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August 10, 2007
New Restaurant DevelopmentsDurham’s nationally recognized food scene continues to grow and prosper
Giorgios Bakatsias is a genius at restaurant concept, but he’s also a mentor. When Tim Lyons left his position as executive chef of Louie’s Backyard in Key West, FL, Bakatsias drove him all over the cities and towns of the Triangle area looking for the right spot. After 11 months, George sold Tim the former Grasshopper Restaurant, which is adjacent to his hugely successful Vin Rouge, and now Tim has opened Blu Seafood and Bar, with fresh fish, a great bar, outdoor seating, and bright blue and white Key West surroundings. It isn’t enough for Durham native Amy Tornquist to have her famed Sage and Swift Catering Co. or to have launched the café in the Nasher Museum of Art, now operated by Bakatsias. Now she is opening Watts Grocery near Broad Street and W. Club Boulevard. The soon-to-open restaurant takes its name from the adjacent neighborhood, one of the most popular in Durham, and from the former Watts Street Grocery, which was nearby and a favorite of Amy’s growing up. Watts Grocery has been written about in Food and Wine Magazine even before opening and will join two other “market” style restaurants in Durham – Foster’s Market in the Rockwood District and Parker and Otis in Peabody Place downtown. Parker and Otis, which recently opened in the old Fowler's location at Brightleaf, is serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with basic groceries, gourmet offerings, wine, and candy. The "Parker" in Parker and Otis is the last name of owner and general manager Jennings Brody's grandmother. Otis is her 10-year-old pug. The former Bread & Kabob on West Main Street is once again under construction after sitting empty for many months. The restaurant will re-emerge as Gatsby's Restaurant and Lounge, a 3,200-square-foot restaurant that will feature 140 seats and two floors. There will also be a large lounge area, and a bar. The menu will include some of the fare from Bread & Kabob as well as Italian and American dishes. The restaurant is slated to open in mid-September.
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