Simple chicken menus at fast-food chains are nothing new, but the power trio behind OTR’s wine-coffee-and-approachable-eats restaurant, Pleasantry, are bringing a unique spin on it to Cincinnati’s Central Business District: a “chef-driven fast-casual” chicken eatery that holds on to values of rich flavor and sustainable sourcing, but operates in a capacity to accommodate downtown lunch and dinner hours.
“People who are in a hurry still deserve to have food that is delicious and unique,” says chef Evan Hartman, whose wildly popular chicken dish at Pleasantry sparked the idea for the new restaurant. Sensitive to the fast-paced lifestyle of Cincinnati chicken lovers, Hartman adds, “They shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality for convenience.”
In addition to various styles of chicken — a chicken sandwich, wings — and a couple of sides, the menu will include beer and wine to go.
Pleasantry founders Daniel Souder and Joanna Kirkendall, along with Hartman, took the concept to development corporation 3CDC nearly two years ago, but it took a minute to get the timing right. “We’re there now,” Souder says.
The fast-casual restaurant is yet to be named, but Project Fast-and-Fancy-Chicken’s 2,400 square feet of interior space is ready to go.
“We landed on a high-concept design, which is definitely unique to the fast-casual world,” says Kirkendall in a recent press release. “We think the space will have a look and feel that stands apart and will make people smile.”
You can find the restaurant in the North American Properties’ “Encore” building at the corner of Seventh and Sycamore streets downtown, but we'll have to wait until this summer, or possibly fall, for the grand opening.
