemingway used to describe a blank page. “It’s a clean slate. We don’t want to be tied to any specific cuisine; we want it to just flow,” says Pascarella.
“The simplicity of the design is a reflection of that as well,” adds partner and general manager Gabriele Besozzi. Guests will find items that reference Hemingway throughout the restaurant—fishing poles, books, a typewriter—as well as sleek subway tile, Edison bulbs and reclaimed wood. “The philosophy of The White Bull is to sustain our community of farmers and showcase their products,” says Besozzi. I think Decatur will really engage in our ultimate goal and appreciate the effort.”