“Bistro” is a French word for a small restaurant that serves moderately priced meals in a modest setting.

Many modern-day bistro restaurants have numbers associated with their names, such as Bistro 52 in Alpharetta, or Bistro 217 near Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Carrollton’s new upscale bistro is Bistro ‘49. The ‘49 is not a downtown street location or highway number but stands for 1949, the year that Tanner Memorial Hospital, the forerunner of Tanner Medical Center, was built in Carrollton. It will open inside Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton, near the new emergency department addition and short-stay unit and the new hospital gift shop.

“Bistro ‘49 will be managed by Tanner’s inhouse food service, but will have its own staff and a smaller, quieter space than the cafeteria,” said Paul Elliott, director of Tanner hospitality services. “It will be a quiet, restful space to decompress, a quiet solitude space, with a relaxed atmosphere and quiet, soft jazz music.”

He said the bistro staff will be separate from other Tanner food service workers and will have its own style of uniform.

“We interviewed and hired a whole separate staff and trained them to work in the bistro,” he said.

He said the new food venue has been in the planning stage for more than two years.

Elliott said the bistro can seat up to 54 people, including outside seating near the short-stay waiting area.

“We’re hoping to serve about 200 people per day,” he said.

The opening day is set for Aug. 28, when the short-stay lobby opens. Initial operating hours will be from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The bistro will have public Wi-Fi wireless access for people to use their computers and other online devices. A news rack will include copies of the day’s newspapers and a book shelf will have volumes that customers can read while enjoying their food and beverage.

Bistro ‘49 will include the Starbucks brand.

“We’re not franchised with Starbucks,” Elliott said. “But we do have an agreement with them that allows us to buy their coffee product line and some of their other retail items. We’re allowed to use their cups, sleeves and logo. They (Starbucks) came in and trained our staff on making their drinks.”

All food for the bistro will be made fresh each day, he said.

The morning menu will include bakery items, such as croissants, muffins, petite pastries, beignets (a type of doughnut), breakfast breads and cinnamon rolls.

“Initially, we are buying our bakery products, but be will soon be preparing them all in our restaurant bake shop,” Elliott said. “We also plan to make our desserts.”

Breakfast meal specials will include egg sandwiches, with additional items such as bacon and cheese, served on whole wheat muffins or croissants. Other breakfast items will include a country quiche with cheese and french toasts, served with fresh berries and maple syrup.

Breakfast side items will include cinnamon apple oatmeal and yogurts.

Coffees will include regular and decaffeinated house blend, along with white chocolate mocha, caramel macchiato (a type of espresso) and cappuccino.

Bistro ‘49 will also offer all the Starbucks line of coffees, including espresso drinks, brewed coffees, cold coffee drinks, teas, hot chocolate and blended beverages.

The signature menu offering, available every day with lunches, will be the Bistro ‘49 lobster bisque, served with parmesan cheese crisp. Another soup of the day, sandwiches and salads will be offered.

“All our bistro menus will be posted daily on our website and Facebook page,” Elliott said.

Free samples of the bistro offerings will be provided to guests attending the Aug. 25 open house for the new emergency department and short stay area.