by Miranda G. McLeod
Staff Writer
Out with the old and in with the hip—that’s the idea at Julliet’s Bistro after 10 weeks of renovations.
Juliette’s Bistro in the Omni Hotel reopened last week after a $250,000 renovation project that replaced everything from baseboards to light bulbs.
“We basically opened a whole new restaurant,” said Lancer Lockaby, director of restaurants for the Omni.
The renovations are only 80 percent complete — it was slated to be complete six weeks after construction started but because of contractors and suppliers the project was slightly delayed.
“This has been the most stressful 10 weeks of my life,” said Lockaby. “It went from six weeks to 10 weeks. And they always tell me two more weeks, but our grand opening will be mid-December.”
When all is said and done, this will be the place to see and be seen, said Lockaby.
He’s attempting to turn the traditional restaurant into a new “hip” environment that will bring patrons to the restaurant for more than just anniversaries and birthdays.
“We want to capture more guests and not just once a week,” said Lockaby. “We’re going after a different crowd — the young hipsters and professionals. We want to have a late-night scene and offer more than everyone else.”
Every corner of the restaurant has changed. There are new tables, chairs, silverware, stemware, signage, wood floors and carpet. Customers also will see new lighting, new paintings on the walls and even new music over the sound system.
“It’s a whole scene. It’s a whole new gig,” said Lockaby. “Anything a quarter of a million dollars can buy.”
Juliette’s features a revived bar area renamed J-Lounge, a breakfast buffet bistro attached to the main dining room and a corner room with a table for two. The restaurant can seat 120 people.
The renovations not only changed the appearance of the restaurant but also the service and the food. With a new line and kitchen equipment, Juliette’s can make and serve different foods. The new menu and wine list are more progressive and bistro-inspired, Lockaby said.
“We’ll have small plates of food with more progressive and exotic cuisine,” he said.
Juliette’s is a steak, seafood and pasta restaurant and management is considering adding grilled pizzas, said Lockaby.
The servers, who also have new uniforms, are going through training to be more apt when caring for guests.
“I’m very happy to revive this restaurant. But in the scheme of things, our major focus is on food and service, it’s not just about the paint on the walls,” said Lockaby. “It excites me when the only thing people remember is how awesome the experience was.”