Grille 3501's newly opened addition, The Loft, is a stellar open-air interpretation of this top Lehigh Valley dining spot. Smart and contemporary in its rustic sophistication, The Loft makes this restaurant's star shine even brighter.

Even though the addition increases Grille 3501's seating by several dozen, the food is as excellent as the day the restaurant launched in 2001. Expansion of the kitchen, part of the construction project, undoubtedly helped to ensure the fare's continuing high standards.

Floor-to-ceiling doors open the two-level addition to fresh air and a full measure of sunlight. A large bar on the first level anchors bar-height tables in the front and standard tables in the back, where an exposed brick wall adds texture to rough-hewn beams and chestnut brown walls.

Just a look at Grille 3501's menu gets taste buds turned on. The restaurant's inventive fusion of Asian, Mediterranean and French cuisines features appetizers such as grilled lamb tenderloin with sweet potato pancakes and cranberry ginger vinaigrette and sea salt roasted shrimp with corn brulee and garlic ginger soy.

About a dozen main dishes offer creative combinations: Duck breast with yam hash, tatsoi, duck confit relish and port reduction, for example, along with spicy seared Hawaiian monchong with lobster quinoa pilaf, glazed baby carrots and chili yuzu sauce.

Crispy sesame chicken dumplings ($11) were a delectable start. Dark in color and taste, these golf-ball sized morsels were formed around a length of sugar cane like a Popsicle stick, and served on a bed of sliced green onions, their pointed sharpness balancing the dumpling's crunch and the dipping sauce's deep, nutty, sesame essence.

Pistachios on the shared baby arugula ($7) salad plated separately, thank you very much added lovely color and texture to the Gorgonzola, red beets and sherry vinaigrette that topped the greens.

Succulent sea salt-seared rare tuna ($28) was pink and buttery. Its pairings Israeli couscous, baby bok choy and carrot slaw, enhanced by ginger red pepper gastrique kept the tenor of this combination light and bright.

Meltingly tender, with pomegranate jus as deep and dark as night, boneless beef short ribs ($28) remain a food memory made in heaven. Served on a crispy potato cake with spinach and roasted portobello mushrooms, these ribs took comfort food to a new level.

Luscious limoncello cheesecake ($8.50) was delightful, but the accompanying lemon curd spring roll was truly inspired: Its thin pastry wrapper burst with intense, citrusy and tart lemon cream that sealed this meal with the freshness of a spring morning.

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Restaurant review: Creative Grille 3501 welcomes a lofty addition

Demolition began Tuesday morning on the building that housed the former Beijing Restaurant.

The Asian cuisine restaurant at 1951 Scottsville Road had been closed for a couple of years. Holland Inc. construction equipment roared on the property between Thoroughbred Square and The Medical Center Home Care Program. The building, which has had several uses, is being torn down to make way for a Corner Bakery Cafe, according to David Bernado, construction manager, who was on the site Tuesday.

Half Baked Partners signed an agreement with Corner Bakery Cafe in April to introduce 18 neighborhood bakery cafes into the Kentucky and Tennessee markets, according to a news release from Corner Bakery Cafe.

The building that will be on Scottsville Road will be a free-standing, 4,000-square-foot building, said Jenifer Watkins, director of marketing for Raffertys Inc.; Montana Grille; Double Dogs and Corner Bakery Cafe. The new restaurant will employ about 35 people.

Corner Bakery Cafe is a fast-casual bakery caf that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu includes sandwiches, salads, paninis and soups, according to cornerbakerycafe.com.

Watkins said she expects the restaurant to open in early spring.

Basically, were looking for another way to grow our business. Corner Bakery fits our philosophy, Watkins said. Bowling Green is our hometown, so thats why we wanted to build one here first so we can learn all about it before we expand it.

The building had its start in Bowling Green as Kingfish. An October 1978 Daily News advertisement sought employees for the restaurant billed as Americas newest and most exciting seafood restaurant. That was well before a Red Lobster opened in Bowling Green. The building also was home to Steamboat Salvage before becoming a restaurant again.

Michael May of Bowling Green, a detective with the Kentucky State Police, has fond memories of the building when it was Kingfish and Beijing Restaurant.

"I tried to go about once a week if I could convince everybody to go," May said.

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Restaurant tumbles to make room for bakery

Tustin Planning Commission approves Mexican fast food plans

A rendering of the proposed Miguel's Jr. restaurant for the Tustin Market Place.

COURTESY OF MARKS ARCHITECTS INC.

The restaurant chain started when the original owners, Mike and Mary Vasquez, took over an existing restaurant in Corona in 1973 and named it Miguel's, after Mike's grandfather.

The Vasquezes then took their sit-down Mexican restaurant idea and created a fast food version called Miguel's Jr. in 1975.

Today, there are three full-service Miguel's restaurants and 12 Miguel's Jr. restaurants in the Inland Empire and Orange County.

Source: miguelsjr.com/about

The Tustin Market Place might get a little more spice in its life, following Planning Commission approval of the construction and operation of a 3,053-square-foot Mexican fast food restaurant called Miguels Jr.

