The Restaurant at the Cheshire to close, will reopen with new concept and name

The Restaurant at The Cheshire will see one last New Year’s Eve service before closing doors for a physical and conceptual renovation. The space and the menus (both the food and the bar) will be reworked, and when the to-be-named restaurant reopens on Feb. 8, it will do so as an American brasserie-style restaurant with a more energetic atmosphere and lower price points.

“I love the energy people bring downstairs at Basso,” said Steve O’Loughlin, president and chief operating officer of Lodging Hospitality Management, which owns The Cheshire hotel and its affiliated restaurants. “I’m looking forward to bringing that vibe upstairs.”

Along with décor changes, O’Loughlin said the menu will feature “more approachable, everyday fare at an approachable price point.” Think small plates and simple styling, as well as heftier entrees and seasonal fare. The new space will also boast a raw bar. Executive chef Rex Hale will work in collaboration with Concentrics Restaurants of Atlanta to develop the menu. The bar program will shift as well, focusing on craft cocktails and whiskey. The head of the new bar concept has yet to be hired.

“We want this to be a place where people want to be all week and not just a place for the weekends and special events,” O’Loughlin said.

-photo by Greg Rannells