Monday, March 31, 2008

Numerous comings and goings for food and drink in downtown New Albany.

Finally baseball season has arrived, and with it the necessity of surveying major league rosters to account for the winter’s trades and free agent signings.

In like fashion, the assemblage of downtown New Albany eateries and watering holes has undergone a near complete overhaul in recent months. Here are a few of the changes, bearing in mind that as usual, my primary emphasis is on those businesses aiming to have good beer as part of their presentation, and consequently are of greater interest to me personally. I know that some are being omitted, and welcome their inclusion via comments.

First, a quick shout-out to Speakeasy Jazz on State Street, which has survived both the Bistro New Albany and Connor’s Place, and should benefit from the unexpected closing of the Jazz Factory in Louisville.

Many readers have asked about the abrupt departure of Connor’s Place, formerly located at 207 East Main Street, and now in storage and on hiatus. It is a circuitous story that begins with owner Dave Himmel’s inability to reach a lease agreement with his landlords, continues through his oft-stated desire to open a fish and seafood restaurant downtown, and hopefully will end when the aquatic project, slated to be called the Market Street Fish House, comes to fruition in mid-April at 133 East Market (location of the now defunct Treet’s Bakery Café).

Just across Market Street from the soon-to-open Fish House is an unused commercial building that will be remodeled to spec for Dave by its new owner, and in this space a revamped Connor’s Place hopefully will reopen by mid-summer.

Got all that? Might as well rename that stretch of Market as "Himmel Way" and get it over with. When Connor's Place returns, NABC will have beer there.

You may be wondering what is to become of the Main Street quarters formerly occupied by Connor’s, and the answer comes from an NAC informant:

A new restaurant will be opening where Connor’s Place was, and they are planning on having ongoing artist showcases. It is going to be called “Studios” and the owner’s name is Trish Meyer.

There is no further information on the sort of eatery Studios will be. Trish, if you're reading ... let us know what's up.

Back around the corner in the building that most natives still call the New Albany Inn, The Windsor Restaurant & Garden is open for business at 148 East Market, which in Louisville-area parlance is “where the late, lamented Bistro New Albany used to be.” Business First recently offered a preview of the establishment, which is observing lunchtime hours at present and will expand into evening dining when it’s warm enough to use the famous courtyard. NABC has been contacted about beer for the Windsor, and we’re cautiously optimistic that there’ll be a good beer program there, though perhaps not to the scale of bNA’s great list.

Meanwhile … in the historic Baer building at 321 Pearl Street, work continues on the River City Winery. A couple hundred yards northeast as the crow flies is the spot on Bank Street where NABC is continuing to plan its production brewery and taproom ... and don't ask me "when" this is going to happen unless you have a wheelbarrow full of money to invest.

Elsewhere, the Orchid Asian Cafe is located at 400 West Main, and is an intriguing addition to the downtown dining scene primarily because the menu includes Thai and Vietnamese offerings beyond the usual Chinese fare, and the décor is bright, modern and absent the kitsch generally associated with “Chinese” restaurants. It’s almost impossible to fathom that the venerable Kerstien’s tavern used to occupy the new home of the Orchid. No alcohol, but we’ve been impressed so far with the food.

What am I forgetting? Make a comment and let me know.

6 comments:

  1. Lots of good stuff taking place downtown.

    I've been to the Windsor once and it was fine. I was the only person there at the time and it's impossible to get a read on how things will go, but I hope it will do well.

    I've been to the Orchard several times and it was good, and frankly, has even improved. The place is very, very nice, put together well, and the food is quite good. My only negative, and it's a little one, is that you have to order at the counter. From that point on it's pretty much table service. I think that, considering the niceness of the facility, they should switch to all table service.

    One note on "The Orchard." It is very, very nicely put together inside. Even the rest rooms are well decorated and spotless. It is obvious that a lot of time, effort, and attention to details was put into this place and it's the kind of place that delights me to see downtown.

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  2. You mean "The Orchid." I'd hate to have NAC readers wandering around the porn district looking for the wrong restaurant. ;)

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  3. The Orchid, the Orchid, the Orchid. Some idiot wrote my last post. Everything said, however, about the Orchard applies to the Orchid!!!

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  4. Thanks for the updates. Those are some exciting developments. It's great to know that Connor's Place is not gone for good.

    I'll be trying The Orchid and The Windsor for lunch soon; I'm hoping to find some vegetarian options there.

    My office sits almost exactly between the site of the new River City Winery and NABC's planned brewery and tap room. I'm looking forward to experiencing a pleasant dilemma as to which direction I should head for entertainment on my way out the door. Who would have ever thought that this would be happening in downtown N.A.?

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  5. I spoke to the lady starting Sutdios. We did not realize that Connor's had already left and walked in as normal. She said that it will be a bar and restaurant. she said that it will be serving steaks and salads. Also wants to have local artists place their work in the restaurant for sale to her customers. They did not give any idea as to a time line for when it would be opened.

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  6. I am happy to see so many new dining venues in town, let's support them so they stick around! La Rosita's has been a favorite, but I'll get out and try some of the others too. I wish they'd put menus on line so we can check them out. Keep the New Albanian brews coming, if they're on tap all over town, that'd work just fine for me!

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