Josh Pape (former Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»magazine Bartender of the Year and co-owner of The Diamond) has teamed up with veteran restaurateur James Iranzad (owner of Abigails Party and the Cartel food cart) to open a new, 115-seat restaurant on the main floor of the heritage space at 120 W. Hastings (just east of Victory Square). The restaurant concept is meat-forward, chef-centric and casual, with bar-level communal seating running the length of the rooms original brick wall facing a 12-seat bar. There will be an open kitchen with an adjacent chefs table, as well as a short flight of stairs down to a private room for 20. Pape and Iranzad have yet to hire a chef (theyre in talks) or settle on a name for their new project, but well bring you that news as soon as we hear. Look for a February 2012 opening.
The team behind Main Streets The Cascade Room & Habit Lounge is opening an 85-seat Southeast Asian restaurant on the so-hip-it-hurts corner of Main and Union. The look will be in the hands of David Nicolay and Rob Edmonds, the duo behind nearly a dozen notable Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»rooms, among them Glowbal, the new Irish Heather and Sanafir. Arthur Wynne of The Cascade will helm the cocktail program, and Latitude co-owner/chef Lisa Henderson will be doing the cooking. Look for a December opening.
