Jon Insetta, the owner of one of downtown Jacksonville's favorite restaurant, Chew, is planning to open a French-American eatery, dubbed Restaurant Orsay, at the old Crush location on Park Street. He is planning to renovate the location but will keep the "organic" decor of wood and brick. The restaurant will be divided into two rooms: The front will be an intimate area, while the back will have a more casual atmosphere. The front dining room will open first with seating for 60 following some cosmetic renovations. The hardwood pine framing and architecture will remain, but the bar will be reconfigured to allow for a full liquor menu instead of just beer and wine. The second phase will feature seating for another 60 to 90 patrons and will be a little more hip and up-to-date, but still rustic, warm and inviting.
Insetta said that the menu is still being finalized, but to expect French country-style meals with simple ingredients. In addition to traditional French dishes like steak tartar and old Crush favorites like the homemade fries and mussels, Restaurant Orsay will also feature a raw bar of oysters, shrimp, clams, lobster and crab. The renovations also include a remodeled wine cellar and tasting table for a 200-bottle wine list.
7 comments:
Yes, but will the restaurant be as kid unfriendly as Crush was? That would be good to know before I waste my time going over there like I did the first and only time I went to Crush.
It sounds like it will be more kid friendly, but only time will tell. And even if it isn't, there are still many other great places to eat in the district that are.
How a restaurant treats its youngest guests is a true litmus test in customer service. It will be ingrained in our staff that everyone that walks through our doors is made to feel welcome. I believe the opportunity to make a new guest into a loyal guest (and their parents) is found in those moments when a server takes the time to make chocolate milk from our chocolate ganache or bring crayons without being asked.
If you are speaking kid unfriendly in terms of menu selection, something that upsets me about some restaurants is the lack of thought that goes into a kids menu...although our final menu is still being developed, here are a few things we are considering:
First Course
Vegetable crudites
House made ranch dressing
Second Course
choice of house made pommes frites or petite salad
Crispy Chicken Tenders
Springer Mountain organic chicken, Florida honey Dijon mustard sauce
Mac & Cheese & Pork
Organic pasta, creamy Gruyere sauce, roasted pulled pork
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
French Pantry brioche, Gruyere
And we are flexible...if there is something particular that someone wants...If We Can, We Will.
Things are coming along at the restaurant. Construction has finally started, and should open by mid-June. We hope to see you there!
Crystal Vessels
Restaurant Orsay
Leave the kids at home for the guests enjoying a special occasion and for the sanity of the servers.
Suggesting leaving the kids at home? Okay, if you are so bothered by what is going on at the table next to you, it says alot about what is, or isn't going on at your table. Mind your own biusness and let our parents be parents and our non-parents be NON-PARENTS. Kids are part of life, get used to it..
Fortunately, Orsay will be able to accomodate both opinions...The new restaurant will be larger with more room for all, and the addition will have a more relaxed feel than the intimacy of the main dining room.
Ultimately, our goal is to be an upscale restaurant with a polished/ approachable feeling that encourages you to dine with us on an easy-going Tuesday night or for your special-event evenings.
I am posting my email address below; please feel free to email me if any of you have additional concerns or questions.
If you would like to be a part of our guests that join us for our Soft Opening, please email me...we definitely need the opinion of those guests that are active, participating members of the Riverside/Avondale community.
crystal@restaurantorsay.com
nathar, how does one ignore a screaming baby or kids that are loud, rude and obnoxious? I don't mind people taking their kids to dinner but not if they're going to behave like banshees. People spend good money to go out to eat and enjoy a nice quiet meal and have somebody wait on them, not to listen to babies wail or put up with kids running around the restaurant. If you're that kind of parent, stay at home!
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