J McArthur’s An American Kitchen is set to bring modern American cuisine to 3500 Watson Road, the space formerly occupied by 3500 Winehaus. Co-owner Ben McArthur will bring more than 15 years of culinary experience to the new eatery’s kitchen. J McArthur’s is set to open in early July.
“We want to bring an upscale, casual feel to the restaurant,” McArthur said. “We want it to be like fine dining without the crumb scraper. The customer will come away feeling like they got their money’s worth.”
With a focus on regional sourcing, particularly from Missouri and Illinois, J McArthur’s will serve up local food and drinks. While the menu will be highly seasonal, the J Mac Double Stack Burger will be a staple, as will vegetarian pearl barley risotto. Hawaiian blue prawns will find a home on top of Anson Mills polenta with a pickled red onion salad. Dessert will also reflect the season with offerings such as panna cotta with summer berries.
The bar menu will be equally regional, as McArthur plans to stock it with local favorites like Pinckney Bend and Cardinal Sin spirits and local beer favorites like 4 Hands, Urban Chestnut and Perennial. After renovating the former wine bar space, the restaurant’s main dining room will seat around 40 with an additional 35 seats each on the front and back patios.
This article appears in June 2015.