Beech Street restaurant opening

Gerry Clare
Roving Reporter
Photos courtesy of Tom Clare
January 10, 2017 12:54 p.m.

If a packed house is a sign of success at a soft opening, then the new 801 Kitchen & Bar“ restaurant had the look of success Tuesday night. A collaboration of restauranteurs, Tim Seyda and Steve Jacker, with Chef Brett Henry, manager Earl Scarberry and the familiar face of our waiter, David Alexander, the new restaurant in the Beech Street Grill space, owned by Ernie Saltmarsh, was a warm and inviting space in last night’s cold.

Many of you will be pleased that the wonderful bar venue is still the same and was also bustling and welcoming as you enter. The adjoining dining space was cozy with a fireplace glowing, bench seating and a large round table by the windows for a group. The other dining rooms were much the same with new décor and the big room in the front that we used to like, being readied to open in the future. When we moved here, the upstairs had a piano where John Springer played. That room is also ready for future use.

The menu was well received by other patrons (whom I interviewed). The staff, enhanced by the manager and Messrs. Seyda and Jacker, was superb and the chef, Brett Henry, who came from Waterman’s Grill ( Portsmouth) and the Cheesecake Factory, did himself proud. I had the special of the night, pot roast with root vegetables and it was wonderful and one of my favorites on a cold night with shrimp chowder and my husband, the photographer, had a hamburger with sweet potato fries. My meat and potatoes husband raved about the spinach salad and its tasty vinaigrette.

Adjoining diners loved the pork chops, mussels and seared scallops. But dessert is the chef’s surprise and it did not disappoint…chocolate cake with cream and a special raspberry sauce from the adjoining store, Olive. I am hoping for cheesecake next time.

The restaurant will be open for business Wednesday, January 11th and can be reached at 801kb.com. The phone number is 904-775-5909. As they say, Bon Appetit.

Editor’s Note: Gerry began free lance writing for fun and is the author of a published book (available on Amazon and at Books Plus) about funny real estate experiences. Gerry is a longtime member of our local American Business Women’s Chapter, a volunteer cancer driver and church deacon who loves to read, travel and meet interesting people.