Uptown Kitchen & Bar in Springfield will begin serving dinner Aug. 4 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Gallery Restaurant Group, which also owns the Burrito Gallery brand, owns Uptown at 1303 N. Main St.
Shawn Lednick, a member of the Gallery Restaurant Group, credits Chef Kevin Williamson and Manager Sarah Graham for increasing business and encouraging the expanded hours.
“If you are not in the building any day by 9:30 or 10, you’re in for a half-hour wait and it can be an hour-plus on weekends,” he said.
The restaurant opened in 2009 as Uptown Market and in 2015 became Uptown Kitchen & Bar.
Uptown Market tried dinner service in 2013. Lednick said he is confident that a new chef and the business growth along Main Street will lead to better results.
“When we opened the only restaurant that wasn’t a chain was Crispy’s that had evening dining,” he said.
“Springfield has filled in now. There are very few openings.”
The dinner menu will feature Creole and New Orleans-style cuisine.
He said it should be a draw for more than just the locals.
“More and more people are coming to Springfield as a destination.”