A new French-inspired restaurant in East Lawrence will open on May 1, serving fresh cuisine, traditional wines and rustic ambience.
Executive chef and owner Jeffrey Ward had originally planned to open Sable Kitchen & Bar, at 920 Delaware St., last summer.
Nearly 17 months after beginning the project, green paint has filled in white spaces on the outer building, and indoor lighting, seating, counters and appliances are installed.
The restaurant has officially passed all inspections and licenses, Ward said on Friday. He said those processes prolonged the timeline the most.
“The high points have been just learning that I got approved for a license, and so it’s like, that’s another hurdle that I clear,” Ward said. “There’s this path forward to opening and realizing my dream.”
The building previously housed Decade, a local coffee shop, until it closed in October 2023. A few days after Ward signed the lease for his restaurant, his house had a fire that displaced his family. His and his wife’s Gordon Setter, Sable, died almost a month later in January 2024.
Now the restaurant’s namesake will have “the best seat in the house,” Ward wrote in a tribute on the restaurant’s Instagram page last year.
Ward and his father, who have partnered together on construction, used resin to build Sable’s collar into the customized chef’s table.
Through his wine list, Ward hopes to introduce folks to regions in France they may not be familiar with.
Of course, he’ll offer a popular Napa Chardonnay or Oregon Pinot Noir, he said, but “it’s gonna be a lot of fun to be able to show people Old World wines.” He said French champagnes made of 100% grapes would excel as celebration toasts.
Beverages are meant to pair well with bites. On the appetizer list, a charcuterie plate features baguette from Wheatfields Bakery Cafe and house pickles and spread, and the crab melt uses brioche from Cellar Door Cafe and Pâtisserie along with Cambozola cheese.
The food menu also includes five entrees with lamb, steak, salmon, gnocchi and duck, as well as three special salads.
In addition to the main dining room, patio seating and standing tables will be available outside.
Ward said the property owner of both the restaurant and the Off-Site Art Space at 924 Delaware St. behind it granted him permission to use the in-between courtyard for patrons to enjoy. His liquor license is extended to that area.
Only the main floor of the two-story building will be open for now, but Ward said he has some exciting plans brewing for the lower level, including private dining experiences. Additionally, he’d eventually like to build an outdoor wood fired oven for pizzas and flatbreads.
Hours are set for 5 to 10 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays beginning May 1.
Ward said reservations are highly recommended and will be available beginning this week. A link to make a reservation online will be shared on the restaurant’s social media pages.
See the food and wine menus and stay up to date on Instagram, @sablekitchenbar, and Facebook.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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