Jean-Robert de Cavel’s latest venture, the whimsically titled Le Bar a Boeuf (literally translated to “beef bar”), opens today in East Walnut Hills’ Edgecliff building (2200 Victory Parkway). The neo-French bistro will only be open for dinner to start, with lunch and brunch service following shortly after.
“It’s taken us a little longer to open than we anticipated,” says de Cavel in a recent press release. “We have a wonderful team in place and we are ready.”
The restaurant, which was originally slate to open in November, will feature a new take on classic French and American dishes. The atmosphere — a funky 70-person dining room and 20-24 person separate lounge, designed with help from HighStreet — is more casual than Table, with the intent that everybody will be able to share (at least the appetizers). A 35-person patio, with panoramic views of the Ohio River and Northern Kentucky, will open when the weather warms.
Le Bar a Boeuf’s Chef de Cuisine is Mirko Ravlic with sous chef Travis Reidel, both from Table. Table’s wine director Evan Abrams has developed the moderately priced and global wine list. The bar will also serve classic cocktails, and local, import and domestic beers. Local hospitality expert Richard Brown, who worked with de Cavel at the Maisonette and Jean-Robert at Pigall’s, serves as general manager, assisted by Leslie Brunk.
The Edgecliff previously hosted restaurants, including The View, all of which rested on the laurels of location. De Cavel’s vision is different. “I never want to promote the view; the view, for me, it’s an extra,” he said to CityBeat in November. “It’s an extra thing. I want it to be a fun restaurant; a destination restaurant. Fun for the younger generation to the older generation.”
This article appears in Feb 25 – Mar 3, 2015.