The Planning Commission approved a conditional-use permit allowing for the construction and operation of Miguels Jr. during its Sept. 23 meeting; its a temporary approval before the Tustin City Council gives the proposal final consideration next month.

According to a report by Tustin Senior Planner Ryan Swiontek, the ...

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Tustin Planning Commission approves Mexican fast food plans

TIM SMITH/BRANDON SUN Enlarge Image

Construction continues at the site of the new Browns Socialhouse restaurant at Queens Avenue and 18th Street on Tuesday.

With the skeleton of a brand-new building up, construction continues on what will become the citys newest watering hole, Browns Socialhouse.

While initially there was talk the restaurant could be open as early as this month, owner Blake Trotter said the plan has always been to open in mid-December, and he expects to know if theyre going to meet that target in the next couple of weeks.

"The plan is to open a Browns Socialhouse that is just like an existing one and has all of the kinks worked out,"said Trotter via cellphone from a Socialhouse in Langley, B.C., where he was taking part in a two-week training seminar with managers Darcy Paton and Ashleigh Salo.

Typically, the opening weeks of a restaurant are fraught with confusion and gaffes as communication is ironed out between front-of-house staff and the line.

However, Trotter said there has been a substantial investment, approximately three times the standard, to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

"We got one shot at it to show what this is all about and we want to deliver."

The Brandon location, where the former A&W restaurant was located at 1847 Queens Ave., will be the first franchise in Manitoba, but the company has plans to open two more in Winnipeg in 2014-15.

A Red Seal chef, Glen Woydon, has been hired and is at the Red Deer, Alta., location learning the menu, according to Trotter.

Continued here:
Browns Socialhouse likely to open in Dec.

Published: Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at 5:45 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at 11:49 p.m.

LAKELAND | A much-debated proposal to build a hotel and restaurant near Lakeside Village has seemingly been halted.

Drummond Co., who owns the property at the southeast corner of Harden Boulevard and Oakbridge Parkway, recently withdrew its request for commissioners to hold an appeal hearing on rezoning the land.

And the property's proposed buyers may have found another location to build on on South Florida Avenue.

Drummond, out of Birmingham, Ala., wanted the city to rezone land to allow a Holiday Inn Express and a Cheddar's Restaurant to be built there. However, the proposal was opposed by nearby residents and rejected twice by the Planning and Zoning Board.

Lakeland Community Development Director Jim Studiale said Drummond sent a letter to the city on Monday saying it was withdrawing its appeal of the zoning board's decision.

The hearing had been scheduled for Monday's City Commission meeting.

In the letter, local representative Leonard Mass wrote that Drummond was confident the proposal would have been an appropriate fit for the land and the community, but it recognized the significant opposition by nearby residents and the city.

"Therefore, Drummond Company has decided to withdraw its applications, in part, because it understands that a great deal of emotion exists with respect to the East Village applications and that it is very difficult for the City Commission to balance property rights interests with the understandable concerns of many existing Oakbridge residents," the letter states.

About 120 residents of the Oakbridge neighborhood sent letters to city officials asking them to not allow the zoning change.

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Proposal to Build Hotel and Restaurant Near Oakbridge in South Lakeland Withdrawn

Monica Spees/Daily News

Demolition began this morning on the building that housed the former Beijing Restaurant. (Photo by Monica Spees/Daily News)

Posted: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 1:51 pm

Beijing Restaurant demolished for new restaurant By the Daily News bgdailynews.com |

Demolition began this morning on the building that housed the former Beijing Restaurant.

The Asian cuisine restaurant at 1951 Scottsville Road had been closed for a couple of years. Holland Inc. construction equipment roared today on the property between Thoroughbred Square and The Medical Center Home Care Program.

The building, which has had several uses, is being torn down to make way for a Corner Bakery Cafe, according to David Bernado, construction manager, on site today.

Look for more on this story in Wednesday's edition.

Posted in News on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 1:51 pm.

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Beijing Restaurant demolished for new restaurant

Although construction of The Hub cost Kabul Restaurant its streetside location on State Street, owner Hamed Zafari said he is making things work.

Zafari said despite the unexpected relocation of hisAfghani-Mediterranean restaurant to an upstairs space across the street, he has added a full bar and other new features that are bringing customers back to the beloved Madison spot.

The restaurant has been on State Street for 25 years, butwas forced to relocate after its original location under University Inn was torn down last spring in order to build The Hub.

The new location is larger and has new features like a full bar, something that Zafari said he has always wanted. He also said he wants to add late-night menus and bring live music in on the weekends.

One month into the semester and Kabul is still finding success in its new second-floor spot above candy store ITSUGAR.Zafari said he would have preferred to be on the first floor due to foot traffic on State Street, but said it has not affected business too much.

People are still finding us because they missed Kabul. Theyre going out of their way, theyre doing whatever they have to do to find it, he said. Weve had a tremendous amount of support, a lot of people have come back and expressed how happy they are that we are open again.

The restaurant had the option to stay in the previous location, but Zafari said they would have had to wait two years to reopen with doubled rent. Zafari said the restaurant would not be able to survive a change like that without increasing prices significantly.

