Lapis Thai to Shack up in the Portman
By Justin Fischer, Jan 27th, 2011 | In Dining
If you've passed by the Portman in the last few days you've probably seen the signage wrapped around what used to be Tony Roma's. Lapis Thai have scooped it up. And, as the snappy new logo would indicate, this will be something of a departure from their previous branches. Rather than the atmospheric exposed brick and timber aesthetic they've come to be known for, they're going for something more slick, urban and contemporary. The menu will be different, too. 60-70% of it will still be your classic Thai fare. But with the remaining 30-40%, they plan on getting experimental -- so much so that that they're even invoking the F-word. That's right. "Fusion". In this case, Italian and Thai. How exactly does that work? To get an idea, click here. That's a restaurant in Bangkok called Another Greyhound. Their "Italian Gourmet with a Spicy Thai Twist" is the inspiration behind this idea. As with the the previous branches, it will serve as a venue for their parent company High Note Records to promote featured recording artists and perhaps sell a few records on the side. So, you can count on those loungey down tempo beats you hear while munching on pad Thai being readily available on CD at the hostess podium.
They're taking a serious stab at the nightlife market this time, too. Of course, the word "lounge" has always been on their masthead, but this time they're in a neighborhood where you might actually find thirsty punters on the prowl. After dinner service, the place will turn into a laid-back late-night lounge with a rooftop bar. The plan is to start bringing in electronic acts from the High Note label to perform. In fact, they say they're trying to get Thievery Corporation to play their grand opening party. Nothing etched in stone there yet, mind you. The new branch is slated to open at the beginning of March. In restaurateur time that probably translates to around May or June.
They're taking a serious stab at the nightlife market this time, too. Of course, the word "lounge" has always been on their masthead, but this time they're in a neighborhood where you might actually find thirsty punters on the prowl. After dinner service, the place will turn into a laid-back late-night lounge with a rooftop bar. The plan is to start bringing in electronic acts from the High Note label to perform. In fact, they say they're trying to get Thievery Corporation to play their grand opening party. Nothing etched in stone there yet, mind you. The new branch is slated to open at the beginning of March. In restaurateur time that probably translates to around May or June.
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