Durham Magazine's DM Blog broke the news last week that there's a new eatery set to open in the Shannon Rd. office building that housed the Restaurant Starlu before it shut down in late 2007.
On tap: Eden, described by DM's Matt Dees as offering "simple, fresh American cuisine using plenty of local ingredients." Renovations are reportedly well underway with a late-July opening planned.
Owner and executive chef Adam Smith was formerly a chef at George's Garage and spent the past five years as executive chef at Southpoint's Firebirds Rocky Mountain Grill before taking on this entrepreneurial opportunity.
What about the menu? Durham Magazine sez:
The sample menu Smith provided is all of one page and definitely is sticking with the keep-it-simple model: Seared scallops on wild mushroom risotto, red snapper with grilled asparagus and roasted garlic potatos, and pasta jardin with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, veggies and goat cheese over linguine, etc.
There was also a lighter fare menu that featured four entree salads, including a seared tuna salad in a ginger soy vinaigrette. As you might have gleaned, seafood will be at the center of much of what Smith does at Eden, a nod to his Northern California influences.
It also marks the continued evolution in the dining scene around the old South Square Mall, the departure of whose indoor shopping area coupled with ongoing weakness in the area's leasing market has meant rocky times and closures for nearby restaurants like Romano's Macaroni Grill, On The Border and the like.
Macaroni Grill has now been replaced by Shaba Shabu -- which has pretty decent food, great service, and perhaps the most intriguing reinvisioning of the chain Italian restaurant's interior you can imagine -- and now the site of Starlu has its own new eatery to boot.
A sign of new dining life, perhaps, in this part of the Bull City?
Twisted Noodles and, more recently, Green Leaf are two noteworthy additions to the restuarant scene in the South Square area.
http://greenleafindiancuisine.com/
Posted by: J.Loftis | June 30, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Green Leaf is excellent, imo.
Posted by: dianesowo | June 30, 2009 at 12:02 PM
@JL, Diane -- I'm glad you mentioned Green Leaf. Ate there a few weeks ago and loved it. Great staff, too.
Posted by: Kevin Davis | June 30, 2009 at 12:05 PM
What about Tonali? That's close to the same area. Every time I see the media fawning over places like Mez and the soon-to-be Dos Perros I wonder why no one ever talks about Tonali.
Posted by: Merry | June 30, 2009 at 01:18 PM
boo to restaurants opening around malls. What is this, 1997?
Posted by: NilssonSchmilsson | June 30, 2009 at 04:09 PM
I think Tonali's location and outward appearance drive a lot of people away. It looks like a funeral home or a bad furniture store. I've heard the food is great though.
Posted by: jonn | July 01, 2009 at 09:14 AM
Oh, dear. I fret that the location really does stink for a restaurant, at least given (a) the current economy and (b) the current lack of people around that part of town and (c) the size of the space. Good luck and God bless these folks, but... ouch.
I'm reminded of the long series of restaurants that lived in the Duke St. building where the Ogilvy agency lives (along with some other businesses). From the mid-80s to the early 2000s: Weeping Radish. French Quarter. Steve & Clark's Brew Pub. And the never-came-to-life Playhouse. And maybe another one or two efforts. I used to joke that there must be an Indian burial ground there. But really, I think it was just that the place was too big and the downtown scene wasn't yet back to life.
Posted by: Phil | July 01, 2009 at 05:27 PM
The service at tonali is also slow and un-accomadating. the food is excellent.
Posted by: Jimmy Connor | July 27, 2009 at 06:51 PM
I received 1 st home loans when I was 32 and that supported me a lot. Nevertheless, I require the credit loan once again.
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