When Dr. Brittan Braddock is not helping young musicians hone their skills at Mercer University’s School of Music, you can find her at her restaurant in downtown Macon. She might be mixing cocktails behind the bar, cooking in the kitchen, washing dishes or serving customers.
“This summer, I have basically been every single role at one time or another,” she said. “I can do everything now. I think I know how to survive in every role, except for my wife’s.”
Dr. Braddock, the University’s director of bands, and wife Ingrid Davis are co-owners of Braddock’s Cask & Table. Davis is the restaurant’s executive chef and a certified sommelier. She crafts the restaurant’s seasonal menus that celebrate culinary dishes from around the world.
In July, Braddock’s Cask & Table celebrated its one-year anniversary.
“We’ve been really pleasantly surprised with the community and their encouragement and support,” Dr. Braddock said. “We have regulars that come every week and order the same thing, and we have regulars that are totally willing to try anything new that we do.
“We have appreciated the support from not only Macon’s community but also Mercer’s community. There are a lot of music professors who have come in and supported us, and that’s been incredible.”
Dr. Braddock and Davis met years ago in Westcliffe, Colorado. Davis owned a restaurant called the Wine Mine, and Dr. Braddock worked as director of bands in the local school district. They married in 2016, traveling and pursuing additional education before landing in Macon for Dr. Braddock’s job at Mercer in 2022.
“Once I got to Mercer and fell in love with the campus here and with the students, we were keeping our eyes open in case there was a turnkey restaurant, and when that space became available, we pounced. It has been a wild ride,” Dr. Braddock said.
They secured the space at 347 Cotton Ave. in February 2024 and opened five months later as a restaurant serving New American food.
“New American gives you a lot of freedom to utilize ingredients and flavor profiles of many different regions,” Dr. Braddock said. “We have things on the menu that have an Italian fusion, as well as Mediterranean, as well as Asian and Southern and Southwestern.
“I love everything that’s on the menu. Ingrid would say that her signature dish, which will be on every menu, is the mushroom risotto with duck breast. That’s certainly one of my favorite dishes as well.”
She and Davis describe the restaurant as “fine dining in a casual atmosphere.”
“We’re hoping that people will feel really comfortable in our restaurant. It’s not white tablecloth, but you can order a filet mignon that is going to be cooked to perfection and tastes incredible with a demi-glace,” Dr. Braddock said. “What you’re experiencing from all aspects of the meal, from the wine to the cocktails, everything is excellent and has that fine dining quality. But if you just got off of work and didn’t have time to change into your nice clothes, you’re welcome to come in and join us.”
In addition to its regular menu, Braddock’s Cask & Table offers monthly wine pairings that explore the food and wine from a region of the world. The restaurant also offers a back room for meetings, private dinners or other events.
As summer ends and the fall semester ramps up, Dr. Braddock will spend more time at Mercer and less at the restaurant. In addition to serving as director of bands, she is coordinator of music education and an assistant professor of music at the University.
She recalled the moment when a reservation for four came in under the name “Underwood,” and it turned out to be for Mercer President William D. Underwood, Executive Vice President Dr. Penny Elkins and their spouses.
“It was wonderful that this group of people that I report to, high administration at Mercer, chose to spend an evening in our restaurant,” she said. “We’re just grateful for all the support from Macon and Mercer.”
