Lavomatic closing briefly for interior, menu revamp
Lavomatic Cafe in Over-the-Rhine will close briefly this month for an interior and menu revamp.
The restaurant is set to reopen for dinner at 5 p.m., July 26.
When it reopens, the restaurant will have a new menu with a Charleston Low Country flair.
The restaurant already offers some Low Country specialties, such as Cajun grilled salmon with bourbon butter greens and sweet corn puree, and grilled BBQ pork chops with honey carrots and a red, white and blue potato salad; those dishes will stay on the menu.
A new wine special will also be added: Select bottles will be $20 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Sunday-Thursday.
Changes to the decor will include new floors, lighting and furniture, and a redesigned bar.
1211 Vine St. 513-621-1999; lavomaticcafe.com
Bogey’s opens in former J. Gumbo’s in White Oak
The White Oak J. Gumbo’s has closed, but a new restaurant has already opened in its place.
Rick Salamone, principal owner of J. Gumbo’s, said he sold the restaurant to concentrate on his other business interest, City Limits Laundry and Tanning.
Meanwhile, Bonnie Eldridge and her son Nick are working to whip their new restaurant into shape.
Nick said he and his mom are waiting for a few items in the kitchen – a hood and grill – before the restaurant can unveil its regular menu. Till then, a temporary menu built on sandwiches and salads is being served.
“We are going to focus on having the food be fresh wherever possible,” he said. “We’ll have a dinner menu and specials, burgers, it will be a variety. We are still figuring everything out.”
He says it will likely take a few weeks before all the kitchen issues are settled and the regular menu is in place.
“We keep telling people to give us time and give us a try,” he said. “We want it to be a warm, inviting, welcoming place for people.”
6032 Cheviot Road, 513-245-2600.
Tour Moerlein Lager House on Google Maps
If you haven’t made it to the Lager House on the river, by the Banks, you can now take a virtual tour on Google Maps.
They’ve added the 360-degree feature that allows you to walk through the building, look out the windows, check out the private dining rooms.
Unfortunately, you can’t take a seat and order a tall glass of OTR Ale from Google, even though all the seats are available, unlike in real life.
Arnold’s was the first local restaurant to get this treatment.
Oakley’s Oak Tavern to get a new look
The Oak Tavern in Oakley, which opened in 2006, recently expanded its outdoor patio. During the summer the outside of the tavern will be repainted and awnings will be added to each of the windows.
“It’s nice any time you do a little facelift,” said co-owner Gary Boggs. “It puts energy into the bar.”
He said the enhancements are the first significant improvements to the building since an outdoor patio was added in 2008.
The patio previously had a capacity of 40 people. With the expansion, it will accommodate an additional 20 to 24 people, said Boggs.
The interior of the building was also repainted in the spring. Boggs said exterior painting and the addition of window awnings should be completed by the end of the summer.
3089 Madison Road, 513-321-6258, www.oaktavernoakley.com
Chipotle opens in Delhi
The new Chipotle in Delhi Township opened its doors last week. It’s at 5201 Delhi Pike in the Del-Fair Shopping Center, in storefronts previously occupied by Jersey Mike’s and Game Stop.
Hours will be 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. 513-347-0500; www.chipotle.com
Yard House construction to begin soon
Yard House, the newest restaurant to join the Banks development, will begin to rise this month on the plot of Freedom Way facing the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.
Boston-based Shawmut Design and Construction is managing the 13,000-square-foot construction project, scheduled to be complete next spring. MBH Architects of Alameda, Calif. has designed the building.
Like the L.A. chain’s 37 other restaurants around the country, Yard House will have an urban and industrial vibe, with a large outdoor area and center bar with hundreds of craft beers on tap.
Banks developers announced plans for Yard House early in May. It joins a growing roster of restaurants at the Banks.
Already open are Toby Keith’s I Love this Bar, Crave, Holy Grail, Johnny Rocket’s, Orange Leaf and the Moerlein Lager House in Smale Riverfront Park.
Coming soon to the Banks are Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Tin Roof, The Wine Guy and Mahogany’s.
www.yardhouse.com
Closings
Two Springdale restaurants – Lucy’s and George’s and I Buffet – have closed.
