A new Southern-style bistro is coming to Olde Towne East.
The Flamingo Room bar and restaurant will occupy the former L’Appat Patisserie and Cafe space at 1159 Oak Street.
Yusef Riazi, former owner of Short North cocktail bar Mouton, signed a lease for the space at the beginning of June, but has been developing a new concept since he sold Mouton in 2011.
“I feel like the training wheels are coming off as I’m diving into a new menu,” said Riazi. “I’m really excited about the southern influence and aesthetic; it’s a huge passion of mine.”
The design will be Havana-influenced, with a vintage and tropical feel. Eight-foot tall windows cloaked with plantation-style shutters will surround a large patio. The 850 square foot space will seat an estimated 55 between the interior and the patio. The bar will be the room’s central focus, surrounded by intimate tables. The decor and design will be a nod to Charleston, South Carolina, where Riazi spent the summer of 2013 getting to know the colorful culinary scene. He’s aiming to bring a piece of that same scene to Olde Towne East.
“The area is definitely underserved, and there’s so many people here. It’s a great American community where lots of young and gay people are moving in,” said Riazi. “The mix of people and the special nature of the neighborhood are what I’m aiming to sink my teeth into.”
The bar menu will be centered around rum and gin cocktails. Drinks will be decidedly cheaper than Mouton’s, with no $12 cocktails in sight. The only carryover from Mouton will be a page-long wine list hand-selected by Riazi, a certified sommelier. The food menu is still in development, but a Cubano sandwich is the current foundational dish. Riazi intends to change the menu regularly.
The Flamingo Room’s opening is slated for October. Hours will initially be evening-only, 4 p.m. – 2 a.m., with the gradual addition of daytime and brunch hours.
Stay tuned for more details as the restaurant gets closer to opening.
