June 4, 2024 By Carol Britton Meyer
Ironwood — South Shore Country Club’s new restaurant and events venue — will offer a fresh perspective on culinary excellence as well as unique and memorable special events planning — from weddings and bar mitzvahs to sports banquets and fundraisers.
The expected opening date is January 2025.
This exciting new partnership — led by current Raffael’s and Greenside Grille Executive Chef Tina Conte and her colleagues, Jessica McInnis and Danielle Barnes — follows Elio and Frank Ricci’s announcement of their plans to step down after managing the current restaurant, outdoor patio, and banquet facility — including the Lincoln and Hingham ballrooms and an outdoor pavilion — for 15 years.
While their time at SSCC drawing to a close at the end of the year is “bittersweet, we are happy to hear that the Select Board and the South Shore Country Club Management Committee have put their faith in Chef Tina and her team for the future of South Shore Country Club’s restaurant, event, and culinary experiences,” the Riccis said earlier.
McInnis, Barnes, and Conte have crossed paths several times in their careers. “We’re looking forward to this fresh start in bringing our shared experiences to this endeavor and something beautiful to the community,” Conte told the Hingham Anchor.
“We’re here to give our customer base exactly what they want — with special attention to providing service that will set us apart, starting with the freshest and most local ingredients. That’s hospitality!” Some of the produce will come from the organic farm Conte owns in Hanson.
Shared history
Barnes and McInnis have a shared history working at Flowzone Cafe in Hull (where Toast is located now) and at Abby Park and Novara in East Milton Square, and Conte and McInnis worked together at Siros and Raffael’s (both in Hull) and also at La Fete Catering in Natick and Steel & Rye in Milton.
The Ironwood team has already had inquiries about hosting weddings and other events from people who are familiar with the Club and “are excited about the changes to come,” McInnis said. “It feels magical.”
The restaurant space will be refreshed before the expected soft opening at the beginning of 2025, followed by a grand opening coinciding with the beginning of the Spring golf season.
“We plan to give it a fresh touch, lightening up the colors for an inviting, comfortable, and soft feel,” Conte said.
McInnis and Barnes, who have spent the past 13 and 6 years respectively working at the popular Novara and Abby Park restaurants in East Milton Square, are excited about this new opportunity.
McInnis — who runs the catering arm of Novara for large-scale events and is Ironwood’s director of events and marketing — is well-known for the craft co*cktail program she created in the East Milton venues and plans to carry on that tradition at SSCC.
“Creating unique and customized events is a passion of mine that I plan to build upon at Ironwood, against such a beautiful backdrop. It’s like a blank canvas [ready to be painted],” she said. “We’re looking for new ways to promote the business and to grow our appeal in the Hingham community and beyond by finding new and interesting ways to offer what our clients want.”
The SSCC “is the melting pot of the community, offering something for everyone, and we want to grow that aspect of the business,” she said. “We want to make this a great space for date night, ladies’ night out, family and business dinners, and more.
Community response so far has been amazing.”
Other possibilities include pop-up dinners featuring different fare from the daily menu — which will include favorites from the current offerings as well as tasty new items such as fresh seafood-based poke bowls served with fruit, vegetables, and warm rice.
There are also plans to expand Snack Shack offerings for golfers beyond candy, granola bars, and hotdogs, at their request.
A focus on creativity and consistency
“We want everyone to be engaged and excited about what we offer, with a focus on creativity and consistency and bringing fresh new ideas to the table,” Conte explained. “We brainstorm with other local chefs — who are very supportive of one another — and share ideas.”
Her past and current experience at SSCC provides a solid base for this new dining/events venue. “I’ve always been impressed with Tina as a chef, and we’ve all talked in the past about opening our own venture and even explored a few spaces, so this opportunity seemed perfect for us,” McInnis explained.
Barnes — who will serve as general manager and head of finance for Ironwood — has spent most of her restaurant career in Hingham and is looking forward to returning to the community. “We are excited about building our team and looking forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces. Our focus is to ensure a seamless transition and to create unforgettable experiences for every guest who visits us,” she said.
All three women commended the efforts of the South Shore Country Club Management Committee in helping to bring their vision to reality.
Raffael’s and the Greenside Grille will continue to operate as the Club’s exclusive food and beverage operation through December.
Conte praised the Riccis for their efforts over the past 15 years: “They’ve done a really good job, and we look forward to taking over and following in their footsteps.”
For further details, go to www.ironwoodhingham.com. Ironwood is now booking events and tours for next year.
