A new Cuban restaurant will open in Clarkesville this week.
After passing a health inspection Monday, The Hush will officially open on Washington Street along Clarkesville’s downtown square on Wednesday, March 19.
After starting the first location of The Hush in Clayton in 2019, owners Alberto Rodriguez and Alicia Sosa said they’re eager to bring their unique taste of Cuban cuisine to Habersham County.
For now, the restaurant will be open from 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and for brunch on Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
“We’re so excited,” Sosa said. “We’re nervous, but we’re so excited about it. We can’t wait to open. We’re excited to meet everyone here.”
Meet the owners
In 2019, Rodriguez and Sosa opened The Hush in Clayton with a vision. Together, combining their unique skill sets – his in culinary arts and hers in business – have since filled a void for Latin American-style dishes in Rabun County.
Rodriguez brings an impressive 28 years of experience as a five-star chef. Throughout his career, he’s worked at prestigious restaurants across the southeast U.S. – including stints at the Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood and the Seminole Casino in Coconut Creek (Florida), as well as executive sous chef roles at notable venues like Highlands Country Club in North Carolina.
All of it, combined, serves as a wealth of knowledge that shaped his expertise and sharpened his culinary craft.
Sosa, who Rodriguez described as “the brains” of their success, has spent years building her business acumen, particularly through management positions that have sharpened her ability to run The Hush’s operations. Her entrepreneurial eye was pivotal in navigating the challenges of maintaining a newly-opened restaurant amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a chef, Rodriguez’s career includes prestigious roles as Chef de Cuisine at NYY Steakhouse, where it was named Best North Broward Restaurant by SouthFlorida.com. He has also worked in top locations across Puerto Rico, Nevis, St. Croix, and the U.S., including high-end resorts like Fontainebleau Miami Beach.