Zafari said staying near campus was important to him because of all the students and faculty that come in.

We were scrambling to find a space, and I really wanted to stay close to campus, he said. I didnt see myself moving too far away, or going to the Square even. Professors and students have limited time, and I know they wouldnt walk all the way to the square, they just dont have the time.

Zafari described the construction process as a nightmare, spending almost double what they intended to, but he is happy with the new location.

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Kabul thrives following summer relocation

NASCAR Sports Grille, a mainstay at Universal CityWalk since the entertainment complex opened in 1999, will close Nov. 1.

The racing-themed restaurant, which serves American-style food such as burgers, ribs, sandwiches and pasta, will continue lunch and dinner service through that date.

Universal Orlando employees recently were told of the closing. No replacement has been identified.

The restaurant "has been a big part of helping CityWalk grow and establish itself as an entertainment destination," Universal Orlando spokesman Tom Schroder said Sunday. "This change is part of our ongoing commitment to bring new entertainment experiences to CityWalk."

The 530-seat restaurant, which originally went by the name NASCAR Cafe, is located on the north end of the complex. It's the last outlet that visitors using Universal's parking garage pass if they are heading to Universal Studios theme park, home of the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter -- Diagon Alley.

The concept was a joint project of NASCAR and the Cordish Co., based in Baltimore. The restaurant includes a retail outlet that specializes in NASCAR gear and souvenirs. An additional NASCAR Sports Grille operates in Hampton, Va.

Universal is in the midst of revamping its dining options at CityWalk. New operations include Red Oven Pizza Bakery; Vivo Italian Kitchen; Antojitos, a Mexican place that took over the Latin Quarter space; Hot Dog Hall of Fame; a larger Starbucks location; and the Bread Box. The Cowfish, a small burger-and-sushi chain based in North Carolina, is expected to open this year. Construction workers were at the Cowfish site on CityWalk's second level on Sunday.

Other CityWalk restaurants -- including Hard Rock Cafe, NBA City, Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Emeril's, Pat O'Brien's, Bob Marley: a Tribute to Freedom and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. -- continue to operate.

Universal CityWalk also features fast-service dining options, retail stores, a movie theater, miniature-golf courses, bars, nightclubs and the Blue Man Group.

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NASCAR restaurant closing at Universal CityWalk

by Catherine Sutton-Martin DCNN Correspondent

Newtown Supervisors reaffirmed the acceptance of dedication for four township roads at the Sept. 22 meeting.

According to engineer Eileen Nelson of Stantec, it was discovered that the roadways were missing from the Liquid Fuels list and therefore, not included in the state funding. The roadways are Old Forest Road, Hempstead Road, Heather Way and Bakers Lane.

Nelson also advised that the notice to proceed was issued, Aug. 22, to Road-Con for the Gradyville Road Bridge. Even though the contracted completion date is July 13, 2015, Nelson told the supervisors that Stantec would impress upon the contractor the need for an earlier completion date.

Nelson also noted that a Sept. 23 notice to proceed was given to Gessler Construction for the townships Road Program, and that Reese Avenue, held over from last years program due to utility work, will be completed.

New Restaurant

Township Manager Michael Trio announced that the former Albertos restaurant will become Teca 2, a sister restaurant to the one in West Chester, and part of the Guadagnini restaurant group.

Trio also noted that the barn, which stood on the property is gone, and they must put up an historic plaque.

Leaves, Recycling

Trio announced that the township leaf collection will begin Oct. 13; the schedule is posted on the website.

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Newtown Supervisors discuss roads, restaurant, bridge and new hire

NASHUA Chick-fil-A will open its first standalone restaurant in the state this fall, and the construction of the 377 Amherst St. site is already taking shape.

But one important thing hasnt happened: The restaurant has yet to give out free meals for a whole year to its first 100 diners, an offer so good, it has led to people camping out in front of soon-to-open restaurants elsewhere in the country. ... Subscribe or log in to read more

NASHUA Chick-fil-A will open its first standalone restaurant in the state this fall, and the construction of the 377 Amherst St. site is already taking shape.

But one important thing hasnt happened: The restaurant has yet to give out free meals for a whole year to its first 100 diners, an offer so good, it has led to people camping out in front of soon-to-open restaurants elsewhere in the country.

The restaurant is set to open in about six weeks, and its only the second Chick-fil-A location in the state, in addition to the counter at the Pheasant Lane Mall food court in south Nashua.

The restaurant will create about 80 new jobs, and will be owned and operated by Anthony Piccola, according to a statement from the company.

The Nashua restaurant is part of the Atlanta-based companys expansion in New England. The first standalone locations have opened or will open soon in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, according to the company.

The Amherst Street restaurant will have seating for 140 diners, plus a patio. It will have two drive-thru lanes and will offer Wi-Fi and a play area for toddlers, the company said.

Piccola has operated the Chick-fil-A at the Pheasant Lane Mall since 2009.

The company has opened 93 restaurants across the country this year, creating more than 7,000 jobs. It reported more than $5 billion in sales in 2013.

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New Chick-fil-A store taking shape in Nashua, but no free meals yet